Patent · US Expired

Vehicle control system

US6311119A · kind A · utility

76Cited by
12References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 2, 1998
Grant dateOct 30, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 2, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02D2200/701
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle control system for controlling its own vehicle to follow another vehicle in pursuit has a radar unit. The radar unit has function for detecting a relative distance from its own vehicle to a front vehicle in front of its own vehicle and a relative speed of the front vehicle with respect to its own vehicle, and outputting information representing the relative distance and the relative speed. A lane change detector detects a lane change which is made by its own vehicle and outputs a lane change signal indicative of the lane change. A processor estimates a future lane or path for its own vehicle from the lane change signal from the lane change detector, unlocks a preceding vehicle which its own vehicle has followed, and determines a new preceding vehicle which its own vehicle is to lock on based on the estimated future lane or path and the information outputted by the radar unit.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.