Method and device for regulating clearance for a vehicle

• US 6,496,108 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Ruchatz, Thomas, Bäker, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung T
• Application Number:
  US09/524,458
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/935, 340/436, 340/435, 701/301
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/02 Driver type; Driving style; Driver adaptive features
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0025 Transfer function weighting factor
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for regulating clearance for a vehicle, in which a relative velocity (v_rel) and a relative distance (a) between the vehicle and a second vehicle driving ahead are detected, and a control signal for an adaptive cruise control device is generated from these quantities. The control signal being derived from a danger criterion (G) is determined from the relative velocity (v_rel) and the relative distance (a), this danger criterion which is weighted with an adaptive factor (AF) representing the individual driving behavior of a vehicle driver, and a control signal initiating a deceleration of the vehicle is generated when the danger criterion (GF), weighted with the adaptive factor and adapted to the vehicle driver, falls below a defined threshold value (S).

Claims

1. A method for regulating clearance for a vehicle, in which a relative velocity (v_rel) and a relative distance (a) between a vehicle (F1) and a second vehicle driving ahead (F2) is detected, and a control signal (RV) for an adaptive cruise control device of the vehicle (F1) is generated from these quantities, comprising;

determining a danger criterion (G) from the relative velocity (v_rel) and the relative distance (a);

weighting the danger criterion (G) with an adaptive factor (AF) corresponding to the individual driving behavior of a driver of the vehicle (F1); and

generating a control signal (RV) for initiating deceleration of the vehicle (F1) when the danger criterion (GF) weighted with the adaptive factor (AF) adjusted to the vehicle driver falls below a defined threshold value (S).

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein;

the adaptive factor (AF) is a constant quantity.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein;

the adaptive factor (AF) is predefined by the vehicle driver.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein;

the adaptive factor (AF) is determined by an external system for recognizing individual driving patterns.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein;

the relative velocity (v_rel) and the relative distance (a) are detected by a sensor device.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein;

the relative velocity (v_relis determined from the absolute velocity (VA) of the preceding vehicle (F2) detected by the sensor device, and from the individual velocity (V_e) of the passed vehicle.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein;

the relative velocity (v_rel) is determined from the absolute velocity (VA) of the second vehicle (F2), and from the individual velocity (V_e) of the vehicle.

8. A device for regulating clearance for a vehicle, in which a relative velocity (v_rel) and a relative distance (a) between the vehicle (F1) and a second vehicle driving ahead (F2), comprising an evaluator supplied with a signal representing the relative velocity (v_rel) and the distance (a) and means for determining a danger criterion (G) from the relative velocity (v_rel) and the relative distance (a);

weighting the danger criterion (G) with an adaptive factor (AF) corresponding to the individual driving behavior of a driver of the vehicle (F1); and

generating a control signal (RV) for initiating deceleration of the vehicle (F1) when the danger criterion (GF) weighted with the adaptive factor (AF) adjusted to the vehicle driver falls below a defined threshold value (S).

9. The device as recited in claim 8, further comprising;

a sensor device for detecting distance (a) and relative velocity (v_rel) and an adaptive cruise control device.

10. A device for regulating clearance for a vehicle, comprising:

an evaluator supplied with a signal representing a relative velocity and a relative distance between the vehicle and a second vehicle driving ahead; and

an arrangement configured to determine a danger criterion from the relative velocity and the relative distance, to weight the danger criterion with an adaptive factor corresponding to an individual driving behavior of a driver of the vehicle and to generate a control signal for initiating deceleration of the vehicle when the danger criterion weighted with the adaptive factor adjusted to the vehicle driver falls below a defined threshold value.

11. The device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a sensor device configured to detect the relative distance and relative velocity; and

an adaptive cruise control device.