Adjustment of the speed of a motor vehicle with an automatic gearbox

Abstract

A method relieves the burden of a driver of a motor vehicle in which the drive train is provided with a gearbox which can be operated in an automatic mode and a manual mode. The method comprises the following automatic steps: a) detection whether the speed of the vehicle should be adjusted, b) initiation of the adjustment if necessary, and c) the carrying out of the adjustment. During step b) and/or step c) it is determined on one or several occasions whether the gearbox is operating in an automatic mode or in a manual mode in order to trigger a change into the automatic mode of the gearbox if the gearbox is operated in the manual mode.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for relieving the burden of a driver of a motor vehicle in which the drive train is provided with an automatic gearbox that can be operated in a manual mode and an automatic mode in which the transmission ratio is changed automatically comprising the following steps: 
 a) detecting whether the speed of the vehicle should be adjusted,    b) initiating of the adjustment of the speed of the vehicle, if necessary, and    c) carrying out the adjustment of the speed of the vehicle,    wherein on carrying out step b) and/or the step c), it is determined on one or several occasions whether the gearbox is operating in an automatic mode or in a manual mode in order to trigger a change into the automatic mode of the gearbox if the gearbox is operated in the manual mode.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, on carrying out step b) and/or step c) it is determined on one or several occasions whether changing the transmission ratio of the gearbox is advantageous and that a change into the automatic mode is only triggered if changing the transmission ratio of the gearbox is advantageous.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein triggering the change into the automatic mode of the gearbox takes place by outputting a signal to the driver that he should manually change the gearbox into the automatic mode.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein triggering the change into the automatic mode of the gearbox takes place by activating a gearbox control and/or adjustment in such a way that it automatically carries out the change.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, when starting the execution of step b), the mode in which the gearbox is operated at the moment is stored.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein, after executing step c), operation of the gearbox in the stored mode is ensured.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step c) is terminated automatically if the driver has activated the manual mode of the gearbox.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step a) includes that it is monitored whether or not the driver more or less keeps or tries to keep the speed constant.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step b) and/or step c) includes the once only or repeated detection of a setpoint speed.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein, on executing step c) by engaging the drive train and/or other components of the motor vehicle, the real speed of the motor vehicle tracks the setpoint speed and for this an acceleration pattern is used that is selected from several different acceleration patterns.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the driver can select the used acceleration pattern.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the used acceleration pattern can be selected on the basis of information gained during the distance covered by the driving operation.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, on executing step b), the distance to and/or the speed of possible obstacles is to be taken into consideration.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive train has several components that can output and/or record power and that the execution of step c) includes the effect on one or several of these components.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the execution of step c) takes place on the basis of the wheel moment.  
     
     
         16 . A motor vehicle comprising: 
 a drive train,    an automatic gearbox coupled with the drive train that can be operated in a manual mode and an automatic mode in which the transmission ratio is changed automatically,    a automatic speed adjustment unit coupled with said gearbox,    a control device coupled with said automatic gearbox and said automatic speed adjustment unit, wherein the control device comprises means to detect the activation of the automatic speed adjustment unit, and switching means to switch from the manual mode to the automatic mode of the automatic gearbox, wherein the switching means are controlled if the automatic speed adjustment is active and the automatic gearbox is in manual mode.    
     
     
         17 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the control device controls the transmission ratio of the gearbox and determines during activation of the automatic speed adjustment unit whether a change of the transmission ratio is advantageous and that a change into the automatic mode is only triggered if changing the transmission ratio of the gearbox is advantageous.  
     
     
         18 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the control device triggers the change into the automatic mode of the gearbox by outputting a signal to the driver that the gearbox in the automatic mode should be changed manually.  
     
     
         19 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the control device triggers the change in the automatic mode of the gearbox by activating a gearbox control and/or adjustment in such a way that it automatically carries out the change.  
     
     
         20 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein on initiating the automatic speed adjustment, the mode in which the gearbox is operated at the moment is stored.  
     
     
         21 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 20 , wherein on ending the automatic speed adjustment, the control unit activates the gearbox control and/or adjustment in such a way that this ensures an operation of the gearbox in the stored mode.  
     
     
         22 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the control unit ends the automatic speed adjustment if the driver of the motor vehicle activates the manual mode of the gearbox.  
     
     
         23 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the control unit initiates the automatic speed adjustment or offers to the driver of the motor vehicle the initiation of the automatic speed adjustment to more or less keep the speed constant should it be detected that the driver more or less keeps or tries to keep the speed constant.  
     
     
         24 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein on initiating and/or carrying out the automatic speed adjustment, the control unit detects the setpoint speed once only or repeatedly.  
     
     
         25 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 24 , wherein the control unit uses an acceleration pattern to carry out the automatic speed adjustment that was selected from several different stored acceleration patterns.  
     
     
         26 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 25 , wherein the driver of the motor vehicle can select the used acceleration pattern.  
     
     
         27 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 25 , wherein the used acceleration pattern can be selected on the basis of information gained during the distance covered by the driving operation.  
     
     
         28 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein on carrying out the automatic speed adjustment, the distance to and/or the speed of possible obstacles is to be taken into consideration.  
     
     
         29 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the drive train has several components that can output and/or record power and that on carrying out the automatic speed adjustment, it directly or indirectly has an effect on one or several of these components.  
     
     
         30 . The motor vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein automatic speed adjustment is carried out on the basis of the wheel moment.