Method for selecting a target vehicle

• US 20050102089A1
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Linden, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,822 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: B60W 2554/4041 Position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4042 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4043 Lateral speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/803 Relative lateral speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/723 by using numerical data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9322 using additional data, e.g. driver condition, road state or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A method selects a target vehicle located in front of a vehicle in the driving direction of the second-mentioned vehicle. The selection of the target vehicle is used in particular to automatically control the distance between the second-mentioned vehicle and the target vehicle. A preceding vehicle that can be selected as a target vehicle is recognized if a sensor unit has detected an object in front of the vehicle in the driving direction and a selection condition for this object is satisfied. Whether the selection condition is satisfied depends on the result of an evaluation of dynamic parameters of the vehicle and/or the object. The presence of a selectable preceding vehicle is indicated to the driver, and the driver can select the selectable preceding vehicle as a target vehicle by a confirmation.

Claims

1. Method for selecting a target vehicle located in front of a following vehicle in a driving direction of the following vehicle to control a distance between the following vehicle and the target vehicle, comprising recognizing a preceding vehicle selectable as the target vehicle when a sensor unit has detected an object in front of the following vehicle in the driving direction and a selection condition is satisfied for the object indicating a presence of the selectable preceding vehicle to a driver of the following vehicle and selecting the selectable preceding vehicle as a target vehicle by a confirmation of the driver wherein the selection condition is satisfied depending on an evaluation of dynamic parameters of the at least one of the following vehicle and the object.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection condition is determined as a function of a longitudinal dynamic of the following vehicle.

3. Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein for a longitudinal speed of the following vehicle greater than a predefined first speed threshold value, a first selection condition applies, and for a longitudinal speed of the following vehicle that is less than or equal to the first speed threshold value, a second selection condition different from the first selection condition applies.

4. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the following vehicle and the object in the driving direction, and/or the relative speed between the following vehicle and the object in the driving direction are evaluated as vehicle dynamic parameters to check the selection condition.

5. Method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the selection condition is determined as a function of a longitudinal dynamic of the following vehicle.

6. Method as claimed in claim 5, wherein for a longitudinal speed of the following vehicle greater than a predefined first speed threshold value, a first selection condition applies, and for a longitudinal speed of the following vehicle that is less than or equal to the first speed threshold value, a second selection condition different from the first selection condition applies.

7. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein longitudinal speed at least one of the object in the driving direction, longitudinal acceleration of the object in the driving direction the lateral speed of the object perpendicular to the driving direction, and the lateral acceleration of the object perpendicular to the driving direction are evaluated as vehicle dynamic parameters to check the selection condition.

8. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selectability of the selectable preceding vehicle as the target vehicle is cancelled when an abort condition is satisfied.

9. Method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the abort condition is satisfied when the preceding vehicle has left a detection range of the sensor unit when the distance between the following vehicle and the preceding vehicle exceeds an upper distance limit, or when at least one of the longitudinal speed of the preceding vehicle and the longitudinal speed of the following vehicle exceeds an upper speed limit.

10. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a distance control mode of the following vehicle is activated when the driver has selected the target vehicle, such that the system automatically intervenes in the longitudinal dynamics of the following vehicle to maintain a safe distance.

11. Method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the distance control mode is capable of being disabled manually for a defined time period such that during the defined time period the following vehicle can be at less than the safe distance relative to the target vehicle.

12. Method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the distance control mode is terminated when a termination condition is satisfied the selectable preceding vehicle has left a detection range of the sensor unit when the distance between the following vehicle and the selectable preceding vehicle exceeds an upper distance limit, when at least one of a longitudinal speed of the selectable preceding vehicle and a longitudinal speed of the following vehicle exceeds an upper speed limit, or when the driver manually cancels the distance control mode.

13. Method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the distance control mode termination condition is satisfied when the selectable preceding vehicle exceeds an upper distance limit, when at least one of a longitudinal speed of the selectable preceding vehicle and a longitudinal speed of the following vehicle exceeds an upper speed limit, or when the driver manually cancels the distance control mode.

14. Method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the distance control mode is capable of being disabled manually for a defined time period such that during the defined time period the following vehicle can be at less than the safe distance relative to the target vehicle.