Having Inter-vehicle Distance Or Speed Control Patents (Class 701/96)
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Publication number: 20110040468Abstract: A method and an apparatus for lane recognition for a vehicle that is equipped with an adaptive distance and speed control system are provided, the adaptive distance and speed controller having conveyed to it, using an object detection system, the relative speed of detected objects, a variable for determining the lateral offset of the detected objects with respect to the longitudinal vehicle axis, and the speed of the host vehicle. From the relative speed of the objects and the host-vehicle speed, a determination is made as to whether an object is oncoming, stationary, or moving in the same direction as the host vehicle. In combination with the calculated lateral offset of the detected object with respect to the longitudinal vehicle axis, the number of lanes present and the lane currently being traveled in by the host vehicle are determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Inventors: Thilo LEINEWEBER, Werber Urban, Ruediger-Walter Henn, Goetz Braeuchle, Martin Heinebrodt
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Patent number: 7885751Abstract: A driving support target braking/driving force is calculated by a driving support electronic controller, and transmitted to a first arbiter of a driving force control electronic controller. A vehicle driver requested target braking/driving force and the driving support target braking/driving force are arbitrated by the first arbiter, whereby a vehicle total target braking/driving force is calculated, and the vehicle total target braking/driving force is distributed to a vehicle target driving force and a vehicle target braking force by a braking/driving force distributor. A final target driving force is calculated by a second arbiter on the basis of the target driving force, and a driver requested braking force and the target braking force are arbitrated by an arbiter of a braking force control electronic controller, whereby a vehicle total target braking force is calculated.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2006Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hirotada Otake
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Patent number: 7881865Abstract: A collision determination system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a vehicle behavior recognition unit that recognizes specific vehicle behavior indicative of a probable vehicle collision. The system also includes a collision detection sensor that detects a predetermined state change resulting from a vehicle collision. Furthermore, the system includes a collision determination unit that determines whether the vehicle collision necessitates activation of a vehicle passenger protection device based on the specific vehicle behavior recognized by the vehicle behavior recognition unit and the detected predetermined state change.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2006Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Seiya Ide
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Patent number: 7881842Abstract: A safety device for vehicles having first sensor arrangement for acquiring the vehicle impact and for outputting first sensor signals, a control device for outputting triggering signals dependent on the first sensor signals, and a restraint system that is triggered dependent on the first sensor signals, second sensor arrangement being provided for the acquisition of obstacles in the vicinity of the vehicle and for the outputting of second sensor signals, and third sensor arrangement being provided for the acquisition of environmental influences on the second sensor arrangement, the second sensor signals output by the second sensor arrangement being used in the control unit for the decision concerning the triggering of the restraint system, after an evaluation of the third sensor signals output by the third sensor arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Alfred Kuttenberger, Marc Theisen, Ralf Maier
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Patent number: 7881868Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates warning of collision between a primary principal and one or more non-primary principals. The system includes a triggering mechanism and a preliminary assessment mechanism. During operation, the triggering mechanism determines whether a trigger condition is met based on the state of the primary principal. When the trigger condition is met, the preliminary assessment mechanism generates one or more collision scenarios associated with the trigger condition, assesses a preliminary probability of collision in a collision scenario, and, based on the preliminary probability of collision in the collision scenario, activates a specialized assessment mechanism to assess a refined probability of collision in the collision scenario.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Daniel H. Greene, Juan Liu, James E. Reich
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Patent number: 7877187Abstract: A navigation device provides support for a driver of a vehicle in merging from one road onto another road (main road). The navigation device receives traffic information including at least positions and speeds of other vehicles traveling the main road. The navigation device then detects at least positions of inter-vehicle spaces between those other vehicles, using the traffic information, and determines which one of the detected inter-vehicle spaces is most suitable for the driver's vehicle to enter for merging. A beam radiating unit provided in the driver's vehicle is used to form a moving first entry point mark on the road surface to indicate the inter-vehicle space the driver's vehicle is going to enter upon merging.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2006Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: AISIN AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Hori, Hidefumi Okabe, Yoshitaka Masuda
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Publication number: 20110010068Abstract: A vehicle speed control system includes: a unit for computing a first target velocity based on map information; a unit for computing a second target velocity based on a road profile obtained from other information than the map information (such as lane recognition using a camera); a unit for comparing the first target velocity and the second target velocity; a unit for selecting a lower target velocity therefrom; and a unit for controlling a vehicle velocity in accordance with the selected target velocity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: Xanavi Informatics CorporationInventors: Masato IMAI, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Tatsuya Ochi, Takashi Okada, Toshimichi Minowa, Masao Sakata
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Patent number: 7866427Abstract: A motor vehicle multi-stage integrated brake assist (MSIBA) system, which can provide at least one brake assist level of a plurality of predetermined levels of brake assist (i.e., deceleration) less than or greater than the required amount of braking (i.e., deceleration) calculated by the MSIBA to avoid a collision with an obstacle at the time the driver initiates braking, but allows the driver to increase or remove the provided predetermined level of brake assist.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Chad T. Zagorski
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Publication number: 20110004387Abstract: A vehicle headway maintenance assist system is provided that provides a haptic notification to an accelerator to alert the driver under prescribed conditions. The vehicle headway maintenance assist system includes a preceding vehicle detection section, a reaction force generating section, and a control section. The preceding vehicle detection section is configured to detect a headway distance between a host vehicle and a preceding vehicle. The reaction force generating section is configured to generate a reaction force based on the headway distance detected by the preceding vehicle detection section. The control section is configured to control a relationship between a driving force and an accelerator actuation amount by a driver to increase the accelerator actuation amount at a time before the reaction force generating section generates the reaction force.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2010Publication date: January 6, 2011Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Takeshi SUGANO, Kenichi EGAWA, Satoshi TANGE, Yosuke KOBAYASHI
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Publication number: 20100332101Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle comprises a receiver to receive a signal corresponding to a traveling speed of a lead vehicle, a response device that generates an alert to warn of a change in the traveling speed of the lead vehicle, and a control device coupled to the receiver and the response device, wherein the receiver sends a signal to the control device corresponding to the traveling speed of the lead vehicle and the control device operates the response device in a manner dependent on the traveling speed of the lead vehicle. In some embodiments, the signal comprises one or more of infrared, radio frequency, wireless, WiFi, and Bluetooth®. In some embodiments, the communication system further comprises a speed control system coupled to the control device, wherein the control device operates the speed control system in a manner dependent on the traveling speed of the lead vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: VISION WORKS IP CORPORATIONInventors: Alfred S. Braunberger, Beau M. Braunberger
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Publication number: 20100324797Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the longitudinal and lateral guidance assistance to the driver of a vehicle, longitudinal guidance assistance is performed as distance regulation for regulating the distance between the vehicle and a preceding guide vehicle. Lateral guidance assistance is optionally carried out as an object tracking regulation for guiding the vehicle according to a displacement lane of a preceding guide vehicle, as a lane tracking regulation for guiding the vehicle along a marked driving lane, or as combined lane object tracking regulation. The lateral guidance assistance is then available only when the distance regulation is active and when the distance between the vehicle and the guide vehicle is smaller than a predefined distance limit and/or when a shaft angle as a viewing angle from the vehicle to the guide vehicle is smaller than a predefined angle limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2009Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: Daimler AGInventor: Hans Fritz
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Patent number: 7853390Abstract: An acceleration control system stores a target acceleration calculation equation acquired by transforming an equation that expresses that a product of the differentiation of the square power of the speed and the environmental factor ?env represents a sensed value ? of acceleration. A surrounding environment monitor device detects surrounding bodies present in the forward periphery of the vehicle, and an environmental factor calculation unit calculates the environmental factor ?env by using the detected positions of the surrounding bodies. A target acceleration setting unit successively sets target accelerations aref in compliance with the target acceleration calculation equation by using the environmental factor ?env. The acceleration is executed to match the driver's feeling.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Inou, Minoru Okada, Takehito Fujii, Seiji Totsuka
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Patent number: 7848886Abstract: A collision prediction ECU of a collision prediction apparatus estimates a state of presence of a detected front obstacle. At this time, the collision prediction ECU estimates the state of presence on the basis of road shape data supplied from a navigation ECU of a navigation apparatus. Further, the collision prediction ECU checks and corrects the calculated road gradient value. At this time, the collision prediction ECU corrects the gradient value on the basis of road gradient data supplied from the navigation ECU. Further, the collision prediction ECU changes a collision avoidance time on the basis of travel environment data supplied from the navigation ECU. Moreover, the collision prediction ECU obtains an ETC gate pass-through signal from the navigation ECU and determines whether the vehicle is passing through the gate. The collision prediction apparatus performs collation prediction on the basis of the corrected values.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoya Kawasaki
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Patent number: 7848884Abstract: A collision prediction ECU of a collision prediction apparatus estimates a state of presence of a detected front obstacle. At this time, the collision prediction ECU estimates the state of presence on the basis of road shape data supplied from a navigation ECU of a navigation apparatus. Further, the collision prediction ECU checks and corrects the calculated road gradient value. At this time, the collision prediction ECU corrects the gradient value on the basis of road gradient data supplied from the navigation ECU. Further, the collision prediction ECU changes a collision avoidance time on the basis of travel environment data supplied from the navigation ECU. Moreover, the collision prediction ECU obtains an ETC gate pass-through signal from the navigation ECU and determines whether the vehicle is passing through the gate. The collision prediction apparatus performs collation prediction on the basis of the corrected values.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2004Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoya Kawasaki
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Patent number: 7844384Abstract: In vehicular traveling control apparatus and method, comprising: a vehicular forward substance detecting section of a laser radar type is provided to detect a forward substance located in a forward direction of the vehicle, a vehicular travel control is performed on the basis of a relative positional relationship between the forward substance detected by the vehicular forward substance detecting section and the vehicle, such an impulse that a detection range of the vehicular forward substance detecting section is varied has been applied to the vehicular forward detecting section is detected, and the vehicular traveling control is inhibited when detecting that the impulse has been applied to the vehicular forward substance detecting section.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2004Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoji Seto
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Publication number: 20100299043Abstract: For regulating the speed of a motor vehicle, a control apparatus is equipped with an object detection system, and the reference speed is determined as a function of at least one preceding vehicle in the evaluation region of the object detection system, such that upon recognition of an imminent lane change by the regulated vehicle, vehicles in the adjacent destination lane are additionally taken into consideration for calculation of the reference speed by expanding the evaluation region in the direction of the destination lane, and consideration is given only to vehicles in the destination lane whose distance from the regulated vehicle is less than a predetermined distance value.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2007Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Stephan Dorenkamp, Thomas Gruber, Werner Urban, Juergen Boecker
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Publication number: 20100299044Abstract: To provide a vehicle control device that improves the accuracy of an automatic follow-up control in an inverted pendulum vehicle, a vehicle control device according to the present invention performs an automatic follow-up running control in an inverted pendulum vehicle so as to automatically follow a preceding vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2008Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: Equos Research Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takafumi Miyake, Koki Hayashi
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Patent number: 7840331Abstract: The invention is a travel support system using notified non-equipped vehicle information, and including an equipped-vehicle detecting unit detecting a presence and a position of an vehicle equipped with a communication module for communicating with another vehicle, a non-equipped-vehicle detecting unit detecting a presence and a position of a non-equipped vehicle without any communication module, and an information-holding vehicle identifying unit identifying an information-holding vehicle that is the equipped vehicle and holding non-equipped-vehicle information including the position of the non-equipped vehicle, based on the position of the equipped vehicle and the position of the non-equipped vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Mototaka Yoshioka, Jun Ozawa
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Patent number: 7840330Abstract: System for evaluating the traffic environment of a motor vehicle and for influencing the speed of the motor vehicle in its own traffic lane, comprising an electronic control unit (ECU), which is connected to a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the desired speed of the motor vehicle, a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the yaw of the motor vehicle about its vertical axis, a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the articles situated, in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle, in front of the motor vehicle in terms of their spacing and orientation relative to the motor vehicle and which reproduces the speed relative to the speed of the system motor vehicle and/or the spacing relative to the system motor vehicle and/or the angular offset or the cross track distance relative to the vehicle longitudinal axis of the system motor vehicle, and a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the speed of at least one wheel ofType: GrantFiled: May 19, 2005Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbHInventor: Sascha Heinrichs-Bartscher
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Patent number: 7835865Abstract: An offset distance of an obstacle from a traveling-path center line of a vehicle at the time the obstacle is detected is calculated, and then this offset distance of the obstacle from the traveling-path center line of the vehicle is corrected based on a turning radius of the traveling vehicle detected at the time a specified period of time has lapsed. Thereby, even in a case where the vehicle travels on a road with a curve that changes a radius of curvature of the traveling-path center line (turning radius of the traveling vehicle) quickly during the specified period of traveling time, the above-described offset distance can be properly corrected based on an updated turning radius of the traveling vehicle. Thus, a relative position of the obstacle with respect to the vehicle can be predicted accurately.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Haruki Okazaki, Hiroshi Ohmura, Takayuki Seto, Takashi Nakagami
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Publication number: 20100286887Abstract: A preceding vehicle speed estimation unit estimates a preceding vehicle speed after a predetermined period of time based on a preceding vehicle speed and an acceleration of the preceding vehicle, and an ACC target vehicle speed setting unit sets a target vehicle speed for the vehicle following based on an inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and preceding vehicle and the preceding vehicle speed after a predetermined period of time. Then, during the stop maintaining control, an ACC resetting acceptability determination unit compares the target vehicle speed and a reference threshold. When the target vehicle speed is greater than the reference threshold, it is determined to accept ACC resetting in response to the driver's input operation, and, when the target vehicle speed is equal to or less than the reference threshold, it is determined not to accept ACC resetting.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2010Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tasuku Maruyama
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Patent number: 7831369Abstract: There is provided a method and executable code for controlling operation of a vehicle. The vehicle control occurs during ongoing operation subsequent to deactivating an internal combustion engine which is effective to generate vehicle tractive torque. The method comprises: monitoring conditions external to the vehicle, and, restarting the internal combustion engine when the monitored external conditions indicate an imminent opportunity to move the vehicle in a forward direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2006Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Sanjeev M. Naik, Man-Feng Chang, Jeffrey T. Wolak
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Patent number: 7831367Abstract: System for evaluating the traffic environment of a motor vehicle and for influencing the speed of the motor vehicle in its own traffic lane, comprising an electronic control unit, which is connected to a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the desired speed of the motor vehicle, a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the yaw of the motor vehicle about its vertical axis, a signal transmitter that produces a signal, which is characteristic of the articles situated, in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle, in front of the motor vehicle in terms of their spacing and orientation relative to the motor vehicle and which is the speed relative to the speed of the system motor vehicle and/or the spacing relative to the system motor vehicle and/or the angular offset or the cross track distance relative to the vehicle longitudinal axis of the system motor vehicle, and a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the speed of at least one wheel of theType: GrantFiled: May 19, 2005Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbHInventor: Sascha Heinrichs-Bartscher
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Patent number: 7831368Abstract: A system for influence the speed of a host vehicle while the host vehicle is driving in a lane based on a control unit evaluating an environment of a host vehicle. The system has an electronic control unit connected to many sensors. The sensors each generate a signal. The control unit controls the host vehicle based on the signals from the sensors and further calculates a “bendiness”characteristic value from a yaw rate signal of the host vehicle. Sensed objects including other vehicles which are further away than other vehicles from the host vehicle are excluded from selection as target vehicle based on the “bendiness” characteristic value.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2005Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbHInventor: Marko Schröder
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Patent number: 7822526Abstract: A vehicle headway maintenance assist system is provided that provides a haptic notification to an accelerator to alert the driver under prescribed conditions. The system changes a drive force/accelerator actuation relationship between an accelerator actuation amount and a target drive force or torque under the prescribed conditions. In particular, system changes a first drive force/accelerator actuation relationship to a second drive force/accelerator actuation relationship based on a vehicle running condition that was detected so that the driver more readily notices the haptic notification (e.g., an accelerator actuation reaction force) when the haptic notification is being applied to the accelerator to alert the driver under the prescribed conditions.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Sugano, Kenichi Egawa, Satoshi Tange, Yusuke Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20100268432Abstract: A vehicular travel control device according to the invention includes an inter-vehicle distance measuring section that is mounted on a subject vehicle and measures an inter-vehicle distance between the subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle, a target inter-vehicle distance setting section that sets a target inter-vehicle distance, a following travel control section that performs a travel control so as to make the inter-vehicle distance become equal to the target inter-vehicle distance and stops the subject vehicle while following a stopping of the preceding vehicle, a gradient acquiring section that acquires a gradient of a road being traveled of the subject vehicle, and a vehicle speed sensor that measures a travel speed of the subject vehicle. The target inter-vehicle distance setting section sets the target inter-vehicle distance based on the gradient and the travel speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2010Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshiaki Arai, Tadayoshi Okada
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Patent number: 7813859Abstract: When a vehicle stops, a brake control unit maintains a braking force applied on a wheel by a braking-force application unit for maintaining a halted state. In this state, if a driver depresses the accelerator pedal to execute starting of the vehicle, the braking force is gradually decreased, and the vehicle starts at a speed that accords with a degree of accelerator opening and a gradient of a road on which the vehicle is stopped. When a movement direction at this time is the same as a movement direction intended by the driver, the braking force is decreased to zero for smooth starting. When the movement direction is opposite to the intended movement direction, the braking force is increased to control the movement in the opposite direction, such that the movement changes from the opposite direction to the same direction, and finally, smooth starting in the desired direction is executed.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Aizawa, Shinsuke Sakane, Masashi Kishimoto, Yuzo Imoto
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Patent number: 7809488Abstract: A headway maintenance assist system is provided with a correction section in which a drive force/accelerator actuation relationship between an accelerator actuation amount and a target drive force is changed to a drive force/accelerator relationship that is different than an ordinary drive force/accelerator relationship so that the driver more readily notices the accelerator reaction force when the accelerator reaction force is applied to the accelerator to alert the driver under prescribed conditions.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Egawa, Satoshi Tange, Takeshi Sugano
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Publication number: 20100250088Abstract: When employing an a cruise control system in a commercial or heavy-duty vehicle, an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system (14) is activated upon activation of a vehicle or set-speed cruise control (SSCC) system (16). The ACC (14) remains on, even after SSCC shutoff, to maintain a minimum following distance for a primary vehicle in which the ACC (14) is employed and a forward vehicle. The ACC (14) is deactivated after detection of an ACC shutoff trigger event, which may be driver application of the brakes of the primary vehicle, driver-initiated acceleration for a predefined time period, expiration of a predetermined time period, manual shutoff (e.g., via a switch or button), etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: BENDIX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS, LLCInventors: Kenneth A. Grolle, Thomas J. Thomas, William P. Amato, Robert J. Custer, Srikiran Kosanam
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Patent number: 7801656Abstract: The invention relates to a driving assistance method which is intended for use on a slope. According to the invention, the vehicle comprises an accelerometer which can measure a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle as measured longitudinal acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2005Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Inventors: Belen Alvarez, Xavier Marie Groult
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Patent number: 7801659Abstract: A method and an apparatus for lane recognition for a vehicle that is equipped with an adaptive distance and speed control system are provided, the adaptive distance and speed controller having conveyed to it, using an object detection system, the relative speed of detected objects, a variable for determining the lateral offset of the detected objects with respect to the longitudinal vehicle axis, and the speed of the host vehicle. From the relative speed of the objects and the host-vehicle speed, a determination is made as to whether an object is oncoming, stationary, or moving in the same direction as the host vehicle. In combination with the calculated lateral offset of the detected object with respect to the longitudinal vehicle axis, the number of lanes present and the lane currently being traveled in by the host vehicle are determined.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2004Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Thilo Leineweber, Werber Urban, Ruediger-Walter Henn
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Patent number: 7788012Abstract: A vehicle headway distance control apparatus is provided with a first deceleration control system for controlling the deceleration of a vehicle according to a distance between the host vehicle and a preceding obstacle, and a second deceleration control system, which is different from the first deceleration control system and which controls the deceleration of a vehicle according to the same distance. A driver operable selection section is configured to allow a driver to arbitrarily turn “on” and “off” each of the first and second deceleration control systems, but prohibit simultaneously operation of both of the first and second deceleration control systems.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nariaki Etori, Kenichi Egawa, Satoshi Tange
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Publication number: 20100217486Abstract: Disclosed is a travel control device for easily achieving a target acceleration/deceleration even by a manual operation of a driver. A travel control device for controlling at least acceleration/deceleration of a vehicle includes acceleration/deceleration characteristic setting means for setting the range of an accelerator operation amount or a brake operation amount corresponding to an induced target acceleration/deceleration greater than the range of an accelerator operation amount or a brake operation amount corresponding to an acceleration/deceleration other than the induced target acceleration/deceleration.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2008Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koji Taguchi
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Patent number: 7778759Abstract: A lane deviation avoidance system is arranged to execute a lane deviation avoidance control of controlling a vehicle behavior of the host vehicle so as to avoid the host vehicle from deviating from a traveling lane when the lane deviation tendency is detected, to suppress the driving force when the lane deviation tendency is detected, and to set a controlled variable of the lane deviation avoidance control according to a degree of the suppression of the driving force.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2005Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Tange, Genpei Naito, Shinji Matsumoto, Masayasu Shimakage, Hidekazu Nakajima
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Patent number: 7778742Abstract: An intention estimation and operation assistance system for estimating an operator's intention and providing assistance to operation of a machine. Reference data, such as the operation of a plurality of hypothetical operators, is provided for comparison with the operation of a real operator, to determine an estimated intention of the operator. The estimated operator is utilized to alter the operation of the machine, to provide a safer and/or smoother operation experience in operating the machine.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2008Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Drexel UniversityInventors: Nobuyuki Kuge, Tomohiro Yamamura, Dario Salvucci
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Patent number: 7774137Abstract: The operator of a third vehicle trailing a second, host vehicle is alerted of a potentially hazardous deceleration of a first vehicle forward of the host vehicle. The road-speed of the first vehicle is ascertained by the host vehicle. Any significant deceleration of the road-speed of the first vehicle is determined. A luminous signal is provided to the third vehicle by the host vehicle when such significant deceleration has occurred. According to some methods a radar device carried by the host vehicle may be used to determine the relative speed between the first and second vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Inventor: Steve Thorne
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Patent number: 7774123Abstract: An electronic control unit of a motor vehicle is connected to signal transmitters and generates output signals in response to a desired speed signal, a yaw signal, a target vehicle signal, and a wheel speed signal. The electronic control unit generates a trigger signal that limits the momentary speed (or momentarily the acceleration) of the motor vehicle for at least a value that substantially corresponds to a maximum of a distance X between the motor vehicle and a target motor vehicle at the same time of its leaving the detection area. The distance X is reduced by a shortening stretch DX to an effective distance Xeff that is dependent on at least one of an environmental condition environment (motorway, country road, town traffic), the speed of the target motor vehicle at the time of leaving the detection area, the momentary speed of the motor vehicle, and the bend radii of bends already driven through in the past within a predetermined period of time.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2005Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbHInventor: Marko Schröder
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Publication number: 20100198450Abstract: The velocity of a vehicle is controlled according a cruise control system that has a plurality of cruise control features. Each of the cruise control features has a current desired velocity requirement which can be used to determine a single current desired velocity for controlling the vehicle. A future desired velocity requirement can be predicted for each of the cruise control features over a time period. Vehicle acceleration can be determined from the difference of the current desired velocity and the predicted future velocity for controlling the velocity and acceleration of the vehicle to the predicted future velocity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventor: Kwang-Keun Shin
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Publication number: 20100198478Abstract: A host vehicle's speed is controlled with a target vehicle following control system when following a target vehicle. The target vehicle following control system monitors a range with respect to a target vehicle and a speed of the host vehicle. The target vehicle following device determines operation of the vehicle based upon a control region by comparing the range and the speed of the host vehicle to a simple sliding surface, which defines a minimum range between the host vehicle and target vehicle and a modified sliding surface, which increases the margin to the simple sliding surface as the speed of the host vehicle increases. The host vehicle has an acceleration determined based on the control region and is used to control operation of the host vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventor: Kwang-Keun Shin
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Publication number: 20100198477Abstract: In an inter-vehicle distance control apparatus and an inter-vehicle distance control method, object detection information is obtained from a detection portion that detects a first preceding vehicle ahead of a vehicle, and an object ahead of the first preceding vehicle; a first possible target stop position is calculated taking into account the first preceding vehicle, and a second possible target stop position is calculated taking into account the object, based on the object detection information; and a target stop position for the vehicle is set to one of the first possible target stop position and the second possible target stop position, which is closer to the vehicle than the other of the first possible target stop position and the second possible target stop position is.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2009Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takao Shirai
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Patent number: 7768381Abstract: A collision detection apparatus for a vehicle having a vehicle bumper, which includes a bumper reinforcement includes a chamber member, a pressure sensor, and a collision detecting device. The chamber member is provided inside the vehicle bumper at a front surface of the bumper reinforcement. The pressure sensor is configured to sense change of pressure in the chamber space. The chamber member includes a deformable part and a non-deformable part, each of which extends in a vehicle width direction. The deformable part is compressed to be deformed between the collision object and the bumper reinforcement in a case, where the collision object collides with the vehicle bumper. The non-deformable part is limited from being compressed to be deformed.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2008Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Tetsuya Takafuji, Shuji Nakamura
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Patent number: 7768427Abstract: Vehicular traffic data is obtained using a traffic sensor having an antenna/transceiver module, a DSP and a microcomputer. This involves (a) transmitting radiation at a vehicles on a roadway; (b) receiving the radiation reflected back from the vehicles; (c) producing a stream of electrical signals based on the radiation reflected back from the vehicles; (d) processing the stream of electrical signals using the DSP to determine if a vehicle detection threshold is met, and, if the vehicle detection threshold is met, to determine an initial vehicle position; (e) when the vehicle detection threshold is met, generating a first signal representing the initial vehicle position using the DSP; (f) transmitting the first signal to the microcomputer; (g) deriving a first traffic information signal from the first signal using the microcomputer; (h) transmitting the first traffic information signal to an external traffic management system.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2005Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Image Sensign Systems, Inc.Inventor: Dan Manor
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Publication number: 20100191436Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2006Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Manfred Hellmann, Markus Hagemann
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Publication number: 20100179741Abstract: An adaptive cruise control including a lost target function. The adaptive cruise control is operable in at least one of three modes: a normal mode, a following mode, and a lost target mode. In the normal mode, a user-set speed is maintained by the user vehicle. In the following mode, the adaptive cruise control detects a slower moving target vehicle and maintains a particular distance behind the target vehicle. In the lost target mode, the adaptive cruise control recognizes that a target vehicle is no longer detected and zeroes the acceleration of the user vehicle for a particular delay time. After expiration of the delay time, driver override, or detecting a target vehicle again, the cruise control exits the lost target mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventor: Jean-Francois Pelosse
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Patent number: 7753153Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for the adaptive cruise control of a motor vehicle along the lines of a distance-constant control and a speed-constant control, respectively, which apparatus includes at least two devices interconnected by a data-exchange device. The first device includes at least one transmitting and receiving unit for detecting objects, which operates according to the radar principle and/or lidar principle, as well as at least one target-object-selection device. The second device includes at least one speed and distance controller, and is connected to the first device by a data-exchange system through which data with respect to two detected objects is transmitted.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Hans-Christian Swoboda, Albrecht Irion, Dirk John
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Patent number: 7751973Abstract: An in-vehicle system and method for warning a driver of upcoming curves in a road including. In general, a vehicle positioning module determines the vehicle's position in a global positioning system and a map matching module determines the vehicle's position on a map based on the position in the global positioning system. A look ahead module looks ahead on the map for a curve, determines a candidate list of probable driving paths through the curve, and from this candidate list determines the most likely path of the vehicle around the curve. A warning module then assesses the threat the upcoming curve poses to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2004Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Faroog Abdel-kareem Ibrahim
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Patent number: 7747373Abstract: An ECU (Electronic Control Unit) executes a program including a step of detecting a driver's preference potential Hdr, a step of calculating a target engine output Ptgt using Hdr when a deceleration request is detected, a step of calculating a target slippage tsl using Hdr, a step of calculating a target engine speed tne, a step of calculating a target ISC (Idle Speed Control) opening tidle from Ptgt and tne, a step of assigning a guard value to tidle when tidle is smaller than the guard value, a step of calculating a current engine output Pnow and a step of calculating a motor output (regeneration quantity) Phv from (Ptgt-Pnow).Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2006Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroyuki Ogawa
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Patent number: 7741961Abstract: An obstacle detection and tracking system identifies objects in the path of a vehicle equipped with the system and issues a visual, audible, and/or control system warning. The system includes a depth imaging system that acquires depth data from objects in the field of view of a detection zone encompassing at least a portion of the road to be driven upon. It is assumed most of the acquired data represents road plane information. Statistical analysis of the depth image data identifies in (X,Y,Z) space at least one plane of the road being driven, after which identification threshold normal heights above and below the road plane are defined. Imaged objects within the detection zone that are higher or lower than a threshold normal are deemed of potential concern and will generate a warning to the vehicle operator or vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Canesta, Inc.Inventors: Abbas Rafii, Colin Tracey, Stephen Charles Hsu
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Patent number: 7742864Abstract: A vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus inputs signals indicative of images from a stereoscopic camera, a vehicle speed, a steering wheel angle and a yaw rate and estimates a traveling path of an own vehicle according to vehicle forward information and traveling conditions of the own vehicle. The apparatus establishes a traveling region A according to this traveling path and further establishes a traveling region B based on at least either of the traveling region A and road information. It is judged whether a detected solid object is a preceding vehicle or a tentative preceding vehicle according to the state of existence of the object in the traveling regions A, B and the preceding vehicle is outputted to a traveling control unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2003Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroyuki Sekiguchi
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Patent number: RE41410Abstract: If a driver of a vehicle has slowed-down the vehicle, a deceleration controller does not apply deceleration to the vehicle within a specified time after the driver has finished slowing-down of the vehicle. The deceleration controller is a device that automatically decelerates the vehicle if a distance between the vehicle and another vehicle running in front of the vehicle is less than a specific distance to avoid collision of the two vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2008Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masato Seki