Abstract: A method and a device for performing inter-vehicle distance control on a vehicle is provided, an actual value (dact) of a distance variable which describes a distance between the vehicle and a vehicle traveling in front being determined and in which a plurality of weighting values (gi) for the distance variable are determined as a function of input variables (xi) which describe the driving situation of the vehicle and/or the ambient situation of the vehicle and/or the driving behavior of the driver, the weighting values (gi) being combined in a first computing step to form a combined value (f) for the distance variable. From which combined value (f) in turn a set point value (dsetp) for the distance variable is determined, a braking device and/or driving device of the vehicle being actuated in such a way that the determined actual value (dact) of the distance variable assumes the determined set point value (dsetp).

Abstract: A method selects a target vehicle located in front of a vehicle in the driving direction of the second-mentioned vehicle. The selection of the target vehicle is used in particular to automatically control the distance between the second-mentioned vehicle and the target vehicle. A preceding vehicle that can be selected as a target vehicle is recognized if a sensor unit has detected an object in front of the vehicle in the driving direction and a selection condition for this object is satisfied. Whether the selection condition is satisfied depends on the result of an evaluation of dynamic parameters of the vehicle and/or the object. The presence of a selectable preceding vehicle is indicated to the driver, and the driver can select the selectable preceding vehicle as a target vehicle by a confirmation.

Abstract: A method selects a target vehicle located in front of a vehicle in the driving direction of the second-mentioned vehicle. The selection of the target vehicle is used in particular to automatically control the distance between the second-mentioned vehicle and the target vehicle. A preceding vehicle that can be selected as a target vehicle is recognized if a sensor unit has detected an object in front of the vehicle in the driving direction and a selection condition for this object is satisfied. Whether the selection condition is satisfied depends on the result of an evaluation of dynamic parameters of the vehicle and/or the object. The presence of a selectable preceding vehicle is indicated to the driver, and the driver can select the selectable preceding vehicle as a target vehicle by a confirmation.

Abstract: In a method for limiting the traveling speed of a motor vehicle to a variable maximum speed a limiting system action takes place in the situation where the speed demanded by the driver via the actual accelerator pedal position is higher than the preset maximum speed. In this case, taking account of vehicle state and operating variables, control signals can be produced in order to select a specific gear in the transmission. At the time when the preset maximum speed is switched off, an accelerator pedal substitute variable which correlates with the preset maximum speed is compared with an actual accelerator pedal position. When the actual accelerator pedal position is greater than the accelerator pedal substitute variable at the time when the maximum speed is switched off, a defined minimum gear is preset as the lower gear limit in the transmission.

Abstract: In a method for setting a specifiable target speed in a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, actuating signals for the manipulation of the throttle valve of the internal combustion engine are produced in a speed-regulating system taking into account vehicle-state and operating variables. To improve controller behaviour in partial shut-down operation, the controller output of the regulating system is passed via a metering characteristic to produce the actuating signal which manipulates the position of the throttle valve, both full operation and partial shut-down operation being assigned a respective metering characteristic. At the time of the switchover between full operation and partial shut-down operation, the controller output is first of all passed via the metering characteristic assigned to operation hitherto and then via an inverse metering characteristic assigned to subsequent operation.

Abstract: In a method for setting a presettable vehicle desired speed, control signals for manipulation of the engine and/or the transmission of the motor vehicle are produced in a cruise control system, taking account of vehicle state variables and operating variables. In order to avoid overshoots occurring as the desired speed is approached, a substitute speed is preset which differs from the desired speed and is formed by applying an offset to the desired speed. The substitute speed is above or below the desired speed depending on the actual vehicle speed. When the actual vehicle speed approaches the desired speed, the substitute speed is used for cruise control.

Abstract: A method for cruise control in which actual speed is changed by acceleration regulation in the direction of a predetermined set speed, as long as it is outside a speed regulation interval, and the speed is regulated by speed regulation to the set speed as long as the sped is within the speed regulation interval, changes from acceleration regulation to speed regulation by using a determined roadway gradient characteristic in conjunction with a speed control parameter set matched to the roadway gradient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for limiting the speed of a motor vehicle in which the power applied to the vehicle wheels is controlled even when the actual speed is within a range of permitted speeds, but a speed demanded by the driver is in a speed range to be avoided. By way of the control intervention, the actual speed is, in this case, brought to the limiting speed in accordance with a specified open-loop control characteristic. When the actual speed is near the limiting speed, the system switches over to an open-loop speed-control, and when the speed demanded by the driver is within the range of permitted speeds, this requirement of the driver is used to determine the speed.

Abstract: The vehicle speed control arrangement according to the invention has a cruise control function module and a limitation function module to limit the speed to a variable, specified limiting speed which separates a range of permitted speeds from a range of speeds to be avoided. For the purpose of convenient and functionally reliable operation, the apparatus has an operating device for reciprocally activating either one or the other function module with simultaneous deactivation of the other module and for setting the required speed value in cruise control mode and a desired limiting-speed value in limitation mode.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for limiting the speed of a motor vehicle. The method intervenes to limit the engine torque while the actual speed is still below the maximum speed, but yet a demand by the driver for a speed above the maximum speed is detected. In this case, an acceleration-regulating system intervention takes place first and, if the speed further approaches the maximum speed, a speed-regulating system intervention takes place, allowing the actual speed to be brought gently to the set maximum speed. In the case of speeds demanded by the driver which are below the maximum speed, the driving response remains determined solely by the driver. It is advantageous to combine the speed limitation with cruise control, with selective activation of one of the two operating modes.

Abstract: A cruise control road speed control device optimizes the transient behavior during activation of speed control phases. The cruise control device has an additional device located outside the speed controller in the form of a load adaptation element. The load adaptation element sets the speed control output signal, upon activation of a speed control phase via an engine-load-adjusting additional signal, to a value that is required for a constant transition of the driving-force-determining control signal and in the subsequent transient phase of speed control with linkage to the output signal of the speed controller, for a return of this additional term to a value of zero, without the behavior of the speed controller being influenced thereby. This permits a very smooth transition from a previous driving phase into a cruise-control-determined speed control phase.