Driving support apparatus

• US 7,660,659 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advics Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Advics Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Kazuya, Mori, Yukio, Kamiya, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/452,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image

Abstract

A driving support apparatus, which supports a driving operation of a vehicle by an operator by capturing a view around the vehicle and by displaying the captured view on at least a display device provided inside a cabin of the vehicle, and includes: a target spot setting device for setting a target spot that is a position to which the operator attempts to direct the vehicle; a distance measuring device for measuring a distance between the vehicle and the target spot; a speed measuring device for measuring a traveling speed of the vehicle; and a speed controlling device for controlling the traveling speed of the vehicle so as not to exceed a speed predetermined in accordance with the distance between the vehicle and the target spot.

Claims

1. A driving support apparatus, which supports a driving operation of a vehicle by an operator by capturing a view around the vehicle and by displaying the captured view on at least a displaying means provided inside a cabin of the vehicle, comprising:

a target spot setting means for setting a target spot that is a position to which the operator attempts to direct the vehicle;

a distance measuring means for measuring a distance between the vehicle and the target spot;

a speed measuring means for measuring a traveling speed of the vehicle; and

a speed controlling means for controlling the traveling speed of the vehicle so as not to exceed a speed predetermined in accordance with the distance between the vehicle and the target spot;

wherein operation of an accelerator by the operator during driving support execution does not cause the traveling speed to exceed the predetermined speed.

2. A driving support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target spot setting means sets the target spot based on a position which the operator specifies on an image displayed on the displaying means.

3. A driving support apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the displaying means changes an image to be displayed, in accordance with the distance between the vehicle and the target spot.

4. A driving support apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the target spot setting means sets the position to which the operator attempts to direct the vehicle, based on at least one of a bumper portion of the vehicle and a wheel portion of the vehicle.

5. A driving support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target spot setting means sets the target spot based on a distance, and a direction, from the vehicle, which the operator specifies.

6. A driving support apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the displaying means changes an image to be displayed, in accordance with the distance between the vehicle and the target spot.

7. A driving support apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the target spot setting means sets the position to which the operator attempts to direct the vehicle, based on at least one of a bumper portion of the vehicle and a wheel portion of the vehicle.

8. A driving support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displaying means changes an image to be displayed, in accordance with the distance between the vehicle and the target spot.

9. A driving support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target spot setting means sets the position to which the operator attempts to direct the vehicle, based on at least one of a bumper portion of the vehicle and a wheel portion of the vehicle.

10. A driving support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the distance between the vehicle and the target spot is at, or greater than, a first distance, a maximum speed value of the traveling speed of the vehicle is controlled at a first predetermined speed by the speed controlling means.

11. A driving support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a maximum speed value of the traveling speed of the vehicle is lowered by the speed controlling means in response to an approach of the vehicle to the target spot.

12. A driving support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, until the vehicle reaches the target spot, the traveling speed of the vehicle is controlled to change stepwise from a first predetermined speed to a second predetermined speed which is lower than the first predetermined speed.

13. A driving support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displaying means displays, therein, an indication which informs the operator that the traveling speed of the vehicle has been controlled, while the speed controlling means controls the traveling speed of the vehicle so as not to exceed the predetermined speed.

14. The driving support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the traveling speed of the vehicle is changeable in response to an operation of the accelerator pedal while the driving support is executed.

15. The driving support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speed controlling means controls the traveling speed in a manner where the speed controlling means gradually decreases an upper limit value of the traveling speed as the vehicle approaches to the target spot.

16. A driving support apparatus, which supports a driving operation of a vehicle by an operator by capturing a view around the vehicle and by displaying the captured view on at least a displaying means provided inside a cabin of the vehicle, comprising:

a target spot setting means for setting a target spot that is a position to which the operator attempts to direct the vehicle;

a distance measuring means for measuring a distance between the vehicle and the target spot;

a speed measuring means for measuring a traveling speed of the vehicle; and

a speed controlling means for controlling the traveling speed of the vehicle so as not to exceed a speed predetermined in accordance with the distance between the vehicle and the target spot;

wherein, until the vehicle reaches the target spot, the traveling speed of the vehicle is controlled to change stepwise from a first predetermined speed to a second predetermined speed which is lower than the first predetermined speed.

17. A driving support apparatus, which supports a driving operation of a vehicle by an operator by capturing a view around the vehicle and by displaying the captured view on at least a displaying means provided inside a cabin of the vehicle, comprising:

a target spot setting means for setting a target spot that is a position to which the operator attempts to direct the vehicle;

a distance measuring means for measuring a distance between the vehicle and the target spot;

a speed measuring means for measuring a traveling speed of the vehicle; and

a speed controlling means for controlling the traveling speed of the vehicle so as not to exceed a speed predetermined in accordance with the distance between the vehicle and the target spot;

wherein the displaying means displays, therein, an indication which informs the operator that the traveling speed of the vehicle has been controlled, while the speed controlling means controls the traveling speed of the vehicle so as not to exceed the predetermined speed.