US5400864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle and its spacing from a preceding vehicle
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1992-12-04
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Granted: 1995-03-28
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Expires: 2012-12-04
Abstract
Abstract An automatic speed and distance control apparatus responsive to detected signals and operator induced signals for automatically controlling the speed of an automotive vehicle and its distance with respect to objects in its path of movement. A flexible control scheme is provided, which permits a driver to intervene in the operation of the system when he or she wishes to accelerate in preparation for a passing maneuver. Upon interruption of the operation by a vehicle driver, the control apparatus is interrupted for a predetermined period of time and thereafter resuming automatic control function.
Inventors
- 👤 Hermann Winner
- 👤 Stefan Witte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W30/00; B60W30/14; B60W30/16; B60K; B60K31/00; B60K31/0008; B60W30/18; B60W30/18009; B60W30/18145; B60W2540/00; B60W2540/20; G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S2013/9321
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of controlling the speed of a land vehicle and distance of said land vehicle from a preceding vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring the actual distance between said land vehicle and said preceding vehicle; measuring the instantaneous vehicle speed of said land vehicle with respect to a road surface; deriving, from measurements of said actual distance and said instantaneous speed, target values of a desired distance and speed; automatically controlling vehicle speed and acceleration or deceleration toward said desired distance and speed target values; and upon a sensing a vehicle operator intervention, interrupting said controlling step, for a predetermined period of time, and after elapse of said predetermined period of time, automatically resuming said controlling step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of controlling the speed of a land vehicle and distance of said land vehicle from a preceding vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring the actual distance between said land vehicle and said preceding vehicle; measuring the instantaneous vehicle speed of said land vehicle with respect to a road surface; deriving, from measurements of said actual distance and said instantaneous speed, target values of a desired distance and speed; automatically controlling vehicle speed and acceleration or deceleration toward said desired distance and speed target values; and upon a sensing a vehicle operator intervention, interrupting said controlling step, for a predetermined period of time, and after elapse of said predetermined period of time, automatically resuming said controlling step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of operator intervention comprises changing the speed of said vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said speed changing step comprises accelerating said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said speed changing step comprises reducing the speed of said vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 3, including the step of determining if said vehicle is traversing a curved segment of a road; and further including the step of limiting acceleration during said accelerating step if traversing a curved road segment is sensed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the acceleration of said speed changing step is limited during a lane change.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, including the step of determining if evaluation of measured values of speed and distance indicates that said measured values are plausible or implausible; and limiting the acceleration whenever said determination step determines that said measured values are implausible.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said speed and distance control is responsive to actuation of the accelerator of said vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, including the step of controlling said predetermined period of time as a function of the measured instantaneous speed of said land vehicle.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of controlling the speed of a land vehicle and a distance between said land vehicle and a preceding vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring an actual distance between said land vehicle and said preceding vehicle; measuring the instantaneous speed of said land vehicle with respect to a road surface; deriving, from measurements of said actual distance and said instantaneous speed, target values of a desired distance and speed; automatically controlling vehicle speed and acceleration/deceleration toward said desired distance and speed target values; interrupting said controlling step, for a predetermined period of time, each time that a vehicle operator manually intervenes, by actuation of a directional signal, and thereafter resuming said controlling step.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of controlling the speed of a land vehicle and a distance between said land vehicle and a preceding vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring an actual distance between said land vehicle and said preceding vehicle; measuring the instantaneous speed of said land vehicle with respect to a road surface; deriving, from measurements of said actual distance and said instantaneous speed, target values of a desired distance and speed; automatically controlling vehicle speed and acceleration/deceleration toward said desired distance and speed target values; interrupting said controlling step, for a predetermined period of time, each time that a vehicle operator manually intervenes, by actuation of a directional signal, and thereafter resuming said controlling step.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of controlling the speed of a land vehicle and a distance between said land vehicle and a preceding vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring an actual distance between said land vehicle and said preceding vehicle; measuring the instantaneous speed of said land vehicle with respect to a road surface; deriving, from measurements of said actual distance and said instantaneous speed, target values of a desired distance and speed; automatically controlling vehicle speed and acceleration/deceleration toward said desired distance and speed target values; interrupting said controlling step, for a respective, different predetermined period of time, each time that a vehicle operator manually intervenes by performing one of the following operations: changing lanes to the right, changing lanes to the left, and a passing operation.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of controlling the speed of a land vehicle and a distance between said land vehicle and a preceding vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring an actual distance between said land vehicle and said preceding vehicle; measuring the instantaneous speed of said land vehicle with respect to a road surface; deriving, from measurements of said actual distance and said instantaneous speed, target values of a desired distance and speed; automatically controlling vehicle speed and acceleration/deceleration toward said desired distance and speed target values; interrupting said controlling step, for a respective, different predetermined period of time, each time that a vehicle operator manually intervenes by performing one of the following operations: changing lanes to the right, changing lanes to the left, and a passing operation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of controlling the speed of a land vehicle and a distance between said land vehicle and a preceding vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring an actual distance between said land vehicle and said preceding vehicle; measuring the instantaneous speed of said land vehicle with respect to a road surface; deriving, from measurements of said actual distance and said instantaneous speed, target values of a desired distance and speed; automatically controlling vehicle speed and acceleration/deceleration toward said desired distance and speed target values; interrupting said controlling step, for a predetermined period of time, each time that a vehicle operator manually intervenes to perform a passing operation, and then accelerating the vehicle, along a predetermined speed vs. time curve, to a speed preset by the operator.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of controlling the speed of a land vehicle and a distance between said land vehicle and a preceding vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring an actual distance between said land vehicle and said preceding vehicle; measuring the instantaneous speed of said land vehicle with respect to a road surface; deriving, from measurements of said actual distance and said instantaneous speed, target values of a desired distance and speed; automatically controlling vehicle speed and acceleration/deceleration toward said desired distance and speed target values; interrupting said controlling step, for a predetermined period of time, each time that a vehicle operator manually intervenes to perform a passing operation, and then accelerating the vehicle, along a predetermined speed vs. time curve, to a speed preset by the operator.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
132 words
A system for controlling, in a land vehicle, speed and distance, or spacing from an object ahead in said vehicle's direction of travel, comprising means (104) for measuring said spacing from said object; means (TS) for measuring said vehicle speed; a control apparatus (102), coupled to outputs of said detecting and measuring means, for automatically controlling vehicle speed and acceleration in order to reach and maintain an optimum spacing; and means (B, B r , B l ) for detecting operator actuation by a vehicle operator of vehicle controls, said control apparatus, upon detection of operator actuation, interrupting said automatic control for a limited, predetermined period of time in response to actuation of predetermined ones (106, 108) of said vehicle controls and after elapse of said time period, resuming said automatic control.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
132 words
A system for controlling, in a land vehicle, speed and distance, or spacing from an object ahead in said vehicle's direction of travel, comprising means (104) for measuring said spacing from said object; means (TS) for measuring said vehicle speed; a control apparatus (102), coupled to outputs of said detecting and measuring means, for automatically controlling vehicle speed and acceleration in order to reach and maintain an optimum spacing; and means (B, B r , B l ) for detecting operator actuation by a vehicle operator of vehicle controls, said control apparatus, upon detection of operator actuation, interrupting said automatic control for a limited, predetermined period of time in response to actuation of predetermined ones (106, 108) of said vehicle controls and after elapse of said time period, resuming said automatic control.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-27 | 1998-09-26 | 1999-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-27 | 2002-09-26 | 2003-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-27 | 2006-09-26 | 2007-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |