Patent US5871062A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5871062A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and device for speed and distance control for a motor vehicle
Assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
•
Filing: 1996-04-15
•
Granted: 1999-02-16
•
Expires: 2016-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A method and a device for controlling the speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front are provided. The speed is controlled as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle and the distance from the vehicle travelling in front is controlled if a vehicle is located in the detection area. The desired distance for the distance control is set after an instruction for a lane change to the left has been triggered, to a value which is smaller than the value before this instruction was triggered, but is at least as large as a prescribed minimum distance. Alternatively, the actual acceleration of the vehicle is limited to a prescribed maximum value if a vehicle travelling in front moves out of the prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle during the time that an instruction for a lane change to the right is set. In this way, fast overtaking maneuvers can be performed within the control and/or lane changes to the right can be carried out without undesired acceleration effects.
Inventors
- 👤 Jens Desens
- 👤 Zoltan Zomotor
- 👤 Stefan Hahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:06
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W30/00; B60W30/14; B60W30/16; B60K; B60K31/00; B60K31/0008; B60W2540/00; B60W2540/20; B60W2720/00; B60W2720/10; B60W2720/106; B60W2754/00; B60W2754/10; B60W2754/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of operating a vehicle speed and distance control unit for automatically controlling a speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front, said speed and distance control unit having a device for entry of lane change instructions by a vehicle operator, the method comprising the steps of: controlling the speed about a prescribed desired speed as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle; controlling the distance from a vehicle travelling in front about a prescribed desired distance as long as a vehicle travelling in front is located within the prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle; and after an instruction for a lane change in a predetermined lateral direction has been entered, setting a desired distance for the distance control to a value (d s1 ) which is smaller than a value (d sn ) before the instruction for a lane change to the left was triggered, but which is at least as large as a prescribed minimum distance (d min ).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of operating a vehicle speed and distance control unit for automatically controlling a speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front, said speed and distance control unit having a device for entry of lane change instructions by a vehicle operator, the method comprising the steps of: controlling the speed about a prescribed desired speed as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle; controlling the distance from a vehicle travelling in front about a prescribed desired distance as long as a vehicle travelling in front is located within the prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle; and after an instruction for a lane change in a predetermined lateral direction has been entered, setting a desired distance for the distance control to a value (d s1 ) which is smaller than a value (d sn ) before the instruction for a lane change to the left was triggered, but which is at least as large as a prescribed minimum distance (d min ).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the desired distance value (d s1 ) after the instruction for a lane change in said predetermined lateral direction has been entered is set to the larger value of the prescribed minimum distance (d min ) and a value (d sn /k) which is smaller by a prescribed factor (1/k) than the value (d sn ) before the instruction for a lane change to the left was triggered.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of operating a vehicle speed and distance control unit for automatically controlling a speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front, said speed and distance control unit having a device for entry of lane change instructions by a vehicle operator, the method comprising the steps of: controlling the speed about a prescribed desired speed as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle; controlling the distance from a vehicle travelling in front about a prescribed desired distance as long as the vehicle travelling in front is located within the prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle; and after an instruction for a lane change in a predetermined lateral direction has been entered, changing over from a distance control to an acceleration control, and prescribing a minimum distance, wherein acceleration control is terminated and distance control is implemented when the distance drops below the prescribed minimum distance.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of operating a vehicle speed and distance control unit for automatically controlling a speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front, said speed and distance control unit having a device for entry of lane change instructions by a vehicle operator, the method comprising the steps of: controlling the speed about a prescribed desired speed as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle; controlling the distance from a vehicle travelling in front about a prescribed desired distance as long as the vehicle travelling in front is located within the prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle; and after an instruction for a lane change in a predetermined lateral direction has been entered, changing over from a distance control to an acceleration control, and prescribing a minimum distance, wherein acceleration control is terminated and distance control is implemented when the distance drops below the prescribed minimum distance.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for controlling a speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front, said motor vehicle having a device for detecting lane change instructions which are entered by a vehicle operator, the method comprising the steps of: controlling the speed about a prescribed desired speed as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle; controlling the distance from a vehicle travelling in front about a prescribed desired distance as long as the vehicle travelling in front is located within the prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle; and limiting an actual acceleration of the vehicle to a maximum value (a max ) if the vehicle travelling in front moves out of the prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle during a time that an instruction for a lane change in a predetermined lateral direction is set.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for controlling a speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front, said motor vehicle having a device for detecting lane change instructions which are entered by a vehicle operator, the method comprising the steps of: controlling the speed about a prescribed desired speed as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle; controlling the distance from a vehicle travelling in front about a prescribed desired distance as long as the vehicle travelling in front is located within the prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle; and limiting an actual acceleration of the vehicle to a maximum value (a max ) if the vehicle travelling in front moves out of the prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle during a time that an instruction for a lane change in a predetermined lateral direction is set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein the maximum value (a max ) which limits actual acceleration is set equal to the actual acceleration (a i ) when the vehicle travelling in front moves out of the prescribed detection area in front of the vehicle, if the actual acceleration (a i ) is positive, and otherwise the maximum value is set to zero.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
175 words
A device for automatically controlling a speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front, the device comprising: a speed control unit for controlling motor vehicle speed about a prescribed desired speed as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle; a distance control unit for controlling distance of the motor vehicle from the vehicle travelling in front about a prescribed distance as long as a vehicle travelling in front is located within the prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle; means for detecting entered lane change instructions from an operator of said vehicle; and means which, after entry of an instruction for a lane change in a predetermined lateral direction has been detected, set the desired distance for the distance control to a value which is smaller than the value before the instruction for a lane change in said predetermined lateral direction was entered, but is at least as large as a prescribed minimum distance.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
175 words
A device for automatically controlling a speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front, the device comprising: a speed control unit for controlling motor vehicle speed about a prescribed desired speed as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle; a distance control unit for controlling distance of the motor vehicle from the vehicle travelling in front about a prescribed distance as long as a vehicle travelling in front is located within the prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle; means for detecting entered lane change instructions from an operator of said vehicle; and means which, after entry of an instruction for a lane change in a predetermined lateral direction has been detected, set the desired distance for the distance control to a value which is smaller than the value before the instruction for a lane change in said predetermined lateral direction was entered, but is at least as large as a prescribed minimum distance.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
225 words
A device for controlling a speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front, the device comprising: a speed control unit for controlling motor vehicle speed about a prescribed desired speed as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle; a distance control unit for controlling distance of the motor vehicle from the vehicle travelling in front about a prescribed desired distance as long as the vehicle travelling in front is located within the prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle; means for detecting entered lane change instructions from an operator of said vehicle; means which, after entry of an instruction for a lane change in a first predetermined lateral direction has been detected, set the desired distance for the distance control to a value which is smaller than the value before the instruction for a lane change in said first predetermined lateral direction was entered, but is at least as large as a prescribed minimum distance; and means for limiting actual acceleration of the motor vehicle to a maximum value during detection of an entered instruction for a lane change in a second predetermined lateral direction if a vehicle travelling in front moves out of the prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
225 words
A device for controlling a speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front, the device comprising: a speed control unit for controlling motor vehicle speed about a prescribed desired speed as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle; a distance control unit for controlling distance of the motor vehicle from the vehicle travelling in front about a prescribed desired distance as long as the vehicle travelling in front is located within the prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle; means for detecting entered lane change instructions from an operator of said vehicle; means which, after entry of an instruction for a lane change in a first predetermined lateral direction has been detected, set the desired distance for the distance control to a value which is smaller than the value before the instruction for a lane change in said first predetermined lateral direction was entered, but is at least as large as a prescribed minimum distance; and means for limiting actual acceleration of the motor vehicle to a maximum value during detection of an entered instruction for a lane change in a second predetermined lateral direction if a vehicle travelling in front moves out of the prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
162 words
A device for automatically controlling a speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front, the device comprising: a speed control unit for controlling motor vehicle speed about a prescribed desired speed as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle; a distance control unit for controlling distance of the motor vehicle from the vehicle travelling in front about a prescribed desired distance as long as the vehicle travelling in front is located within the prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle; means for detecting entered lane change instructions from an operator of said vehicle; and means for limiting actual acceleration of the motor vehicle to a maximum value during detection of a set instruction for a lane change in a predetermined lateral direction if a vehicle travelling in front moves out of the prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
162 words
A device for automatically controlling a speed of a motor vehicle and its distance from a vehicle travelling in front, the device comprising: a speed control unit for controlling motor vehicle speed about a prescribed desired speed as long as no vehicle travelling in front is located within a prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle; a distance control unit for controlling distance of the motor vehicle from the vehicle travelling in front about a prescribed desired distance as long as the vehicle travelling in front is located within the prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle; means for detecting entered lane change instructions from an operator of said vehicle; and means for limiting actual acceleration of the motor vehicle to a maximum value during detection of a set instruction for a lane change in a predetermined lateral direction if a vehicle travelling in front moves out of the prescribed detection area in front of the motor vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE2900461A1
Cited
DE3438632A1
Cited
EP0501345A2
Cited
US5309137A
Cited
JPH05159198A
Cited
DE4200694A1
Cited
US5400864A
Cited
GB2265242A
Cited
DE4209060A1
Cited
US5521579A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-15 | 2002-08-17 | 2003-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | 2007-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-15 | 2010-08-17 | 2011-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |