System and method for automatically controlling vehicle speed
First Claim
1. A method for automatically maintaining a vehicle speed at a set cruising speed when there are no vehicles in front of the vehicle and moving in the same direction and otherwise controlling the vehicle speed according to the distance from the vehicle to an obstacle in front of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting when the vehicle is moving through a curve;
(b) monitoring the distance from the vehicle to an obstacle in front of the vehicle;
(c) recognizing that the obstacle in front of the vehicle as it moves through a curve is one of a plurality of regularly spaced, stationary obstacles disposed along a side of a curve in a road when the distance monitored in said step (b) abruptly changes by a predetermined amount; and
(d) holding the vehicle speed constant when the conditions of step (c) are satisfied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for detecting a distance from a vehicle to an obstacle in front of the vehicle and controlling the vehicle according to changes in the distance thereof holds the vehicle speed constant upon recognition of the fact that the detected obstacle is a plurality of regularly spaced, stationary objects disposed along a side of a curved road and otherwise the vehicle speed is controlled on the basis of the distance between the vehicle and detected obstacles such as other vehicles moving in front of the vehicle or obstacles resting on the road as the vehicle moves through a curve.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for automatically maintaining a vehicle speed at a set cruising speed when there are no vehicles in front of the vehicle and moving in the same direction and otherwise controlling the vehicle speed according to the distance from the vehicle to an obstacle in front of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting when the vehicle is moving through a curve; (b) monitoring the distance from the vehicle to an obstacle in front of the vehicle; (c) recognizing that the obstacle in front of the vehicle as it moves through a curve is one of a plurality of regularly spaced, stationary obstacles disposed along a side of a curve in a road when the distance monitored in said step (b) abruptly changes by a predetermined amount; and (d) holding the vehicle speed constant when the conditions of step (c) are satisfied.
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2. A system for automatically maintaining a vehicle speed at a set cruising speed when there are no vehicles moving within a given distance in front of the vehicle and otherwise controlling the vehicle speed according to the distance from the vehicle to an obstacle present in front of the vehicle, comprising:
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(a) means for monitoring the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle present in front of the vehicle and outputting a first signal indicative thereof; (b) means for monitoring vehicle speed and outputting a second signal indicative thereof; (c) means for recognizing whether the obstacle is a stationary object located near the road on which the vehicle is moving on the basis of said first and second signals and outputting a third signal indicative thereof when the difference between the present value and previous value of said first signal substantially equals a predetermined value; and (d) means for controlling the vehicle speed so as to hold the vehicle speed constant while receiving the third signal and for controlling the vehicle speed according to the values of the first and second signals in the absence of the third signal. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for automatically maintaining a vehicle speed at a set cruising speed when there are no vehicles within a given distance in front of the vehicle and otherwise controlling the vehicle speed according to the distance from the vehicle to an obstacle in front of the vehicle, comprising:
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(a) first means for detecting when the vehicle is moving through a curve and outputting a first signal in such cases; (b) second means for detecting vehicle speed and outputting a second signal indicative thereof; (c) third means for detecting the distance from the vehicle to an obstacle in front of the vehicle and outputting a third signal indicative thereof; (d) fourth means responsive to said first signal for detecting stationary obstacles near the curve on the basis of said third signal and outputting a fourth signal when such obstacles are detected; and (e) fifth means responsive to said fourth signal for controlling the vehicle speed so as to hold the vehicle speed constant. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A system for automatically maintaining a vehicle speed at a set cruising speed when there are no vehicles within a given distance in front of the vehicle and otherwise controlling the vehicle speed according to the distance from the vehicle to an obstacle in front of the vehicle, comprising:
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(a) first means for detecting that the vehicle is moving through a curve and outputting a first signal in such cases; (b) second means for detecting vehicle speed and outputting a second signal indicative thereof; (c) third means for detecting the distance from the vehicle to an obstacle within a given range of distance in front of the vehicle and outputting a third signal indicative thereof; (d) fourth means responsive to said first signal for discriminating whether the obstacle in front of the vehicle is a stationary object located along the side of the curve, a second vehicle in front of the vehicle and moving in the same direction, an obstacle resting on the curve, within an outer limit of said given range of distance on the basis of the indications of said second and third signals, and outputting a fourth signal when the obstacle in front of the vehicle is a stationary object located along the side of the curve; and (f) fifth means responsive only to said fourth signal for holding the vehicle speed constant. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification