Vehicle cruising control device

• US 5,197,562 A
• Filed: 04/29/1991
• Issued: 03/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Jun, Hida, Takashi, Saiki, Mitsuyoshi, Kakinami, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Application Number:
  US07/693,261
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 358/103, 340/435, 364/424.01, 364/426.04, 180/169, 180/167, 180/168, 180/170, 180/175, 180/176, 180/177, 180/178, 180/179
• US Class Current: 180/169
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/21 Providing engine brake control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

A vehicle cruising control device includes a detecting device for detecting the current speed of the vehicle, a constant speed control device for maintaining the speed of the vehicle at a selected speed, a measuring device for measuring the current inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and an advance vehicle and an inter-vehicle distance control device for maintaining the inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and the advance vehicle at a predetermined distance based on the degree of danger determined by the relationship of the current distance between vehicles and the relative speed between the vehicles. A switching device is provided for turning on either of the constant speed control device and the inter-vehicle distance control device.

Claims

1. A vehicle cruising control device comprising:

detecting means for detecting the current speed of a first vehicle;

measuring means for measuring current inter-vehicle distance between said first vehicle and a second advance vehicle;

calculating means for calculating the relative speed between the first vehicle and the second advance vehicle and for calculating a degree of danger based on said distance and said relative speed;

inter-vehicle distance control means for maintaining the inter-vehicle distance between the first vehicle and the second advance vehicle at a predetermined distance based on an output from said measuring means when said degree of danger determined by said calculating means exceeds a predetermined value;

constant speed control means for maintaining the speed of the first vehicle at a selected speed based on an output from said detecting means when said degree of danger is less than said predetermined value;

control means for operating one of said inter-vehicle distance control means and said constant speed control means exclusive of the other based on said degree of danger; and

switching means for selectively activating either one of said constant speed control means and said inter-vehicle distance control means regardless of said degree of danger.

2. A vehicle cruising control device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switching means turns off said inter-vehicle distance control means when the current inter-vehicle distance is less than said predetermined distance, the advance vehicle changes to a travel lane different form that of said first vehicle, a third vehicle moves between said first and second vehicles or a brake pedal is depressed.

3. A vehicle cruising control device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switching means turns on said constant speed control means after turning off said inter-vehicle distance control means when the current inter-vehicle distance between the first and second vehicles exceeds a predetermined distance.

4. A vehicle cruising control device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inter-vehicle distance control means initiates a braking value to reduce the current distance between said first and second vehicles when said inter-vehicle distance control means is turned on by said switching means when the inter-vehicle distance between the vehicles is less than said predetermined distance.

5. A vehicle cruising control device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a picture image of said advance vehicle.

6. A vehicle cruising control device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising buzzer means operatively connected to said constant speed control means and said inter-vehicle distance control means for sounding a signal upon turning on and off of either of said constant speed control means and said inter-vehicle distance control means.