Stop and go adaptive cruise control system

• US 20030135318A1
• Filed: 01/17/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Samuel, Stephen, Zwicky, Timothy, Tellis, Levasseur, Rupp, Jeffrey Dan, Joyce, John Patrick, Engelman, Gerald H., Joh, Gyu Myeong, Tarabishy, M. Nabeel, Bond, John Vincent III, Clarke, Nigel John
• Granted Patent: US 6,708,099 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: 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 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle

Abstract

An adaptive cruise control (ACC) system (10) for a host vehicle (12) is provided. The ACC system (10) includes a forward-looking sensor (18) generating a range signal corresponding to a distance between the host vehicle (12) and a target vehicle. The forward-looking sensor (18) also generates a range rate signal corresponding to a rate that the distance between the host vehicle (12) and the target vehicle is changing. A controller (20) is electrically coupled to the forward-looking sensor (18). The controller (20) maintains a preset headway distance between the host vehicle (12) and the target vehicle, when the host vehicle velocity is less than about 40 KPH, by adjusting the host vehicle velocity in response to the range signal and the range rate signal. A method for performing the same is also provided.

Claims

1. An adaptive cruise control system for a host vehicle comprising:

a forward-looking sensor generating a range signal corresponding to a distance between the host vehicle and a target vehicle;

said forward-looking sensor generating a range rate signal corresponding to a rate that said distance between the host vehicle and said target vehicle is changing; and

a controller electrically coupled to said forward-looking sensor, said controller maintaining a preset headway distance between the host vehicle and said target vehicle, when the host vehicle velocity is less than about 40 KPH by adjusting the host vehicle velocity in response to said range signal and said range rate signal.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein the controller signals a braking system or an engine management system to maintain the preset headway distance.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller discontinuing operating when the host vehicle velocity is greater than or equal to about 50 KPH.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller operates when the host vehicle velocity is greater than or equal to about 40 KPH and below about 50 KPH.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller reduces the velocity of the host vehicle down to 0 KPH in response to said range signal and said range rate signal.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller operates from an initial vehicle rest velocity of 0 KPH.

7. A system as in claim 1 further comprising:

an electric park brake assist;

wherein said controller applies said electric park brake assist while maintaining a headway distance between the host vehicle and said target.

8. A system as in claim 1 wherein said target comprises at least one of a vehicle, an object, and a pedestrian.

9. A system as in claim 1 further comprising an indicator electrically coupled to said controller, said indicator indicating then said controller is maintaining a rest vehicle velocity of zero KPH.

10. A system as in claim 1 further comprising an indicator electrically coupled to said controller, said indicator indicating when said controller is adjusting the acceleration of the host vehicle.

11. A system as in claim 1 further comprising an indicator electrically coupled to said controller, said indicator indicating when said controller is stopping the host vehicle.

12. A system as in claim 1 further comprising an indicator electrically coupled to said controller, said indicator indicating that rate of deceleration is insufficient as to stop behind said target.

13. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller maintains the host vehicle at a rest velocity of zero KPH for a predetermined duration of time.

14. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller maintains the host vehicle at a rest velocity of zero KPH until intervention is provided.

15. A system as in claim 1 further comprising:

said forward-looking sensor generating a target angle signal;

wherein said controller maintains a headway distance in response to said target angle signal.

16. A system as in claim 1 further comprising:

said forward-looking sensor generating a yaw rate signal;

wherein said controller maintains a headway distance in response to said yaw rate signal.

17. A adaptive cruise control system for a host vehicle comprising:

a forward-looking sensor generating a range signal corresponding to a distance between the host vehicle and a target vehicle;

said forward-looking sensor generating a range rate signal corresponding to a rate that said distance between the host vehicle and said target vehicle is changing; and

a controller electrically coupled to said forward-looking sensor, said controller maintaining a preset headway distance between the host vehicle and said target vehicle, from a host vehicle velocity of zero KPH, in response to said range signal and said range rate signal.

18. A adaptive cruise control system for a host vehicle comprising:

a forward-looking sensor generating a range signal corresponding to a distance between the host vehicle and a target vehicle;

said forward-looking sensor generating a range rate signal corresponding to a rate that said distance between the host vehicle and said target vehicle is changing; and

a controller electrically coupled to said forward-looking sensor, said controller reducing the velocity of the host vehicle to zero KPH in response to said range signal and said range rate signal.

19. A method of adjusting the velocity of a host vehicle comprising:

sensing a target vehicle and generating a range signal corresponding to a distance between the host vehicle and said target;

generating a range rate signal corresponding to a rate said distance between the host vehicle and said target vehicle is changing; and

maintaining a preset headway distance between the host vehicle and said target vehicle, during a host vehicle velocity of less than 40 KPH, in response to said range signal and said range rate signal.

20. A method as in claim 19 further comprising maintaining a headway distance between the host vehicle and said target vehicle, from an initial vehicle rest velocity of zero KPH, in response to said range signal and said range rate signal.

21. A method as in claim 19 further comprising reducing the velocity of the host vehicle to zero KPH in response to said range signal and said range rate signal.