Drive control system for automotive vehicle

• US 20060161331A1
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ogawa, Takashi, Kumon, Hiroaki, Tamatsu, Yukimasa
• Application Number:
  US11/326,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20060161331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/026 combined with automatic distance control, i.e. electronic tow bar
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0265 Automatic obstacle avoidance by steering
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

In a drive control system, a front image taken by a camera is processed by an image processor, and an electronic control unit generates control target values according to outputs from the image processor. Actuators control a driving speed and/or a lateral position of an own vehicle in a driving lane, based on the control target values. Front obstacles, such as a preceding vehicle, a blind curve and an uphill road, are included in a front image, and a ratio of the front obstacle occupying a front vision field is calculated. The vehicle is controlled based on information including various obstacles located in front of the vehicle to thereby give an improved security to a driver.

Claims

1. A drive control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

first means for obtaining a vision field ratio sheltered by an object in front of an own vehicle relative to a total vision field; and

means for controlling at least either one of a driving speed of the own vehicle and a lateral position of the own vehicle in a driving lane based on the vision field ratio.

2. The drive control system as in claim 1, further including a camera for taking an image in front of the own vehicle, wherein:

the first means obtains the vision filed ratio based on the image taken by the camera.

3. The drive control system as in claim 2, wherein:

the vision field ratio obtained by the first means is a vision field ratio sheltered by a preceding vehicle relative to a total vision field taken by the camera.

4. The drive control system as in claim 2, wherein:

the vision field ratio obtained by the first means is a vision field ratio sheltered by an obstacle located in front of a curved road on which the own vehicle is driving, the vision field ratio being calculated by dividing a difference between a normally visible range and a distance from the own vehicle to the obstacle, which is calculated based on the image taken by the camera, with the normally visible range.

5. The drive control system as in claim 2, wherein:

the vision field ratio obtained by the first means is a vision field ratio sheltered by an upward inclination of a road on which the own vehicle is driving, the vision field ratio being calculated by dividing a difference between a normally visible range and a distance from the own vehicle to a road horizon with the normally visible range.

6. The drive control system as in claim 3, wherein:

the controlling means includes means for setting a target driving time up to the preceding vehicle and controls a driving speed of the own vehicle to realize the target driving time.

7. The drive control system as in claim 3, wherein:

the controlling means controls a lateral position of the own vehicle in a driving lane relative to a lateral position of the preceding vehicle on the same driving lane, based on the vision field ratio sheltered by the preceding vehicle.

8. The drive control system as in claim 4, wherein:

the controlling means controls a driving speed of the own vehicle not to exceed a predetermined target speed and/or a lateral position of the own vehicle in a driving lane relative to a lateral position of the preceding vehicle in the same driving lane, based on the vision field ratio sheltered by the obstacle located in front of the curved road.

9. The drive control system as in claim 5, wherein:

the controlling means controls a driving speed of the own vehicle not to exceed a predetermined target speed, based on the vision field ratio sheltered by the upward inclination of the road.

10. A drive control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a second means for obtaining a back side area of a preceding vehicle; and

means for controlling at least either one of a driving speed of the own vehicle and a lateral position of the own vehicle in a driving lane, based on the back side area of the preceding vehicle.

11. The drive control system as in claim 10, further including a camera for taking an image of a back side of the preceding vehicle, wherein:

the second means calculates the back side area based on the image taken by the camera.

12. The drive control system as in claim 10, wherein:

the controlling means includes means for setting a target driving time up to the preceding vehicle and controls a driving speed of the own vehicle to realize the target driving time.

13. The drive control system as in claim 10, wherein:

the controlling means controls a lateral position of the own vehicle in a driving lane relative to a lateral position of the preceding vehicle in the same driving lane, based on the back side area of the preceding vehicle.