Vehicle, and apparatus for and method of controlling traveling of the vehicle

• US 20020095255A1
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Endo, Yoshinori, Nakamura, Kozo, Takenaga, Hiroshi, Minowa, Toshimichi, Nakamura, Mitsuru, Yoshikawa, Tokuji, Komuro, Ryoichi, Morizane, Hiroto
• Granted Patent: US 6,622,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0058 responsive to externally generated signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/802 Longitudinal distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data

Abstract

A method comprising a first traveling mode in which the traveling environment ahead is recognized and at least one of the engine, the speed change gear, and the brake is controlled on the basis of a signal representing the recognition and a second traveling mode in which at least one of the engine, the speed change gear, and the brake is controlled on the basis of a signal generated by operation of the driver, in which the second traveling mode is selected in an area where vehicle following-up control is difficult.

Claims

1. An own vehicle comprising:

an engine;

a brake; and

a control apparatus;

wherein said control apparatus controls said engine or said brake on the basis of the distance from a vehicle in front, and

said own vehicle on this side, while the same is in an area, changes the mode of said control.

2. An own vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a speed change gear, wherein

said control apparatus controls said engine, said brake, or said speed change gear on the basis of the distance from said vehicle in front.

3. An own vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

said control apparatus controls said engine, said brake, or said speed change gear on the basis of the distance from said vehicle in front and the speed of said own vehicle.

4. An own vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

said control is such a mode of control to cause the distance from said vehicle in front to approach a constant value, and

said change operation is to stop said control.

5. An own vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

said control is such a mode of control to cause the distance from said vehicle in front to approach a constant value, and

said change operation is to change the amount controlled in said control.

6. An own vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

further comprising a detector of the position of said own vehicle, wherein

said own vehicle determines whether the own vehicle is within said area or not on the basis of the output of said detector.

7. An own vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein

said own vehicle changes the mode of said control again when said own vehicle leaves said area.

8. An own vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

the mode of control before reaching said area and the mode of control after leaving said area are the same.

14. An own vehicle according to claim 1 or 9, characterized in that

said area or information of said road is obtained from at least one of an image of a view in front, a navigator, or information received from outside.

9. An own vehicle comprising:

an engine;

a brake; and

a control apparatus;

wherein said control apparatus controls said engine or said brake on the basis of the distance from a vehicle in front, and

an own vehicle changes the mode of said control on the basis of information about the road ahead of said own vehicle.

10. An own vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising a speed change gear, wherein

said control apparatus controls said engine, said brake, or said speed change gear on the basis of the distance from said vehicle in front.

11. An own vehicle according to claim 9 or 10, wherein

said control apparatus controls said engine, said brake, or said speed change gear on the basis of the distance from said vehicle in front and the speed of said own vehicle.

12. An own vehicle according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein

said control is such a mode of control to cause the distance from said vehicle in front to approach a constant value, and

said change operation is to stop said control.

13. An own vehicle according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein

said control is such a mode of control to cause the distance from said vehicle in front to approach a constant value, and

said change operation is to change the amount controlled in said control.

19. An own vehicle travel controlling apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that

said area is defined by at least three points on said map.

20. An own vehicle travel controlling apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that

said three-point information is received from infrastructure.

21. An own vehicle travel controlling apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that

said area is set or changed manually by the driver or a passenger of said vehicle.

22. An own vehicle travel controlling apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that

said area is deleted after it is traveled through.

23. An own vehicle travel controlling apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that

said apparatus, before said mode switching means selects said second traveling mode, gives an advance warning to the driver so that a certain period of time is passed, the vehicle is allowed to travel a certain distance, or it is slowed down a certain amount.

15. An own vehicle travel controlling apparatus mounted on a vehicle for controlling an engine or a brake of said vehicle on the basis of the distance from a vehicle in front and changing the mode of said control when said vehicle has reached an area.

16. An own vehicle travel controlling apparatus mounted on a vehicle for controlling an engine or a brake of said vehicle on the basis of the distance from a vehicle in front and changing the mode of said control on the basis of information about the road ahead of said vehicle.

17. An own vehicle travel controlling apparatus comprising:

control means for controlling at least one of an engine, a speed change gear, and a brake on the basis of a recognition signal of the traveling environment ahead of a vehicle;

map storage means for storing map information;

current position detection means for detecting the current position of said vehicle; and

stop means for stopping said control means when it is known that said vehicle has reached an area according to said map information and said current position.

18. An own vehicle travel controlling apparatus comprising:

a first traveling mode controlling at least one of an engine, a speed change gear, and a brake on the basis of a recognition signal of the traveling environment ahead of a vehicle;

a second traveling mode controlling at least one of said engine, said speed change gear, and said brake on the basis of a signal generated by operation of the driver of said vehicle;

mode switching means for selecting and carrying out either of said two traveling modes;

map storage means for storing map information; and

current position detection means for detecting the current position of said vehicle, characterized in that

said mode switching means selects said second traveling mode when it is known that said vehicle has reached an area according to said map information and said current position.

24. An own vehicle travel controlling method of recognizing the traveling environment ahead of a vehicle and controlling at least one of an engine, a speed change gear, and a brake on the basis of the recognition, said vehicle travel controlling method comprising the steps of:

detecting the current position of said vehicle; and

stopping said control when it is known that said vehicle has reached an area according to map information in storage and said current position.

25. An own vehicle travel controlling method of selecting and executing either a first traveling mode in which the traveling environment ahead of a vehicle is recognized and at least one of an engine, a speed change gear, and a brake is controlled on the basis of the recognition or a second mode in which at least one of said engine, said speed change gear, and said brake is controlled on the basis of a signal generated by operation of the driver of said vehicle, said vehicle travel controlling method characterized by comprising the steps of:

detecting the current position of said vehicle; and

selecting said second traveling mode when it is known that said vehicle has reached an area according to map information in storage and said current position.