Vehicle speed control apparatus

• US 6,473,685 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Takenaga, Hiroshi, Minowa, Toshimichi, Kuroda, Hiroshi, Kayano, Mitsuo, Kuragaki, Satoru, Takano, Kazuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/971,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 701/96, 701/93, 701/23, 701/24, 342/69, 342/70, 342/46, 342/47, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 180/170, 340/435, 340/436
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0066 responsive to vehicle path curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/30 Road curve radius
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/802 Longitudinal distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/805 Azimuth angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/045 Improving turning performance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18145 Cornering
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A vehicle speed control apparatus for allowing a host vehicle trailing a preceding vehicle to accelerate and decelerate without causing discomfort to the host vehicle driver. While the host vehicle is trailing the preceding vehicle, the apparatus on board the host vehicle stores the speed of the preceding vehicle entering a curve ahead as well as a headway distance of the host vehicle to the preceding vehicle. Upon reaching the curve, the host vehicle is controlled by the apparatus to enter the curve at a speed not in excess of the stored speed of the preceding vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle speed control apparatus comprising:

detecting apparatus configured to detect a headway distance and a relative speed of a host vehicle in relation to a preceding vehicle;

detecting apparatus configured to detect an own speed of said host vehicle;

computer apparatus configured to compute a speed of said preceding vehicle based on said own speed and said relative speed of said host vehicle; and

controlling apparatus configured to the speed of said preceding vehicle passing a given point and which controls at least one of a throttle valve device, a transmission device and a braking device so that said own speed of said host vehicle passing said point does not exceed the stored speed of said preceding vehicle.

2. A vehicle speed control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controlling apparatus is operatively configured to control said own speed of said host vehicle if said preceding vehicle directionally deviates by a predetermined angle from a frontal direction of said host vehicle.

3. A vehicle speed control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controlling apparatus is operatively configured to control said own speed of said host vehicle if said preceding vehicle is found turning in direction.

4. A vehicle speed control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controlling apparatus is configured to control said own speed of said host vehicle so that said headway distance to said preceding vehicle exceeds a predetermined value.

5. A vehicle speed control apparatus comprising:

detecting apparatus configured to detect a headway distance and a relative speed of a host vehicle in relation to a preceding vehicle;

detecting apparatus configured to detect an own speed and a yaw rate of said host vehicle;

computer apparatus configured to compute a speed of said preceding vehicle based on said own speed and said relative speed of said host vehicle; and

controlling apparatus configured such that, if said yaw rate of said host vehicle is in excess of a predetermined value, the speed of said preceding vehicle passing a given point is stored, said controlling apparatus further being configured to control at least one of a throttle valve device, a transmission device and a braking device so that said own speed of said host vehicle passing said point does not exceed both a speed determined by said yaw rate of said host device and the stored speed of said preceding vehicle.

6. A vehicle speed control apparatus comprising:

detecting apparatus configured to detect a headway distance and a relative speed of a host vehicle in relation to a preceding vehicle;

detecting apparatus configured to detect an own speed and a yaw rate of said host vehicle;

computing apparatus configured to compute a speed of said preceding vehicle based on said own speed and said relative speed of said host vehicle; and

controlling apparatus configured such that, if host vehicle loses sight of said preceding vehicle and if said yaw rate of said host vehicle is in excess of a predetermined value, at least one of a throttle valve device, a transmission device and a braking device is controlled so that said own speed of said host vehicle does not exceed both the speed of said preceding vehicle in effect when said host vehicle lost sight of said preceding vehicle and a speed determined by said yaw rate of said host device.