Method for Operating a Motor Vehicle

• US 20080125949A1
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Richter, Goetz
• Application Number:
  US11/944,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125949A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle

Abstract

In a method for operating a motor vehicle, the actual distance of the vehicle that is to be operated from a vehicle driving in front of the vehicle that is to be operated is detected, and the speed of the vehicle that is to be operated is influenced automatically such that a predetermined setpoint distance is maintained. Accordingly, the distance of the vehicle that is to be operated from a vehicle driving behind the vehicle that is to be operated is additionally detected. When the distance of the vehicle that is to be operated from the vehicle driving behind the vehicle that is to be operated drops below a specific limit value, the predetermined setpoint distance of the vehicle that is to be operated from the vehicle driving in front of the vehicle that is to be operated is automatically increased or the speed of the vehicle that is to be operated is automatically influenced such that the actual distance is increased in deviation from the predetermined setpoint distance.

Claims

1. A method for operating a motor vehicle, which comprises the steps of:

detecting an actual distance of the motor vehicle being operated from a further vehicle driving in front of the motor vehicle being operated;

automatically influencing a speed of the motor vehicle being operated such that a predetermined setpoint distance is maintained;

detecting a further distance of the motor vehicle being operated from an additional vehicle driving behind the motor vehicle being operated; and

when the further distance of the motor vehicle being operated from the additional vehicle driving behind the motor vehicle being operated drops below a specific limit value, automatically increasing the predetermined setpoint distance of the motor vehicle being operated from the further vehicle driving in front of the motor vehicle being operated.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises automatically activating brake lights of the motor vehicle being operated at a latest when the further distance of the motor vehicle being operated from the additional vehicle driving behind the motor vehicle being operated drops below the specific limit value.

3. The method according to claim 2, which further comprises already automatically activating the brake lights in advance on detection of a certain probability of danger.

4. A method for operating a motor vehicle, which comprises the steps of:

detecting an actual distance between the motor vehicle being operated and a further vehicle driving in front of the motor vehicle being operated;

automatically influencing a speed of the motor vehicle being operated such that a predetermined setpoint distance is maintained;

detecting a further distance between the motor vehicle being operated and an additional vehicle driving behind the motor vehicle being operated; and

if the further distance of the motor vehicle being operated from the additional vehicle driving behind the motor vehicle being operated drops below a specific limit value, automatically influencing the speed of the motor vehicle being operated such that the actual distance is increased in deviation from the predetermined setpoint distance.

5. The method according to claim 4, which further comprises automatically activating brake lights of the motor vehicle being operated at a latest when the further distance of the motor vehicle being operated from the additional vehicle driving behind the motor vehicle being operated drops below the specific limit value.

6. The method according to claim 5, which further comprises already automatically activating the brake lights in advance on detection of a certain probability of danger.