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Methods and devices for controlling distance between vehicles

  • US 4,079,802 A
  • Filed: 12/29/1976
  • Issued: 03/21/1978
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1971
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a distance between trailing and leading vehicles comprising the steps of:

  • (a) detecting the velocity of the trailing vehicle;

    (b) detecting the relative velocity of the trailing and leading vehicles;

    (c) calculating a minimum safety distance between said two vehicles depending on said respective detected velocities under the assumption that maximum braking forces are applied, respectively, to said two vehicles;

    (d) calculating an optimum safety distance between said two vehicles depending on said respective detected velocities under the assumption that selective and desirable braking forces are applied, respectively, to said two vehicles;

    (e) detecting the actual separation distance between said two vehicles;

    (f) calculating the difference between said actual distance and said optimum safety distance;

    (g) calculating the difference between said optimum and minimum safety distances;

    (h) dividing said difference between said actual distance and said optimum safety distance by said difference between said optimum and minimum safety distances and generating an instruction signal responsive thereto; and

    (i) accelerating the vehicle velocity of said trailing vehicle when said signal is larger than zero and reducing the vehicle velocity of said trailing vehicle when said signal is less than zero.

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