# US 2013/0158829 A1 · Fuel economy mode to modify cruise control for an automobile > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158829 A1 - Document ID: US20130158829A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/331,166 - Filed: 2011-12-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Clinton Lee Schumann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158829A1 ## CPC - B60K 31/00: Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator - B60K 2310/242: setting initial target speed, e.g. initial algorithms - B60W 2540/21: Voice - B60W 2540/30: Driving style - B60W 2552/15: Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction - B60W 2556/50: of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data - B60W 2710/06: Combustion engines, Gas turbines - B60W 2710/0627: Fuel flow rate - B60W 2720/10: Longitudinal speed - B60Y 2300/52: Engine fuel consumption - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A method of operating a cruise control system for a vehicle comprises selecting a fuel economy mode for the cruise control system and determining a desired fuel economy. A fuel economy level of the vehicle is maintained at the desired fuel economy while in the fuel economy mode for the cruise control system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a cruise control system for a vehicle comprising: selecting a fuel economy mode for the cruise control system; determining a desired fuel economy; and maintaining a fuel economy level of the vehicle at the desired fuel economy. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the fuel economy mode for the cruise control system further comprises a control device for the cruise control selecting the fuel economy mode when an approaching hill is detected. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein an approaching hill is detected by one of a longitudinal gravity sensor and a navigation system for the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining the fuel economy level of the vehicle at the desired fuel economy includes maintaining a fuel economy level of the vehicle above the desired fuel economy. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining operation of the vehicle at the desired fuel economy includes limiting the fuel economy level to maintain the vehicle operation at a safe travelling speed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the fuel economy level to maintain the vehicle at an operating speed that is within a preselected range from the initial operating speed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising adjusting the fuel economy level back to the desired fuel economy once the vehicle is operating within the preselected range. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein maintaining a fuel economy level of the vehicle at the desired fuel economy includes adjusting a fuel supply to an engine for the vehicle with an engine controller in communication with a fuel supply system and the cruise control system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting the desired fuel economy within a control device for the cruise control system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting a normal operating mode for the cruise control system; determining a desired operating speed of the vehicle; and maintaining an operating speed of the vehicle at the desired fuel operating speed while in the normal operating mode for the cruise control system. ### Claim 11 A method of operating a vehicle comprising: selecting an operating mode for a cruise control system; determining at least one of a desired fuel economy and an initial cruise control speed for the vehicle; and adjusting a fuel supply to an engine for the vehicle with an engine controller in communication with a fuel supply system to maintain a fuel economy level of the vehicle at the desired fuel economy when operating in a fuel economy mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein selecting the fuel economy mode for the cruise control system further comprises a control device for the cruise control selecting the fuel economy mode when an approaching hill is detected. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein an approaching hill is detected by one of a longitudinal gravity sensor and a navigation system for the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the fuel supply to the engine includes limiting the fuel supply to the engine to maintain the fuel economy level of the vehicle above the desired fuel economy. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the fuel supply to the engine includes limiting the fuel economy level to maintain the vehicle operation at a safe travelling speed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising adjusting the fuel economy level to maintain the vehicle at an operating speed that is within a preselected range from an initial operating speed when the fuel economy mode was initiated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting the fuel economy level back to the desired fuel economy once the vehicle is operating within the preselected range. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising adjusting the desired fuel economy within a control device for the cruise control system.