Vehicle control apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016009281-A1
Application number	US-201514796887-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 10, 2015
Priority date	Jul 11, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle control apparatus for implementing inter-vehicle distance control of a subject vehicle carrying the apparatus behind a preceding vehicle based on reflected waves from a target that is a reflecting portion of the preceding vehicle. In the apparatus, a controller is configured to implement the inter-vehicle distance control based on an inter-vehicle distance between a rear end of the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle acquired from the detected distance. A control switcher is configured to, when target information for identifying the rear end of the preceding vehicle becomes unacquirable during implementation of the inter-vehicle distance control, suspend the inter-vehicle distance control and make a switch to the direct operation by the driver.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle control apparatus for implementing inter-vehicle distance control of a vehicle carrying the apparatus behind a preceding vehicle based on reflected waves from a target that is a reflecting portion of the preceding vehicle, the vehicle carrying the apparatus being referred to as a subject vehicle, the reflected waves being radar waves transmitted to a front of the subject vehicle and then reflected from the target, the apparatus comprising:
a target information acquirer configured to acquire target information about the target from the reflected waves, the target information including a detected distance from the subject vehicle to the target of the preceding vehicle; a controller configured to implement the inter-vehicle distance control based on an inter-vehicle distance between a rear end of the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle acquired from the detected distance; and a control switcher configured to, when the target information for identifying the rear end of the preceding vehicle becomes unacquirable during implementation of the inter-vehicle distance control, suspend the inter-vehicle distance control and make a switch to the direct operation by the driver.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control switcher is configured to, after the inter-vehicle distance control is suspended, inhibit reactivation of the inter-vehicle distance control until the target information for identifying the rear end of the preceding vehicle becomes acquirable.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control switcher is configured to, when at least one of a first condition that the subject vehicle has come within a certain proximity of the preceding vehicle and a second condition that a speed of the subject vehicle is within a predetermined low speed range is met, suspend the inter-vehicle distance control.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control switcher is configured to, when at least one of a first condition that the subject vehicle has come within a certain proximity of the preceding vehicle and a second condition that a speed of the subject vehicle is within a predetermined low speed range is met while the subject vehicle is not switching lanes, suspend the inter-vehicle distance control.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control switcher is configured to, when a specific target on the preceding vehicle is displaced forward by a predetermined distance or more, suspend the inter-vehicle distance control.

Assignees

• Denso Corp
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tokimasa Mitsuhiro
• Masui Youhei
• Nakadori Minoru

Classifications

• B60W2520/10

  Longitudinal speed · CPC title

• G01S2013/9325

  for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons · CPC title

• B60W30/18

  Propelling the vehicle · CPC title

• G01S13/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• B60W30/16 Primary

  Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle · CPC title