×

Apparatus and method for performing automatic control over velocity of automotive vehicle

  • US 6,269,298 B1
  • Filed: 07/23/1999
  • Issued: 07/31/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A control apparatus for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

  • an inter-vehicle distance detector to detect an actual inter-vehicle distance which is running ahead of the vehicle on the same traffic lane as the vehicle; and

    a controller programmed to;

    calculate a target value of a vehicular velocity variation rate on the basis of the actual value of the inter-vehicle distance and a target value of the same;

    perform a follow-up run control for the vehicle to follow up the preceding vehicle according to the target value of the vehicular velocity variation rate and to maintain the inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to the preceding vehicle at the target value of the same;

    responsive to a detection of a new preceding vehicle by the inter-vehicle distance detector, where the new preceding vehicle has a different inter-vehicle distance than the target inter-vehicle distance, calculate a target vehicle motion to be a transitional vehicle motion of the vehicle until a new inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to the new preceding vehicle is made substantially equal to the target value of the inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to the preceding vehicle; and

    adjust the vehicular velocity variation rate in such a manner that the vehicular motion becomes the target vehicular motion.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×