Vehicle running control device and vehicle

Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Indication or control of braking – acceleration – or deceleration

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C180S179000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06622078

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a vehicle having a running control device for regulating automatically vehicle-to-vehicle distance by controlling the vehicle's engine, transmission, brakes, motor, generator or otherwise.
BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE
A vehicle-to-vehicle distance control device used to follow automatically a preceding vehicle, is disclosed in Japanese patent prepublication No. 137561/1995. The disclosed vehicle-to-vehicle distance control device determines the distance between a preceding vehicle and an “own vehicle” (that is, the controlled vehicle having the control device), and adjusts the vehicle-to-vehicle distance by controlling a vehicle throttle when the latter is smaller than a first preset vehicle-to-vehicle distance. Further, when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is larger than a second preset vehicle-to-vehicle distance, the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is adjusted by controlling the throttle. When the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is between the first vehicle-to-vehicle distance and the second vehicle-to-vehicle distance, an adjustable speed control is carried out based on the amount of variation in the vehicle-to-vehicle distance. The stronger brake fluid pressure is at the time when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is smaller than the first vehicle-to-vehicle distance, the shorter the vehicle-to-vehicle distance becomes, and the longer, the weaker. At the time of the second vehicle-to-vehicle distance it is set to zero. Also, setting is made so that the larger throttle opening when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is longer than the first vehicle-to-vehicle distance is, the longer the vehicle-to-vehicle distance becomes.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In a corresponding way, the vehicle-to-vehicle distance which a driver provides differs when the preceding vehicle is stopping and when it is running. A vehicle-to-vehicle distance control device which automates starting and stopping should control the vehicle in such a manner as to provide a vehicle-to-vehicle distance that gives a vehicle occupant a feeling of safety when the preceding vehicle is stopping, and when it is running. In the prior art, braking force is determined on the basis of the vehicle-to-vehicle distance and the speed of an own vehicle, within the limit below the first vehicle-to-vehicle distance; therefore, although the safety of an occupant is ensured, the vehicle-to-vehicle distance at the time of stopping is uncertain and it is not possible to give an occupant a sufficient feeling of safety. In order to give the occupant the feeling of safety, it is necessary to cause his vehicle to stop smoothly, with an appropriate vehicle-to-vehicle distance every time the preceding vehicle stops.
An object of this invention is to provide a running control device which gives an occupant the feeling safety, and causes a vehicle to stop with an appropriate vehicle-to-vehicle distance.


REFERENCES:
patent: 6233515 (2001-05-01), Engelman et al.
patent: 02061799 (1990-03-01), None
patent: 2241938 (1990-09-01), None
patent: 4113500 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 6091500 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 07137561 (1995-05-01), None
patent: 8036696 (1996-02-01), None
patent: 08169251 (1996-07-01), None
patent: 09207622 (1997-08-01), None
patent: 10338056 (1998-12-01), None

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Vehicle running control device and vehicle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Vehicle running control device and vehicle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle running control device and vehicle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3096269

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.