Automobile running control system

• US 6,854,548 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Minowa, Toshimichi, Kuroda, Hiroshi, Yoshikawa, Tokuji, Kuragaki, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lum, L.
• Application Number:
  US10/388,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20030173128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 180167-170, 180/178, 180/179, 701/93, 701/96
• US Class Current: 180/170
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• 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: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position

Abstract

An automobile running control system having “Fast follow-up” and “Slow follow-up” modes controls so that the automobile may cruise at an optimum car-to-car space between the automobile and an object which is selected among those detected and faster than a preset ground velocity in the “Fast follow-up” mode. When the fast follow-up velocity of the automobile falls under the preset velocity, the system automatically enters the “Slow follow-up” mode.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle comprising,

a nearby object detector which detects nearby objects existing around the vehicle and calculates distance between the vehicle and the nearby objects and relative velocity of the nearby objects;

a velocity detector which detects velocity of the vehicle;

a velocity controller which controls the velocity of the vehicle;

wherein the velocity controller comprises a slow velocity cruising mode which is activated when the vehicle velocity is below a predetermined vehicle velocity value, and a high velocity cruising mode which is activated when the vehicle velocity is above the predetermined vehicle velocity value, and wherein during the slow velocity cruising mode the velocity controller controls a distance between the vehicle and a first object selected among the nearby objects so as to assume a predetermined distance value, and during the high velocity cruising mode the velocity controller controls a distance between the vehicle and a second object among the nearby objects having a ground velocity larger than a predetermined ground velocity value so as to assume a predetermined distance value.

2. A control system according to claim 1, further comprises an operator braking input unit which receives an input of brake operation by an operator, wherein during either the high velocity cruising mode or the slow velocity cruising mode, when the input of brake operation by the operator is received, the operator braking input unit activates an operator brake mode which activates brake in response to the brake operation by the operator.

3. A control system according to claim 2, wherein during activation of the operator brake mode, when the input of brake operation by the operator ends, the slow velocity cruising mode is activated.

4. A vehicle comprising a control system which comprises a nearby object detector which detects nearby objects existing around the vehicle, calculates distance between the vehicle and the nearby objects, and calculates relative velocity of the nearby objects, a velocity detector which detects velocity of the vehicle, and a velocity controller which controls the velocity of the vehicle,

wherein the vehicle comprises a slow velocity cruising mode which is activated when the vehicle velocity is below a predetermined vehicle velocity value, and a high velocity cruising mode which is activated when the vehicle velocity is above a predetermined vehicle velocity value, and during the slow velocity cruising mode a distance between the vehicle and a first object selected from the nearby objects is controlled so as to assume a predetermined distance value, and during the high velocity cruising mode a distance between the vehicle and a second object selected from the nearby objects having a ground velocity larger than a predetermined ground velocity value is controlled so as to assume a predetermined distance value.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising an operator braking input unit which receives an input of brake operation by an operator, wherein during either the high velocity cruising mode or the slow velocity cruising mode, when the input of brake operation by the operator is received, the operator braking input unit activates an operator brake mode which is activated in response to the brake operation by the operator.

6. A vehicle according to claim 5, wherein during activation of the operator brake mode, when the input of brake operation by the operator ends, the slow velocity cruising mode is activated.

7. A control method for a vehicle in which nearby objects existing around the vehicle are detected, distance and relative velocity between the vehicle and the nearby objects are calculated, velocity of the vehicle is detected, and the velocity of the vehicle is controlled,

wherein when the vehicle velocity is below a predetermined vehicle velocity value, a distance between the vehicle and a first object selected from the nearby objects is controlled so that the vehicle assumes a predetermined distance value, and when the vehicle velocity is above a predetermined vehicle velocity value, a distance between the vehicle and a second object among the nearby objects having a ground velocity larger than a predetermined ground velocity value is controlled so that the vehicle assumes a predetermined distance value.

8. A control method according to claim 7, when a brake operation by an operator is performed, a brake is activated in response to the brake operation by the operator.

9. A control method according to claim 8, wherein if the brake operation by the operator ends after being performed, a distance between the vehicle and the first object selected from the nearby objects is controlled so that the vehicle assumes a predetermined distance value.