Having Inter-vehicle Distance Or Speed Control Patents (Class 701/96)
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Patent number: 8995723Abstract: A computerized system mountable on a moving vehicle. The computerized system includes a camera. The camera captures in real time image frames of the environment in the field of view of the camera and transfers the image frames to an image processor. The image processor is programmed for performing traffic sign recognition and for performing another driver assistance function. Information is exchanged between the traffic sign recognition and the other driver assistance function.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2011Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Gideon P. Stein, Ori Shachar, Yoav Taieb, Uri Wolfovitz
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Patent number: 8996294Abstract: An inter-vehicle distance maintenance supporting system for a host vehicle can include an obstacle detector that detects the obstacle present ahead of the host vehicle, an inter-vehicle distance detector that detects the inter-vehicle distance between the host vehicle and the obstacle, a confidence factor computing device that computes the confidence factor for taking the obstacle as a preceding vehicle ahead of the host vehicle based on the state of the obstacle detected by the obstacle detector, a confidence factor correcting part that corrects the confidence factor based on the relative-position relationship between the host vehicle and the obstacle, and a reaction force controller that applies a reaction force on the accelerator pedal based on the inter-vehicle distance and the confidence factor.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2008Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazunori Kurata, Nariaki Etori
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Patent number: 8996273Abstract: An anticipatory cruise control configured to automatically adjust travel speed responsively to upcoming changes in road conditions in a safe and comfortable manner.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jin-Woo Lee, Shilpa Prabhuswamy
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Patent number: 8996274Abstract: Vehicle control includes: acquiring running information of a preceding vehicle that runs ahead of a host vehicle; controlling a running state of the host vehicle on the basis of the acquired running information; acquiring deceleration jerk information of the preceding vehicle; and changing a deceleration start timing, at which the host vehicle is decelerated in response to deceleration of the preceding vehicle, on the basis of the deceleration jerk information of the preceding vehicle. Alternatively, vehicle control includes: acquiring deceleration jerk information of a preceding vehicle that runs ahead of a host vehicle; and changing an inter-vehicle time or inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle on the basis of the deceleration jerk information of the preceding vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Mitsuhisa Shida
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Patent number: 8996276Abstract: When a stereo image recognition device detects a vehicle ahead, a driving support apparatus extracts the vehicle ahead as a vehicle against which control should be performed, and performs driving support control based upon the information from the stereo image recognition device. When the stereo image recognition device does not detect the vehicle ahead, the driving support apparatus sets either one of the distance from the driving lane on which the vehicle travels and a start point of a curve ahead according to the configuration of the road ahead and a detection limit distance of the information of the vehicle ahead by the stereo image recognition device (front recognition device) as a threshold value IVC_L. When the vehicle ahead is present distant by more than the threshold value IVC_L, the driving support apparatus performs driving support control based upon the information by the inter-vehicle communication from a communication device.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2010Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsuyoshi Takazawa, Norimasa Kaneko
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Patent number: 8996272Abstract: Provided is a cruise control system and method. A vehicle cruise control system collects state information of components inside and outside a vehicle, state information of a road on which the vehicle is provided, and drive pattern information of a driver of the vehicle, analyzes a mileage amount and an exhaust gas emission amount of the vehicle based on the collected state information of the components, the road state information, and the drive pattern information, calculates a cruise control speed based on the analysis result, and controls the vehicle to run at the cruise control speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2009Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Do Hyun Kim, Jungsook Kim, Jae Han Lim, Kyeong Tae Kim, Byung Tae Jang, Jeong Dan Choi, Jaejun Yoo, Kyung Bok Sung, Jeong Ah Jang
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Patent number: 8996275Abstract: A first travel controller of a control device for a vehicle sets a first target drive force based on preceding vehicle information to control a power source when a follow-up system is in an active state. A second travel controller sets a second target drive force based on a driver's operation to control the power source when the follow-up system is in an inactive state. A third travel controller sets a third target drive force that changes from the first target drive force toward to the second target drive force to control the power source when the follow-up system is switched from the active state to the inactive state. The third travel controller makes a difference between a change rate of the third target drive force set after the cancel operation and a change rate of the third target drive force set after the brake operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2014Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiro Nabeshima
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Publication number: 20150081189Abstract: A method of cruise control whereby a following vehicle can be caused to travel at a target speed, subject to maintaining a pre-determined distance from a leading vehicle in substantially straight travel, the method comprising: determining by means of measuring means a separation distance of the leading vehicle and following vehicle and maintaining the pre-determined separation distance from the leading vehicle; determining by means of deviation detection means a deviation of the leading vehicle from a substantially straight path and an instant location of the deviation; and preventing automatic acceleration of the following vehicle until reaching said instant location in dependence on the detection of a deviation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Andrew Fairgrieve, James Kelly
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Patent number: 8982935Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives a first message from a first wireless communication device and a second message from a second wireless communication device, obtains information associated with a first processing delay with respect to the first message and a second processing delay with respect to the second message, and transmits a third message comprising an indication of the information associated with the first and second processing delays.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Sundar Subramanian, Venkatesan Nallampatti Ekambaram, Xinzhou Wu
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Patent number: 8983751Abstract: Provided are a control system and method for stopping a vehicle, which reduce jerk when a vehicle controlled by an SCC system is stopped by the SCC system without a driver's manipulation. A desired target stop distance between a controlled vehicle and a front vehicle is set. Proposed is a formula for calculating a target acceleration in which a jerk is not caused when the target stop distance is maintained and then the controlled vehicle stops. By controlling the stop of the controlled vehicle according to the acceleration that has been calculated with the formula, the controlled vehicle is stopped without the occurrence of a jerk.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jun Ho Ham
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Patent number: 8981964Abstract: In this driving supporting device, the light color change cycle of a prediction object traffic signal is acquired on the basis of the light color change cycle of a prediction basis traffic signal installed before the prediction object traffic signal, and the light color state of the prediction object traffic signal when the vehicle arrives at the prediction object traffic signal is predicted on the basis of the light color state of the prediction basis traffic signal and the light color change cycle of the prediction object traffic signal. Thus, since the light color change cycle of the prediction object traffic signal is acquired on the basis of the light color change cycle of the prediction basis traffic signal, it becomes possible to predict a light color state even in the case of a traffic signal which cannot transmit information indicating its light color change cycle.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2009Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takeshi Matsumura
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Patent number: 8983706Abstract: The application relates to a device and a method for increasing the safety of a motor vehicle. A first sensor unit (2) senses the surroundings, in particular in order to detect free spaces and objects (0), and the position and movement thereof. A second sensor unit (20) senses the state of the surroundings, a third sensor unit (30) senses the state of the vehicle, and a fourth sensor unit (40) senses the driver's commands. The data are merged and a driving safety coordinator (6) determines at least one reliable driving corridor (K1, K2, K3, K4 to Kn) predictively and situationally in order to determine the operational safety. The driver's command can be limited to the driving corridor (K1, K2, K3, K4 to Kn) by means of components (9) which can be actuated actively and/or the motor vehicle (1) can be kept in the driving corridor (K1, K2, K3, K4 to Kn) by means of the components (9) which can be actuated actively.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Bernd Hartmann, Peter Lauer, Thomas Raste
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Patent number: 8972147Abstract: When employing an adaptive cruise-with-braking (ACB) system to control host vehicle braking reaction distance, a plurality of trigger conditions (e.g., environmental parameters) are monitored. If one or more of the monitored parameters exceeds a predefined threshold, a trigger event is detected, and at least one of a braking reaction distance (BRD) and a following distance limit shape (FDLS) are adjusted. The BRD and FDLS adjustments may be predefined according to the type and/or magnitude of the trigger event. Trigger events may be weighted or prioritized such that higher priority trigger event types correspond to larger BRD reductions, etc. Monitored trigger conditions may include adverse weather, dangerous road terrain or topography, high traffic density, erratic forward vehicle behavior, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: David J. Taneyhill, Andrew J. Pilkington
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Patent number: 8954250Abstract: An electronic control unit performs driving force reduction control to reduce the driving force of a driving wheel of the vehicle. Then, if an accelerator pedal is operated after the lapse of a predetermined time since detection of an obstacle that may collide with a vehicle, the electronic control unit brakes the driving wheel as driving force reduction control.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenji Kimura
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Patent number: 8954256Abstract: The vehicle-use speed control apparatus sets a virtual preceding vehicle assumed to run at a target speed at a predetermined initial distance ahead of the own vehicle when the brake pedal is operated causing a relative speed between the actual vehicle speed and the target speed exceeds a predetermined value, calculates an initial value of a performance index for approach and alienation based on the initial distance and the target speed. Thereafter, the vehicle-use speed control apparatus repeatedly calculates a following distance to the virtual preceding vehicle based on a time elapsed from when a speed control start condition is satisfied, the current relative speed and the initial distance, and a target relative speed based on the initial distance, the initial value of the performance index and the following distance, and controls the vehicle speed based on the difference between the target relative speed and the actual relative speed.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2011Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Kazuyoshi Isaji, Naohiko Tsuru
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Patent number: 8948995Abstract: A platoon model allows improved prediction of preceding vehicle future state. In this context, the preceding vehicle is a vehicle immediately ahead of the host vehicle, and the dynamic state of the preceding vehicle was predicted based on data received from one or more vehicles in the platoon. The intelligent driver model (IDM) was extended to model car-following dynamics within a platoon. A parameter estimation approach may be used to estimate the model parameters, for example to adapt to different driver types. An integrated approach including both state prediction and parameter estimation was highly effective.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Rohit Pandita, Derek Stanley Caveney
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Patent number: 8947218Abstract: An ECU of a driving support device predicts the risk of contact between a host vehicle and obstacles around the host vehicle when the host vehicle travels by a driving action related to at least one normative action candidate, which is a normative driving action candidate of the host vehicle for the surrounding conditions of the host vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to provide the normative action candidates considering the risk of contact between the host vehicle and the obstacles around the host vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2010Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shintaro Yoshizawa, Hirotaka Kaji
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Patent number: 8942880Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance system of a vehicle is described, together with a corresponding device, a corresponding vehicle, and a corresponding computer program. The driver assistance system is configured to autonomously safely park the vehicle when activated. While the vehicle is traveling, an activation intent for the driver assistance system is detected, whereupon the driver assistance system is activated and the vehicle is autonomously safely parked with the aid of the activated driver assistance system.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Stefan Nordbruch, Michael Fausten
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Patent number: 8942907Abstract: A method for avoiding reducing scoring of the brake disc or the brake drum of a vehicle driven under rainy conditions calculates a product of three parameters, and activates an automatic braking operation for the vehicle, regularly, whenever the product exceeds the pre-determined threshold level. The first parameter is a rain intensity based parameter, a measure of the current raining intensity. The second parameter is a brake-activation-free driving time parameter, representing the time elapsed since the braking system of the vehicle was activated last. The third parameter is a speed parameter, which represents a current speed of the vehicle. As the automatic braking operation is carried out, the particles of dust, water, snow and de-icing substances, adhered to the brake disc of the vehicle, and causing scoring of the brake disc, are quickly removed, thus, reducing disc scoring.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ian Moore, Thomas Svensson
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Publication number: 20150025771Abstract: The present invention suggests an offset correcting apparatus of a yaw rate sensor which corrects an offset of a yaw sensor in accordance with a status of a vehicle in a cruise control system, a method thereof, and a vehicle speed control system including the apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.Inventors: Kyung Il Seo, Jang Mo Ahn
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Publication number: 20150012203Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a driving distance between a host vehicle and a first vehicle driving in front of the host vehicle, the host vehicle driving at a driving speed and at the driving distance to the first vehicle. The host vehicle includes a system for controlling the driving distance and a fuel saving system, wherein the system for controlling the driving distance is adapted to retain the driving distance at not less than a preset minimum safety distance, and wherein the fuel saving system includes an automatic speed increasing function which in case of fulfillment of a set of conditions automatically increases the driving speed in order to utilise kinetic energy inherent in the host vehicle to save fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2012Publication date: January 8, 2015Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR ABInventors: Anders Eriksson, Johan Bjernetun
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Publication number: 20150012204Abstract: To determine whether an emergency braking situation exists for a vehicle, the vehicle determines at least the following state variables: its own velocity, its own longitudinal acceleration, its relative distance from an object in front, and the speed and acceleration of the object in front. A suitable evaluation method to assess whether an emergency braking situation is present is determined as a function of these state variables from a plurality of evaluation method options, including at least a movement equation evaluation method in which a movement equation system of the vehicle and of the object in front is determined, and an evaluation method in which a braking distance of the vehicle is determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Karsten Breuer, Dirk Sandkuhler
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Patent number: 8930116Abstract: Vehicle apparatus adjusts a vehicle powertrain of the vehicle in response to a speed setpoint. An optimizer selects a control policy to periodically generate speed adjustments for applying to the speed setpoint to operate at increased efficiency. The control policy is based on a value function providing an optimized solution for a cost model and a transition probability model. The transition probability model corresponds to a driving state defined according to a plurality of dimensions including a time-of-day dimension and a geographic region dimension. The transition probability model and the control policy have inputs based on road grade and speed. The optimizer collects road grade data during routine driving of the vehicle to construct a observed transition probability model and uses divergence between the observed transition probability model and a set of predetermined transition probability models to identify a control policy for use during the routine driving.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Dimitar P. Filev, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Kevin McDonough, Steven J. Szwabowski, John O. Michelini, Diana Yanakiev, Mahmoud Abou-Nasr
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Patent number: 8930115Abstract: Vehicle apparatus includes a speed control for adjusting a vehicle powertrain of the vehicle in response to a speed setpoint. A grade estimator determines a road grade of a roadway where the vehicle is traveling. A traffic density estimator determines a density of traffic traveling on the roadway in the vicinity of the vehicle. An optimizer executes a selected control policy to periodically generate speed adjustments for applying to the speed setpoint to operate the vehicle powertrain at increased efficiency. The control policy is based on a value function providing an optimized solution for a cost model responsive to the determined road grade to generate an initial speed offset. The optimizer reduces the initial speed offset in proportion to the determined traffic density to generate the speed adjustments. The system minimizes negative impacts to overall traffic flow as well as any negative contribution to reduced fuel efficiency of surrounding traffic.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dimitar P. Filev, John O. Michelini, Steven J. Szwabowski, Diana Yanakiev
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Patent number: 8930063Abstract: A vehicle system and method that can determine object sensor misalignment while a host vehicle is being driven, and can do so without requiring multiple sensors with overlapping fields-of-view. In an exemplary embodiment where the host vehicle is traveling in generally a straight line, the present method uses an object sensor to track the path of a stationary object as it moves through the sensor's field-of-view and compares the sensed object path to an expected object pat*h. If the sensed and expected paths of the stationary object deviate by more than some amount, then the method determines that the object sensor is skewed or otherwise misaligned.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Daniel Gandhi, Satish Rayarapu, Dmitriy Feldman
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Patent number: 8930128Abstract: Embodiments describe modules/logic/circuitry to receive image data identifying terrain, environment, and/or one or more objects near a vehicle, determine a projection of the one or more objects with respect to the vehicle, determine whether the one or more objects will collide with the vehicle, and in response to determining the one or more objects will collide, altering the vehicle state. In some embodiments, altering the vehicle state is based, at least in part, on a driver position with respect to the one or more objects determined to collide with the vehicle (e.g., moving the vehicle to protect the drive). In some embodiments, altering the vehicle state comprises at least one of adjusting brakes of the vehicle to alter its trajectory, adjusting a steering wheel of the vehicle to alter its trajectory and adjusting an orientation or rotational speed of a flywheel (for CMG assisted vehicles).Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Lit Motors CorporationInventors: Daniel Kee Young Kim, Marshall R. Millett
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Publication number: 20150006056Abstract: Autonomous cruise control is provided to permit one vehicle to follow another at a predetermined separation regardless of gradient. A system and method is disclosed which continually determines the separation distance of the vehicles, the speed of the leading vehicle and the location of the leading vehicle, to the intent that the following vehicle computes the required speed upon reaching the instant location of the lead vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2013Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventors: Andrew Fairgrieve, James Kelly
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Patent number: 8924122Abstract: In control over a vehicle, inter-vehicle communication information of a preceding vehicle that runs ahead of the vehicle is acquired, follow-up running control for causing the vehicle to follow the preceding vehicle is executed on the basis of the inter-vehicle communication information, and, during the follow-up running control, a parameter used in the follow-up running control is determined on the basis of a condition in which the inter-vehicle communication information is acquired.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Mitsuhisa Shida
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Patent number: 8924140Abstract: An external environment recognition device for a vehicle and a vehicle system capable of assuring safety and reducing the processing load in a compatible manner are provided. An external environment recognition device 100 for a vehicle includes: first collision determination means 103 for computing a risk of collision of a host vehicle with a detected object in front of the host vehicle on the basis of information of a predicted course of the host vehicle and the detected object; and second collision determination means 104 for determining whether the detected object enters the predicted course from the outside of the predicted course or not.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Sakamoto, Kazutoshi Tsuchiya, Takehito Ogata
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Patent number: 8914225Abstract: A system and method for managing vehicles on a road network can include a processor that performs operations including accessing a matrix of vehicle parameters of a plurality of communicating vehicles on the road network and representing the plurality of communicating vehicles in a graph with a plurality of nodes corresponding to the plurality of communicating vehicles and edges corresponding to the vehicle parameters. The system and method can include partitioning, with a processing device, the graph to reduce disruptions to the road network below a threshold level to support safe and efficient traffic flow and assigning one or more exclusion zones within the road network to each partition of the graph by associating the vehicle parameters for each vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Sasha P. Caskey, Dimitri Kanevsky, James R. Kozloski, Tara N. Sainath
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Patent number: 8913128Abstract: The present invention discloses an image-based barrier detection and warning system and a method thereof, wherein an image processing technology is used to establish ROI and verify whether a horizontal line signal exists, and wherein the image processing technology determines whether an object is a barrier via detecting contours of an object and detecting distance to the object, and wherein the system timely outputs warning signals and presents distance to a barrier when detecting the barrier. The image-based barrier detection and warning system enables the driver to watch the surroundings of the vehicle directly and clearly and learn the relative positions of barriers, whereby the driver can park more easily and safely.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2011Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Automotive Research & Test CenterInventors: Yu-Hsiang Wu, Chia-Tseng Chen, Ming-Feng Hsieh, Yi-Feng Su
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Patent number: 8909452Abstract: In a vehicle driving support apparatus, if a brake pedal operation by a driver is detected during a braking control, a cruise control unit determines that it is highly likely that the driver recognizes a possibility of a collision of a subject vehicle and a obstacle, and halts the braking control. On the other hand, if a depression amount of the brake pedal by the driver changes to a release side at or over a preset speed, the cruise control unit restarts the halted braking control.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroki Kato, Kiyoshi Natori
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Patent number: 8903588Abstract: A method for computationally predicting future movement behaviors of at least one target object can have the steps of producing sensor data by at least one sensor physically sensing the environment of a host vehicle, and computing a plurality of movement behavior alternatives of a target object sensed by the sensor(s). The context based prediction step uses a set of classifiers, each classifier estimating a probability that said sensed target object will execute a movement behavior at a time. The method can also include validating the movement behavior alternatives by a physical prediction comparing measured points with trajectories of situation models and determining at least one trajectory indicating at least one possible behavior of the traffic participant, estimating at least one future position of the traffic participant based on the at least one trajectory, and outputting a signal representing the estimate future position.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbHInventors: Jens Schmüdderich, Sven Rebhan
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Publication number: 20140350822Abstract: A control apparatus includes a first control part and a second control part. The first control part controls a control target based on a control amount that is output from the second control part and a command amount that is manually input, and permits the control amount to exceed a predetermined amount based on a standard when respective control directions of the control amount and the command amount are coincident with one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Jun TSUNEKAWA
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Patent number: 8897948Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating local traffic flow are described. One embodiment of a method includes determining a driving habit of a user from historical data, determining a current location of a vehicle that the user is driving, and determining a current driving condition for the vehicle. Some embodiments include predicting a desired driving condition from the driving habit and the current location, comparing the desired driving condition with the current driving condition to determine a traffic congestion level, and sending a signal that indicates the traffic congestion level.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2010Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Inventors: Derek Stanley Caveney, John Michael McNew
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Publication number: 20140343819Abstract: Described is a method for determining a reference value for a vehicle. The method includes: performing a number of simulation cycles Sj each comprising simulation steps: making a first prediction of the vehicle's speed vpred—cc along the determined horizon with a conventional cruise control; comparing, in a first comparison, the predicted vehicle speed vpred—cc with Vlim1 and Vlim2, which define a motor torque used in a subsequent simulation cycle; making a second prediction of the speed when the engine torque is a value that depends on the result of said comparison in the latest preceding simulation cycle; comparing, in a second comparison, the predicted vehicle speed vpred—Tnew with vmin, and Vmax1 which demarcate a range within which the speed is maintained; determining the reference value based on the second comparison and/or the second predicted speed in that simulation cycle Sj; and controlling the vehicle according to the reference value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2011Publication date: November 20, 2014Inventors: Oskar Johansson, Maria Södergren, Fredrik Roos
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Patent number: 8892331Abstract: A drive assist system includes: wireless communication devices on first and second vehicles. The wireless communication device on the first vehicle includes: a distance calculation device for calculating a satellite positioning distance between the first and second vehicles; and a difference calculation device for calculating a distance difference between the satellite positioning distance and a distance to the second vehicle obtained by a ranging sensor in the first vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Seigou Kumabe, Takahisa Yamashiro
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Publication number: 20140336898Abstract: An ACC system and object detection method for a vehicle. The ACC system includes a vehicle parameter sensor, an object detection sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate the vehicle's path based on a signal from the parameter sensor, detect an object based on the vehicle's path and a signal from the object detection sensor, determine an acceleration of the vehicle, and prevent the acceleration of the vehicle from increasing while the object is detected and the acceleration of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined acceleration threshold. The object detection method includes identifying stationary objects in a path of a vehicle and limiting an acceleration of the vehicle when the acceleration is above a threshold and a stationary object is identified.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2013Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Oliver Schwindt, Bhavana Chakraborty
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Patent number: 8886437Abstract: A method of controlling an engine in a motor vehicle includes opening a throttle to an increased angle when conditions for fuel cut cycling are met. More specifically, when cruise control is on, the motor vehicle is moving downhill, and the current speed drops below a target speed, the engine control unit may choose to increase the angle of the throttle while maintaining fuel cut. Under other interrupting events, the engine control unit may choose to resume fueling control or reduce the throttle angle.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2011Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michael T. Dickinson, Naomichi Tonokura
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Patent number: 8880296Abstract: Vehicle control system and method in which restrictions on travel of the vehicle are determined based on an indication of the visibility of a driver and information about objects moving in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle are considered. The travel restrictions include preventing a passing maneuver on a two-lane road when an oncoming vehicle precludes safely initiating or completing an already-initiated passing maneuver. A warning system is provided to warn a driver about the travel restrictions so that the driver will, hopefully, not attempt an unsafe maneuver.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences, LLCInventor: David S. Breed
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Patent number: 8880319Abstract: A driving control apparatus mounted on a present vehicle used for tracking a preceding vehicle includes: control module for controlling the present vehicle to accelerate or decelerate; vehicle detecting module for detecting the preceding vehicle; region detecting module for detecting a lateral region existing on an adjacent lane being adjacent to a present lane where the present vehicle exists, the lateral region being laterally to the present vehicle; and region determining module for determining whether or not the lateral region is an avoidance region that has a predetermined area. The control module performs an avoidance standby operation that allows the present vehicle to accelerate or decelerate based on a result of determining by the region determining module, when the vehicle detecting module detects the preceding vehicle existing on the present lane.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Tomohiko Tsuruta, Motonori Tominaga, Yusuke Ueda, Takeshi Hatoh
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Patent number: 8874347Abstract: A behavior acquisition unit acquires behavior related information about a leading vehicle, which travels at a position closest to the self vehicle on an advancing route of the self vehicle. A front vehicle recognition determination unit determines, as a front vehicle recognition state, whether a leading vehicle is specified and whether a self vehicle travels immediately after the leading vehicle, according to the acquired behavior related information. A sending control unit is configured to cause transmission of the front vehicle recognition state and specifying information, which specifies the self vehicle and the leading vehicle, to surroundings of the self vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Junichiro Funabashi
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Patent number: 8874267Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting and avoiding blind spots of other vehicles when maneuvering an autonomous vehicle. Blind spots may include both areas adjacent to another vehicle in which the driver of that vehicle would be unable to identify another object as well as areas that a second driver in a second vehicle may be uncomfortable driving. In one example, a computer of the autonomous vehicle may identify objects that may be relevant for blind spot detecting and may determine the blind spots for these other vehicles. The computer may predict the future locations of the autonomous vehicle and the identified vehicles to determine whether the autonomous vehicle would drive in any of the determined blind spots. If so, the autonomous driving system may adjust its speed to avoid or limit the autonomous vehicle's time in any of the blind spots.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2014Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Dmitri A. Dolgov, Christopher Paul Urmson
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Publication number: 20140316671Abstract: A platoon travel system organizes a platoon having plural platoon vehicles traveling in two vehicle groups, in which a preset inter-vehicle distance is reserved between each of the platoon vehicles. When a new vehicle joins in the platoon, the platoon travel system adjusts the inter-vehicle distance by decelerating, among all platoon vehicles, deceleration target vehicles that are the platoon vehicles behind a join position in the platoon, which are included in a latter one of the two vehicle groups.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Kazuya OKAMOTO
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Patent number: 8868312Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for controlling the speed of a vehicle comprising: during a pulse phase of cruise control, applying engine torque to raise speed, the amount and duration of which being responsive to engine speed; and during a glide phase of cruise control, discontinuing engine combustion. In this way cruise control may maintain a mean speed equivalent to a desired, threshold speed while reducing fuel consumption, and NVH effects felt by the end user compared to traditional cruise control methods.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chris Edward Pedlar, Chris Connelly, David Hesketh, Themi Philemon Petridis
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Publication number: 20140303870Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for vehicles to safely closely follow one another through partial automation. Following closely behind another vehicle has significant fuel savings benefits, but is unsafe when done manually by the driver. On the opposite end of the spectrum, fully autonomous solutions require inordinate amounts of technology, and a level of robustness that is currently not cost effective.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: Joshua P. Switkes, Joseph Christian Gerdes, Eugene Berdichevsky
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Patent number: 8855881Abstract: A system for assisting an operator in driving a vehicle. The system calculates risk potential associated with the vehicle. Responsive to an acceleration command issued by the operator via an operator-controlled input device to perform an intended acceleration operation, the system conveys information related to the calculated risk potential by modifying a relationship of an amount of acceleration corresponding to an operation amount of the operator-controlled input device, based on the calculated risk potential.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2011Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yosuke Kobayashi, Takeshi Kimura, Genpei Naito
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Patent number: 8855860Abstract: A vehicle behavior control apparatus disposed in a subject vehicle performs a steering angle control of the subject vehicle. The apparatus acquires lead vehicle information transmitted from a lead vehicle to determine a virtual shape of a road (i.e., a virtual road shape) based on a travel locus of the lead vehicle. A virtual road border distance is calculated as a distance from the subject vehicle to a road border of a virtual curve road positioned straight in front of the subject vehicle. The apparatus, calculates an appropriate turn radius for travel along the virtual curve road and, based on the appropriate turn radius, calculates an appropriate distance from the subject vehicle to the virtual road border positioned in front of the subject vehicle. A steering unit then controls a steering angle of the subject vehicle by maintaining the virtual road border distance with the appropriate distance.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Kazuyoshi Isaji, Naohiko Tsuru, Shou Morikawa
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Publication number: 20140297151Abstract: A first travel controller of a control device for a vehicle sets a first target drive force based on preceding vehicle information to control a power source when a follow-up system is in an active state. A second travel controller sets a second target drive force based on a driver's operation to control the power source when the follow-up system is in an inactive state. A third travel controller sets a third target drive force that changes from the first target drive force toward to the second target drive force to control the power source when the follow-up system is switched from the active state to the inactive state. The third travel controller makes a difference between a change rate of the third target drive force set after the cancel operation and a change rate of the third target drive force set after the brake operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akihiro NABESHIMA
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Publication number: 20140297152Abstract: A high-voltage system control device is used for a vehicle provided with a high-voltage system including a motor as a power source and a battery to supply electric power to the motor. The device includes: an inter-vehicle distance detection unit to detect an inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and an target such as a preceding vehicle; an automatic brake to automatically brake the vehicle according to the inter-vehicle distance; and a cut-off control unit to cut off the high-voltage system when the automatic brake is activated. When the vehicle is traveling at a high vehicle speed and the automatic brake is activated, the high-voltage system is cut off with a main relay.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Taichi KISHIDA