Method of detecting the docking of vehicles
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsOttmar Gehring, Carsten Haemmerling, Harro Heilmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann
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Abstract
In a module for detecting the docking of a vehicle, changes of vehicle engine torque and rotational wheel speed of the vehicle are determined as a function of time. It is checked whether the change of the engine torque is >>0 and the change of the rotational wheel speed is <<0. If both of these conditions are met, docking is detected and the vehicle can be braked. The module may be implemented in the form of software.
Claims15
A method of detecting docking of a vehicle to a docking system, said method comprising:
- a) monitoring changes of a first quantity that is indicative of longitudinal velocity of the vehicle;
- b) monitoring changes a second quantity that is indicative of engine torque;
- c) determining whether a change of the first quantity is less than a defined first value;
- d) determining whether a change of the second quantity is greater than a defined second value;
- and
- e) determining that a docking has taken place when both c) and d) have been met at the same time.
A module comprising:
- first input means for receiving a first input quantity indicative of the engine torque;
- second input means for receiving a second input quantity indicative of longitudinal velocity of the vehicle;
- first determining means for determining a change of the first input quantity;
- second determining means for determining a change of the second input quantity;
- and
- third determining means connected to receive outputs from said first and second determining means for determining, based on said outputs, whether a docking of the vehicle to a docking system is occurring.
A method for detecting docking of a vehicle to a docking system, said method comprising:
- a monitoring longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle;
- monitoring engine torque of the vehicle;
- and
- determining that the vehicle has docked when a rapid longitudinal deceleration of the vehicle occurs at the same time that said engine torque undergoes a rapid increase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.