Apparatus and method for performing automatic control over velocity of automotive vehicle
First Claim
1. A method applicable to an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- detecting an inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to another vehicle which is running at a detected inter-vehicle distance with respect to the vehicle;
detecting a vehicular velocity of the vehicle;
setting a target vehicular velocity variation rate so that the detected inter-vehicle distance coincides with a target inter-vehicle distance;
effecting a vehicular velocity control such that the vehicle follows up the another vehicle maintaining the inter-vehicle distance to the another vehicle at the target inter-vehicle distance;
effecting the vehicular velocity control such that a vehicular velocity variation rate is maintained at the set target vehicular velocity variation rate;
releasing the vehicular running control effected by a vehicular running controller; and
moderating a rate of variation with time in the vehicular velocity variation rate set when releasing the vehicular velocity control, when the detected vehicular velocity becomes lower than a set vehicular velocity above which the vehicular velocity control is effected.
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Abstract
In apparatus and method for performing an automatic vehicular velocity control for an automotive vehicle, a vehicular running control such that the vehicle follows up a preceding vehicle running ahead of the vehicle maintaining an inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle at a predetermined inter-vehicle distance and that a vehicular velocity variation rate is maintained at a set target vehicular velocity variation rate is effected and, when the detected vehicular velocity becomes equal to or lower than a set vehicular velocity above which the vehicular velocity control by the vehicular running controller is effected, the vehicular running control effected as described above is released and a rate of variation with time in a vehicular target acceleration/deceleration set when the control is released is moderated. In addition, an alarm unit is, provided for informing a vehicular driver of the release of control over the vehicular velocity.
63 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method applicable to an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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detecting an inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to another vehicle which is running at a detected inter-vehicle distance with respect to the vehicle; detecting a vehicular velocity of the vehicle; setting a target vehicular velocity variation rate so that the detected inter-vehicle distance coincides with a target inter-vehicle distance; effecting a vehicular velocity control such that the vehicle follows up the another vehicle maintaining the inter-vehicle distance to the another vehicle at the target inter-vehicle distance; effecting the vehicular velocity control such that a vehicular velocity variation rate is maintained at the set target vehicular velocity variation rate; releasing the vehicular running control effected by a vehicular running controller; and moderating a rate of variation with time in the vehicular velocity variation rate set when releasing the vehicular velocity control, when the detected vehicular velocity becomes lower than a set vehicular velocity above which the vehicular velocity control is effected.
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2. A control apparatus for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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actual inter-vehicle distance detecting means for detecting a distance from the vehicle relative to another vehicle which is running ahead in the travel path or the vehicle; actual vehicular velocity detecting means for detecting a vehicle velocity of the vehicle; target inter-vehicle setting means for setting a target inter-vehicle distance; target time rate of change setting means for setting a target time rate of change in vehicle velocity; time rate of change controlling means for controlling an actual rate of-change in vehicle velocity in such a manner that the vehicle is driven with the target time rate of change in velocity while maintaining the target inter-vehicle distance; determining means for determining when the actual vehicle velocity falls below a set vehicular velocity and generating a signal; rate of change decreasing means, responsive to the signal, for decreasing the target time rate of change to take a smaller amount than that of the target time rate of change the vehicle has experienced before said determination.
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3. An apparatus for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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an inter-vehicle distance detector for detecting an inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to another vehicle which is running at a detected inter-vehicle distance with respect to the vehicle; a vehicular velocity detector for detecting a vehicular velocity of the vehicle; a target vehicle velocity variation rate setter for setting a target vehicular velocity variation rate so that the detected inter-vehicle distance coincides with a target inter-vehicle distance; a vehicular running controller for effecting a vehicular velocity control such that the vehicle follows up the another vehicle maintaining the inter-vehicle distance to the another vehicle at the target inter-vehicle distance and that a vehicular velocity variation rate is maintained at the set target vehicular velocity variation rate; and a vehicular running control releaser for releasing the vehicular running control effected by the vehicular running controller and for moderating a rate of variation with time in the vehicular velocity variation rate set when releasing the vehicular velocity control, when the detected vehicular velocity becomes lower than a set vehicular velocity above which the vehicular velocity control by the vehicular running controller in effected. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification