Obstacle detecting control device of vehicle

• US 7,504,987 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Oka, Takuji, Ohmura, Hiroshi, Kobayashi, Sei
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor; John B
• Application Number:
  US11/594,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20070146196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 342 70- 72, 342/27, 340/435, 340/436, 340/903, 701/301
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9319 Controlling the accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9322 using additional data, e.g. driver condition, road state or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93276 in the windshield area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4004 of parts of a radar system

Abstract

In an obstacle detecting control device installed in a vehicle body and includes a millimeter-wave radar detecting an obstacle in front of the vehicle and an operation control portion controlling a bake device and seatbelt pre-tensioner according to detection results of the obstacle by the radar, there are provided a detection frequency determining portion determining that a detection frequency of obstacle by the radar within a specified period of time exceeds a first frequency, an excessive frequency determining portion determining that a frequency of the above determination by the detection frequency determining portion exceeds a second frequency, and an indication portion and a warning buzzer to warn a passenger of a change of radar axis of the radar when the above determination by the excessive frequency determining portion is made.

Claims

1. An obstacle detecting control device of a vehicle, which is installed in a vehicle body and includes an obstacle detecting device to detect an obstacle in front of the vehicle and an operation control device to control an operational device of the vehicle according to detection results of the obstacle by the obstacle detecting device, the obstacle detecting control device comprising:

a detection frequency determining device for predicting occurrence of an abnormality of the obstacle detecting device by preventing an accidental detection of the obstacle, which is operative to determine that a frequency of detection of the obstacle by the obstacle detecting device within a specified period of time exceeds a specified first frequency;

an excessive frequency determining device for confirming the occurrence of the abnormality of the obstacle detecting device, which is operative to determine that a frequency of said determination by the detection frequency determining device exceeds a specified second frequency; and

a warning device to warn a passenger of the abnormality of the obstacle detecting device when said determination by the excessive frequency determining device is made.

2. The obstacle detecting control device of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the obstacle detecting device is a radar which is attached to the vehicle body in such a manner that a radar axis is directed toward a specified direction, and the abnormality of the obstacle detecting device is such that there exists a change of the radar axis of the radar.

3. The obstacle detecting control device of a vehicle of claim 2, wherein there is further provided a traveling road determining device to determine whether a traveling road is an expressway or a normal road, and at least one of said specified first frequency and specified second frequency is adjustable so that it has a greater frequency value when it is determined by the traveling road determining device that the traveling road is the normal road, compared to that when it is determined that the traveling road is the expressway.

4. The obstacle detecting control device of a vehicle of claim 2, wherein said frequency of the detection of the obstacle in determining the excess over the specified first frequency by the detection frequency determining device is configured to be a frequency of the detection in which the obstacle is detected within a specified detecting area of the obstacle detecting device.

5. The obstacle detecting control device of a vehicle of claim 2, wherein said obstacle to be detected in determining the excess over the specified first frequency by the detection frequency determining device includes an object in a stationary state and another vehicle traveling in an opposite lane, which are located in front of the traveling vehicle.

6. The obstacle detecting control device of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein there is further provided a control prohibiting device to prohibit the control of the operational device by the operation control device when said determination by the excessive frequency determining device is made.

7. The obstacle detecting control device of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the operational device is a brake device.

8. The obstacle detecting control device of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the operational device is a seatbelt pre-tensioner to pull in a seatbelt for restraining the passenger with a specified tension.