Adaptive cruise system

Claim 2

An adaptive cruise control system for controlling the distance from a source vehicle to a target vehicle, the system comprising in combination: a speed sensor for sensing the speed V S of the source vehicle; means for sensing the distance D A from the source vehicle to the target vehicle; means adjustable by the source vehicle operator for providing a variable signal representing an operator reaction time T r ; means for determining an alert distance D alert in accord with the expression D.sub.alert =f(T.sub.r V.sub.S), where f(T r V S ) is a predetermined function including the term T r V S ; means for determining a desired trailing distance D D from the source vehicle to the target vehicle in accord with the expression D.sub.D =D.sub.alert +X where X is a constant distance; means for determining a source vehicle command speed V C to establish the desired trailing distance D D ; and means for controlling the speed of the source vehicle to the source vehicle command speed V C , whereby the speed of the source vehicle is controlled to maintain the distance to the target vehicle at the desired trailing distance D D that varies in accord with the adjustment of the driver reaction time by the source vehicle operator.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 further including: manually operable means for establishing an operator desired cruise speed V D ; and means for limiting the maximum value of the determined vehicle command speed V C at the operator desired cruise speed.

Claim 4

An adaptive cruise control system for controlling the distance from a source vehicle to a target vehicle, the system comprising in combination: a speed sensor for sensing the speed V S of the source vehicle; means for sensing the distance D A from the source vehicle to the target vehicle; means for sensing the relative velocity V R between the source vehicle and the target vehicle; means adjustable by the source vehicle operator for providing a variable signal representing an operator reaction time T r ; means for determining an alert distance D alert in accord with the expression D.sub.alert =(V.sub.S.sup.2 /K.sub.1)-{(V.sub.S -V.sub.R).sup.2 /K.sub.2 56 +T.sub.r V.sub.S, where K 1 and K 2 are deceleration rate constants; means for determining a desired trailing distance D D from the source vehicle to the target vehicle in accord with the expression D.sub.D =D.sub.alert +X where X is a constant distance; means for determining a source vehicle command speed V C in accord with the expression V.sub.C =K.sub.p (D.sub.D -D.sub.A)+(V.sub.S -V.sub.R) where K p is a gain factor; and means for controlling the speed of the source vehicle to the source vehicle command speed V C , whereby the speed of the source vehicle is controlled to maintain the distance to the target vehicle at the desired trailing distance D D that varies in accord with the adjustment of the driver reaction time by the source vehicle operator.

Claim 5

An adaptive cruise control system for controlling the distance from a source vehicle to a target vehicle, the system comprising in combination: a speed sensor for sensing the speed V S of the source vehicle; means for sensing the distance D A from the source vehicle to the target vehicle; means for sensing the relative velocity V R between the source vehicle and the target vehicle; means adjustable by the source vehicle operator for providing a variable signal representing an operator reaction time T r ; means for determining an alert distance D alert in accord with the expression D.sub.alert =(V.sub.S.sup.2 /K.sub.1)-{(V.sub.S -V.sub.R).sup.2 /K.sub.2 56 +T.sub.r V.sub.S, where K 1 and K 2 are deceleration rate constants; means for determining a desired trailing distance D D from the source vehicle to the target vehicle in accord with the expression D.sub.D =D.sub.alert +X where X is a constant distance; means for determining a source vehicle command speed V C in accord with the expression V.sub.C =K.sub.p (D.sub.D -D.sub.A)+(V.sub.S -V.sub.R) where K p is a gain factor; and means for controlling the speed of the source vehicle to the source vehicle command speed V C , whereby the speed of the source vehicle is controlled to maintain the distance to the target vehicle at the desired trailing distance D D that varies in accord with the adjustment of the driver reaction time by the source vehicle operator.

Claim 6

An adaptive cruise control method for controlling the distance from a source vehicle to a target vehicle, the system comprising the steps of: sensing the speed V S of the source vehicle; sensing the distance D A from the source vehicle to the target vehicle; sensing the relative velocity V R between the source vehicle and the target vehicle; providing an operator controlled signal representing an operator controlled reaction time T r ; determining an alert distance D alert in accord with the expression D.sub.alert =(V.sub.S.sup.2 /K.sub.1)-{(V.sub.S -V.sub.R).sup.2 /K.sub.2 }+T.sub.r V.sub.S, where K 1 and K 2 are deceleration rate constants; determining a desired trailing distance D D from the source vehicle to the target vehicle in accord with the expression D.sub.D =D.sub.alert +X where X is a constant distance; determining a source vehicle command speed V C in accord with the expression V.sub.C =K.sub.p (D.sub.D -D.sub.A)+(V.sub.S -V.sub.R) where K p is a gain factor; and controlling the speed of the source vehicle to the source vehicle command speed V C , whereby the speed of the source vehicle is controlled to maintain the distance to the target vehicle at the desired trailing distance D D that varies in accord with the operator controlled reaction time.

Claim 7

An adaptive cruise control method for controlling the distance from a source vehicle to a target vehicle, the system comprising the steps of: sensing the speed V S of the source vehicle; sensing the distance D A from the source vehicle to the target vehicle; sensing the relative velocity V R between the source vehicle and the target vehicle; providing an operator controlled signal representing an operator controlled reaction time T r ; determining an alert distance D alert in accord with the expression D.sub.alert =(V.sub.S.sup.2 /K.sub.1)-{(V.sub.S -V.sub.R).sup.2 /K.sub.2 }+T.sub.r V.sub.S, where K 1 and K 2 are deceleration rate constants; determining a desired trailing distance D D from the source vehicle to the target vehicle in accord with the expression D.sub.D =D.sub.alert +X where X is a constant distance; determining a source vehicle command speed V C in accord with the expression V.sub.C =K.sub.p (D.sub.D -D.sub.A)+(V.sub.S -V.sub.R) where K p is a gain factor; and controlling the speed of the source vehicle to the source vehicle command speed V C , whereby the speed of the source vehicle is controlled to maintain the distance to the target vehicle at the desired trailing distance D D that varies in accord with the operator controlled reaction time.