Autonomous cruise control
First Claim
1. A cruise control system for a vehicle including:
- a) cruise control means, coupled to a vehicle for controlling the speed of the vehicle at a desired speed selected by a driver of the vehicle;
b) means for determining an error distance;
c) means for validating a target by comparing the distance between the target and the vehicle and determining that the target is within a predicted range based upon a previous detection of the target, and only validating the target upon three consecutive determinations that the target is within the predicted range; and
d) means responsive to the square root of the error distance for automatically adjusting the speed at which the cruise control system is set to prevent overtaking the target.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cruise control system for a vehicle includes a vehicle borne radar for determining range and closing rate of the vehicle relative to a target, such as another moving vehicle, ahead of the vehicle. The range and closing rate are used to determine a new set speed for the cruise control system which may be less than but is not greater than the speed entered in the cruise control by the driver of the vehicle. The new set speed is selected to prevent the vehicle from overtaking the target, and ideally reduces the closing rate to zero at a predetermined minimum distance from the target. In determining the new set speed, the system also determines incremental movements for the vehicle throttle using a selected gain boost and designed to minimize throttle jerk. If the target moves out of the path of the vehicle or speeds up, the system adjusts accordingly and eventually allows the vehicle to resume the originally entered speed when possible.
72 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cruise control system for a vehicle including:
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a) cruise control means, coupled to a vehicle for controlling the speed of the vehicle at a desired speed selected by a driver of the vehicle; b) means for determining an error distance; c) means for validating a target by comparing the distance between the target and the vehicle and determining that the target is within a predicted range based upon a previous detection of the target, and only validating the target upon three consecutive determinations that the target is within the predicted range; and d) means responsive to the square root of the error distance for automatically adjusting the speed at which the cruise control system is set to prevent overtaking the target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A cruise control system for a vehicle including:
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a) means for setting the cruise control system at a desired speed for the vehicle selected by a driver of the vehicle; b) means responsive to a target ahead of the vehicle for continuously determining distance of the target from the vehicle and closing rate of the vehicle on the target; c) means for validating a target by comparing the distance between the target and the vehicle and determining that the target is within a predicted range based upon a previous detection of the target, and only validating the target upon three consecutive determinations that the target is within the predicted range; and d) means responsive to the distance and the closing rate for tracking the target and reducing the speed at which the cruise control system is set when the vehicle is closing on a valid target. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A cruise control system for a vehicle including:
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a) cruise control circuit, coupled to a vehicle for controlling the speed of the vehicle at a desired speed selected by a driver of the vehicle, and responsive to a target ahead of the vehicle for automatically adjusting the speed at which the cruise control system is set to prevent overtaking the target; and b) means for validating two or more targets by comparing the distance between each target and the vehicle and determining that each target is within a predicted range based upon a previous detection of each target, and only validating a target upon three consecutive determinations that the target is within the predicted range.
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17. A method of changing a set speed in a cruise control for a vehicle to avios a target ahead of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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a) determining range of the target from the vehicle; b) validating a target by comparing the distance between the target and the vehicle and determining that the target is within a predicted range based upon a previous detection of the target, and only validating the target upon three consecutive determinations that the target is within the predicted range; c) determining an actual closing rate of the vehicle on the target; and d) determining, based on the range and the actual closing rate, a set speed for the cruise control that will maintain a selected minimum distance between the vehicle and the target. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification