Preceding vehicle following control system
US6330508A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 11, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H61/66
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A preceding vehicle following control apparatus includes a speed sensor for sensing a vehicle speed of a controlled vehicle, a spacing sensor for sensing a spacing or distance from the controlled vehicle to a preceding vehicle, and a following controller. In addition to a following mode for controlling the driving/braking force of the controlled vehicle in accordance with the spacing and the vehicle speed, the following controller has a wait mode, an auto-stop mode and a release mode. The following controller initially sets the control mode to the wait mode, and changes the control mode from the wait mode to one of the auto-stop mode and the following mode depending on whether the controlled vehicle is in a stop state or not. The controller changes the control mode between the auto-stop mode and the following mode in accordance with the spacing and the vehicle speed, changes the control mode to the release mode in response to a driver's operation such as a transmission range changing operation and a braking operation, and returns the control mode from the release mode to the wait mode in response to a driver's accelerating or braking operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.