IP Library Granted Patent US 12681506
Granted Patent B2
US 12681506 · App. 18/704,350 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Vehicle being operable in an autonomous driving mode and activation device for activating the autonomous driving mode

Inventors: Christian Roberto Kelber (Marktoberdorf, DE); Oliver Kreil (Marktoberdorf, DE); Michael Sinning (Marktoberdorf, DE)
Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
G05D1/81A01B69/008B60T7/08B60T7/12B60T8/1701B60T8/171B60T13/68G05D1/85B60T7/04B60T2260/09G05D2105/15G05D2107/21
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12681506
App. No.
18/704,350
Filed
Apr 24, 2024
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3667
USPC
701/25
Abstract

A vehicle ( 22 ) being operable in an autonomous driving mode having a parking brake ( 17 ) with a first actuation unit ( 9 ) configured to apply or release the parking brake ( 17 ); an activation device ( 10 ) configured to activate or deactivate the autonomous driving mode; an interlock ( 11 ), wherein the interlock ( 11 ) is configured to prevent an activation of the autonomous driving mode unless the parking brake ( 17 ) is applied by the first actuation unit ( 9 ).

Claims (22)

1 . A vehicle being operable in an autonomous driving mode, the vehicle comprising:

a parking brake with a first actuation unit configured to apply or release the parking brake;

an activation device configured to activate or deactivate the autonomous driving mode; and

an interlock,

wherein the interlock is configured to prevent an activation of the autonomous driving mode unless the parking brake is applied by the first actuation unit,

wherein the interlock is configured to prevent an activation of the autonomous driving mode by blocking an actuation of the activation device.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the interlock is integrated in the first actuation unit.

3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the parking brake is configured to be released when the autonomous driving mode is activated.

4 . The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the parking brake is configured to be released automatically when the first actuation unit is operated to apply the parking brake and the autonomous driving mode is activated.

5 . The vehicle of claim 4 , further comprising a control unit configured to override a trigger signal of the first actuation unit to apply the parking brake by a trigger signal to release the parking brake when the autonomous driving mode is activated.

6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the parking brake is configured to be applied automatically when a malfunction of the autonomous driving mode is present.

7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first actuation unit comprises a brake lever mechanism.

8 . The vehicle of claim 1 , comprising a service brake being electronically operable; the service brake comprising an interrupt configured to enable an electronical operation of the service brake when the parking brake is activated and to disable an electronical operation of the service brake when the parking brake is deactivated.

9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the service brake comprises an interface configured to receive a trigger signal for applying the service brake.

10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the interface is configured to receive the trigger signal from an external unit.

11 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the interface is configured to receive a trigger signal for activating or deactivating the autonomous driving mode from an external unit.

12 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the service brake comprises a second actuation unit operable by a driver of the vehicle to apply or release the service brake when the electronical operation of the service brake is disabled by the interrupt.

13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the service brake is a fluid actuated brake comprising a valve controllable by an actuation of the second actuation unit and by the electronical operation to adapt a brake force of the service brake.

14 . The vehicle of claim 1 , comprising a service brake being electronically operable; the service brake comprising an interrupt configured to enable an electronical operation of the service brake when the autonomous driving mode is activated and to disable an electronical operation of the service brake when the autonomous driving mode is deactivated.

15 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the autonomous driving mode is configured to control the vehicle in relation to a second vehicle.

16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle is configured to indicate an activation of the autonomous driving mode to the second vehicle.

17 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is configured to receive a trigger signal to activate or deactivate the autonomous driving mode from an external unit.