Driving support device, driving support method and driving support program

• US 8,050,834 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Atsushi, Miyajima, Takayuki, Kondou, Yoshito
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Application Number:
  US12/430,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20090319139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 701/65, 701/70, 701/51, 701 55- 57, 701/61
• US Class Current: 701/65
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/196 acting within the driveline, e.g. retarders
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18136 Engine braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18145 Cornering
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/666 Determining road conditions by using vehicle location or position, e.g. from global navigation systems [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/66 Road conditions, e.g. slope, slippery
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals

Abstract

Information pertaining to a first zone set ahead of a host vehicle and a second zone farther ahead than the first zone is acquired. Based on the information, if a distance between an end point of the first zone and a start point of the second zone is shorter than a distance within which the host vehicle can be slowed at a predetermined deceleration to a second target vehicle speed for traveling the second zone at the start point of the second zone, a second acceleration gear ratio is acquired for accelerating the host vehicle in a second acceleration zone following the second zone. The gear ratio of the host vehicle is set to the second acceleration gear ratio in a first deceleration zone for slowing the host vehicle before reaching the first zone.

Claims

1. A driving support device comprising:

an acceleration gear ratio obtaining unit that acquires information pertaining to a first zone set ahead of a host vehicle and a second zone farther ahead than the first zone, wherein based on the information, if a distance between an end point of the first zone and a start point of the second zone is shorter than a distance within which the host vehicle can be slowed at a predetermined deceleration from a first target vehicle speed for traveling the first zone to a second target vehicle speed for traveling the second zone, a second acceleration gear ratio is acquired for accelerating the host vehicle in a second acceleration zone following the second zone; and

a gear ratio control unit that sets the gear ratio of the host vehicle to the second acceleration gear ratio in a first deceleration zone for slowing the host vehicle before reaching the first zone.

2. The driving support device according to claim 1, wherein

the acceleration gear ratio obtaining unit acquires the second acceleration gear ratio based on a second required acceleration for accelerating the host vehicle from the second target vehicle speed for traveling the second zone to a second recommended vehicle speed after traveling the second zone.

3. A driving support method comprising the steps of:

acquiring information pertaining to a first zone set ahead of a host vehicle and a second zone farther ahead than the first zone, wherein based on the information, if a distance between an end point of the first zone and a start point of the second zone is shorter than a distance within which the host vehicle can be slowed at a predetermined deceleration from a first target vehicle speed for traveling the first zone to a second target vehicle speed for traveling the second zone at the start point of the second zone, a second acceleration gear ratio is acquired for accelerating the host vehicle in a second acceleration zone following the second zone; and

setting the gear ratio of the host vehicle to the second acceleration gear ratio in a first deceleration zone for slowing the host vehicle before reaching the first zone.

4. A driving support program performing in a computer the functions of:

acquiring information pertaining to a first zone set ahead of a host vehicle and a second zone farther ahead than the first zone, wherein based on the information, if a distance between an end point of the first zone and a start point of the second zone is shorter than a distance within which the host vehicle can be slowed at a predetermined deceleration from a first target vehicle speed for traveling the first zone to a second target vehicle speed for traveling the second zone at the start point of the second zone, a second acceleration gear ratio is acquired for accelerating the host vehicle in a second acceleration zone following the second zone; and

setting the gear ratio of the host vehicle to the second acceleration gear ratio in a first deceleration zone for slowing the host vehicle before reaching the first zone.