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Travel support apparatus and travel support system

  • US 9,539,989 B2
  • Filed: 08/08/2012
  • Issued: 01/10/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A travel support apparatus disposed in a subject vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

  • a communication unit for communicably coupling the subject vehicle with surrounding vehicles for exchanging information via vehicle-to-vehicle communication, the information including a speed control capacity of a vehicle;

    a first inter-vehicle distance detection unit for detecting an inter-vehicle distance from the subject vehicle to a lead vehicle of the subject vehicle;

    a travel control unit for controlling the inter-vehicle distance to the lead vehicle based on the information received by the communication unit from the lead vehicle;

    a speed control capacity calculation unit for determining a speed control capacity of the subject vehicle;

    a comparison unit for comparing the speed control capacity of the subject vehicle determined by the speed control capacity calculation unit with the speed control capacity of a following vehicle located behind the subject vehicle when the communication unit receives the speed control capacity of the following vehicle; and

    a maximum deceleration restriction unit for determining a restricted value to restrict a maximum deceleration of the subject vehicle when the comparison unit determines that the following vehicle has a lower speed control capacity than the subject vehicle;

    whereinthe speed control capacity of the subject vehicle is determined based on information directly indicating the presence of a range sensor that is equipped to independently detect the presence of a frontal obstacle in front of the subject vehicle and a distance to the frontal obstacle.

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