Method and device for automatically triggering a deceleration in a motor vehicle

• US 20040019426A1
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Heinebrodt, Martin, Winner, Hermann, Knoop, Michael, Braeuchle, Goetz, Staempfle, Martin, Oechsle, Fred, Wilhelm, Ulf, Thiele, Joachim, Uhler, Werner, Hermsen, Wolfgang, Weilkes, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,035,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01259 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01311 monitoring the braking system, e.g. ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/02 Active or adaptive cruise control system; Distance control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/12 Pre-actuation of braking systems without significant braking effect; Optimizing brake performance by reduction of play between brake pads and brake disc
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A method and a device for automatically triggering a deceleration of a vehicle so as to prevent a collision with another object. Objects in the range of the vehicle'"'"'s course being detected using signals of an apparatus for sending and receiving radar signals or lidar signals, or of an apparatus for receiving video signals. An endangerment potential is determined as a function of the objects detected, and when a predefined endangerment potential theshold value, which may be less than the triggering threshold value for the deceleration, is exceeded, the deceleration means of the vehicle are reset to a state in preparation for braking. Furthermore, additional vehicle functions may be carried out when the endangerment potential threshold value is exceeded, whereby passenger safety in this travel situation is enhanced.

Claims

1. A method for the automatic triggering of deceleration of a vehicle to prevent a collision with another object or a reduction in the consequences of an impending collision with another object,

wherein objects in the range of the vehicle'"'"'s course are detected using signals of an apparatus for sending and receiving radar signals or lidar signals, or of an apparatus for receiving video signals or a combination of these, motion variables of the vehicle are recorded, an endangerment potential is determined as a function of the objects detected and of the motion variables, and as a function of the endangerment potential ascertained, the deceleration apparatus(es) of the vehicle are controlled, the deceleration means being operated in at least three states.

2. The method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the deceleration means are operated in at least three states,

in a first state the deceleration means being inactive,

in a second state the deceleration means being operated in a state preparing for braking, and

in a third state a deceleration being operated having a deceleration value which corresponds approximately to the maximum vehicle deceleration possible.

3. The method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the deceleration means are operated in one of four states,

in a first state the deceleration means being inactive,

in a second state the deceleration means being operated in a state preparing for braking, and

in a third state a deceleration being carried out having a deceleration value which is clearly below the maximum vehicle deceleration possible and

in a fourth state a deceleration being carried out having a deceleration value which corresponds approximately to the maximum vehicle deceleration possible.

4. The method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the deceleration means are operated in one of five states,

in a first state the deceleration means being inactive,

in a second state the deceleration means being operated in a state preparing for braking,

in a third state a deceleration being carried out having a deceleration value which is clearly below the maximum vehicle deceleration possible,

in a fourth state a deceleration being operated having a deceleration value which corresponds approximately to the maximum vehicle deceleration possible, and

in a fifth state a deceleration being carried out in which the front wheels are blocked and the rear wheels remain free from being blocked.

5. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the state preparing for braking provides that in the braking system of the vehicle such a braking pressure is built up that the brake linings lie against the brake disks without having a significant braking effect appear.

6. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one further function is carried out as a function of the endangerment potential.

7. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein as an additional function it is provided

that the engine is reduced to idling speed or the engine is deactivated,

that the transmission is switched to a neutral setting, so that no force transmission can take place,

that the reversible passenger restraint systems are activated,

that the triggering thresholds of the irreversible passenger restraint systems are modified so that they correspond to the current endangerment potential,

that a control device for controlling a braking intervention and/or an engine adjustment for stabilizing the vehicle motion is modified in such a way that it is optimized for a powerful vehicle deceleration,

that the other traffic participants are warned by activating the travel direction indicator devices and/or the horn,

the subsequent vehicles are informed by a radio transmission on the impending deceleration of the vehicle,

that data on the detected objects in the vehicle environment and data which characterize one'"'"'s own driving behavior are stored in a nonvolatile memory device, or

that, using radio transmission, a traffic control center or an emergency call center is informed about the vehicle position which was determined using a satellite-supported position finding method, or a combination thereof.

8. A device for the automatic triggering of deceleration of a vehicle to prevent a collision with another object or a reduction in the consequences of an impending collision with another object,

wherein signals, which detect objects in the range of the vehicle'"'"'s course, of an apparatus for sending and receiving radar signals or lidar signals, or of an apparatus for receiving video signals, are supplied to the device;

an endangerment potential is ascertained as a function of the detected objects, using an endangerment potential ascertaining device; and

means for controlling vehicle deceleration devices are provided which are able to reset the deceleration means of the vehicle into a state preparing for braking when a predefined endangerment potential threshold value is exceeded which is less than the triggering threshold value for the deceleration.

9. The device as recited in claim 8,

wherein at least one further means is provided which is able to trigger additional functions as a function of the endangerment potential.

10. The device as recited in claim 8 or 9,

wherein as further means

an engine control device which is able to reduce the engine speed to idling speed, or to deactivate the engine,

a transmission control unit which can switch the transmission to a neutral setting, so that no force transmission takes place,

a restraint system control device which is able to activate the reversible passenger restraint systems,

a restraint system control device which is able to modify the triggering thresholds of the irreversible passenger restraint systems so that they are adjusted to the current endangerment potential,

a control device for controlling a braking intervention and/or an engine adjustment for stabilizing the vehicle motion which is modified in such a way that it is optimized for a powerful vehicle deceleration,

an apparatus for activating the travel direction indicator devices and/or the horn, so that the other traffic participants may be warned,

an apparatus for radio transmission, which is able to inform the subsequent vehicles concerning the impending deceleration of the vehicle,

a nonvolatile memory device which stores data of the detected objects in the vehicle'"'"'e environment and data which characterize the driving behavior of one'"'"'s own vehicle, or

an apparatus for radio transmission, which informs a traffic control center or an emergency call center about the vehicle position, which was determined using a satellite-supported position finding method, is provided, or a combination thereof.