Automatic cruising control apparatus

• US 6,324,465 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Keiji, Isogai, Akira, Samukawa, Yoshie, Nishimura, Takao, Teramura, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/534,344
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 701/65, 701/79, 701/91, 701/93, 701/96, 701/301, 340/425.5, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 340/439, 340/903, 180/169, 180/170, 180/197, 123/492, 123/493, 123/349
• US Class Current: 701/96
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

In automatic cruising control according to the distance between the preceding and this vehicle (inter-vehicle distance), acceleration and deceleration force information is visually or acoustically provided to the driver. A value corresponding to an actual inter-vehicle distance and actual acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle is detected to control according to a target acceleration and deceleration value. The target acceleration and deceleration value is determined so as to equalize the value to a target value corresponding to a target inter-vehicle distance. The driver of the vehicle is informed that at least one of the target acceleration and deceleration value and the actual acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle reaches a predetermined threshold value. The level of acceleration and deceleration force in automatic cruising may be informed. Information may be provided to the driver when the acceleration and deceleration reaches the upper or lower limit or maximum value.

Claims

1. An automatic cruising control apparatus for a vehicle including acceleration and deceleration means comprising:

detecting means for detecting a value corresponding to an actual distance between said vehicle and a preceding vehicle;

acceleration and deceleration detecting means for detecting actual acceleration and deceleration of said vehicle;

acceleration and deceleration control means for controlling acceleration and deceleration of said vehicle in accordance with a target control value;

determining means for determining said target control value so as to equalize said value to a target value corresponding to a target distance between said vehicle and said preceding vehicle; and

informing means for informing of occurrence of an event to a driver of said vehicle when least one of said target control value and an actual control value of said vehicle reaches a predetermined threshold value which is near an operation limit value of said acceleration and deceleration means occurs.

2. An automatic cruising control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said target control value indicates a target acceleration.

3. An automatic cruising control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actual control value indicates an actual acceleration.

4. An automatic cruising control apparatus for a vehicle including acceleration and deceleration means comprising:

detecting means for detecting a value corresponding to an actual distance between said vehicle and a preceding vehicle;

acceleration and deceleration detecting means for detecting actual acceleration and deceleration of said vehicle;

acceleration and deceleration control means for controlling acceleration and deceleration of said vehicle in accordance with a target control value;

determining means for determining said target control value so as to equalize said value to a target value corresponding to a target distance between said vehicle and said preceding vehicle; and

informing means for informing a driver of said vehicle how closely at least one of said target control value and said actual acceleration approaches to an operation limit value of said acceleration and deceleration means.

5. An automatic cruising control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said target control value indicates a target acceleration.

6. An automatic cruising control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said actual control value indicates an actual acceleration.

7. An automatic cruising control apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

detecting means for detecting a value corresponding to an actual distance between said vehicle and a preceding vehicle;

acceleration and deceleration control means for controlling acceleration and deceleration of said vehicle so as to equalize said value to a target value corresponding to a target distance between said vehicle and said preceding vehicle, wherein said acceleration and deceleration control means includes a plurality of deceleration means having different deceleration abilities to said vehicle, a part of a plurality of said deceleration means being selectively operated; and

informing means for informing a driver of said vehicle that a total of deceleration derived by said part of a plurality of said deceleration means agrees with a maximum deceleration force of a plurality of said deceleration means, when said total of deceleration derived by said part of a plurality of said deceleration means agrees with said maximum deceleration force of a plurality of said deceleration means.

8. An automatic cruising control apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

detecting means for detecting a value corresponding to an actual distance between said vehicle and a preceding vehicle;

acceleration and deceleration control means for controlling acceleration and deceleration of said vehicle so as to equalize said value to a target value corresponding to a target distance between said vehicle and said preceding vehicle, wherein said acceleration and deceleration control means includes a plurality of deceleration means having different deceleration abilities to said vehicle, a part of a plurality of said deceleration means being selectively operated; and

informing means responsive to said acceleration and deceleration control means for informing a driver how closely said deceleration approaches to an operation limit value of at least of said plurality of said deceleration means which is being operated.

9. The automatic cruise control apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plurality of deceleration means comprises at least one of cutting off fuel, down-shifting, and braking.