Method and apparatus for assisting vehicle operator braking action of a vehicle
First Claim
1. An apparatus for assisting vehicle operator braking action of a vehicle, comprising:
- a detection system that detects obstacles located in or near the direction of motion of the vehicle;
vehicle condition sensors that provide characteristic parameters of the condition of the vehicle;
operator demand sensors that provide operator demand;
a control unit that determines whether braking action is needed from data concerning the obstacles, the characteristic parameters of vehicle condition and the operator demands on the vehicle and determines a target stand-by brake pressure, said control unit being operable to generate a command for adjustment of brake pressure to said determined stand-by brake pressure; and
a braking system operable by the vehicle operator, said braking system being operable in response to said command to trigger stand-by brake pressure regulation upon said control unit determining that braking action is needed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for assisting operation by a vehicle operator for braking of a vehicle includes a detection system on the vehicle, which detects obstacles located in or near the direction of motion of the vehicle. Vehicle condition sensors on the vehicle provide characteristic parameters of the condition of the vehicle. Operator demand sensors, which are operatively associated with a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal, provide operator demands on the vehicle. A control unit determines whether or not braking action by the vehicle operator is needed from data concerning the obstacles, the characteristic parameters of vehicle condition and the operator demands on the vehicle and determines a target stand-by brake pressure. The control unit is operable to generate a command for adjustment of brake pressure to the determined stand-by brake pressure. A braking system on the vehicle is operable by the vehicle operator. The braking system is operable in response to the command to trigger stand-by brake pressure regulation upon determination that braking action by the vehicle operator is needed.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for assisting vehicle operator braking action of a vehicle, comprising:
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a detection system that detects obstacles located in or near the direction of motion of the vehicle;
vehicle condition sensors that provide characteristic parameters of the condition of the vehicle;
operator demand sensors that provide operator demand;
a control unit that determines whether braking action is needed from data concerning the obstacles, the characteristic parameters of vehicle condition and the operator demands on the vehicle and determines a target stand-by brake pressure, said control unit being operable to generate a command for adjustment of brake pressure to said determined stand-by brake pressure; and
a braking system operable by the vehicle operator, said braking system being operable in response to said command to trigger stand-by brake pressure regulation upon said control unit determining that braking action is needed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for assisting vehicle operator braking action of a vehicle, comprising:
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a detection system that detects obstacles located in or near the direction of motion of the vehicle;
vehicle condition sensors that provide characteristic parameters of the condition of the vehicle;
operator demand sensors that provide operator demand;
a control unit that determines whether braking action is needed from data concerning the obstacles, the characteristic parameters of vehicle condition and the operator demands on the vehicle and determines a target stand-by brake pressure, said control unit being operable to generate a command for adjustment of brake pressure to said determined stand-by brake pressure; and
a braking system operable by the vehicle operator, said braking system being operable in response to said command to trigger stand-by brake pressure regulation upon said control unit determining that braking action is needed, wherein said determined target stand-by brake pressure has an initial level greater than zero immediately after an accelerator pedal of the vehicle has been released by the vehicle operator, but said determined target stand-by brake pressure drops from said initial level toward zero level in response to elapse of time from the moment when the accelerator pedal has been released by the vehicle operator, and wherein said braking system is operable in response to said command to provide brake pressure as high as said determined target pressure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for assisting vehicle operator braking action of a vehicle, comprising:
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detecting obstacles located in or near the direction of motion of the vehicle;
providing characteristic parameters of the condition of the vehicle;
providing operator demand;
determining whether braking action is needed from data concerning the obstacles, the characteristic parameters of vehicle condition and the operator demands on the vehicle and determines a target stand-by brake pressure;
generating a command for adjustment of brake pressure to said determined stand-by brake pressure; and
triggering stand-by brake pressure regulation in response to said command upon said control unit determining that braking action is needed. - View Dependent Claims (26)
terminating the stand-by state upon determining an acceleration action or a braking action by the vehicle operator.
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27. A apparatus for assisting vehicle operator braking action of a vehicle, comprising:
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means for detecting obstacles located in or near the direction of motion of the vehicle;
means for providing characteristic parameters of the condition of the vehicle;
means for providing operator demand;
means for determining whether braking action is needed from data concerning the obstacles, the characteristic parameters of vehicle condition and the operator demands on the vehicle and determines a target stand-by brake pressure;
means for generating a command for adjustment of brake pressure to said determined stand-by brake pressure; and
means for triggering requiring stand-by brake pressure regulation in response to said command upon said control unit determining that braking action is needed. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. An apparatus for assisting vehicle operator braking action of a vehicle, comprising:
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a detection system that detects obstacles located in or near the direction of motion of the vehicle;
vehicle condition sensors that provide characteristic parameters of the condition of the vehicle;
operator demand sensors that provide operator demand;
a control unit that determines whether braking action is needed from data concerning the obstacles, the characteristic parameters of vehicle condition and the operator demands on the vehicle and determines a target stand-by brake pressure, said control unit being operable to generate a command for adjustment of brake pressure to said determined stand-by brake pressure upon said control unit determining that braking action is needed and upon said operator demand sensors providing that there is no operator demand for braking action; and
a braking system operable by the vehicle operator, said braking system adjusting the brake pressure to said determined stand-by brake pressure upon the control unit generating said command to trigger stand-by brake pressure, said braking system being operable in response to said command to trigger stand-by brake pressure regulation upon said control unit determining that braking action is needed.
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Specification