Abstract: A device is described for longitudinally guiding a motor vehicle, including a sensor system for locating preceding vehicles, a controller that regulates the speed of the vehicle to a setpoint speed, either in a following driving mode as a function of the distance from a preceding vehicle or in a free driving mode, an interface to a navigation system which provides information about the traveled route, and a limiting device for limiting the setpoint speed based on the provided information. The limiting device is designed for calculating a limiting value for the setpoint speed for each possible route when the travel route is recognized as being ambiguous and for selecting the greatest of these limiting values for limiting the setpoint speed.

Abstract: In a method for regulating the vehicle speed and the engine speed in a motor vehicle having a manually shifted transmission, if the driver actuates the clutch during ongoing speed regulation, an upshift probability is calculated for the possibility that the driver will select the next higher gear step as a target gear and, when the clutch is actuated, the engine speed is regulated according to a time-dependent function selected on the basis of the upshift probability and the target gear, and the speed regulation is resumed after the release of the clutch.

Abstract: A method and device for influencing the longitudinal velocity of a motor vehicle, in which a setpoint minimum distance and/or a setpoint maximum velocity is presettable by the driver, the driver being able to influence the vehicle velocity via the accelerator pedal and/or brake pedal, and in which the distance from a vehicle traveling ahead is measured by a distance-measuring sensor and, if the setpoint minimum distance is undershot and/or the setpoint maximum velocity is exceeded by the vehicle velocity, the vehicle velocity is limited so that the setpoint minimum distance is not undershot and/or the setpoint maximum velocity is not exceeded. This function is provided, in particular, in connection with an adaptive distance and cruise control system, the driver being able to activate either the adaptive distance and cruise control system or the limiting function.

Abstract: Input device for a cruise control system in motor vehicles, having an accelerator pedal, a switch for input of a desired speed and a determination device which increases the desired speed as a function of the duration of operation of the switch, wherein the determination device changes the function which determines the increase in the desired speed as a function of the operation of the accelerator pedal.

Abstract: In a method for regulating the vehicle speed and the engine speed in a motor vehicle having a manually shifted transmission, if the driver actuates the clutch during ongoing speed regulation, an upshift probability is calculated for the possibility that the driver will select the next higher gear step as a target gear and, when the clutch is actuated, the engine speed is regulated according to a time-dependent function selected on the basis of the upshift probability and the target gear, and the speed regulation is resumed after the release of the clutch.

Abstract: In a method and a device for triggering a request for taking control (RTC), a driver of a vehicle having adaptive cruise control is signaled that the adaptive cruise control system may not be capable of controlling a driving situation, and that the driver may have to intervene, the signaling of the driver being generated in accordance with at least two vehicle variables, whereby the probability of a false alarm by the system is reduced, and the triggering of the RTC is adapted to the instantaneous vehicle speed.

Abstract: In a method for controlling the speed of a motor vehicle, an acceleration-demand signal is generated which represents a positive or negative setpoint acceleration of the vehicle, and either a control command is output to the engine or a control command is output to braking system of the vehicle as a function of this signal, wherein a signal for preloading the braking system is output when the acceleration-demand signal falls below a threshold value which lies above a value at which the braking system is activated.

Abstract: Input device for a cruise control system in motor vehicles, having an accelerator pedal, a switch for input of a desired speed and a determination device which increases the desired speed as a function of the duration of operation of the switch, wherein the determination device changes the function which determines the increase in the desired speed as a function of the operation of the accelerator pedal.

Abstract: A method and a device is described as well as a component for controlling a system, in particular in a motor vehicle, the control being implementable in different variants, a component being operable in different variants according to the variants of the control, and the component receiving at least one signal via an interface. The component is introduced into a system environment and adapted to this system environment and/or initialized with this system environment as a system, in that the variant of the system environment is determined. This is done in a system-immanent manner. When the component is first started, the variant is altered and/or preselected one time as a function of the at least one signal, in particular by the component itself. Any other change in and/or selection of the variant following the initial startup is possible only with authorization.

Abstract: A method for the adaptive control of distance and/or driving speed of a motor vehicle. A control device is able to control an engine of the motor vehicle in at least a first operating mode and a brake of the motor vehicle in a second operating mode, a transition being made from the first operating mode to the second operating mode and vice versa as a function of determined quantities.

Abstract: A method for controlling the speed of a motor vehicle (10), in which an acceleration-demand signal (asetpoint) is generated which represents a positive or negative setpoint acceleration of the vehicle, and either a control command (A) is output to the engine or a control command (B) is output to braking system (24, 26) of the vehicle as a function of this signal, wherein a signal (F) for preloading the braking system is output when the acceleration-demand signal (asetpoint) falls below a threshold value which lies above a value at which the braking system (24, 26) is activated.

Abstract: A method for interrupting a speed control or vehicle to vehicle ranging of a motor vehicle's control system, in which the system passes over into the standby mode with the aid of a predefined algorithm after the switching-off of the active control. A linear function for the acceleration in the case of propulsion as well as the braking case is provided as the algorithm. In an alternative embodiment using a step function having appropriately designed steps is provided. This achieves in an advantageous manner a soft transition from active control operation to the standby mode.

Abstract: A method and a device for setting a gear ratio of the transmission while a distance and/or vehicle-speed control system (ACC system) is activated. A setpoint variable, as a function of which at least the driving motor of the vehicle is controlled, is input. The setpoint variable or a value derived from this setpoint variable is limited in response to the existence of a first operating state, and the gear ratio is then set as a function of the limited variable, or as a function of the limited value. The gear ratio is set as a function of the setpoint variable, or as a function of the value, in response to the existence of a second operating state. The method and device prevent unnecessary and uncomfortable occurrences of downshifting during ACC operation, without losing the option of accelerating sharply.

Abstract: A method and device for adaptive control of separation distance and/or driving speed of a motor vehicle, at least in a first operational mode an engine of the motor vehicle and in a second operational mode a brake of the motor vehicle being able to be activated as a function of a magnitude, representing an acceleration, the magnitude representing the setpoint acceleration is formed and/or limited at least as a function of at least one base value.

Abstract: A method and a device as well as a component for controlling a system, in particular in a motor vehicle, the control being implementable in different variants, a component being operable in different variants according to the variants of the control, and the component receiving at least one signal via an interface. The component is introduced into a system environment and adapted to this system environment and/or initialized with this system environment as a system, in that the variant of the system environment is determined. This is advantageously done in a system-immanent manner. When the component is first started, the variant is altered and/or preselected one time as a function of the at least one signal, in particular by the component itself. Any other change in and/or selection of the variant following the initial startup is possible only with authorization.

Abstract: A method and a corresponding device are proposed for triggering a request for taking control (RTC), which signals a driver of a vehicle having adaptive cruise control that the driving situation can probably not be controlled any more by the adaptive cruise control system and that the driver has to intervene. By the monitoring of two or a plurality of vehicle variables which are causal in triggering the RTC, the probability of a false alarm by the system is reduced, and the triggering of the RTC is adapted to the instantaneous vehicle speed.

Abstract: A method and a device are for setting the longitudinal speed of a vehicle to a setpoint speed, in particular on the basis of a regulation, having controllable brakes. In operation of a cruise control system, the cruise control may be activated when the instantaneous driving speed is significantly higher than a stored setpoint speed. In this situation, there may be unwanted braking responses by the regulator, which may endanger the driver and the following road users. In such a situation, the method prevents a breaking measure from being implemented and ensures that the vehicle will coast, being braked only by the road resistance and the drag on the engine, until reaching the set speed. The driving response of the cruise control system approximates that of a human driver, so the responses of the automatic cruise control seem more intelligible for the driver.

Abstract: According to the present invention a method for interrupting a speed control or vehicle to vehicle ranging of a motor vehicle's control system is proposed, in which the system passes over into the standby mode with the aid of a predefined algorithm after the switching-off of the active control. A linear function for the acceleration in the case of propulsion as well as the braking case is provided as the algorithm. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention using a step function having appropriately designed steps is provided. This achieves in an advantageous manner a soft transition from active control operation to the standby mode.

Abstract: A method for the adaptive control of distance and/or driving speed of a motor vehicle, a control device being able to control an engine of the motor vehicle in at least a first operating mode and a brake of the motor vehicle in a second operating mode, a transition being made from the first operating mode to the second operating mode and vice versa as a function of determined quantities (aSetpoint, aDrag, aHysteresis).

Abstract: A method and a device for setting the longitudinal speed of a vehicle to a setpoint speed is described, in particular on the basis of a regulation, having controllable brake units. In operation of a cruise control system, it may occur that the cruise control is activated again when the instantaneous driving speed is significantly higher than the stored setpoint speed. In this situation, there may be unwanted braking responses by the regulator which could endanger the driver and the following road users. In such a situation, the method according to the present invention prevents a braking measure from being implemented and ensures that the vehicle will coast, being braked only by the road resistance and the drag on the engine, until reaching the set speed. Through this method, the driving response of the cruise control system approximates that of a human driver, so the responses of the automatic cruise control seem more intelligible for the driver.