Parallel traveling control system

• US 5,301,617 A
• Filed: 03/03/1992
• Issued: 04/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Miwa, Katsuhiko, Arai, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US07/844,872
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 180/197, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 180/6.2, 180/6.24, 180/275, 180/6.44, 180/276, 180/6.62, 180/277, 180/131, 318/580, 318/587, 318/581, 318/568.12, 364/424.02, 188/16, 188/354, 303/100
• US Class Current: 180/168
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/08 Lane monitoring; Lane Keeping Systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/083 using active brake actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 operated by wayside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17557 specially adapted for lane departure prevention road vehicle drive control systems for lane keeping otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3665 Sliding valves
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/28 non-mechanical , e.g. following a line or other known markers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0238 using obstacle or wall sensors G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires

Abstract

A parallel traveling control system detects distances to a guide rail provided on a road surface of a traveling lane or set close thereto, and drives the brake pressures in such a direction that the distances between the vehicle and the guide rail coincide with set values. Additionally, the system detects the rotation of the steering wheel, designates automatic parallel traveling in which the brake pressures are driven to correct the vehicle'"'"'s direction, and terminates automatic parallel traveling when the steering wheel is rotated more than a predetermined angle.

Claims

1. A parallel traveling control system comprising:

brake pressure adjusting means for adjusting brake pressures of bilateral wheel brakes;

distance detecting means for detecting distances to a guide means provided on a road surface of a traveling lane or set in the vicinity of said road surface along said traveling lane; and

a parallel control means for driving said brake pressure adjusting means, said parallel control means specifying pressures for each wheel brake to thereby adjust the direction of travel of the vehicle such that the distances detected by said distance detecting means coincides with a set value while referring to the distances.

2. The parallel traveling control system of claim 1 wherein said guide means is provided on a road surface of a traveling lane.

3. The parallel traveling control system of claim 1 wherein said guide means is set in the vicinity of said road surface along said traveling lane.

4. A parallel traveling control system comprising:

brake pressure adjusting means for adjusting brake pressures of right and left wheel brakes;

a wheel rotation detecting means for detecting a rotation of a steering wheel;

distance detecting means for detecting distances to a guide means, said guide means provided along a road surface traveling lane; and

a parallel control means for initiating automatic parallel traveling to drive said brake pressure adjusting means to change the direction of travel of the vehicle such that the distances coincide with set values while referring to the distances detected by said distance detecting means when automatic parallel traveling is designated but stopping said automatic parallel traveling when said wheel rotation detecting means detects the rotation of said steering wheel.

5. The parallel traveling control system of claim 4 wherein said guide means is provided on a road surface of a traveling lane.

6. The parallel traveling control system of claim 4 wherein said guide means is set in the vicinity of said road surface along said traveling lane.