Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Indication or control of braking – acceleration – or deceleration
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-24
2001-11-27
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Indication or control of braking, acceleration, or deceleration
C701S070000, C701S079000, C701S093000, C701S301000, C340S438000, C340S439000, C180S170000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324465
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an automatic cruising control apparatus for controlling a distance between the preceding vehicle on the same lane and this vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An automatic cruising control apparatus for controlling a distance between the preceding vehicle on the same lane and this vehicle by controlling the throttle and the brake is known.
Such a prior art automatic cruising control apparatus is disclosed in Japanese patent application provisional publication No. 61-175130. This prior art automatic cruising control apparatus detects the distance between the preceding vehicle on the same lane and this vehicle (inter-vehicle distance) by an ultrasonic radar or the like and controls the throttle valve and the brake in accordance with the variation of the inter-vehicle distance.
An automatic braking apparatus disclosed in Japanese patent application provisional publication No. 5-310108 controls the braking pressure in accordance with deviation of the deceleration of the vehicle from the target deceleration calculated from the relation to the target in front of the vehicle.
Moreover, an automatic cruising control apparatus for maintaining the velocity of the vehicle by controlling the throttle valve in accordance with the deviation of the actual velocity from the predetermined velocity value is known.
Moreover, Japanese patent publication No. 2606218 discloses an automatic cruising apparatus which decelerates the vehicle in response to a deceleration command by applying a brake oil pressure to hydraulic actuators, wherein an upper limit of deceleration is specified.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,551 discloses an indicating arrangement for a distance warning system in motor vehicles which are equipped with measuring and evaluating devices for determining the distance of the vehicle to an obstacle disposed in front thereof and for determining the approach velocity to this vehicle; a desired value is thereby derived from the determined values for the brake deceleration necessary for the avoidance of a collision and an actual value is determined from the actual deceleration values attained during the braking operation whereby only the difference or the ratio of desired and actual value is thereby indicated to the driver.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is to provide a superior automatic cruising control apparatus.
According to the present invention there is provided a first automatic cruising control apparatus to be mounted in a vehicle. The first automatic cruising control apparatus detects a value corresponding to an actual distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle. The first automatic cruising control apparatus detects actual acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle. The first automatic cruising control apparatus controls the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle in accordance with a target control value. The first automatic cruising control apparatus determines the target control value so as to equalize the value to a target value corresponding to a target distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle. The first automatic cruising control apparatus informs a driver of the vehicle that at least one of the target control value and an actual control value of the vehicle reaches a predetermined threshold value. The target control value may indicates a target acceleration and the actual control value may indicate an actual acceleration.
According to the present invention there is provided a second automatic cruising control apparatus to be mounted in a vehicle. The second automatic cruising control apparatus detects a value corresponding to an actual distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle. The second automatic cruising control apparatus detects actual acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle. The second automatic cruising control apparatus controls the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle in accordance with a target control value. The second automatic cruising control apparatus determines the target control value so as to equalize the value to a target value corresponding to a target distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle. The second automatic cruising control apparatus informs a driver of the vehicle of at least one of the target control value and an actual control value of the vehicle. The target control value may indicates a target acceleration and the actual control value may indicate an actual acceleration.
According to the present invention there is provided a third automatic cruising control apparatus mounted in a vehicle. The third automatic cruising control apparatus detects a value corresponding to an actual distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle. The third automatic cruising control apparatus controls acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle so as to equalize the value to a target value corresponding to a target distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle, wherein for the acceleration and deceleration controlling there are a plurality of decelerators having different deceleration abilities to the vehicle. A part of a plurality of the decelerators are selectively operated. The third automatic cruising control apparatus informs a driver of the vehicle that a total of deceleration derived by a part of a plurality of the decelerators agrees with the maximum deceleration force in a plurality of the decelerators, when the total of deceleration derived by the part of a plurality of the decelerators agrees with the maximum deceleration force in a plurality of the decelerators.
According to the present invention there is provided a fourth automatic cruising control apparatus mounted in a vehicle. The fourth automatic cruising control apparatus detects a value corresponding to an actual distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle. The fourth automatic cruising control apparatus controls acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle so as to equalize the value to a target value corresponding to a target distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle. As the acceleration and deceleration control means, there are a plurality of decelerators having different deceleration abilities to the vehicle. A part of a plurality of the decelerators are selectively operated. The fourth automatic cruising control apparatus informs a driver of the vehicle of the part of a plurality of the decelerators which is (are) being operated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4095551 (1978-06-01), Paul et al.
patent: 5594645 (1997-01-01), Nishimura et al.
patent: 5629669 (1997-05-01), Asano et al.
patent: 5752214 (1998-05-01), Minowa et al.
patent: 5902345 (1999-05-01), Minowa et al.
patent: 6044321 (2000-03-01), Nakamura et al.
patent: 6058347 (2000-05-01), Yamamura et al.
patent: 61-175130 (1986-08-01), None
patent: 5-310108 (1993-11-01), None
patent: 6-248991 (1994-09-01), None
patent: 6-278500 (1994-10-01), None
patent: 7-156709 (1995-06-01), None
patent: 8-142717 (1996-06-01), None
patent: 8-268110 (1996-10-01), None
patent: 2606218 (1997-02-01), None
patent: 11-70823 (1999-03-01), None
U.S.S.N. 09/353,944.
Isogai Akira
Matsuoka Keiji
Nishimura Takao
Samukawa Yoshie
Teramura Eiji
Arthur Gertrude
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Denso Corporation
Law Offices of David G. Posz
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