With Sonar Or Radar Type Sensor Patents (Class 303/193)
  • Patent number: 11945437
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a cruise control deactivation system. The system includes a cruise control system, and a user control that, when activated, commands deactivation of the cruise control system. The system also includes a processor configured to permit or override the commanded deactivation of the cruise control system while the vehicle is moving, based on at least one criterion. Criteria may include whether or not a first sensor detects a foot of a driver of the vehicle on an accelerator pedal of the vehicle, and whether or not a first computation indicates that the deactivation of the cruise control system will cause a collision with a second vehicle located behind the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Wang, Roger Akira Kyle, Bryan Else Yamasaki, Justin K. Shen
  • Patent number: 11827196
    Abstract: The present disclosure in at least one embodiment provides an apparatus for braking a vehicle, including at least one sensor for detecting a braking input of the vehicle, a front-wheel EMB including a front-wheel motor and a front-wheel brake for braking a front wheel(s), a rear-wheel EMB including a rear-wheel motor and a rear-wheel brake for braking a rear wheel(s), a front-wheel ECU for controlling the front-wheel motor for allowing the front-wheel EMB to brake the front wheel, a center ECU for calculating and transmitting, upon receiving the braking input from the at least one sensor, a braking force to the front-wheel ECU, and controlling the rear-wheel motor for allowing the rear-wheel EMB to brake the rear wheel, and a battery for supplying electric power to the front-wheel ECU and the center ECU, wherein the front-wheel EMB is controlled by the front-wheel ECU, and the rear-wheel EMB is controlled by the center ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jong Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 11724674
    Abstract: A method for automatically braking a commercial vehicle includes: providing a plurality of ultrasonic radars on a front vehicle body of a target commercial vehicle, the ultrasonic radars being configured to detect a region before the target commercial vehicle in a gapless manner, an active speed range being set for each ultrasonic radar; acquiring a current speed of the target commercial vehicle in real time and calculating a safe distance for each ultrasonic radar in accordance with the current speed; and detecting whether there is an obstacle within the safe distance in real time, and when there is the obstacle within the safe distance, transmitting a decelerating or braking instruction to an execution system of the target commercial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing Smarter Eye Technology Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ran Meng, Hua Chai, Zhe Wang, Yong Jia
  • Patent number: 11708825
    Abstract: For rotary protection of an external force piston of a power brake pressure generator of a hydraulic vehicle power braking system, axially parallel rotary protection grooves are provided at a circumference of an external force cylinder bore in a hydraulic block of a hydraulic unit of the vehicle power braking system, and tabs of the external force piston protrude into the rotary protection grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Weh, Martin Hagspiel, Matthias Mayr, Stefan Kaserer
  • Patent number: 11560130
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using the weights of cost functions to improve linear-program-based vehicle driveline architectures and systems. In some embodiments, the methods and systems may include establishing values for driveline controls of a linear program based on driveline requests of the linear program. The values of the driveline controls, which may be used to adjust driveline actuators, may be established based on values of a plurality of weights of a cost function of the linear program, the weights respectively corresponding with the plurality of driveline requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Bernhard E. Westerhof, Johan N. Van Ginkel, Ahmed H. El-Shaer
  • Patent number: 11427221
    Abstract: A method for autonomous emergency braking of an ego vehicle includes capturing driving-dynamics variables of the ego vehicle, capturing distance measurement signals, determining a longitudinal distance of the ego vehicle from an object in front, detecting an emergency braking situation based on the driving-dynamics variables and the distance measurement signals. The method further includes advanced determining or projecting, in response to the detecting the emergency braking situation, of first, second, and third starting points for initiation of a warning phase, a subsequent partial braking phase, and an emergency braking brake pressure. The advanced determining or projecting of the first, second, and/or third starting points includes: setting up a minimum period criterion with at least one minimum period and projecting, in advance in accordance with the longitudinal distance from the object, a criticality function that represents a criticality of the traffic situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
    Inventor: Ruediger Meyer
  • Patent number: 11420626
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle. When an autonomous cruise control is in the activated state, a switch is made to an accelerator-pedal-controlled distance controller in response to an acceleration command indicated by an override of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Lucas, Sebastian Baier, Thorsten Schori
  • Patent number: 11286639
    Abstract: A wheel loader includes: an operator's cab; a front wheel; a front frame configured to support front wheel such that front wheel is rotatable; a bucket; a boom having a distal end connected to bucket, and a proximal end rotatably supported by front frame; a sensor configured to measure a distance between front wheel and a loading target; and a controller configured to control an action of wheel loader. The controller causes wheel loader to perform a predetermined action for collision avoidance on condition that a distance to be measured by sensor when wheel loader travels takes a value less than or equal to a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Naito
  • Patent number: 11287817
    Abstract: A system and method are arranged to provide recommendations to a user of a vehicle. In one aspect, the vehicle navigates in an autonomous mode and the sensors provide information that is based on the location of the vehicle and output from sensors directed to the environment surrounding the vehicle. In further aspects, both current and previous sensor data is used to make the recommendations, as well as data based on the sensors of other vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Philip Nemec
  • Patent number: 11279350
    Abstract: A method of adaptive trajectory generation for a vehicle is provided. A computer device of the vehicle may update a current trajectory for the vehicle when some predetermined conditions that are related to an obstacle positioned within a predetermined distance of the vehicle are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Automotive Research & Testing Center
    Inventors: Chien-Feng Wu, Bo-Han Lin, Tsung-Ming Hsu, Ming-Kuan Ko
  • Patent number: 10780872
    Abstract: A system on a tractor for controlling trailer service brakes comprises a manually operated trailer brake switch, a first electropneumatic valve in communication with a pressure source and a controller. The controller has an input communicating with the trailer brake switch, an output communicating with the electropneumatic valve and control logic. The control logic receives an input from the trailer brake switch indicating a driver's request to apply the trailer service brakes of the combination vehicle, determines if a predetermined condition exists and transmits a signal to the output to the electropneumatic valve. The electropneumatic valve transmits pressure to a trailer service control line to actuate the trailer service brakes in response to the trailer brake switch and existence of the predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Phillip J Kasper, David J Taneyhill, Paul C Niglas, Gerhard Wieder
  • Patent number: 10654453
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a low-latency braking action for an autonomous vehicle are provided. A computing system can include a vehicle autonomy system comprising one or more processors configured to determine a motion plan for an autonomous vehicle based at least in part on sensor data from one or more sensors of the autonomous vehicle. The computing system can further include a low-latency braking system comprising one or more processors configured to determine that the autonomous vehicle has a likelihood of colliding with an object in a surrounding environment based at least in part on a previously-determined motion plan obtained from the vehicle autonomy system. In response to determining that the autonomous vehicle has a likelihood of colliding with the object in the surrounding environment, the low-latency braking system can further be configured to implement a braking action for the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: UATC LLC
    Inventors: Narek Melik-Barkhudarov, Michael W. Bode, Randy Warner, Dillon Collins, Anurag Kumar, Carl Knox Wellington
  • Patent number: 10427674
    Abstract: An evasion and brake-assist system for motor vehicles, having a sensory system for sensing the traffic environment of the vehicle, an actuator system for interventions in a steering system and a brake system of the vehicle, and having an electronic control device in which an emergency evasion function is implemented that checks whether an emergency evasive maneuver is necessary based on the data supplied by the sensory system and then acts on the dynamics of the vehicle via the actuator system to assist the vehicle driver in initiating and/or executing the emergency evasive maneuver, characterized in that in the first phase of an evasive maneuver, the emergency evasion function intervenes exclusively in the transverse dynamics, and only after this phase, decides whether an intervention in the longitudinal dynamics will also take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Folko Flehmig, Christian Braeuchle
  • Patent number: 10421436
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to surveillance of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to detecting a surveillance event associated with the vehicle, collecting information from one or more sensors of the vehicle about the surveillance event. The method includes classifying the information according to a security profile to identify a threat type and a threat level of the surveillance event. The method includes controlling the vehicle to provide a response to the surveillance event according to the threat type and the threat level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., DENSO International America Inc.
    Inventors: Sergei I. Gage, Jay Robert Gloomis, Isabel Rios
  • Patent number: 10245957
    Abstract: A smart braking system for a vehicle is provided. The smart braking system selectively activates a braking system of the vehicle when the smart braking system detects a scenario in which it is likely that a constant vehicle speed, rather than an increasing vehicle speed, would be desired by a driver. In one example, a driver releases an accelerator while the vehicle is on a decline but the vehicle accelerates anyway. In this instance, the smart braking system records the speed of the vehicle when the accelerator is released and applies the braking system to maintain the speed of the vehicle at the recorded speed while the vehicle is on the decline. The smart braking system stops activating the braking system upon detecting that braking is no longer needed to slow down the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Herb
  • Patent number: 10155521
    Abstract: This vehicle control device is provided with: a control unit for executing one-pedal control, that is, the control for accelerating a vehicle when a single pedal is depressed from a predetermined reference point of a pedal stroke, and for decelerating the vehicle when the pedal is released from the reference point; and a determination unit for determining whether or not a rate of change in a pedal operation amount when the pedal is released is equal to or greater than a first threshold value. The control unit performs control for increasing a braking force when the rate of change is equal to or greater than the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Takeya, Toshihisa Kato
  • Patent number: 9740944
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods, systems, and apparatuses for virtual sensor data generation and more particularly relates to generation of virtual sensor data for training and testing models or algorithms to detect objects or obstacles, such as wheel stops or parking barriers. A method for generating virtual sensor data includes simulating a three-dimensional (3D) environment comprising one or more objects. The method includes generating virtual sensor data for a plurality of positions of one or more sensors within the 3D environment. The method includes determining virtual ground truth corresponding to each of the plurality of positions, wherein the ground truth includes information about at least one object within the virtual sensor data. The method also includes storing and associating the virtual sensor data and the virtual ground truth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ashley Elizabeth Micks, Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Harpreetsingh Banvait, Scott Vincent Myers
  • Patent number: 9658620
    Abstract: A system and method is provided of providing recommendations to a user of a vehicle. In one aspect, the vehicle navigates autonomously and the sensors provide information that is based on the location of the vehicle and output from sensors directed to the environment surrounding the vehicle. In further aspects, both current and previous sensor data is used to make the recommendation, as well as data based on the sensors of other vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Philip Nemec
  • Patent number: 9610947
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing lane-keeping support in automobiles during the operation of a fully automatic driver assistance system designed for driver-independent vehicle guidance by means of a control unit which controls the actuatorics of a steering system during operation of this driver assistance system such that the vehicle is maintained within the driving lane, characterized in that, in the event of failure of the steering system, targeted braking interventions are performed in order to maintain the lateral guidance for the lane-keeping support of the vehicle by means of a braking system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dirk De Bruin, Martin Rau
  • Patent number: 9251630
    Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for exchanging vehicle information are disclosed. For example, the method receives the vehicle information from a second vehicle, wherein the vehicle information is received via a direct vehicle to vehicle communication, calculates an operating parameter of the second vehicle, determines an alert condition based on the operating parameter of the second vehicle, and provides a notification of the alert condition to a driver of the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael S. Denny, Brian Dominguez, Brian Greaves, Craig Lee, Ricardo Niedermeyer, Steven Neil Tischer
  • Patent number: 9004616
    Abstract: A brake control system for motor vehicles includes a stability system for stabilizing the vehicle from the standpoint of driving dynamics during braking, a triggering unit for the automatic output of a braking demand as a function of the traffic situation, a braking unit which converts the braking demand into a braking action, and a control unit for modifying the braking demand prior to its implementation as a function of the state of the stability system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Heinebrodt, Martin Randler
  • Patent number: 8935071
    Abstract: A method, for controlling direction of a vehicle as desired in connection with operation of an autonomous driving maneuver using selectively, independently and/or in combination, multiple electrical park brakes (EPBs) and multiple hydraulic brakes (HBs). The method includes determining a total brake force needed for redirecting the vehicle in a pre-determined manner, and determining whether an applicable EPB can provide the total brake force needed. The method further includes providing, if it is determined that the applicable EPB can provide the total brake force needed, a brake command instructing the applicable EPB to apply the total brake force. The method also includes determining, if it is determined that the EPB is alone insufficient, an optimal fusion of the EPBs and the HBs, including two front and two rear HBs, two rear EPBs, and in some embodiments, also two front EPBs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Lee, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi
  • Patent number: 8930105
    Abstract: In a method for setting a brake system of a vehicle, braking force is built up automatically in the event of a collision. In the process, the position of the collision on the vehicle is determined and the build-up of braking force is implemented as a function of the position of the collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ferah Cetinkaya
  • Patent number: 8855841
    Abstract: A method for operating an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle having an electric motor and a brake device, and the electric motor and the brake device being capable of being influenced by a control device. When the electric vehicle is at a standstill, when there is an error of the control device, the brake device is actuated so that the electric vehicle cannot move, or at least can move only to a very limited extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Doerr, Roland Schleser, Holger Niemann, Markus Kretschmer, Oliver Kaefer, Daniel Damm, Dirk Gollub, Andreas Heyl
  • Patent number: 8657390
    Abstract: A vehicle brake fluid pressure control apparatus includes: a normally open electromagnetic valve which adjusts a differential pressure between an upstream side and a downstream side; and a control unit including a memory part which stores a valve closing map which shows a relationship between the differential pressure between the upstream side and the downstream side of the pressure regulator valve and an output current value for closing the pressure regulator valve and a valve opening map which shows a relationship between the differential pressure and an output current value for opening the pressure regulator valve, wherein when attempting to reduce a fluid pressures, the control unit executes a current value switching control which controls a current flowing to the pressure regulator valve by selecting alternately an output current value of the valve opening map and an output current value of the valve closing map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Masuda, Nobuyuki Nomura
  • Patent number: 8452506
    Abstract: A device, program and method for monitoring the environment of a vehicle capable of moving according to a path. The device, program and method comprises the steps of calculating a plurality of critical levels of driving depending on detection sensors, parameters related to the vehicle and an obstacle being in the environment of the vehicle, determining if an obstacle is on the path of the vehicle and depending on the calculated critical levels of driving and determination of an obstacle on the path of the vehicle, making a decision concerning the braking of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Xavier Groult
  • Patent number: 7950751
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle with a trailer comprises determining the presence of a trailer, determining a vehicle velocity, determining a steering wheel angle, and determining a rear axle side slip angle. When the rear axle side slip angle is above a predetermined value, the vehicle velocity is above a velocity threshold, and the steering wheel is about zero, brake-steer is applied to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Timothy G. Offerle, Craig H. Stephan, Douglas S. Rhode
  • Patent number: 7828104
    Abstract: A travel safety device for a vehicle comprises: an object detecting unit (114) for detecting an object existing in the traveling direction of the vehicle (100); a correlation calculating unit (39) for calculating a correlation involving the distance between the vehicle (100) and the object on the basis of a detection result of the corresponding object detecting unit (114); an automatic brake unit (120) for automatically decelerating the vehicle (100); a safety device (122) including a seatbelt device (15) for automatically tightening the seatbelt (14) and releasing the tightening thereof; and safety device operation control units (38, 39, 43) for determining a possibility of a contact between the vehicle (100) and the object on the basis of the correlation calculated by the correlation calculating unit (39) and for controlling the operation of the safety device (122) where it is predicted that there is a possibility of a contact; wherein the safety device operation control units (38, 39, 43) simultaneously ac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Akaba, Koichi Kamiji, Yoshihisa Sugamata
  • Patent number: 7673950
    Abstract: A first vehicle autonomous brake-apply system includes a vehicle hydraulic brake assembly, a vacuum booster assembly operatively connected to the vehicle hydraulic brake assembly, a solenoid valve operatively connected to the vacuum booster assembly, and an automatic controller including an output signal operatively connected to the solenoid valve. A second system uses a lateral-acceleration-sensor assembly in place of the automatic controller. A third system includes a braking controller, an electrical braking device, and at least one distance sensor. A method for assisting driving of a vehicle includes applying a braking force to stop the vehicle before the vehicle strikes an obstacle whose distance to the vehicle is measured using at least one distance sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventors: Gary C. Fulks, Douglas E. Poole, Timothy A. Haerr, Xavier Groult
  • Patent number: 7607741
    Abstract: When it is judged that a possible collision of the own vehicle with a preceding vehicle is avoidable by operation of either one of the brake pedal and steering wheel, a first grade braking force is automatically produced. While, when it is judged that the possible collision is unavoidable by operation of either of the brake pedal and steering wheel, a second grade braking force is automatically produced, which is greater than the first grade braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Seto, Yoshinori Yamamura, Yosuke Kobayashi, Minoru Tamura
  • Patent number: 7509217
    Abstract: A vehicle detector includes a detecting apparatus and a determining apparatus. If a plurality of detection points detected by the detecting apparatus forms a group of detection points, the determining apparatus sets a determining virtual window encompassing the group of detection points and determines whether the group of detection points is likely to represent the one vehicle based on a state of movement of the group of detection points with respect to the determining virtual window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenjiro Endoh
  • Patent number: 7425043
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for triggering automatic emergency braking in a vehicle, such as a truck, provides an assistance function for avoiding or mitigating the effects of a rear end collision with a vehicle traveling ahead. A driver warning is triggered if a predefined warning condition requires that an automatic emergency braking process is triggered, but only after the expiration of a predefined warning time period, in order to avoid the vehicle having a rear end collision with the vehicle traveling ahead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Heiko Doerr, Matthias Gut, Wolfram Mendt, Lorenz Schaefers, Ingo Scherhaufer, Juergen Trost, Gert Volk, Ursula Voss
  • Patent number: 7344200
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system has two driver-operable input devices. The vehicle braking system is sufficiently configured such that one of the driver-operable input devices is effective in causing resistance to the rotation of at least one wheel only when a predetermined condition exists, and the other driver-operable input device is effective independent of the predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher E. Borroni-Bird, Sanjeev M. Naik, Joseph F. Szczerba
  • Publication number: 20080030074
    Abstract: Automatic reacting is to react automatically or in a better manner to replace manual operation by thermostat, video camera, radar, all kinds of sensors including reacting proximate sensor, touch sensor, speedometer, motor, switch, timer and/or any other equivalents for making useful devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventor: Henri Duong
  • Patent number: 7234786
    Abstract: A vehicular brake control apparatus detects risky occasions and locations that may be risky by using, for example, an infrastructure information input device or a navigation device, and, for such locations and the like, performs the pre-charge so that braking force will be promptly generated. Therefore, the pre-charge can be precisely performed under necessary circumstances, irrespectively of the driver's accelerator operation. Hence, when the driver depresses the brake pedal at such a location or the like, braking force will be promptly generated. Thus, accidents and the like can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Mori, Kazutaka Kato, Kazuhiro Kamiya, Masahiro Matsuura
  • Patent number: 7213687
    Abstract: A vehicle emergency brake system has a second brake for braking a vehicle by increasing the frictional resistance with the road surface, a millimeter wave radar for detecting any obstacle in an advancing direction, a pedal speed sensor for detecting the step-in speed of a brake pedal for actuating a first brake, and a controller for actuating the second brake. If hard braking by the first brake is detected by the pedal speed sensor, the controller determines whether the vehicle is going to crash into an obstacle detected by the radar. If a determination is made that it will collide, the second brake is actuated. Thus, it is possible to reliably actuate the second brake in an emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moriharu Sakai, Takashi Watanabe, Shoichi Masaki
  • Patent number: 7099764
    Abstract: A braking control device performs a steering and/or avoidance possibility determination based on the state of the vehicle to execute automatic vehicle braking when an obstacle in front of the vehicle cannot be avoided by steering and/or braking. The device determines that the obstacle can be avoided by steering when the correlation value between steering avoidance time and relative velocity is smaller than the distance from the vehicle to the obstacle. The steering avoidance time is set to a shorter value when the suspension characteristic is stiffer and the sideways force generated by the front wheels is larger. The steering avoidance time is set successively shorter for low, high, and medium speed travel regions, respectively, to reflect the behavior response characteristic of the vehicle with respect to steering input. The vehicle deceleration that would occur if the driver released the accelerator pedal is considered in the braking avoidance possibility determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Seto, Minoru Tamura, Yoshinori Yamamura, Seiki Takahashi, Masahide Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7018004
    Abstract: A system and method for brake pre-charging includes pre-filling brakes, based on proximity information from a forward-looking sensor, to reduce the initial delays associated with braking. By reducing the initial delay in converting driver brake pressure requests into actual brake torque to the wheels, the stopping distance required for braking is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ju Chen, Gerald H. Engelman, Levasseur Tellis
  • Patent number: 6971727
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a brake mechanism for individually braking wheels, and a brake controller for controlling the brake mechanism against an oblique collision from behind or an offset collision with a host vehicle. The controller includes a collision predictor, a collision direction detector, and a colliding object speed detector. In accordance with a prediction signal transmitted from the collision predictor, a detection signal transmitted from the collision direction detector and a detection signal transmitted from the colliding object speed detector, the controller controls the operation of the brake mechanism to allocate braking forces to the respective wheels so as to prevent the turning of the host vehicle in a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryozo Yoshizawa, Isamu Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 6962396
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a brake system of a vehicle, with an automatic braking action being triggered when a threshold value is exceeded. The threshold value is varied as a function of a quantity derived from the distance to an obstacle located in front of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ian Faye, Helmut Wiss
  • Patent number: 6955409
    Abstract: A vehicle equipped with an anti-lock brake system (ABS) and with anti-slip regulation (ASR) and having the capability of automatically controlling the distance from a vehicle driving in front whereby various vehicle deceleration devices are actuated automatically if the distance becomes shorter than a preset minimum safe distance. For deceleration of the vehicle if the distance from a vehicle driving in front becomes shorter than the preset minimum safe distance, the ASR function used for braking the drive axles of the vehicle is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Wabco GmbH & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Detlev Neuhaus, Frank Zielke
  • Patent number: 6876098
    Abstract: The invention is directed toward methods for operating a series hybrid vehicle in a manner that responds to the operator's demand for power output, while maximizing engine efficiency and minimizing disruptions in vehicle drivability. According to principles of the present invention, when the driver of a series hybrid vehicle makes a demand for power output, whether the secondary power source(s) is supplied with secondary energy stored in an energy storage device(s), direct input energy generated by an engine(s), or both, depends on the amount of available secondary energy stored in the vehicle's secondary storage device(s) alone, and in combination with vehicle speed. During the time that the engine is used to generate secondary energy, the power efficiency level at which the engine is operated also depends on the vehicle speed and the amount of available secondary energy stored in the vehicle's secondary storage device alone, and in combination with vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventor: Charles L. Gray, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040145238
    Abstract: A braking control device performs a steering and/or avoidance possibility determination based on the state of the vehicle to execute automatic vehicle braking when an obstacle in front of the vehicle cannot be avoided by steering and/or braking. The device determines that the obstacle can be avoided by steering when the correlation value between steering avoidance time and relative velocity is smaller than the distance from the vehicle to the obstacle. The steering avoidance time is set to a shorter value when the suspension characteristic is stiffer and the sideways force generated by the front wheels is larger. The steering avoidance time is set successively shorter for low, high, and medium speed travel regions, respectively, to reflect the behavior response characteristic of the vehicle with respect to steering input. The vehicle deceleration that would occur if the driver released the accelerator pedal is considered in the braking avoidance possibility determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Seto, Minoru Tamura, Yoshinori Yamamura, Seiki Takahashi, Masahide Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040090117
    Abstract: An automatic brake and steering system for a vehicle containing a sensor unit for sensing vehicle state variables and vehicle characteristic variables and ambient conditions. Furthermore, a control unit and actuator devices are provided for setting the vehicle brake system and/or the vehicle steering system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Ingo Dudeck, Rainer Freitag, Gerhard Kurz, Wofgang Lauer, Thomas Roehrig-Gericke, Reinhold Schoeb, Harry Troester, Andy Yap, Richard Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20030227217
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a brake mechanism for individually braking wheels, and a brake controller for controlling the brake mechanism against an oblique collision from behind or an offset collision with a host vehicle. The controller includes a collision predictor, a collision direction detector, and a colliding object speed detector. In accordance with a prediction signal transmitted from the collision predictor, a detection signal transmitted from the collision direction detector and a detection signal transmitted from the colliding object speed detector, the controller controls the operation of the brake mechanism to allocate braking forces to the respective wheels so as to prevent the turning of the host vehicle in a collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryozo Yoshizawa, Isamu Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 6659572
    Abstract: An emergency brake assist apparatus amplifies driver braking force upon imminent contact detection. A brake pedal, operated by the driver, exerts a pedal force upon a variable brake booster. A braking system is coupled to the variable brake booster that produces a variable brake booster force causing the braking system to exert a braking force proportional to the pedal force during normal operation. When a forward detection apparatus detects an imminent contact, a controller signals the variable brake booster to increase the variable brake booster force such that the braking system exerts an amplified braking force proportional to the pedal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Vincent Bond, III, Gerald H. Engelman, M. Nabeel Tarabishy, Levasseur Tellis, Jonas Ekmark, Jonas Lars Zakarias Jansson
  • Patent number: 6621175
    Abstract: An engine control system for a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as driving force sources, for permitting stopping and starting of the engine in accordance with predetermined drive conditions. The system includes a booster for receiving a negative pressure supplied by an operation of the engine, a pressure detector for detecting a pressure supplied to the brake booster, a throttle-opening state detector for detecting a throttle opening state and an engine-operation enable/disable determining device for determining whether or not to operate the engine when the engine is stopped, based on the throttle opening state detected by the throttle-opening-state detector and the pressure detected by the pressure detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigetaka Kuroda, Atsushi Izumiura, Shinichi Kitajima, Atsushi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 6607255
    Abstract: A brake control system (10) for an automotive vehicle (12) is provided. The system (10) includes a vehicle sensor complex (16) that generates a vehicle sensor complex signal and an object detection system (14) that generates an object detection signal. A brake controller (22) is electrically coupled to the vehicle sensor complex and the object detection system. The controller (22) in response to the vehicle sensor complex signal and the object detection signal generates a brake ramping control signal. Controller (22) adjusts brake pressure in response to the brake ramping control signal. A method for performing the same is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Vincent Bond, III, Gerald H Engelman, Jonas Ekmark, Jonas L. Z. Jansson, M. Nabeel Tarabishy, Levasseur Tellis
  • Publication number: 20030132666
    Abstract: A brake control system (10) for an automotive vehicle (12) is provided. The system (10) includes a vehicle sensor complex (16) that generates a vehicle sensor complex signal and an object detection system (14) that generates an object detection signal. A brake controller (22) is electrically coupled to the vehicle sensor complex and the object detection system. The controller (22) in response to the vehicle sensor complex signal and the object detection signal generates a brake ramping control signal. Controller (22) adjusts brake pressure in response to the brake ramping control signal. A method for performing the same is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: John Vincent Bond, Gerald H. Engelman, Jonas Ekmark, Jonas L.Z. Jansson, M. Nabeel Tarabishy, Levasseur Tellis
  • Publication number: 20030111902
    Abstract: A distance, speed and direction sensitive processor coupled to a brake controller. The processor executes instructions to compare actual vehicle performance with that of a deceleration profile and modulates the brake controller to bring vehicle performance into agreement with the profile. Distance information is provided by a radar sensor for long ranges, an ultrasonic sensor for medium ranges, and a wheel rotation sensor for short ranges. Speed information is provided by a vehicle mounted sensor or calculated by the processor based on distance. Direction information is provided by a vehicle mounted switch or determined by the processor based on distance. The brake controller includes a hold valve and a dump valve, each of which is modulated with a pulse train signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: David Thiede, Jon P. Beatty, Richard A. Gunderson, John R. McKinley