Speed assistant for a motor vehicle
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a motor vehicle, comprising:
- controlling a longitudinal speed of the motor vehicle to a predetermined value;
scanning an upcoming driving route with a sensor on board the motor vehicle;
determining one end of a section of the driving route which is visible with the sensor;
determining, via the sensor, a shadowed section of the driving route;
determining a distance up to the shadowed section;
determining whether the distance is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, wherein the threshold value is a function of a speed of the vehicle;
presuming a presence of an obstacle on the driving route beyond a visible section if the distance is not smaller than the threshold value, wherein the presence of the obstacle is presumed even though it cannot be viewed;
determining another distance up to the obstacle;
determining, based on the another distance, a deceleration value for maintaining a predetermined minimum distance between the motor vehicle and the obstacle;
checking whether the deceleration value exceeds a predetermined maximum deceleration; and
outputting a signal to a driver of the motor vehicle to inform the driver to take longitudinal control of the motor vehicle.
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Abstract
A method for controlling a motor vehicle includes steps of controlling a longitudinal speed of the motor vehicle to a predetermined value and scanning an upcoming driving route with the aid of a sensor on board the motor vehicle. One end of a section of the driving route which is visible with the aid of the sensor is determined. Assuming that there is an obstacle on the driving route beyond the visible section, it is determined that a deceleration which would be required to maintain a predetermined minimum distance from the assumed obstacle exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and a signal is output to a driver of the motor vehicle.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a motor vehicle, comprising:
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controlling a longitudinal speed of the motor vehicle to a predetermined value; scanning an upcoming driving route with a sensor on board the motor vehicle; determining one end of a section of the driving route which is visible with the sensor; determining, via the sensor, a shadowed section of the driving route; determining a distance up to the shadowed section; determining whether the distance is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, wherein the threshold value is a function of a speed of the vehicle; presuming a presence of an obstacle on the driving route beyond a visible section if the distance is not smaller than the threshold value, wherein the presence of the obstacle is presumed even though it cannot be viewed; determining another distance up to the obstacle; determining, based on the another distance, a deceleration value for maintaining a predetermined minimum distance between the motor vehicle and the obstacle; checking whether the deceleration value exceeds a predetermined maximum deceleration; and outputting a signal to a driver of the motor vehicle to inform the driver to take longitudinal control of the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product having a program code that one of runs on a processing device and is stored in a computer-readable data carrier, for carrying out a method, comprising:
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controlling a longitudinal speed of the motor vehicle to a predetermined value; scanning an upcoming driving route with a sensor on board the motor vehicle; determining one end of a section of the driving route which is visible with the sensor; determining, via the sensor, a shadowed section of the driving route; determining a distance up to the shadowed section; determining whether the distance is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, wherein the threshold value is a function of a speed of the vehicle; presuming a presence of an obstacle on the driving route beyond a visible section if the distance is not smaller than the threshold value, wherein the presence of the obstacle is presumed even though it cannot be viewed; determining another distance up to the obstacle; determining, based on the another distance, a deceleration value for maintaining a predetermined minimum distance between the motor vehicle and the obstacle; checking whether the deceleration value exceeds a predetermined maximum deceleration; and outputting a signal to a driver of the motor vehicle to inform the driver to take longitudinal control of the motor vehicle.
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12. A device for controlling a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a speed controller for controlling a longitudinal speed of the motor vehicle to a predetermined value; a sensor on board the motor vehicle for scanning an upcoming driving route, and a signaling device for outputting a signal to a driver, a determining arrangement for performing the following; determining one end of a section of the driving route which is visible with the sensor; determining, via the sensor, a shadowed section of the driving route; determining a distance up to the shadowed section; determining whether the distance is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, wherein the threshold value is a function of a speed of the vehicle; presuming a presence of an obstacle on the driving route beyond a visible section if the distance is not smaller than the threshold value, wherein the presence of the obstacle is presumed even though it cannot be viewed; determining another distance up to the obstacle; determining, based on the another distance, a deceleration value for maintaining a predetermined minimum distance between the motor vehicle and the obstacle; checking whether the deceleration value exceeds a predetermined maximum deceleration; and an output arrangement to output a signal to the driver of the motor vehicle with the signaling device to inform the driver to take longitudinal control of the motor vehicle.
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Specification