US6058347A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Relative distance controller for a vehicle
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1998-09-10
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Granted: 2000-05-02
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Expires: 2018-09-10
Abstract
Abstract This device controls a vehicle such that a relative distance between the vehicle and a vehicle in front of it becomes a target distance. When the relative distance becomes shorter than the target distance, the device automatically operates the brake actuator to increase the relative distance, but if the driver operates the accelerator pedal while the brake actuator is operating, this device decreases the target value output to the brake actuator according to the variation rate of a throttle opening.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshinori Yamamura
- 👤 Ikuhiro Taniguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:49
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W30/00; B60W30/14; B60W30/16; B60K; B60K31/00; B60K31/0008; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/12; B60T7/22; B60W10/00; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; B60W10/18; B60W30/18; B60W30/1819; B60W2530/00; B60W2530/16; B60W2540/00; B60W2540/10; B60W2710/00; B60W2710/06; B60W2710/0605; B60W2710/0611; B60W2710/10; B60W2710/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A vehicle control device for use with a vehicle provided with a fluid pressure brake and an engine comprising a throttle, said device comprising: a sensor for detecting a fluid pressure of said brake, a brake actuator which drives said brake such that said brake fluid pressure becomes a target brake fluid pressure, a sensor for detecting a distance between said vehicle and a vehicle in front of said vehicle, a sensor for detecting a throttle opening, and a microprocessor programmed to: compute a target vehicle speed so that said distance becomes a target distance, compute a target drive shaft torque so that a vehicle speed becomes said target vehicle speed, and compute said target brake fluid pressure so that a drive shaft torque becomes said target drive shaft torque, and decrease said target brake fluid pressure according to a variation rate of said throttle opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A vehicle control device for use with a vehicle provided with a fluid pressure brake and an engine comprising a throttle, said device comprising: a sensor for detecting a fluid pressure of said brake, a brake actuator which drives said brake such that said brake fluid pressure becomes a target brake fluid pressure, a sensor for detecting a distance between said vehicle and a vehicle in front of said vehicle, a sensor for detecting a throttle opening, and a microprocessor programmed to: compute a target vehicle speed so that said distance becomes a target distance, compute a target drive shaft torque so that a vehicle speed becomes said target vehicle speed, and compute said target brake fluid pressure so that a drive shaft torque becomes said target drive shaft torque, and decrease said target brake fluid pressure according to a variation rate of said throttle opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
147 words
A vehicle control device for use with a vehicle provided with a fluid pressure brake, said device comprising: a sensor for detecting a fluid pressure of said brake, a brake actuator which drives said brake such that said brake fluid pressure becomes a target brake fluid pressure, a sensor for detecting a distance between said vehicle and a vehicle in front of said vehicle, a sensor for detecting a degree of an accelerator pedal depression, and a microprocessor programmed to: compute a target vehicle speed so that said distance becomes a target distance, compute a target drive shaft torque so that a vehicle speed becomes said target vehicle speed, and compute said target brake fluid pressure so that a drive shaft torque becomes said target drive shaft torque, and decrease said target brake fluid pressure according to a variation rate of said degree of accelerator pedal depression.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
147 words
A vehicle control device for use with a vehicle provided with a fluid pressure brake, said device comprising: a sensor for detecting a fluid pressure of said brake, a brake actuator which drives said brake such that said brake fluid pressure becomes a target brake fluid pressure, a sensor for detecting a distance between said vehicle and a vehicle in front of said vehicle, a sensor for detecting a degree of an accelerator pedal depression, and a microprocessor programmed to: compute a target vehicle speed so that said distance becomes a target distance, compute a target drive shaft torque so that a vehicle speed becomes said target vehicle speed, and compute said target brake fluid pressure so that a drive shaft torque becomes said target drive shaft torque, and decrease said target brake fluid pressure according to a variation rate of said degree of accelerator pedal depression.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
140 words
A vehicle control device for use with a vehicle provided with a fluid pressure brake and an engine comprising a throttle, said device comprising: a sensor for detecting a throttle opening, a throttle actuator which drives said throttle such that said throttle opening becomes a target throttle opening, a sensor for detecting a distance between said vehicle and a vehicle in front of said vehicle, a sensor for detecting a brake fluid pressure, and a microprocessor programmed to: compute a target vehicle speed so that said distance becomes a target distance, compute a target drive shaft torque so that a vehicle speed becomes said target vehicle speed, compute said target throttle opening so that a drive shaft torque becomes said target drive shaft torque, and decrease said target throttle opening according to a variation rate of said brake fluid pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
140 words
A vehicle control device for use with a vehicle provided with a fluid pressure brake and an engine comprising a throttle, said device comprising: a sensor for detecting a throttle opening, a throttle actuator which drives said throttle such that said throttle opening becomes a target throttle opening, a sensor for detecting a distance between said vehicle and a vehicle in front of said vehicle, a sensor for detecting a brake fluid pressure, and a microprocessor programmed to: compute a target vehicle speed so that said distance becomes a target distance, compute a target drive shaft torque so that a vehicle speed becomes said target vehicle speed, compute said target throttle opening so that a drive shaft torque becomes said target drive shaft torque, and decrease said target throttle opening according to a variation rate of said brake fluid pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A vehicle control device as defined in claim 3, wherein said device further comprises a clutch disposed between said throttle actuator and said throttle, and said microprocessor is further programmed to immediately release said clutch when said variation rate of said brake fluid pressure is larger than a predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
A vehicle control device for use with a vehicle provided with an engine comprising a throttle, said device comprising: a sensor for detecting a throttle opening, a throttle actuator which drives said throttle such that said throttle opening becomes a target throttle opening, a sensor for detecting a distance between said vehicle and a vehicle in front of said vehicle, a sensor for detecting a degree of brake pedal depression and a microprocessor programmed to: compute a target vehicle speed so that said distance becomes a target distance, compute a target drive shaft torque so that a vehicle speed becomes said target vehicle speed, compute said target throttle opening so that a drive shaft torque becomes said target drive shaft torque, and decrease said target throttle opening according to a variation rate of said degree of brake pedal depression.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
A vehicle control device for use with a vehicle provided with an engine comprising a throttle, said device comprising: a sensor for detecting a throttle opening, a throttle actuator which drives said throttle such that said throttle opening becomes a target throttle opening, a sensor for detecting a distance between said vehicle and a vehicle in front of said vehicle, a sensor for detecting a degree of brake pedal depression and a microprocessor programmed to: compute a target vehicle speed so that said distance becomes a target distance, compute a target drive shaft torque so that a vehicle speed becomes said target vehicle speed, compute said target throttle opening so that a drive shaft torque becomes said target drive shaft torque, and decrease said target throttle opening according to a variation rate of said degree of brake pedal depression.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
A vehicle control device for use with a vehicle provided with a fluid pressure brake and an engine, said device comprising: a sensor for detecting a distance between said vehicle and a vehicle in front of said vehicle, a sensor for detecting a brake fluid pressure, and a microprocessor programmed to: compute a target vehicle speed so that said distance becomes a target distance, compute a target drive shaft torque so that a vehicle speed becomes said target vehicle speed, compute a target engine torque so that a drive shaft torque becomes said target drive shaft torque, and decrease said target engine torque according to a variation rate of said brake fluid pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
113 words
A vehicle control device for use with a vehicle provided with a fluid pressure brake and an engine, said device comprising: a sensor for detecting a distance between said vehicle and a vehicle in front of said vehicle, a sensor for detecting a brake fluid pressure, and a microprocessor programmed to: compute a target vehicle speed so that said distance becomes a target distance, compute a target drive shaft torque so that a vehicle speed becomes said target vehicle speed, compute a target engine torque so that a drive shaft torque becomes said target drive shaft torque, and decrease said target engine torque according to a variation rate of said brake fluid pressure.
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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) | 2003-05-02 | 2003-11-01 | 2004-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-02 | 2007-11-01 | 2008-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-02 | 2011-11-01 | 2012-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |