Abstract: In method and apparatus for controlling a vehicular velocity of a host vehicle to follow a preceding vehicle which is running ahead of the host vehicle, a control target is switched between an inter-vehicle distance control in which the vehicular velocity of the host vehicle is controlled to make a detected value of the inter-vehicle distance substantially equal to a target value of the inter-vehicle distance and a vehicular velocity control in which the vehicular velocity of the host vehicle is controlled to make a detected value of the vehicular velocity of the host vehicle substantially equal to a target value of the vehicular velocity of the host vehicle according to a result of a detection of a variation of a gradient of a road segment which is forward of the vehicle and on which the host vehicle is to run.

Abstract: A vehicle driving control system is provided with failsafe for vehicles equipped with an electronically controlled throttle system. A central processing unit receives an output from a normally closed switch that turns OFF in response to a braking operation and an output from a logic circuit that outputs a pulse signal when normally closed switch is ON. When the normally closed switch turns OFF or the pulse signal from the logic circuit stops, it is determined that a braking operation is being performed. Accordingly, the constant speed driving control is canceled. Since a braking operation is detected by both the signal from the normally closed switch the signal from the logic circuit, the system will not lose the ability to cancel the driving control even when there is a problem with one of these circuitry arrangements.

Abstract: A system for regulating the speed of a motorcycle, of the type powered by an electric motor and a battery, includes a command module that determines a desired speed of the motor, a speed sensor which determines an actual speed of the motor, and a controller which controls the electric motor based on the desired speed and the actual speed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intelligent cruise control device installed in a host vehicle and used for performing follow-up cruise control to follow up a moving target located in front of the host vehicle by supplying an operating signal to an auto cruise control device which is used for carrying out auto cruise control to adjust the speed of the host vehicle by carrying out an operation indicated by the operating signal generated by the operating part in accordance with an operation type such as acceleration and deceleration specified by the driver so that the host vehicle is running at the adjusted speed.

Abstract: In order to occur a collision warning to prevent the collision in accurate by detecting the preceding vehicle or target, a vehicle lane position estimation device comprising a means for measuring a distance between said host vehicle and said preceding vehicle or a oncoming vehicle, a direction angle from said host vehicle, an angular velocity and a velocity of said host vehicle, a means for calculating lateral and longitudinal distance between said host vehicle and said preceding vehicle or said oncoming vehicle, a means for capturing a front stationary object, a means for obtaining movement of the preceding vehicle or position of the oncoming vehicle, and a means to estimate a lane position of said front stationary object from a relationship of the stationary object being captured and the preceding vehicle being obtained and a positional relationship with the oncoming vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control apparatus for allowing a host vehicle trailing a preceding vehicle to accelerate and decelerate without causing discomfort to the host vehicle driver. While the host vehicle is trailing the preceding vehicle, the apparatus on board the host vehicle stores the speed of the preceding vehicle entering a curve ahead as well as a headway distance of the host vehicle to the preceding vehicle. Upon reaching the curve, the host vehicle is controlled by the apparatus to enter the curve at a speed not in excess of the stored speed of the preceding vehicle.

Abstract: An ordinary target driving force is generated against a detected value of the vehicle operator depression of an accelerator pedal and a detected value of the vehicle speed. The ordinary target driving force is a driving force required to keep the vehicle rolling on a flat horizontal road at the detected value of vehicle speed with the detected value of the vehicle operator depression of the accelerator pedal. A running resistance increment, i.e., an increase of running resistance from a standard running resistance, is calculated. A preliminary driving force correction is determined in response to the running resistance increment. The preliminary driving force correction is subjected to variation. The preceding old value of a driving force correction is subtracted from a current value of the preliminary driving force to give a variation in driving force correction. This variation is limited to fall in a range between an upper and a lower limit to give a limited driving force correction variation.

Abstract: A method for comprehensive integrated control of a compression-ignition internal combustion engine having integral fuel pump-injectors utilizing an electronic control unit is disclosed. The control strategy integrates various functions of engine control including fuel delivery, cooling fan control, engine speed governing and overspeed protection, engine braking, torque control, and vehicle speed diagnostics and control. Cooling fan control is integrated with vehicle speed diagnostics and control as well as fuel delivery to provide an integrated cruise control function which incorporates engine braking. The method also includes improved control over the various engine speed governors while improving idle quality by balancing the power delivered by each of the engine cylinders when at idle. The integrated torque control employs functions to reduce NOx emissions and noise utilizing adaptive fuel delivery timing and a split injection strategy.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling speed of a vehicle include determining whether or not a stand-by braking torque is applied, determining an actual distance from a preceding vehicle in front of a vehicle, comparing the actual distance to a desired distance to determine whether the actual distance is greater than the desired distance, determining motor/engine torque to increase vehicle speed, and applying the motor/engine torque when the actual distance is greater than the desired distance. The system and method terminates application of stand-by braking torque upon receiving operator torque request.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling the speed of a vehicle. The actual speed of the vehicle is determined and a desired speed and/or limit speed is pregiven. Furthermore, an engine drag torque controller and/or a drive slip controller are provided. The deviation between desired and/or limit and actual speed is supplied to at least one of these controllers. In the active speed control operation, at least one of these controllers influences an output quantity of the drive unit in dependence upon the speed deviation. In the active road speed limit operation, the drive slip controller influences an output quantity of the drive unit in dependence upon the speed deviation.

Abstract: It judges whether a decelerator, such as fuel cut, over-drive cut, down shifting, braking, is in a temporarily unusable condition and further judges that it is necessary to drive the decelerator by the inter-vehicle control. It continues control by the inter-vehicle control means when it is necessary to drive the decelerator by the inter-vehicle control and it is judged that the decelerator is in the temporarily unusable condition. It informs the driver of data in the temporary unusable condition and further inform the driver of alarm data when the actual inter-vehicle distance is shorter than a reference. The data agrees with the alarm data. The same operation may be effected regarding accelerator. The temporarily unusable condition may be caused by continuous operation of brake pressure actuator longer than the rating.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system for a vehicle comprises a lateral acceleration sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a target vehicle speed setting device, a drive system of the vehicle, and a controller connected. The controller is arranged to calculate a correction quantity on the basis of the lateral acceleration and the vehicle speed, to calculate a command vehicle speed on the basis of the vehicle speed, the target vehicle speed, a variation of the command vehicle speed and the correction quantity, and to control the drive system to bring the vehicle speed closer to the command vehicles speed.

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: In a vehicular velocity control apparatus for an automotive vehicle, a first calculator is provided to calculate a target vehicular velocity to make an actual inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to another vehicle which is running ahead of the vehicle substantially equal to a target inter-vehicle distance, a second calculator is provided to calculate a target vehicular driving force to make an actual vehicular velocity substantially equal to the target vehicular velocity, a first controller is operated to control an engine output variable of a vehicular engine to make an actual engine output variable substantially equal to the target vehicular driving force, a second controller is responsive to a negative target driving force to control a mechanical brake manipulated variable of a vehicular brake system to make a vehicular brake force substantially equal to the negative target vehicular driving force together with an operation of the first controller, a brake force integrator is provided to integrate the

Abstract: The method of controlling travel speed of a vehicle includes controlling vehicle travel speed according to a set vehicle speed given by a driver of the controlled vehicle in a speed control mode; detecting at least one object present in front of the controlled vehicle and measuring distance to and relative speed of the at least one object when present in front of the controlled vehicle; determining whether or not a preceding vehicle is among the at least one object present in front of the controlled vehicle; controlling the vehicle travel speed according to a set distance to the preceding vehicle in a distance control mode when the preceding vehicle is present in front of the controlled vehicle; establishing whether or not a stationary object is among the at least one object present in front of the controlled vehicle; when a stationary object is found to be present, calculating a predicted travel path of the controlled vehicle and determining if the stationary object is located in the predicted travel path; w

Abstract: A vehicle follow-up control apparatus includes a distance sensor sensing an actual vehicle-to-vehicle distance from a controlled vehicle to a preceding vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor sensing an actual vehicle speed of the controlled vehicle, and a controller for calculating a desired vehicle speed to be achieved in the controlled vehicle. The desired vehicle speed is calculated in accordance with the actual vehicle-to-vehicle distance, the relative speed and a control gain which is adjusted in accordance with the relative speed.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system can be activated so as to control the vehicle speed in a modified way in response to the driver's inputs. When activated, the accelerator 30 position defines a target speed and the speed controller 22 controls both the engine 34, via and engine control unit 36 and the brakes 14, 16, via a hydraulic brake control unit 20 so as to control the vehicle speed to the target speed. The acceleration of the vehicle is also controlled according to the difference between the present vehicle speed and the present target speed.

Abstract: A vehicular travel control system performs automatic follow-up control for maintaining a following distance matching with drivability which a driver may feel. The system detects size of a leading vehicle and insolation around the own vehicle. An appropriate following distance deriving means derives the appropriate following distance so that the appropriate following distance becomes longer when the size of the leading vehicle detected by the vehicle size detecting means is large and the appropriate following distance becomes longer at higher brightness detected by the insolation detecting means.

Abstract: An electronic engine speed control system is used on a work machine utilizing an engine with a governor control movable between a plurality of positions. The governor control is operated by an operator so that a desired engine speed may be selected for driving a plurality of wheels through a transmission. The transmission is specifically controlled to obtain a desired ground speed independent of the selected engine speed. The engine speed control system includes an electronic control module. An operator switch is connected to the control module and is movable to a set position which sends an input signal with a desired engine speed value corresponding to a selected engine speed to the control module. An engine sensor is connectable between the engine and the control module for sensing the speed of the engine and sending an input signal with an actual engine speed value to the control module.

Abstract: To provide an engine power-train control apparatus and method for securing both operability and safety by controlling an actual acceleration/deceleration to a target acceleration/deceleration requested by a driver under an undangerous traveling condition and changing the target acceleration/deceleration so as to take precedence of safety traveling if the driver encounters a dangerous traveling condition.

Abstract: An electronic engine speed control system is used on a work machine utilizing an engine with a governor control movable between a plurality of positions. The governor control is operated by an operator so that a desired engine speed may be selected for driving a plurality of wheels through a transmission. The transmission is specifically controlled to obtain a desired ground speed independent of the selected engine speed. The engine speed control system includes an electronic control module. An operator switch is connected to the control module and is movable to a set position which sends an input signal with a desired engine speed value corresponding to a selected engine speed to the control module. An engine sensor is connectable between the engine and the control module for sensing the speed of the engine and sending an input signal with an actual engine speed value to the control module.

Abstract: A method for producing a deceleration setpoint value of a motor vehicle with an electropneumatic brake actuatable by a brake pedal, especially a compressed-air-actuated brake, with a sustained action brake and with at least one device for actuating the brake independently of the driver's desire (external actuation) is characterized by the fact that, with external actuation of the brake and with a simultaneous change in the brake pedal, a resultant deceleration setpoint (z_res) is formed in such fashion that, beginning with the externally set deceleration setpoint (z_ext) with simultaneous actuation of the brake pedal, a curve of the resultant deceleration setpoint (z_res) with the pedal travel is produced which reaches complete deceleration upon full brake pedal travel.

Abstract: An automatic brake control system for a vehicle in which the brakes, are controlled by a control unit to limit vehicle speed to a target speed when descending a hill. The control unit is arranged to control the vehicle speed so that, as the vehicle speed approaches the target speed, the rate of change of acceleration of the vehicle does not exceed a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for controlling vehicle spacing produces driver-specific characteristic diagrams for vehicle speed and following time from which a mean target following time is determined. The characteristic diagrams are used to control the spacing of the vehicle from a vehicle in front of it.

Abstract: An auto-cruise controller to control the throttle angle of an engine so that the actual vehicle speed is equal to the target vehicle speed. In the controller, the pressure control of a lock-up clutch of an automatic transmission is conducted based on an amount of control of the lock-up pressure calculated corresponding to the traveling conditions of the vehicle when the throttle is fully closed, and when the vehicle is descending a slope during the auto-cruise control.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a headway control for an adaptive cruise control system based on a basic headway control law derived from feedback linearization techniques. The usefulness of the linear approximations is demonstrated, and basic attributes of data which are believed important to system response are introduced. Certain modifications to a basic headway controller for enabling system performance to better meet driver expectations under real road conditions are made as a result of empirical information.

Abstract: A motor vehicle is provided with an automatic transmission including a shift manipulating device having an automatic shift position and a manual shift position, and a shift control device which places the automatic transmission in an optimum gear position when the shift manipulating device is operated to the automatic shift position, and places the transmission in a desired gear position according to a shift command operation by a driver when the shift manipulating device is operated to the manual shift position.

Abstract: A control system for internal combustion engines of an agricultural tractor include a memory unit in which is stored engine performance maps. The control system includes a vehicle speed sensor and transmits control signals to an electronically controlled fuel injection system to control the fuel injection quantity as a function of sensed speed, target value inputs and as a function of the engine performance maps. The control system, in response to sensed vehicle speed, limits the maximum engine output as a function of the vehicle speed. In particular, at lower vehicle speeds the engine output is limited to a level which is lower than the rated engine output.

Abstract: A preceding vehicle, an inter-vehicle distance between a self vehicle and the preceding vehicle, vehicle speeds of the self vehicle and the preceding vehicle, an operation of a cruise control, a braking operation, a brake pressure and the like are detected and inputted to a cruise control unit. Based on these input signals, the cruise control system selects a constant speed running mode when the inter-vehicle distance is larger than a specified value and selects a following-behind running mode when the inter-vehicle distance is smaller than the specified value. When the constant speed mode is selected, the vehicle travels at a constant preset vehicle speed by operating a throttle actuator and a brake actuator. Further, when the following-behind running mode is selected, the vehicle travels keeping the inter-vehicle distance at a specified distance by the operation of the throttle actuator and the brake actuator.

Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission includes a route information detector which detects route information for the vehicle and a transmission which is controlled by the route information detector. The control system also includes a device for detecting the places where it is necessary to decrease speed in the determined traveling distance, a device for calculating the vehicle target speed for each corner, a device for calculating the required vehicle speed at the present position of the vehicle to decrease present vehicle speed to the vehicle target speed for the place where it is necessary to decrease speed. And if the target deceleration from the present speed to the required vehicle speeds lager than a threshold value, the place is regarded as the target place, and it is counted as the target place, and the automatic transmission is shifted down.

Abstract: A vehicle that has a drive train with an internal combustion engine, a transmission, and a number of ground engaging wheels. An operator-adjustable throttle control is monitored to provide a position signal corresponding to position of the throttle control. A sensor provides an observed speed signal corresponding to speed of the vehicle and a controller responds to the position signal and the observed speed signal to generate a target speed signal and an error signal. The target speed signal corresponds to a desired speed of the vehicle and is generated from a predetermined relationship between vehicle speed and throttle control position in accordance with the position signal. The error signal corresponds to a difference between the target speed signal and observed speed signal. The engine responds to the error signal to provide the desired vehicle speed for all operating speeds of the vehicle including a stopped or idle condition.

Abstract: A vehicle road speed control system includes a vehicle road speed detection means, parameter storage means, comparator processing means and control signal generation means. The system is arranged to compare measured vehicle road speed with predetermined road speeds obtained from stored parameters. When an upper threshold road speed is exceeded a control signal is generated for an associated transmission control system which causes the operative ratio of an associated vehicle transmission to be reduced such that the vehicle road speed is reduced to at least the upper threshold road speed. The road speed may also be controlled by altering the characteristics of an associated fuel injection such that the road speed is reduced to at least the upper threshold road speed. This may be done in place of controlling the operative ratio of the transmission or in addition.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing speed of a vehicle to maintain a target vehicle speed include determining an actual vehicle speed, comparing the target vehicle speed to the actual vehicle speed to generate a speed error, determining a continuously variable braking torque as a function of the speed error when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the target vehicle speed, and applying the continuously variable braking torque to at least one wheel of the vehicle to reduce the speed error toward zero and control the speed of the vehicle. The present invention is applicable to vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine, electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and hybrid vehicles. The continuously variable braking torque may be applied using regenerative braking to improve fuel efficiency. Friction brakes may also be utilized either alone, or in combination with regenerative braking, for vehicles capable of brake-by-wire control strategies.

Abstract: A drive for an electric vehicle includes by forming a drive unit 8 having a transmission by combining a single propelling motor 7 with the transmission, respectively interconnecting the drive unit 8 with propelling wheels to be a drive wheel, and separately controlling the drive units 8. Besides, traveling speed detecting means are provided on the respective drive units 8, 8, and the respective drive units are simultaneously controlled according to a revolution signal from one of the traveling speed detecting means. A method for controlling an electric vehicle by separately controlling the drive units 8, 8, making the output torque of the motor zero or minimum during the gear change, and producing again the output torque of the motor after completing the gear change.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system comprises a section for calculating a command driving force-required to make a sensed vehicle speed equal to a preset command vehicle speed, a section for calculating a command engine output in accordance with the command driving force and the command vehicle speed, a section for calculating a command engine speed corresponding to the command engine output from a predetermined engine torque-versus-speed characteristic relationship in an engine constraint state of minimum throttle setting and fuel cutoff inhibition when the command driving. force is negative, and a section for calculating a command transmission ratio in accordance with the command engine speed. When the driving force command is negative, the control system put the engine in the constraint state and controls a continuously variable transmission in response to the command transmission ratio so as to prevent undesired vehicle speed hunting.

Abstract: A vehicle control system reduces the arithmetic operations for deciding the passableness of the vehicle through an upcoming curve and also avoids unnecessarily effecting automatic deceleration and warning, which are not completely indispensable in a system for performing the warning or automatic deceleration, so that the vehicle may pass through a curve at a proper vehicle speed and with minimum distraction to the vehicle occupants. Assuming that the driver performs a voluntary deceleration at a predetermined deceleration from the current vehicle speed, the system calculates an estimated passage speed of a tentative position N.sub.k, as set on a road ahead of an actual position P.sub.0. The system then sets a passable zone Z.sub.1, a warning zone Z.sub.2 and an automatic deceleration zone Z.sub.3 on the basis of turnable radii R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, at which a predetermined transverse acceleration is established at the estimated passage speed, as well as an arc C.sub.

Abstract: In apparatus and method for cruise control for an automotive vehicle, a controller is provided for running a self-diagnosis upon a receipt of the power supply via the first switch, for determining whether the apparatus operates normally or abnormally as a result of the run of the self-diagnosis, and for starting an acceptance of an input of the signal from the second switch when determining that the apparatus operates normally as the result of the self-diagnosis, and for issuing a warning signal when determining that the apparatus operates abnormally when the input of the signal from the second switch occurs at a time of the start of the acceptance of the input of the signal from the second switch and the input of the signal from the second switch occurs after a predetermined time has passed from the time when the acceptance of the input of the signal from the second switch occurs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for limiting the vehicle speed of a working vehicle which can provide a smooth traveling condition during vehicle speed limit, and which can set a vehicle speed limit suited to environmental conditions. To this end, a vehicle speed control device (10) judges a vehicle speed limit traveling period when a vehicle speed signal is equal to or greater than a vehicle speed limit value, to calculate a corrected depressing stroke signal by a control gain based on a deviation value between the vehicle speed signal and the vehicle speed limit value so that the deviation value becomes smaller to output to an engine control device (40), and judges an accelerated traveling period, when the vehicle speed signal is smaller than the vehicle speed limit value and the corrected depressing stroke signal is larger than a depressing stroke signal, to output the depressing stroke signal to the engine control device (40).

Abstract: An intelligent cruise control system is capable of maintaining a car-to-car distance allowing a collision to be avoided and carrying out follow-up running control without providing a sense of incompatibility to the driver. A radar circuit employed in a radar unit calculates a relative speed Vr of a car running ahead of a vehicle with an intelligent cruise control system installed therein with respect to the vehicle and a distance dr from the vehicle to the preceding car from a wave reflected by the preceding car. An ICC unit adjusts the speed of the vehicle by controlling the output of the engine of the vehicle in accordance with information such as the relative speed Vr and the distance dr received from the radar unit. In a follow-up running mode, the ICC unit controls the cruise of the vehicle in such a way that the speed of the vehicle and the distance from the vehicle to the preceding car are maintained at a target speed and a target car-to-car distance respectively.

Abstract: A vehicle adaptive cruise control system having active deceleration control provides for appropriate decelerations consistent with the objectives of preventing the vehicle from violating a desired minimum distance from a preceding vehicle and efficient utilization of road space through minimization of inter-vehicle spacing.

Abstract: A system for controlling or regulating the longitudinal speed of a motor vehicle includes an operating element for defining a desired longitudinal acceleration value as a function of a pertaining operating element actuating quantity. In a first embodiment of the invention, the system sets the longitudinal speed of the vehicle to the desired value adjusted by way of the operating element if the amount of this value is above a definable threshold value. Otherwise it sets a constant longitudinal speed which is lower than the actual vehicle speed at the moment when the set desired longitudinal acceleration value falls below the threshold value, by a differential value defined as a function of the speed. In a second embodiment which is preferably combined with the first embodiment, the adjusting sensitivity of the desired longitudinal acceleration value decreases with increasing longitudinal speed.

Abstract: A driving force control apparatus for moving a vehicle by a desired distance includes an input section for input a desired move distance, a throttle controller section for setting a throttle actuator of the vehicle at an opening degree, an actual moved distance detecting section for detecting an actual moved distance of the vehicle, and a braking section for stopping the vehicle by braking when the vehicle moved the desired distance. Therefore, a slight movement of the vehicle is simplified and therefore the load to a vehicle driver is decreased.

Abstract: In the case of a process for changing an electronic memory for use-related data of a vehicle, the changed new data and the old data maintained in the memory are sent to a comparator, in which case the comparator permits the taking-over or acceptance of the new data into the memory only if the new data have changed in comparison to the old data in a manner which conforms with the use of the data.

Abstract: A trailer coupling for motor vehicles, in particular passenger vehicles, has a coupling ball and a ball neck. One end region of the neck is angled and bears the coupling ball. Using a drive motor, the ball neck is movable with the coupling ball from an operative position into a rest position, and vice versa. To operate as safely as possible, a control (e.g., interlock) is provided for operating the drive to allow either movement of the ball neck, or traveling of the motor vehicle, but not both at the same time.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for controlling or limiting the speed of a vehicle includes a controller which limits or controls the speed of the vehicle to a pregiven value. There is a movement out of or into the control region by actuating or releasing the accelerator pedal. When reentering into the control region, the controller starts with a start value which takes into account the speed trace in the phase after leaving the control region.

Abstract: Cruise control for regulating the speed of a motor vehicle with a processing unit (14) and a manually actuatable operating element (20), wherein a selected speed can be set. On the operating element there is a switch (23), wherein the driver can select if the selected speed is to be kept constant of if it is to constitute a minimum speed or a maximum speed. There is also a switch (24, 25), wherein a permitted overspeed above a selected maximum speed can be set, so that a higher speed can be allowed when driving downhill, for the purpose of saving energy.

Abstract: A vehicle control system makes it possible to properly decide the passableness of a road curve in the forward direction of a subject vehicle by setting a tentative position ahead of an actual position by a tentative position setting mechanism M4, and calculates an estimated passage speed at the tentative position by an estimated passage speed calculating mechanism M5 on the basis of the distance between the actual position and the tentative position. A curve curvature radius calculating mechanism M6 and a curve length calculating mechanism M7 calculate the radius of curvature and length of a curve existing on a road ahead of the tentative position, on the basis of a map data outputted by a map data outputting mechanism M1, and a proper passage speed calculating mechanism M8 calculates the proper curve passing speed on the basis of the curvature radius and length of the curve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling engine speed during power take-off (PTO) operation. A technique is disclosed which enables accelerator pedal over-ride of PTO operation, wherein PTO operation is resumed when the accelerator pedal induced engine speed value decreases to a preset PTO engine speed. Also, a high-speed governor is employed to limit accelerator pedal-based engine speed during PTO over-ride operation to thereby limit maximum engine speed. In accordance with the invention, the operator of a vehicle can thus accelerate the engine, via actuation of the accelerator pedal, to engine speeds in excess of the preset PTO engine speed without disengaging PTO operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling engine speed in a motor vehicle engine (9) by an engine management system (1) with an engine control output (8,46). The engine management system (1) provides the following operations. A driver demand controller (38) responsive to an accelerator pedal (12) provides a first control signal (40) representative of a target engine speed. A cruise speed controller (22) responsive to a cruise control setting and vehicle speed provides a cruise signal (28). An idle speed controller (30) provides an idle signal (32). A combined idle-cruise speed controller (36) provides a second control signal (42) representative of a target engine speed which is responsive to the greater of the cruise signal (28) and idle signal (32). The greater of the first (40) or second (42) signals is selected to control (8,46) engine speed.

Abstract: A vehicular constant-speed running system converges a vehicle speed control of a vehicle quickly to a target vehicle speed when the vehicle is set in a cruise control mode. The vehicular constant-speed running system includes a constant-speed running section for controlling a throttle opening independently of an accelerator opening to maintain a vehicle at a target vehicle speed. It also includes an initial opening setting section which, at the time of transfer by the constant-speed running section, sets the throttle opening before the transfer to an initial value at the time of the transfer if the throttle opening is in a region which is preset based on either the vehicle speed at the time of the transfer or a parameter correlated with the vehicle speed. If the throttle opening is not in this region, the initial opening setting section sets the same throttle opening to the upper limit and/or the lower limit of that region.