DRIVING SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE

• US 20110246043A1
• Filed: 03/24/2011
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: MARUYAMA, Tasuku
• Granted Patent: US 8,615,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration
• 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: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A cruise control unit, configured to permit starting when an inter-vehicle distance to a front vehicle exceeds a determination threshold before a preset amount of time passes from a driver'"'"'s operational input during a stopped state, calculates a first threshold that is updated to be larger according to a change in the inter-vehicle distance in the stopped state when the distance changes to be larger and a second threshold that is changed to be larger as a speed of the front vehicle is higher, and variably sets the determination threshold based on the larger of the two thresholds. It cancels the permission if a time passing from the operational input is determined longer than a cancel determination time for determining whether it is immediately after the driver'"'"'s operational input and if the front vehicle is determined to stop or substantially stop at a speed lower than a preset vehicle speed.

Claims

1. A driving support apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a front vehicle detector configured to detect a vehicle in front on a subject vehicle travel path;

an automatic follow-up controller capable of selectively executing as an automatic follow-up control, when the vehicle in front is detected, any of controls including a follow-up cruise control controlling the subject vehicle to follow the vehicle in front that is traveling, a follow-up stop control controlling the subject vehicle to stop as the vehicle in front that stops during the follow-up cruise control, and a stop maintaining control maintaining a stopped state of the subject vehicle that has stopped as a result of the follow-up stop control;

a starting permission determiner configured to permit starting of the subject vehicle from a stopped state when a preset operational input is made by a driver during the stop maintaining control and an inter-vehicle distance to the vehicle in front exceeds a determination threshold before a preset amount of time passes from the operational input; and

a threshold setter configured to calculate a first threshold that is updated to a larger value according to a change in the inter-vehicle distance to the vehicle in front in a stopped state when the inter-vehicle distance changes to a larger value and a second threshold that is changed to a larger value as a speed of the vehicle in front increases, and to variably set the determination threshold based on the larger of the first threshold and the second threshold.

2. The driving support apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the threshold setter is configured to limit the updating of the first threshold to a larger value up to a preset upper limit or lower.

3. The driving support apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the threshold setter is configured to change the second threshold to a larger value as a road gradient is larger.

4. A driving support apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a front vehicle detector configured to detect a vehicle in front on a subject vehicle travel path;

an automatic follow-up controller capable of selectively executing as an automatic follow-up control, when the vehicle in front is detected, any of controls including a follow-up cruise control controlling the subject vehicle to follow the vehicle in front that is traveling, a follow-up stop control controlling the subject vehicle to stop as the vehicle in front that stops during the follow-up cruise control, and a stop maintaining control maintaining a stopped state of the subject vehicle that has stopped as a result of the follow-up stop control;

a starting permission determiner configured to determine starting permission of the subject vehicle from a stopped state when a preset operational input is made by a driver during the stop maintaining control and an inter-vehicle distance to the vehicle in front exceeds a determination threshold before a preset amount of time passes from the operational input; and

a canceller configured to cancel the starting permission if a time that has passed from the operational input is determined to be shorter than the preset amount of time and longer than a cancel determination time for determining whether it is immediately after the operational input by the driver and if the vehicle in front is determined to be in a stopped state or in a substantially stopped state at a speed lower than a preset vehicle speed.