Having Inter-vehicle Distance Or Speed Control Patents (Class 701/96)
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Patent number: 8548712Abstract: An acceleration-based method and device for the safety monitoring of a drive is provided. In the method a setpoint torque is calculated in a safety function as a function of the position of the accelerator pedal. An expected vehicle acceleration is determined, as a function of the setpoint torque, in the safety function. An actual vehicle acceleration is determined, preferably by an acceleration sensor. A fault situation may be detected by comparing the actual vehicle acceleration and the expected vehicle acceleration. A device, preferably included in the vehicle electronics, is configured to implement the acceleration-based method.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2012Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Florian Oesterreicher, Juergen Binder
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Patent number: 8548709Abstract: A radar sensor detects a traveling state of a host vehicle. An inter-vehicle control ECU gives the amount of operation for the predetermined amount of control of the host vehicle so that the traveling state of the host vehicle detected by the radar sensor becomes a predetermined state. The amount of operation given by the inter-vehicle control ECU is reduced as a kind of restriction when the amount of operation given by the inter-vehicle control ECU becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value. As a result, it is possible to reduce the dependence of the driver on the device.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2009Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Mitsuhiko Morita
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Publication number: 20130253796Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a vehicle. One system includes a controller. The controller is configured to receive images from a camera mounted on a first vehicle, identify a surface of a second vehicle located around the first vehicle based on the images, and generate a three-dimensional model associated with the second vehicle. The model includes a first plane and a second plane approximately perpendicular to the first plane. The first plane of the model is associated with the identified surface of the second vehicle. The controller is further configured to track a position of the second vehicle using the three-dimensional model after the identified surface falls at least partially outside of a field-of-view of the at least one camera.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Inventors: Yun Luo, Xavier Zhu
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Patent number: 8543310Abstract: A method for operating an automatic speed control system of an automotive vehicle. Initially, in a normal follow mode, a setpoint distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle is set to a first value d1, and a setpoint vehicle acceleration is into a first value a1. Upon detection of an intention of the vehicle driver to overtake the preceding vehicle (such as switching on a turn indicator), the setpoint distance is reset to a second value d2 that is smaller than d1. The setpoint acceleration may be reset to a second value a2 greater than a1 simultaneously, or the second value a2 may be set upon detection of initiation of a lane change into an overtaking lane (such as turning a steering wheel). The method assists the driver during the execution of an overtaking process, and a safer, more comfortable and free-flowing sequence of the overtaking process is ensured.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Amin Kashi, Anders Grauers, Pradeep Nold, Stefan Kappes, Maciej Bak
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Patent number: 8541972Abstract: Disclosed is a method for suppressing a speed ripple occurring during an operation of an AC motor by using a torque compensator based on an activation function. The method includes the steps of calculating a speed error ?err based on a reference speed ?ref and an actual speed ?act; calculating a controller output Trm by using the speed error ?err as an input of a PI control and an operation of a compensated torque Tcom; and determining a torque variation based on the controller output Trm and a reference torque Tref and operating the torque variation in relation to an anti-windup gain Ka to use torque variation as an input of an integral (I) control. The method suppresses the speed ripple by compensating for the torque ripple through a controller which calculates the compensated torque by taking the signs of the speed error and the differential speed error into consideration.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Kyungsung University Industry Cooperation FoundationInventors: Dong Hee Lee, Jin Woo Ahn
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Patent number: 8543309Abstract: When employing an adaptive cruise-with-braking (ACB) system to control host vehicle braking reaction distance, a following distance limit shape (FDLS) is defined using a lateral offset function, and a lateral offset of a forward vehicle is detected and analyzed. If the vehicle has a lateral offset greater than a lateral offset defined by the lateral offset function, deceleration requests from an engine controller are limited to requesting deceleration by an engine retarder and/or a dethrottling module. If the lateral offset of the forward vehicle is less than a lateral offset defined by the lateral offset function, foundation brakes may be requested. In other embodiments, road curvature is determined, and a braking reaction distance is reduced when the radius of curvature is smaller than a threshold curvature, in order to reduce false positive braking reactions triggered by, e.g., a forward vehicle on an exit ramp while the host vehicle remains on the highway.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: David J. Taneyhill, Andrew J. Pilkington, Thomas Arthur Banks
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Patent number: 8543308Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating optimal driving information through a vehicle display of a vehicle are configured to control position of an actual speed indicator along a scalar element of a display as a function of an actual speed of the vehicle; determine, in response to an actual acceleration of the vehicle, an optimal acceleration for changing vehicle speed; and control position of an optimal speed indicator along the scalar element as a function of the determined optimal acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2010Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Michael Joseph Levy, Alexander Thomas Riegelman
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Patent number: 8543254Abstract: A vehicular imaging system for determining roadway width includes an image sensor for capturing images and an image processor for receiving the captured images. The image processor determines roadway width by identifying roadway marker signs and oncoming traffic in processed images captured by the image sensor and determining the number of lanes, vehicle location on the roadway based on the roadway size and/or width and location of oncoming traffic.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Jeremy A. Schut, David M. Falb
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Patent number: 8538656Abstract: A tracking running control apparatus determines a failure-predicted segment where distance measurement using a laser radar is predicted to undergo a failure. Upon reaching the failure-predicted segment, a distance measurement device used in tracking running control is changed from the distance measurement device using the laser radar to a distance measurement device using a GPS receiver. Before the change of the distance measurement devices, a target inter-vehicle distance is gradually changed to a GPS-utilized target inter-vehicle distance through changing a vehicle speed with an acceleration equal to or less than a predetermined value. Under the configuration, it is possible to suppress annoyance for a driver of the vehicle because of the change of the target inter-vehicle distances accompanying the change of the distance measurement devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2012Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Takahisa Yamashiro
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Publication number: 20130238212Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system and an engine control module is provided. The engine control module is coupled to the adaptive cruise control system. The method comprises issuing a speed reduction signal from the adaptive cruise control system, verifying a speed reduction with a first sensor using the adaptive cruise control system, verifying the speed reduction with a second sensor using the engine control module, thereafter, receiving a resume signal from an operator input device, and executing a speed increase of the vehicle with the engine control module in response to receiving the resume signal with the engine control module.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Pamela L. LABUHN, Patrick J. O'LEARY, Barbara A. SHULER, James HEATH HOLBROOK
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Publication number: 20130238211Abstract: A vehicle driving assist system is provided that calculates a risk potential indicative of a degree of convergence between the host vehicle and the preceding obstacle. A first driving assistance control system controls at least one of an actuation reaction force exerted by a driver-operated driving operation device and a braking/driving force exerted against the host vehicle based on the risk potential calculated. A second driving assistance control system controls the braking/driving force of the host vehicle such that a headway distance is maintained between the host vehicle and the obstacle. A transition detecting section detects a transition of operating states of the first and second driving assistance control systems. The control adjusting section adjusts the control executed by the first and second driving assistance control systems when a transition of operating state is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyuki KUGE, Takayuki KONDOH, Akira ONOZUKA, Tomohiro YAMAMURA, Yoshiharu KAMISUKI
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Patent number: 8532906Abstract: A vehicle stability control system comprises a 5-sensor cluster and a stability controller configured to communicate with the 5-sensor cluster and receive signals corresponding to a lateral acceleration, a longitudinal acceleration, a yaw rate, a roll rate, and a pitch rate from the 5-sensor cluster. The stability controller can also be configured to determine a braking amount or a throttle amount to maintain vehicle stability. The system also comprises a brake controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a braking request from the stability controller, and a throttle controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a throttle request from the stability controller. The system may also comprise a braking or throttling command computed based on various scenarios detected by measured and calculated signals.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianbo Lu, Leonard K. Johnson, Joseph Carr Meyers
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Patent number: 8532904Abstract: A target vehicle speed of when a vehicle travels a predetermined forward section is acquired. An acceleration gear ratio for acceleration of the vehicle to reach a vehicle speed higher than the target vehicle speed after the travel of the predetermined section is acquired. The gear ratio of the vehicle is set to the acceleration gear ratio before the vehicle reaches the start point of the predetermined section. Before the vehicle reaches the start point of the predetermined section, the vehicle speed is lowered to the target vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2009Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Atsushi Takeuchi, Takayuki Miyajima, Fumiharu Ogawa, Yoshito Kondo
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Patent number: 8532907Abstract: A cruise control system includes: a traffic condition acquisition unit that acquires a traffic condition that includes a vehicle density on a road on which a vehicle runs; and a cruise control unit that performs cruise control on the vehicle so that a following distance has a less tendency to decrease as the road gets busier.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2009Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koji Taguchi
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Patent number: 8525728Abstract: A system for detecting objects in the vicinity of a vehicle, comprising: a sensor for gathering data relating to objects in the vicinity of the vehicle; and a processor operable to: detect objects, from the sensor data, based on one or more detection criteria, the detection being regulated by one or more detection parameters; analyze the detected objects; and in response to the number of detected objects, vary one or more of the detection parameters.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2008Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Astrid Lundmark, Mattias Hanqvist
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Publication number: 20130226420Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
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Publication number: 20130226431Abstract: A cruise control system of a vehicle comprises a target generator, a speed controller, and a distance controller. The speed controller and the distance controller are each coupled to the target generator. The target generator is configured for generating a dynamic speed target and a dynamic distance target through real-time assessment of information characterizing current operating condition characterizing information. The speed controller is configured for utilizing the dynamic speed target for issuing commands to cause the vehicle to be operated at a road speed that is adaptive to the current operating condition characterizing information. The distance controller is configured for utilizing the dynamic distance target for issuing commands to cause the vehicle to be operated such that a distance between the vehicle and a leading vehicle is adaptive to the current operating condition characterizing information.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Dimitar Petrov Filev
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Publication number: 20130226433Abstract: An inter-vehicle distance control device is provided. A typical embodiment of the device comprises, i) an inter-vehicle distance detecting means for detecting an inter-vehicle distance between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle traveling in front of the own vehicle, ii) a laterally adjacent vehicle detecting means for detecting another vehicle present beside the own vehicle, iii) a cut-in detecting means for judging whether or not a cut-in by the other vehicle detected by the laterally adjacent vehicle detecting means is likely to occur, before the other vehicle cuts in between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle, iv) an inter-vehicle distance adjusting means for performing inter-vehicle distance extension adjustment to increase the inter-vehicle distance when the cut-in detecting means judges that a cut-in is likely to occur, and v) an inter-vehicle distance control means for controlling the inter-vehicle distance based on information from the inter-vehicle distance adjusting means.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicants: NIPPON SOKEN, INC., DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: DENSO CORPORATION, Nippon Soken, Inc.
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Publication number: 20130226432Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: DENSO CORPORATION
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Patent number: 8521394Abstract: A main ECU (71) for generating an actual acceleration/deceleration running pattern based on a current running situation of a vehicle, generating a corrected acceleration/deceleration running pattern obtained by elongating an actual acceleration/deceleration period of the actual acceleration/deceleration running pattern when an actual acceleration/deceleration period (T1) in the actual acceleration/deceleration running pattern is shorter than a reference acceleration/deceleration period (T0) set in advance, and setting the actual acceleration/deceleration running pattern as a best acceleration/deceleration running pattern when the corrected acceleration/deceleration running pattern is not generated and setting the corrected acceleration/deceleration running pattern as the best acceleration/deceleration running pattern when the corrected acceleration/deceleration running pattern is generated, is provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2009Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Chika Tsumori, Osamu Komeda, Mitsuhiro Tabata, Yukari Okamura, Hiroshi Tsujii
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Patent number: 8515644Abstract: A method and a device for controlling the speed of a motor vehicle in terms of a constant distance control in the case that at least one preceding vehicle was detected by a radar sensor or in terms of constant speed control in the case that no preceding vehicle was detected by a radar sensor, the distance to the preceding vehicle being able to be set by the driver in the form of a time gap, wherein the longitudinal dynamics of the speed control may be changed when the time gap changes.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2004Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Thilo Leineweber, Axel Stamm, Stephan Dorenkamp
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Publication number: 20130211689Abstract: The cruise control apparatus includes a headway control means for making a first determination as to whether or not at least one recognized front vehicle running ahead of an own vehicle is a preceding vehicle present in an own-vehicle lane in which the own vehicle is running, performing a headway control to cause the own vehicle to run following the preceding vehicle when the first determination is affirmative, and a vehicle type recognizing means for recognizing a type of the recognized front vehicle. The headway control means is configured to change a way to perform the headway control depending on the type (vehicle size, for example) of the recognized front vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2013Publication date: August 15, 2013Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: DENSO CORPORATION
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Patent number: 8509964Abstract: The present invention is directed to a remote control system for controlling a railway vehicle. The remote control system including a remote control device for transmitting signals to a first controller module. The first controller is mounted to the railway vehicle and controls and monitors the functions of the railway vehicle. The first controller module also relays information to the remote control device. The remote control system can also include a portable safety switch allowing any individual in proximity to the railway vehicle to send a stop signal to the first controller module to stop the railway vehicle if any unsafe conditions exist.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2011Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Hetronic International, Inc.Inventors: Mark Ecton, Torsten Rempe, Max Heckl
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Patent number: 8509971Abstract: A user interface includes a visual display with suggested speed control throttle and/or brake settings display portion, a speedometer display portion and a distance to target guide portion. The display provides intuitive feedback information helpful for train operator decisions on how and when to change train speed control throttle and/or brake settings. In some embodiments of the present invention the interface suggests brake and/or throttle settings for reducing train speed. The distance to target guide portion includes an analog target display that grows in size as the train approaches a target point speed change or stop position. The speedometer includes analog speed scale, speed indicator needle and a suggested target speed indicator display portions.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.Inventors: Aleksander Isailovski, James Krietemeyer
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Patent number: 8510012Abstract: An anti-tailgating vehicle system includes a communication bus on a host vehicle, a forward vehicle sensor that senses a forward vehicle in front of the host vehicle, and an electronic control unit. The forward vehicle sensor transmits a forward vehicle message to the communication bus based on a distance to the forward vehicle. The electronic control unit receives the forward vehicle message from the communication bus and determines a relative speed between the host and forward vehicles based on the forward vehicle message. If the forward vehicle message indicates the host vehicle is not within a safe zone range relative to the forward vehicle while a host vehicle cruise control system is not engaged, the electronic control unit transmits a host vehicle control message to the communication bus for limiting a torque of the host vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: William P. Amato, Kenneth A. Grolle, Aaron M. Galbraith
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Publication number: 20130204505Abstract: A motor vehicle speed control system having a distance sensor operates in a first mode when the vehicle is traveling on a clear stretch of road in which a predetermined desired vehicle speed is set. In a second mode when the vehicle is following another vehicle, a predetermined minimum distance from a selected target object is set. The target object is selected by a first selection process that screens out stationary objects. When a defined condition prevails, the first mode switches into a third mode in the form of deceleration, wherein a second selection process is started which also evaluates stationary target objects. Until a target object is selected, the vehicle travels on a clear road with deceleration initiated which is reduced relative to following another vehicle. If a target object is selected by the second selection process, the system switches over without delay from the third mode into the second mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: August 8, 2013Applicant: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventor: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
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Patent number: 8504283Abstract: A host-vehicle risk acquisition device includes a host-vehicle path acquisition portion that acquires a path of a host-vehicle, and an obstacle path acquisition portion that acquires a plurality of paths of an obstacle existing around the host-vehicle. A collision risk acquisition portion acquires an actual collision risk, which is a collision risk between the host-vehicle and the obstacle when the host-vehicle is in a travel state based on the path of the host-vehicle and the plurality of paths of the obstacle. An offset risk acquisition portion acquires an offset risk, which is a collision risk between the host-vehicle and the obstacle in an offset travel state, which is offset from the travel state of the host-vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2008Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuaki Aso, Toshiki Kindo, Masahiro Harada
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Patent number: 8502653Abstract: The vehicle-use object detection apparatus includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensors mounted on a vehicle, each of the ultrasonic sensors being configured to receive a reflected version of an ultrasonic wave transmitted by itself and not to receive reflected versions of ultrasonic waves transmitted by the other ultrasonic sensors, a first determination means to make a determination whether an object is present around the vehicle based on the received reflected versions of the transmitted ultrasonic waves when a first detection condition is satisfied, and a second determination means to make a determination, for each of the ultrasonic sensors, whether there is adhesion of snow around the ultrasonic sensor based on an echo wave received by the ultrasonic sensor when a second detection condition different from the first detection condition is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Takeo Tsuzuki
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Patent number: 8504275Abstract: An adaptive cruise control system for a host vehicle. The adaptive cruise control system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to detect a vehicle in front of the host vehicle. The controller receives an indication of the detected vehicle from the sensor and is configured to maintain a speed of the host vehicle at a desired speed, to determine a speed of the detected vehicle relative to the host vehicle, and adjust an acceleration rate of the host vehicle based on the relative speed.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2010Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Oliver Schwindt
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Patent number: 8496078Abstract: A semi-autonomous vehicle includes a chassis having a repository on a plurality of wheels, a propulsion system, a steering system, a braking system, an extra-vehicle communications system, and an extra-vehicle sensory system. A control system of the semi-autonomous vehicle is operatively coupled to the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system and signally connected to the extra-vehicle sensory system and the extra-vehicle communications system. A non-load-bearing coupling mechanism of the semi-autonomous vehicle includes a connector, a flexible mechanical link element and a communications link.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2011Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Carl W. Wellborn, Joseph F. Szczerba, Jan H. Aase, Brian S. Repa, Mary Ellen Decaluwe, Jim K. Rainbolt
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Patent number: 8494716Abstract: Method for controlling a vehicle to maintain a desired position on a roadway includes monitoring roadway information behind the vehicle using a rearward detection device and monitoring vehicle sensor information. Frontward positional information is projected based on rearward positional information obtained from the monitored roadway information behind the vehicle. Forward roadway curvature is estimated based on the vehicle sensor information. Roadway information ahead of the vehicle is modeled based on the projected frontward positional information and the estimated forward roadway curvature to determine desired vehicle positional information. Future vehicle positional information is predicted with respect to the modeled roadway information based on the monitored vehicle sensor information and the estimated forward roadway curvature.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jin-Woo Lee, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi
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Patent number: 8494733Abstract: A prime mover rotation speed control system for hydraulically driven vehicle includes: a hydraulic pump driven by a prime mover; a hydraulic motor for traveling driven with pressure oil supplied from the hydraulic pump; an operation member that outputs a travel command in accordance with an amount of operation by the operation member; a flow control device that controls one of a flow of the pressure oil from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor and a flow rate of the pressure oil discharged from the hydraulic motor, based on the travel command that is output in accordance with the amount of operation by the operation member; a target rotation number outputting device that outputs a target rotation number of the prime mover based on a command; a rotation number control device that controls a rotation number of the prime mover to be the target rotation number; a vehicle speed detection device that detects a vehicle speed; and a vehicle speed calculation device that calculates a target vehicle speed in accoType: GrantFiled: February 28, 2008Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katsuaki Kodaka, Hidetoshi Satake, Youichi Kowatari, Yuuki Gotou, Kazuhiro Ichimura
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Patent number: 8493196Abstract: When employing an adaptive cruise-with-braking (ACB) system to control host vehicle following distance, a forward vehicle is detected using one or both of a radar sensor (14) and a camera sensor (82). The radar sensor classifies the forward vehicle as a motorcycle, passenger car, or heavy vehicle by comparing a detected radar signature to reference radar signatures for different vehicles. The camera sensor classifies the forward vehicle as a motorcycle, passenger car, or heavy vehicle by comparing a captured vehicle image to reference pixel and contrast profiles (PCPs) for different vehicles. An adaptive cruise control (ACC) module (12) selects and implements a following distance alert (FDA) protocol for the classified vehicle, where the FDA protocol prescribes following distance limits that inversely proportional to the size of the forward vehicle. Following distance limits can be further adjusted as a function of host vehicle mass.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventor: Ananda Pandy
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Patent number: 8489252Abstract: In an obtainer for obtaining speed feeling of a driver of a movable object, a gaze point setter sets a gaze point of the driver, and a motion detector detects relative motion of an environmental field around the mobile object with respect to the mobile object. A divergent component calculator projects the relative motion of the environmental field in a coordinate system. The coordinate system is formed by modeling a retina sphere of the driver of the mobile object. The divergent calculator calculates each of divergent components of the projected relative motion of the environmental field radially expanding from the gaze point. A speed feeling calculator calculates speed feeling of the driver based on the divergent components of the projected relative motion of the environmental field radially expanding from the gaze point calculated by the divergent component calculator.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Inou, Mamoru Sawada, Seiji Totsuka
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Patent number: 8489318Abstract: The invention relates to an emergency brake assistant for automatically decelerating a vehicle to prevent a collision or reduce the consequences of a collision with a detected collision object, at a determined intervention point in time, a brake system of the vehicle being automatically activated such that a collision with the detected collision object can be prevented or at least the consequences of the collision can be reduced. The invention is characterized in that the intervention point in time can be determined as a function of the end point in time of a determined driver reaction time and of the determined last-possible braking point in time.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2012Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Philipp Reinisch, Peter Zahn
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Patent number: 8489305Abstract: When a preceding vehicle (Vb) starts during deceleration of a vehicle (Va) which is trying to stop following the stopped preceding vehicle (Vb), if the vehicle (Va) accelerates following the preceding vehicle (Vb), the driver possibly mistakes that the vehicle is equipped with an automatic start function. A virtual preceding vehicle (Vb?) is set at the stop position of the preceding vehicle (Vb), so that the vehicle (Va) is temporarily stopped following the stopping virtual preceding vehicle (Vb?) even if the actual preceding vehicle (Vb) is started. As a result, the vehicle (Va) is not started until the driver indicates the intention to start by operating a start switch, and the driver can be prevented from mistaking that the vehicle is equipped with an automatic start function.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Arai, Hiroshi Sato
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Patent number: 8483887Abstract: The present invention is directed to a remote control system for controlling a railway vehicle. The remote control system including a remote control device for transmitting signals to a first controller module. The first controller is mounted to the railway vehicle and controls and monitors the functions of the railway vehicle. The first controller module also relays information to the remote control device. The remote control system can also include a portable safety switch allowing any individual in proximity to the railway vehicle to send a stop signal to the first controller module to stop the railway vehicle if any unsafe conditions exist.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2011Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Hetronic International, Inc.Inventors: Mark Ecton, Torsten Rempe, Max Heckl
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Patent number: 8483928Abstract: A follow-up run control device controlling a running state of a vehicle in a state where peripheral vehicles running before or behind the vehicle exist includes: deviation acquiring means for acquiring information regarding a deviation between a relative positional relation and a target relative positional relation of the vehicle and the peripheral vehicles with respect to preceding vehicles running just before; and follow-up control amount calculating means for calculating a follow-up control amount of the vehicle to control the running state of the vehicle on the basis of the information regarding the deviations of a plurality of vehicles acquired by the deviation acquiring means.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2009Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Mitsuhisa Shida
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Patent number: 8478463Abstract: A train control system for controlling trains traveling in a track network including tracks with signals associated therewith. The system includes an on-board track database, a positioning system and an on-board control system. The on-board control system receives position data and automatically brakes the train prior to encountering an upcoming signal based upon specified data points. The train is not automatically braked if certain conditions are met. A method for controlling a train traveling in a track network is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2008Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Wabtec Holding Corp.Inventors: Jeffrey G. Knott, Steve R. Graham, Ann K. Grimm, James H. Moore, M. Frank Wilson, Jeffrey D. Kernwein
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Publication number: 20130158800Abstract: A merge assistance system for a vehicle. The system includes a camera configured to monitor an area, at least one sensor configured to detect information about at least one moving target object, an electronic control unit having a processor in electronic communication with the camera and the sensor to receive information about the monitored area and the at least one moving target object. The system also includes a computer readable medium storing instructions that cause the processor to receive information about a velocity and an acceleration of the vehicle, determine a merging location based on the information received from the camera, determine a velocity and an acceleration of the at the least one moving target object based on the information from the at least one sensor, identify a merge assist situation, and initiate a merge driving maneuver to control the vehicle during the merge assist situation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventor: Vern Trageser
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Publication number: 20130158830Abstract: A leading vehicle detecting apparatus and inter-vehicular control apparatus which can reduce delay in deciding accurately whether or not the own vehicle is following a particular leading vehicle are provided. The leading vehicle detecting apparatus includes: a signal acquiring section that acquires position signals outputted from a position detecting section that detects the position of the leading vehicle, and detection signals outputted from state detecting sections that detect a state of an own vehicle cruising line; a storage section storing in advance a probability map showing the probability of the own vehicle following the leading vehicle, based on distance from an expected cruising line of the own vehicle to leading vehicle the position; and a calculating section that calculates the expected cruising line based on is the detection signals, and judges whether the own vehicle is following the leading vehicle based on the expected cruising line, position signals, and probability map.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2012Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: DENSO CORPORATION
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Patent number: 8463521Abstract: A driver coaching system for providing a recommended driver action during driving of a vehicle includes a distance measuring device of an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system for measuring a distance between a subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle, and a speed measuring device for measuring a speed of the subject vehicle. The driver coaching system further includes a coaching controller communicating with each of the distance measuring device and the speed measuring device. The coaching controller determines a recommended driver input based on the distance and speed as measured, respectively, by the distance measuring device and the speed measuring device. An output device is mounted in the subject vehicle and communicates the recommended driver input.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Dirk Gavin Westendorf
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Publication number: 20130144502Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2011Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Mitsuhisa Shida
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Publication number: 20130138320Abstract: A vehicle control device, a vehicle control system and a traffic control system are provided, in which it is possible to execute generating a parameter associated with a driving state of a vehicle, the parameter being variable on the basis of acquired predetermined information, and predetermined control for carrying out at least one of drive control over the vehicle based on the parameter and provision of information to a driver to assist achieving the parameter with driving operation. The predetermined information is the percentage of predetermined vehicles that are able to execute the predetermined control.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Makoto Aso
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Patent number: 8452513Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system and an engine control module is provided. The engine control module is coupled to the adaptive cruise control system. The method comprises issuing a speed reduction signal from the adaptive cruise control system, verifying a speed reduction with a first sensor using the adaptive cruise control system, verifying the speed reduction with a second sensor using the engine control module, thereafter, receiving a resume signal from an operator input device, and executing a speed increase of the vehicle with the engine control module in response to receiving the resume signal with the engine control module.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2009Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Pamela I. Labuhn, Patrick J. O'Leary, Barbara A. Shuler, James Heath Holbrook
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Patent number: 8452514Abstract: A device executes a preceding vehicle following driving control and successively calculates a friction-braking-start threshold value, an engine-braking-start threshold value, an acceleration-control-completion threshold value by using equations L1, L2 and L3, respectively. The device uses a constant vehicle speed zone determined between the engine-braking-start threshold value and the acceleration-control-completion threshold value. When a compensated-evaluation-index value KdB_c of a vehicle distance between the own vehicle and a preceding vehicle is within the constant vehicle speed zone, the device drives the own vehicle at a constant speed. This control suppresses fuel consumption because of decreasing an acceleration and deceleration frequency of the own vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2012Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Kazuyoshi Isaji, Naohiko Tsuru
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Patent number: 8452509Abstract: A vehicle speed-based operational cost optimization module provides an optimized velocity profile over a given route while also considering imposed constraints such as deviation from time targets, deviation from maximum governed speed limits, etc. Given current vehicle speed, engine state and transmission state, the present disclosure optimally manages the engine map to provide a recommended vehicle speed that optimizes fuel consumption. Exemplary embodiments provide for offline and online optimizations relative to fuel consumption. The benefit is increased freight efficiency in transporting cargo from source to destination by minimizing fuel consumption and maintaining drivability.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.Inventors: Vivek A. Sujan, Phani Vajapeyazulla, Kenneth Follen, An Wu, Barty L. Moffett, Howard R. Frost
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Publication number: 20130131949Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2011Publication date: May 23, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Mitsuhisa Shida
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Patent number: 8447489Abstract: A vehicle driving operation support apparatus for a vehicle, includes a sensing section to sense a traveling condition of the vehicle including a surrounding condition inclusive of an obstacle around the vehicle, and a control section to calculate a risk potential for the vehicle in accordance with the traveling condition. The control section performs a support control to support the driver in accordance with the risk potential and performs an assist control to produce inducement simulating a condition change (such as a vehicle behavior) attributable to an increase of the risk potential, in accordance with the risk potential.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiyuki Murata, Yoshifumi Takigawa, Yosuke Kobayashi, Tomoaki Oida, Yuwun Chai, Taku Suzuki, Motoaki Hosaka, Hironobu Kikuchi, Satoshi Tange, Takeshi Kimura
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Patent number: 8447488Abstract: A device is described for longitudinally guiding a motor vehicle, including a sensor system for locating preceding vehicles, a controller that regulates the speed of the vehicle to a setpoint speed, either in a following driving mode as a function of the distance from a preceding vehicle or in a free driving mode, an interface to a navigation system which provides information about the traveled route, and a limiting device for limiting the setpoint speed based on the provided information. The limiting device is designed for calculating a limiting value for the setpoint speed for each possible route when the travel route is recognized as being ambiguous and for selecting the greatest of these limiting values for limiting the setpoint speed.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2006Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Manfred Hellmann, Markus Hagemann