Method and apparatus for the control of the safety distance of a vehicle relative to preceding vehicles
First Claim
1. A method for the control of the safety distance of a vehicle with respect to preceding objects, which vehicle is equipped with measuring means for measuring at least one of distance and relative velocity, comprising the following steps (a) through (e):
- (a) determining whether a detected object lies within a maximum interference-free measuring distance from the vehicle,(b) changing at least the pivot angle of an antenna of a transmitter of the vehicle dependent on at least one of steering wheel deflection and transverse acceleration of the vehicle,(c) determining extended objects which are to be suppressed by a separate measurement of the distance of the vehicle to the object and of the relative velocity between the vehicle and the object by comparing one of (i) measured distance change with a calculated distance change or (ii) measured relative velocity with a calculated relative velocity,(d) preferring among all objects, an object recognized as "preceding vehicle", and(e) combining in accordance with the maximum interference-free measuring distance values of at least one of the measured distance of the vehicle to the object, the measured relative velocity between the vehicle and the object and the measured velocity of the vehicle to provide control magnitudes for enabling prevention of a collision of the vehicle with the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the control of the safety distance of a vehicle with respect to preceding objects wherein various measurements and controls are effected so as to provide control magnitudes for enabling prevention of a collision of the vehicle with an object. The various measurements and controls which may be effected include the determination whether a detected object lies within a maximum inference-free measuring distance from the vehicle, the changing of the pivot angle of an antenna of the vehicle and possibly also the opening angle of the transmitted beam independence on the steering wheel deflection and/or traverse acceleration of the vehicle, suppressing large extended objects by a separate measurement of the distance of the vehicle to the object and relative velocity of the vehicle with respect to the object by comparison of the measure change and distance with a calculated change in distance or the measured relative velocity with a calculated relative velocity, preferring an object recognized as a preceding vehicle among all objects, and combining in accordance with the maximum inference-free measuring distance values of at least one of the measured distance of the vehicle to the object, the measured relative velocity of the vehicle with respect to the object and the measured velocity of the vehicle to provide the control magnitudes.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for the control of the safety distance of a vehicle with respect to preceding objects, which vehicle is equipped with measuring means for measuring at least one of distance and relative velocity, comprising the following steps (a) through (e):
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(a) determining whether a detected object lies within a maximum interference-free measuring distance from the vehicle, (b) changing at least the pivot angle of an antenna of a transmitter of the vehicle dependent on at least one of steering wheel deflection and transverse acceleration of the vehicle, (c) determining extended objects which are to be suppressed by a separate measurement of the distance of the vehicle to the object and of the relative velocity between the vehicle and the object by comparing one of (i) measured distance change with a calculated distance change or (ii) measured relative velocity with a calculated relative velocity, (d) preferring among all objects, an object recognized as "preceding vehicle", and (e) combining in accordance with the maximum interference-free measuring distance values of at least one of the measured distance of the vehicle to the object, the measured relative velocity between the vehicle and the object and the measured velocity of the vehicle to provide control magnitudes for enabling prevention of a collision of the vehicle with the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for the control of the safety distance of a vehicle with respect to preceding objects, which apparatus comprises at least one of distance and relative velocity measuring means, including
first means utilizing at least one of steering wheel deflection and transverse acceleration of the vehicle for determining whether a detected object is located inside a maximum interference-free measuring distance from the vehicle, second means for changing the pivot angle of an antenna of a transmitter of the apparatus in dependence on at least one of steering wheel deflection and transverse acceleration, third means for determining extended objects to be suppressed including separate measuring means for measuring distance of the vehicle to the object and relative velocity between the vehicle and the object and comparing means for comparing one of measured distance change and measured relative velocity with one of calculated distance change and calculated relative velocity, and fourth means for preferring among objects, an object recognized as preceding vehicle, and further including fifth means for combining in accordance with the maximum interference-free measuring distance values of at least one of the measured distance of the vehicle to the object, the measured relative velocity between the vehicle and the object and the measured velocity of the vehicle to provide control magnitudes for enabling prevention of a collision of the vehicle with the object.
Specification