Auto-cruise apparatus
First Claim
1. An auto-cruise apparatus comprising a vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller for controlling a vehicle speed of a subject vehicle with a set vehicle speed as an upper limit of said vehicle speed such that a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between said subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle becomes equal to a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed becomes equal to said set vehicle speed when it is determined that there exists no preceding vehicle and input means capable of being operated by a driver with regard to a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control performed by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller wherein said set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and said set vehicle speed can be set by said driver via said input means, said auto-cruise apparatus further comprising:
- a constant vehicle speed controller for controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed is maintained at said set vehicle speed whether a preceding vehicle may exist or not; and
a mode selector for selecting, in accordance with predetermined operations upon said input means, either a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode in which a travel of said subject vehicle is controlled by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or a constant vehicle speed control mode in which said travel is controlled by said constant vehicle speed controller, wherein a travel control by either said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or said constant vehicle speed controller is performed in accordance with a travel mode that has been selected by said mode selector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An auto-cruise apparatus capable to switch the modes between the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control and the constant vehicle speed mode is provided. The inventive auto-cruise apparatus comprises a vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller for controlling a travel of a subject vehicle such that a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle becomes equal to a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and input means capable of being operated by a driver with regard to a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control performed by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller. The auto-cruise apparatus further comprises a constant vehicle speed controller for controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed is maintained at a set vehicle speed whether said preceding vehicle may exist or not and a mode selector for selecting, in accordance with predetermined operations upon said input means, either a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode in which a travel of said subject vehicle is controlled by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or a constant vehicle speed control mode in which said travel is controlled by said constant vehicle speed controller. With such structure, a travel control by either said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or said constant vehicle speed controller is performed in accordance with a travel mode that has been selected by said mode selector. In accordance with the invention, since the mode switching function is provided on the existing input means, a travel control switching between the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode and the constant vehicle speed control mode could be performed without incurring a high cost.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An auto-cruise apparatus comprising a vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller for controlling a vehicle speed of a subject vehicle with a set vehicle speed as an upper limit of said vehicle speed such that a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between said subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle becomes equal to a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed becomes equal to said set vehicle speed when it is determined that there exists no preceding vehicle and input means capable of being operated by a driver with regard to a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control performed by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller wherein said set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and said set vehicle speed can be set by said driver via said input means, said auto-cruise apparatus further comprising:
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a constant vehicle speed controller for controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed is maintained at said set vehicle speed whether a preceding vehicle may exist or not; and
a mode selector for selecting, in accordance with predetermined operations upon said input means, either a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode in which a travel of said subject vehicle is controlled by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or a constant vehicle speed control mode in which said travel is controlled by said constant vehicle speed controller, wherein a travel control by either said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or said constant vehicle speed controller is performed in accordance with a travel mode that has been selected by said mode selector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16)
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14. A method for switching a mode of an auto-cruise apparatus, said auto-cruise apparatus comprising a vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller for controlling a vehicle speed of a subject vehicle with a set vehicle speed as an upper limit of said vehicle speed such that a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between said subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle becomes equal to a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed becomes equal to said set vehicle speed when it is determined that there exists no preceding vehicle and input means capable of being operated by a driver with regard to a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control performed by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller wherein said set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and said set vehicle speed can be set by said driver via said input means, said auto-cruise apparatus further comprising:
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a constant vehicle speed controller for controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed is maintained at said set vehicle speed whether said preceding vehicle may exist or not; and
a mode selector for selecting, in accordance with predetermined operations upon said input means, either a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode in which a travel of said subject vehicle is controlled by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or a constant vehicle speed control mode in which said travel is controlled by said constant vehicle speed controller, wherein said input means further comprises vehicle-to-vehicle distance setting means for setting said set vehicle-to-vehicle distance; and
said method comprising the steps of;
performing said constant vehicle speed control mode by said constant vehicle speed controller; and
performing a switching from said constant vehicle speed control mode to said vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode by said mode selector in response to such operation upon said vehicle-to-vehicle distance setting means that decreases said vehicle-to-vehicle distance. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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15. A method for switching a mode of an auto-cruise apparatus, said auto-cruise apparatus comprising a vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller for controlling a vehicle speed of a subject vehicle with a set vehicle speed as an upper limit of said vehicle speed such that a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between said subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle becomes equal to a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed becomes equal to said set vehicle speed when it is determined that there exists no preceding vehicle and input means capable of being operated by a driver with regard to a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control performed by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller wherein said set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and said set vehicle speed can be set by said driver via said input means, said auto-cruise apparatus further comprising:
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a constant vehicle speed controller for controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed is maintained at said set vehicle speed whether said preceding vehicle may exist or not; and
a mode selector for selecting, in accordance with predetermined operations upon said input means, either a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode in which a travel of said subject vehicle is controlled by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or a constant vehicle speed control mode in which said travel is controlled by said constant vehicle speed controller, wherein said input means further comprises vehicle-to-vehicle distance setting means for setting said set vehicle-to-vehicle distance; and
said method comprising the steps of;
performing said vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller; and
performing a switching from said vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode to said constant vehicle speed control mode by said mode selector in response to such operation upon said vehicle-to-vehicle distance setting means that increases said vehicle-to-vehicle distance and is performed for a predetermined time period or more.
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18. A method for switching a mode of an auto-cruise apparatus, said auto-cruise apparatus comprising a vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller for controlling a vehicle speed of a subject vehicle with a set vehicle speed as an upper limit of said vehicle speed such that a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between said subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle becomes equal to a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed becomes equal to said set vehicle speed when it is determined that there exists no preceding vehicle and input means capable of being operated by a driver with regard to a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control performed by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller wherein said set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and said set vehicle speed can be set by said driver via said input means, said auto-cruise apparatus further comprising:
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a constant vehicle speed controller for controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed is maintained at said set vehicle speed whether said preceding vehicle may exist or not; and
a mode selector for selecting, in accordance with predetermined operations upon said input means, either a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode in which a travel of said subject vehicle is controlled by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or a constant vehicle speed control mode in which said travel is controlled by said constant vehicle speed controller, wherein said method comprising the steps of;
performing said vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller; and
performing a switching from said vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode to said constant vehicle speed control mode by said mode selector, wherein said set vehicle speed is set to a current vehicle speed when said vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode is switched to said constant vehicle speed mode.
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19. A method for switching a mode of an auto-cruise apparatus, said auto-cruise apparatus comprising a vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller for controlling a vehicle speed of a subject vehicle with a set vehicle speed as an upper limit of said vehicle speed such that a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between said subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle becomes equal to a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed becomes equal to said set vehicle speed when it is determined that there exists no preceding vehicle and input means capable of being operated by a driver with regard to a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control performed by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller wherein said set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and said set vehicle speed can be set by said driver via said input means, said auto-cruise apparatus further comprising:
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a constant vehicle speed controller for controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed is maintained at said set vehicle speed whether said preceding vehicle may exist or not; and
a mode selector for selecting, in accordance with predetermined operations upon said input means, either a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode in which a travel of said subject vehicle is controlled by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or a constant vehicle speed control mode in which said travel is controlled by said constant vehicle speed controller, wherein said apparatus further comprises preceding vehicle determination means for determining a preceding vehicle that said subject vehicle should follow, and said method comprising the steps of;
performing said vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller; and
allowing a switching from said vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode to said constant vehicle speed mode by said mode selector only when said preceding vehicle determination means determines that there exists no preceding vehicle.
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20. A method for switching a mode of an auto-cruise apparatus, said auto-cruise apparatus comprising a vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller for controlling a vehicle speed of a subject vehicle with a set vehicle speed as an upper limit of said vehicle speed such that a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between said subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle becomes equal to a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed becomes equal to said set vehicle speed when it is determined that there exists no preceding vehicle and input means capable of being operated by a driver with regard to a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control performed by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller wherein said set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and said set vehicle speed can be set by said driver via said input means, said auto-cruise apparatus further comprising:
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a constant vehicle speed controller for controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed is maintained at said set vehicle speed whether said preceding vehicle may exist or not; and
a mode selector for selecting, in accordance with predetermined operations upon said input means, either a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode in which a travel of said subject vehicle is controlled by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or a constant vehicle speed control mode in which said travel is controlled by said constant vehicle speed controller, wherein said input means further comprises vehicle-to-vehicle distance setting means for setting said set vehicle-to-vehicle distance; and
said method comprising the steps of;
performing said vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller; and
performing a switching from said vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode to said constant vehicle speed control mode by said mode selector, wherein said set vehicle speed that has been already set is reset when a switching from said vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode to said constant vehicle speed mode is performed.
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Specification