Distance-related electronically controlled cruise control system

• US 6,192,309 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1998
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Steinle, Joachim, Tschernoster, Oliver, Prestl, Willibald
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/216,951
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 701/93, 701/96, 701/223, 701/301, 340/903, 180/169, 180/170, 180/175, 180/176
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle

Abstract

In a distance-related electronically controlled cruise control system for motor vehicles, in which, during a first regulating operation, a predetermined speed is essentially maintained until a preset minimum distance from a leading target vehicle is reached or undershot, and in which, during a second regulating operation, following the reaching or undershooting of this preset minimum distance, a speed regulation takes place in such fashion that the set minimum distance is maintained by following the target vehicle ahead at a regulated distance, and in the event of detection of a standing object ahead of the target vehicle traveling ahead of the source vehicle during the second regulating operation, after the previously leading target vehicle veers aside thus causing a transition from the second regulating operation back to the first regulating operation, acceleration to the preset speed is prevented if the distance to the standing object is below a first threshold and/or if the actual speed is below a second threshold.

Claims

1. A distance-related electronically controlled cruise control system for motor vehicle, in which, during a first regulating operation, a preset speed is basically maintained until a predetermined minimum distance to a target vehicle ahead is reached or undershot, and in which, during a second regulating operation following the reaching or undershooting of the predetermined minimum distance, speed regulation occurs in such fashion that the predetermined minimum distance is maintained by following the target vehicle at a regulated distance, wherein an event of detection of a standing object ahead of the target vehicle traveling ahead during the second regulating operation after the previously leading target vehicle veers aside, then during a transition from the second regulating operation to the first regulating operation, acceleration to the preset speed is prevented if at least one of a distance (d) to the standing object is below a first threshold (S1) and an actual speed (v) is below a second threshold (S2).

2. The distance-related electronically controlled cruise control system according to claim 1, wherein at the transition to the first regulating operation, a deceleration is initiated if the distance (d) to the standing object is below a third threshold (S3), with the third threshold (S3) being below the first threshold (S1).

3. A distance-related electronically controlled cruise control system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an electronic control unit including a microprocessor, said microprocessor operating such that during a first regulating operation, a preset speed is basically maintained until a predetermined minimum distance to a target vehicle ahead is reached or undershot, and in which, during a second regulating operation following the reaching or undershooting of the predetermined minimum distance, speed regulation occurs in such fashion that the predetermined minimum distance is maintained by following the target vehicle at a regulated distance, and further operating such that in an event of detection of a standing object ahead of the target vehicle traveling ahead during the second regulating operation after the previously leading target vehicle veers aside, then during a transition from the second regulating operation to the first regulating operation, acceleration to the preset speed is prevented if at least one of a distance (d) to the standing object is below a first threshold (S1) and an actual speed (v) is below a second threshold (S2).

4. A distance-related electronically controlled cruise control system according to claim 3, wherein at the transition to the first regulating operation, a deceleration is initiated if the distance (d) to the standing object is below a third threshold (S3), with the third threshold (S3) being below the first threshold (S1).

5. A method for operating a cruise control system of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

maintaining a preset speed during a first regulating operation until a predetermined minimum distance to a target vehicle is reached or undershot;

upon reaching or undershooting the predetermined minimum distance, maintaining the predetermined minimum distance by following the target vehicle at a regulated distance during a second regulating operation;

upon detecting a standing object ahead of the target vehicle during the second regulating operation when the target vehicle moves aside, preventing an acceleration to the preset speed during a transition from the second regulating operation to the first regulating operation if at least one of a distance to the standing object is below a first threshold and an actual speed is below a second threshold.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the act of decelerating the vehicle at the transition to the first regulating operation if the distance to the standing object is below a third threshold, with the third threshold being below the first threshold.