TRAVEL CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20090105922A1
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Morita, Mitsuhiko
• Application Number:
  US11/917,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20090105922A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/17 with provision for special action when the preceding vehicle comes to a halt, e.g. stop and go
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18

Abstract

A running control apparatus for controlling a running state of a vehicle by adjusting acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle releases the running control in case of a predetermined steering operation or more while the vehicle is stopped during the running control. This prevents the vehicle from running in a direction not intended by a driver at the time of starting, and the driver can be prevented from feeling a sense of discomfort at that time. Preventing the vehicle from starting in the direction not intended by the driver can also improve the running safety. This can restrain the vehicle from running in a way not intended by the driver upon a steering operation while the vehicle is stopped.

Claims

1. A running control apparatus for controlling a running state of a vehicle by adjusting a speed or acceleration of the vehicle such as to follow a preceding vehicle while maintaining an inter-vehicle distance thereto in a predetermined state, the apparatus comprising:

steering detecting means for detecting a steering operation of the vehicle; and

running control means for suppressing the running control in case of the steering operation while the vehicle is stopped during the running control.

2. A running control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the running control means releases the running control in case of the steering operation while the vehicle is stopped during the running control.

3. A running control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the running control means limits acceleration of the vehicle in the running control in case of the steering operation while the vehicle is stopped during the running control.

4. A running control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, in case of acceleration limitation of the vehicle in the running control, the running control means releases the acceleration limitation when the speed of the vehicle is a predetermined speed or higher.

5. A running control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, in case of acceleration limitation of the vehicle in the running control, the running control means releases the acceleration limitation in case of a steering returning operation.

6. (canceled)

7. A running control apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a running controller that performs a running control of the vehicle such as to follow a preceding vehicle while maintaining an inter-vehicle distance thereto in a predetermined distance; and

a steering sensor that detects a steering operation of the vehicle;

wherein the running controller suppresses the running control when the running controller receives a steering operation signal from the steering sensor while the vehicle is stopped during the running control.

8. A running control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the running controller releases the running control when the running controller receives the steering operation signal from the steering sensor while the vehicle is stopped during the running control.

9. A running control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the running controller limits acceleration of the vehicle in the running control when the running controller receives the steering operation signal from the steering sensor while the vehicle is stopped during the running control.

10. A running control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, in case of acceleration limitation of the vehicle in the running control, the running controller releases the acceleration limitation when the speed of the vehicle becomes a predetermined speed or higher.

11. A running control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, in case of acceleration limitation of the vehicle in the running control, the running controller releases the acceleration limitation when the running controller receives a steering returning operation signal from the steering sensor.