Host vehicle with externally perceivable cruise control indicating device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A host vehicle comprising:
- a cruise control system configured to selectively synchronize speed control of the host vehicle with at least one other vehicle, the cruise control system including;
a relative position detecting device configured to determine position of the at least one other vehicle relative to the host vehicle, anda vehicle speed control device; and
an externally perceivable indicating device configured to provide an indication of the following operating modes of the cruise control system of the host vehicle;
a stand-by mode in which the externally perceivable indicating device is operated to indicate a desire to group the host vehicle with the at least one other vehicle, and a linked mode in which the externally perceivable indicating device is operated to indicate the host vehicle is grouped with the at least one other vehicle to travel together at a synchronized speed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A host vehicle includes a cruise control system and an externally perceivable indicating device. The cruise control system is configured to selectively synchronize speed control of the host vehicle with at least one other vehicle. The cruise control system includes a relative position detecting device configured to determine position of the at least one second vehicle relative to the host vehicle, a vehicle speed control device, and a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device. The externally perceivable indicating device is configured to provide an indication of the operating status of the cruise control system.
28 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A host vehicle comprising:
-
a cruise control system configured to selectively synchronize speed control of the host vehicle with at least one other vehicle, the cruise control system including; a relative position detecting device configured to determine position of the at least one other vehicle relative to the host vehicle, and a vehicle speed control device; and an externally perceivable indicating device configured to provide an indication of the following operating modes of the cruise control system of the host vehicle;
a stand-by mode in which the externally perceivable indicating device is operated to indicate a desire to group the host vehicle with the at least one other vehicle, and a linked mode in which the externally perceivable indicating device is operated to indicate the host vehicle is grouped with the at least one other vehicle to travel together at a synchronized speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of operating a host vehicle to form a caravan of vehicles, comprising:
-
detecting at least one other vehicle located within a first prescribed distance from the host vehicle, the host vehicle having a cruise control system, an interface and an externally perceivable indicating device; operating the externally perceivable indicating device to indicate the cruise control system is operating in a stand-by mode when the at least one other vehicle is within the first prescribed distance from the host vehicle; aligning the host vehicle with the at least one other vehicle such that one of the host vehicle and the at least one other vehicle is a frontward vehicle and the other of the host vehicle and the at least one other vehicle is a following vehicle of the caravan of vehicles; presenting an option via the interface of the host vehicle to synchronize the cruise control system of the host vehicle with the at least one other vehicle; and synchronizing the cruise control system of the host vehicle with the at least one other vehicle to maintain a second prescribed distance therebetween in response to receiving an input via the interface to synchronize the cruise control system of the host vehicle with the at least one other vehicle; and operating the externally perceivable indicating device to indicate the cruise control system is operating in a linked mode with the host vehicle being aligned with the at least one other vehicle and the cruise control system of the host vehicle is synchronized with the at least one other vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A host vehicle comprising:
-
a cruise control system configured to selectively synchronize speed control of the host vehicle with at least one other vehicle, the cruise control system including; a relative position detecting device configured to determine position of the at least one other vehicle relative to the host vehicle, and a vehicle speed control device; and an externally perceivable indicating device configured to provide an indication of an operating mode of the cruise control system, the operating mode being indicated by the externally perceivable indicating device including an indication of a position of the host vehicle relative to the at least one other vehicle; wherein the externally perceivable indicating device includes a front indicating portion and a rear indicating portion; and wherein the externally perceivable indicating device is configured to indicate the following operating modes of the cruise control system of the host vehicle; an unlinked mode in which the front indicating portion and the rear indicating portion are not operated, a stand-by mode in which one or both of the front indicating portion and the rear indicating portion is operated to indicate a desired position of the host vehicle relative to the at least one other vehicle, a frontward vehicle linked mode in which only the rear indicating portion of the externally perceivable indicating device is operated, a following vehicle linked mode in which both the front and rear indicating portions of the externally perceivable indicating device are operated, and a rearward vehicle linked mode in which only the front indicating portion of the externally perceivable indicating device is operated. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification