Following distance alarming apparatus and following distance displaying apparatus that display difference between measured following distance and that at which warning is given

• US 6,366,845 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michihiro Kannonji
• Original Assignee: Michihiro Kannonji
• Inventors: Kannonji, Michihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/670,517
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 701/96, 701/300, 701/301, 340/903, 340/435, 340/436
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons

Abstract

A following distance displaying apparatus which enables visual confirmation how much more approach between a preceding vehicle and a subject vehicle makes a distance at which an alarm of a following distance alarming apparatus operates, after a lapse of a predetermined time from when the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle entered a follow-up travel state, indicates an alarm distance at which the alarm of the following distance alarming apparatus operates which is set in advance corresponding to the then following distance to the preceding vehicle and an approach distance representing a difference between the subsequently measured following distance and said alarm distance.

Claims

1. A following distance alarming apparatus comprising:

a following distance measuring device,

a memory responsive to the detection of a preceding vehicle and a subject vehicle having a follow-up travel state for a predetermined time based on a following distance to the preceding vehicle measured by said following distance measuring device for storing an output signal value from an operation member operative according to a speed control apparatus of the subject vehicle,

an alarming apparatus responsive to the measurement of a distance predetermined corresponding to a following distance at which said follow-up travel state is attained by said following distance measuring device for determining a possibility of collision based on an output signal value from said operation member and an output signal value stored in said memory to output a warning, and

a control circuit for, when detecting the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle newly having the follow-up travel state for the predetermined time after said follow-up travel state is maintained for the predetermined time, causing said memory to newly store the then output signal value from the operation member and further responsive to the measurement of a distance predetermined corresponding to the then following distance and further based on an output signal value from said operation member and the newly stored output signal value, controlling said alarming means to determine a possibility of collision and output a warning.

2. The following distance alarming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit erases the output signal value from the operation member previously stored in said memory in response to the detection of the follow-up travel state being newly maintained for the predetermined time.

3. A following distance displaying apparatus comprising:

a following distance measuring device,

an alarm generating apparatus,

a displaying apparatus capable of displaying a distance at which said alarm generating apparatus operates, and

a control circuit responsive to the detection of a following distance to a preceding vehicle measured by said following distance measuring device equaling a predetermined following distance for controlling said alarm generating apparatus to inform danger of collision, as well as controlling said displaying apparatus to display a distance at which said alarm generating apparatus operates after the preceding vehicle and a subject vehicle have a follow-up travel state for a predetermined time.

4. The following distance displaying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said distance at which said alarm generating apparatus operates which is indicated by said displaying apparatus is a distance set in advance corresponding to a following distance between the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle obtained when said follow-up travel state is maintained for the predetermined time.

5. The following distance displaying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control circuit controls said displaying apparatus to display a difference between a distance to the preceding vehicle measured by the following distance measuring device and a distance at which said alarm operates.

6. The following distance displaying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control circuit controls said displaying circuit to, when after the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle maintain the follow-up travel state for the predetermined time, the follow-up travel state continuing for the predetermined time is newly detected, erase indication of a distance at which said alarm operates made when the follow-up travel state was previously attained and indicate a distance at which the alarm operates which is set in advance corresponding to a following distance obtained when the follow-up travel state is newly maintained for the predetermined time.

7. The following distance displaying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said distance at which said alarm generating apparatus operates which is indicated by said displaying apparatus is a distance set in advance corresponding to a speed of the subject vehicle obtained when said follow-up travel state is maintained for the predetermined time.

8. The following distance displaying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control circuit controls said displaying apparatus to display a difference between a distance to the preceding vehicle measured by the following distance measuring device and a distance at which said alarm operates.

9. The following distance displaying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control circuit controls said displaying apparatus to, when after the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle maintain the follow-up travel state for the predetermined time, the follow-up travel state continuing for the predetermined time is newly detected, erase indication of a distance at which said alarm operates made when the follow-up travel state was previously attained and indicate a distance at which the alarm operates which is set in advance corresponding to a speed of the subject vehicle obtained when the follow-up travel state is newly maintained for the predetermined time.

10. A following distance displaying apparatus for a vehicle which is used connected with a following distance measuring device, comprising:

a displaying apparatus for displaying a following distance measured by said following distance measuring device,

a memory, and

a control circuit responsive to an output signal from an operation member operative according to a speed control apparatus of a subject vehicle and responsive to conditions having a predetermined relation with a following distance measured by said following distance measuring device being satisfied for controlling said displaying apparatus to display a pointer indicative of a change of a signal value from said operation member on said displaying apparatus with the then output signal value from said operation member as a criterion.

11. The following distance displaying apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a position at which said pointer indicative of a change of an output signal value is first indicated is at the center of a zone portion indicative of an allowable range of a difference in an output signal value set in advance for determining a possibility of collision.

12. The following distance displaying apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control circuit controls said displaying apparatus to change a manner of indication related to said indicator by said displaying apparatus when the indication position of said pointer indicative of a change of an output signal value comes out of a range of the zone portion indicative of an allowable range of a difference in an output signal value set in advance for determining a possibility of collision.

13. The following distance displaying apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control circuit controls said displaying apparatus to change a manner of indication of said pointer by said displaying apparatus when the indication position of said pointer indicative of a change of an output signal value comes out of the range of the zone portion indicative of an allowable range of a difference in an output signal value set in advance for determining a possibility of collision.

14. The following distance displaying apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control circuit controls said displaying apparatus to change a manner of indication of said zone portion by said displaying apparatus when the indication position of said pointer indicative of a change of an output signal value comes out of the range of the zone portion indicative of an allowable range of a difference in an output signal value set in advance for determining a possibility of collision.

15. A following distance displaying apparatus comprising:

a displaying apparatus for displaying a following distance to a preceding vehicle measured by a following distance measuring device,

an alarm generating apparatus for generating a warning based on the detection of a predetermined following distance,

an input device operable by an operator of a vehicle, and

a control circuit responsive to the operation of said input device for controlling said displaying apparatus to display a distance at which said alarm generating apparatus operates which is determined by a predetermined method, wherein said control circuit controls said displaying apparatus to display a difference between a distance to the preceding vehicle measured by said following distance measuring device and a distance at which said alarm generating device operates in response to operation of said input device.

16. The following distance displaying apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said distance at which said alarm generating apparatus operates which is indicated by said displaying apparatus is a distance set in advance corresponding to a following distance obtained when operation of said input device is conducted.

17. The following distance displaying apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said distance at which said alarm generating apparatus operates which is indicated by said displaying apparatus is a distance set in advance corresponding to a speed of a subject vehicle at the time of input operation of said input device.