Method and device for releasing a take-over request for cruise controlled vehicles

• US 20030130783A1
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Winner, Hermann, Irion, Albrecht, Hellmann, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 6,941,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/102 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/18 including a device to audibly, visibly, or otherwise signal the existence of unusual or unintended speed to the driver of the vehicle devices primarily intended for indicating speed to other traffic B60Q1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/02 Active or adaptive cruise control system; Distance control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• 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 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle

Abstract

A method and a corresponding device are proposed for triggering a request for taking control (RTC), which signals a driver of a vehicle having adaptive cruise control that the driving situation can probably not be controlled any more by the adaptive cruise control system and that the driver has to intervene. By the monitoring of two or a plurality of vehicle variables which are causal in triggering the RTC, the probability of a false alarm by the system is reduced, and the triggering of the RTC is adapted to the instantaneous vehicle speed.

Claims

1. A method for notifying the driver of a vehicle having adaptive cruise control, in order to inform the driver of activation of a request for taking control, which signals that a maximum braking force/pressure controllable by the adaptive cruise control is being applied, and the deceleration resulting therefrom is not sufficient to automatically decelerate the speed-regulated vehicle in time and to a sufficient degree, wherein at least two criteria relating to deceleration values are simultaneously met in order to activate the request for taking control.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least two of these criteria are values corresponding to vehicle deceleration, one of these two values being limited with regard to at least one of the variables time-related change, maximum steepness and absolute value.

3. The method as recited in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the value of the maximum braking pressure/force aMaxDecel controllable by the adaptive cruise control can be changed, especially as a function of the speed being instantaneously driven, as a function of road conditions and/or as a function of the loading of the vehicle.

4. The method as recited in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the decision system according to the present invention, for activating a request for taking control 109 is made dependent on at least one further condition with the aid of an AND-linkage 107, whereby each additional condition has to be simultaneously fulfilled for triggering a request for taking control to be able to be activated, one of these further conditions expediently being a signal which notifies that the ACC system is actively controlling the vehicle.

5. The method as recited in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the decision system according to the present invention, for activating a request for taking control 109 is made dependent on at least one further condition with the aid of an OR-linkage 108, whereby each additional condition can individually cause the triggering of a request for taking control, one of these further conditions expediently being a signal which notifies that an incorrect mode of operation of the ACC system has been determined.

6. The method as recited in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein, during a request for taking control, the warning is activated over a minimum time, and/or a minimum time must elapse between two warnings and/or the warning must be maintained until such time as a minimum distance from the preceding vehicle is achieved again and/or until the distance from the preceding vehicle is becoming greater again and/or until the driver intervenes in the driving action by operating the gas or brake pedal or the on/off switch.

7. The method as recited in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein, for forming the criteria with respect to the deceleration values, at least one factor is included with the others which is definitely predefined or variably calculated, which converts a driving program (comfortable, sporty, safe, energy-saving), selected by the driver, into the operating behavior of the ACC control automatic action.

8. A device for notifying the driver of a vehicle having adaptive cruise control, in order to inform the driver of the activation of a request for taking control, which signals that a maximum braking force/pressure controllable by the adaptive cruise control is being applied, and the deceleration resulting therefrom is not sufficient to automatically decelerate the speed-regulated vehicle in time and to a sufficient degree, preferably for implementing one of the methods recited in claims 1 through 7, wherein at least two criteria relating to deceleration values are simultaneously met in order to activate the request for taking control.