Apparatus and method for following a preceding vehicle
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for a vehicle for following a preceding vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- an inter-vehicle distance sensor that detects an inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle;
a brake device that decelerates the vehicle;
a stop-holding device, different from the brake device, that maintains a stopped state of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped and the stop-holding device is in a working state;
a controller including an automatic stop-holding system that controls operating states of the stop-holding device when the automatic stop-holding system is in an enabled state; and
an operation member for setting the automatic stop-holding system in one of the enabled state and a disabled state; and
whereinthe controller is configured to perform control for following the preceding vehicle using the brake device based on a signal from the inter-vehicle distance sensor;
to release the brake device when the vehicle is stopped and the stop-holding device is in the working state; and
to change at least one operating condition of the control for following the preceding vehicle after exiting the stopped state according to whether the automatic stop-holding system is in the enabled state or in the disabled state when the vehicle is stopped.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling a vehicle to follow a preceding vehicle. A stop-holding device maintains a stopped state automatically when the vehicle is stopped, and the stop-holding device is in an enabled state or a disabled state. A control state for following the preceding vehicle is changed, at least in part, according to a set state of the stop-holding device.
68 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for a vehicle for following a preceding vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inter-vehicle distance sensor that detects an inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle; a brake device that decelerates the vehicle; a stop-holding device, different from the brake device, that maintains a stopped state of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped and the stop-holding device is in a working state; a controller including an automatic stop-holding system that controls operating states of the stop-holding device when the automatic stop-holding system is in an enabled state; and an operation member for setting the automatic stop-holding system in one of the enabled state and a disabled state; and
whereinthe controller is configured to perform control for following the preceding vehicle using the brake device based on a signal from the inter-vehicle distance sensor;
to release the brake device when the vehicle is stopped and the stop-holding device is in the working state; and
to change at least one operating condition of the control for following the preceding vehicle after exiting the stopped state according to whether the automatic stop-holding system is in the enabled state or in the disabled state when the vehicle is stopped. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A control system for a vehicle for following a preceding vehicle that performs control for following the preceding vehicle based on an inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle, the control system comprising:
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stop-holding means, diffrent from a brake device, for maintaining a stopped state of the vehicle once the vehicle is stopped by the brake device when the stop-holding means is in a working state; operating state control means having an enabled state for controlling operating states of the stop-holding means and having a disable state; judgment means for determining whether the operating state control means is in one of the enabled state and a disabled state; and control state switching means for maintaining the control for following the preceding vehicle until the vehicle is stopped if the judgment means indicates that the operating state control means is in the enabled state and for releasing the control for following the preceding vehicle once a vehicle speed falls below a prescribed vehicle speed if the judgment means indicates that the operating state control means is in the disabled state.
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14. A method for control of a vehicle for following a preceding vehicle, the method comprising:
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setting an automatic stop-holding system in one of an enabled state and a disabled state, the automatic stop-holding system able to maintain a stopped state of the vehicle using a stop-holding device when in the enabled state once the vehicle is stopped by the brake device, the stop-holding device being different from the brake device; releasing the brake device when the vehicle is stopped and the automatic stop-holding system is in the enabled state; determining whether the automatic stop-holding system is in the enabled state or the disabled state; and changing a control state of the control for following the preceding vehicle in response to whether the automatic stop-holding system is in the enabled state or the disabled state. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification