Vehicle running control system

• US 8,712,674 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Maruyama, Tasuku
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kiswanto, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US12/339,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/93, 701/96, 701/116, 701/117, 701/301, 340/435, 340/436, 340/903
• US Class Current: 701/116
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles

Abstract

At least a follow-up target inter-vehicle distance is set on the basis of information about a preceding vehicle recognized by a forward-environment recognition device mounted in a subject vehicle and including a stereo camera, and it is determined whether or not the preceding vehicle is making a right/left turn. When a right/left turn of the preceding vehicle is detected, the follow-up target inter-vehicle distance is multiplied by a correction coefficient so as to set a different follow-up target inter-vehicle distance for the right/left turn.

Claims

1. A vehicle running control system comprising:

front-environment recognition means mounted in a subject vehicle, the front-environment recognition means recognizing at least a preceding vehicle, and an inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle;

right/left turn judging means for judging a right or left turn of the preceding vehicle on the basis of information about the preceding vehicle recognized by the front-environment recognition means; and

target inter-vehicle distance setting means for setting a target inter-vehicle distance between the subject vehicle and the preceding vehicle on the basis of one of a vehicle speed of the preceding vehicle calculated from the information about the preceding vehicle recognized by the front-environment recognition means and a speed of the subject vehicle, wherein

the target inter-vehicle distance is a target distance established for comparison with the recognized inter-vehicle distance,

the target inter-vehicle distance includes a first target inter-vehicle distance set when the right/left turn judging means determines that the preceding vehicle is making a right or left turn, and a second target inter-vehicle distance set when the preceding vehicle is traveling straight ahead, and

the first target inter-vehicle distance is shorter than the second target inter-vehicle distance.

2. The vehicle running control system according to claim 1, wherein, when the right/left turn judging means determines that the preceding vehicle is making the right or left turn, the target inter-vehicle distance setting means sets the first target inter-vehicle distance by correcting the second target inter-vehicle distance.

3. The vehicle running control system according to claim 2, wherein

a time taken until an inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle becomes zero is estimated based on the recognized inter-vehicle distance,

a correction value for correcting the second target inter-vehicle distance is set on the basis of the sum of the estimated time and an allowance time, and

the first target inter-vehicle distance is set by multiplying the second target inter-vehicle distance by the correction value.

4. The vehicle running control system according to claim 2, wherein a time taken until the preceding vehicle moves out of a traveling lane in front of the subject vehicle is estimated, and a correction value for correcting the second target inter-vehicle distance is set on the basis of the estimated time.

5. The vehicle running control system according to claim 2, wherein a width of the subject vehicle and a lap ratio in a lateral direction of the preceding vehicle with respect to the width of the subject vehicle are calculated, a time taken until the lap ratio becomes zero is estimated, and a correction value for correcting the second target inter-vehicle distance is set on the basis of the estimated time.