Driving support device
US-2016280223-A1 · Sep 29, 2016 · US
Vehicle control apparatus
US9868441B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-9868441-B2 |
| Application number | US-201514796887-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Jul 10, 2015 |
| Priority date | Jul 11, 2014 |
| Publication date | Jan 16, 2018 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 2018 |
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- Title
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- Abstract
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- First independent claim
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Abstract
Official abstract text for this publication.
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
Opening claim text (preview).
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
Inventors
Classifications
for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons · CPC title
Lateral distance · CPC title
of land vehicles · CPC title
releasing distance control, e.g. inhibiting control if target vehicle lost or changing lane · CPC title
Propelling the vehicle · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
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- What does patent US9868441B2 cover?
- 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 pr…
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Denso Corp, Toyota Motor Co Ltd
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification B60W30/16. Mapped technology areas include Operations & Transport.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Jan 16 2018 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 6 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).