System for automatically detecting presence or absence of a preceding vehicle and method therefor

Claim 1

A system for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle present in a detection area of a subject vehicle on which the system is mounted, comprising: (a) first means for transmitting measuring media over the detection area toward which the measuring media are simultaneously transmitted in mutually different directions and through respectively predetermined angles with respect to a longitudinal axis of the subject vehicle; (b) second means for outputting a first signal upon receipt of any one of the measuring media from the first means reflected by an object which is present in the detection area the subject vehicle, said first signal indicating the direction of propagation of the reflected measuring media toward the object, for calculating a distance between the subject vehicle and the object on the basis of the propagation delay between transmission of the measuring media from the first means and reception of the reflected wave from the object and outputting a second signal indicating the calculated distance between the subject vehicle and the object; and (c) third means for recognizing whether the object is a vehicle present in the detection area on the basis of the first and second signals outputted from said second means.

Claim 2

A system for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle present in a detection area of a subject vehicle on which the system is mounted, comprising: (a) first means for transmitting measuring media over the detection area toward which the measuring media are simultaneously transmitted in mutually different directions and through respectively predetermined angles with respect to a longitudinal axis of the subject vehicle; (b) second means for outputting a first signal upon receipt of any one of the measuring media from the first means reflected by an object which is present in the detection area the subject vehicle, said first signal indicating the direction of propagation of the reflected measuring media toward the object, for calculating a distance between the subject vehicle and the object on the basis of the propagation delay between transmission of the measuring media from the first means and reception of the reflected wave from the object and outputting a second signal indicating the calculated distance between the subject vehicle and the object; and (c) third means for recognizing whether the object is a vehicle present in the detection area on the basis of the first and second signals outputted from said second means.

Claim 4

A system for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in front of a subject vehicle on which the system is mounted, comprising: (a) a plurality of transmitters directed toward a front detection area of the subject vehicle for transmitting measuring media so as to cover a plurality of partially overlapping direction areas forward of the subject vehicle; (b) first means for detecting an angular position of a steering wheel of the subject vehicle and outputting a first signal indicative thereof; (c) second means for outputting a second signal upon receipt of any measuring media from any of the detection areas reflected by an object present in front of the subject vehicle, said second signal indicating in which detection area or areas the object lies, for calculating a distance between the subject vehicle and the object on the basis of a propagation delay between transmission of the measuring media and reception of the reflected measuring media and for outputting a third signal indicating the calculated distance between the subject vehicle and the object; and (d) third means for recognizing whether the detected object is a vehicle in front of the subject vehicle on the basis of the first, second and third signals outputted from said first and second means.

Claim 5

A system for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in front of a subject vehicle on which the system is mounted, comprising: (a) a plurality of transmitters directed toward a front detection area of the subject vehicle for transmitting measuring media so as to cover a plurality of partially overlapping direction areas forward of the subject vehicle; (b) first means for detecting an angular position of a steering wheel of the subject vehicle and outputting a first signal indicative thereof; (c) second means for outputting a second signal upon receipt of any measuring media from any of the detection areas reflected by an object present in front of the subject vehicle, said second signal indicating in which detection area or areas the object lies, for calculating a distance between the subject vehicle and the object on the basis of a propagation delay between transmission of the measuring media and reception of the reflected measuring media and for outputting a third signal indicating the calculated distance between the subject vehicle and the object; and (d) third means for recognizing whether the detected object is a vehicle in front of the subject vehicle on the basis of the first, second and third signals outputted from said first and second means.

Claim 7

A method for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in front of a subject vehicle, comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting measuring media over a front detection area toward which the measuring media are simultaneously transmitted in mutually different directions and through respectively predetermined angles with respect to a longitudinal axis of the subject vehicle (b) outputting a first signal upon receipt of at least one of the measuring media transmitted in step a) and reflected by an object, said first signal indicating a direction of propagation of the reflected measuring media; (c) calculating a distance between the subject vehicle and the object on the basis of a propagation delay between transmission of the measuring media and reception of the reflected measuring media; (d) outputting a second signal indicating the distance calculated in step (c); and (e) determining whether the object is the vehicle in the front detection area on the basis of the first and second signals outputted in steps (b) and (d).

Claim 8

A method for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in front of a subject vehicle, comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting measuring media over a front detection area toward which the measuring media are simultaneously transmitted in mutually different directions and through respectively predetermined angles with respect to a longitudinal axis of the subject vehicle (b) outputting a first signal upon receipt of at least one of the measuring media transmitted in step a) and reflected by an object, said first signal indicating a direction of propagation of the reflected measuring media; (c) calculating a distance between the subject vehicle and the object on the basis of a propagation delay between transmission of the measuring media and reception of the reflected measuring media; (d) outputting a second signal indicating the distance calculated in step (c); and (e) determining whether the object is the vehicle in the front detection area on the basis of the first and second signals outputted in steps (b) and (d).