US6094616A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for automatically controlling motor vehicle spacing
Assignee: Volkswagen AG
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Filing: 1999-02-05
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Granted: 2000-07-25
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Expires: 2019-02-05
Abstract
Abstract In the method for automatically controlling the spacing of motor vehicles described in the specification, a lane width for a controlled vehicle which is defined for evaluation is varied as a function of transverse velocities of vehicles detected ahead of the controlled vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Andreas
- 👤 Wolfgang Baker
- 👤 Thomas Ruchatz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:55
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W30/00; B60W30/14; B60W30/16; B60K; B60K31/00; B60K31/0008; G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/16; G08G1/166; G08G1/167; B60W2520/00; B60W2520/12; B60W2520/125; B60W2554/00; B60W2554/40; B60W2554/408; B60W2554/80; B60W2554/802; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S2013/9325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for automatically controlling spacing from a vehicle in front by a controlled vehicle which has a distance sensor, an evaluating unit, and a servo device for controlling the velocity of the controlled vehicle in response to signals from the evaluating unit, comprising the following steps: a) detecting objects located in the traffic space ahead of the controlled vehicle by the distance sensor in the controlled vehicle; b) identifying a vehicle in front which is located within a defined lane width of the controlled vehicle in the evaluating unit in the controlled vehicle; c) transmitting a signal from the evaluating unit to the servo device so that a preassigned following time t f of the controlled vehicle from the vehicle in front is maintained; d) determining from data received by the evaluating unit from the distance sensor, a transverse velocity with respect to the lane of the controlled vehicle for each other vehicle detected inside or outside of the defined lane width; and e) altering the defined lane width as a function of the transverse velocities detected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for automatically controlling spacing from a vehicle in front by a controlled vehicle which has a distance sensor, an evaluating unit, and a servo device for controlling the velocity of the controlled vehicle in response to signals from the evaluating unit, comprising the following steps: a) detecting objects located in the traffic space ahead of the controlled vehicle by the distance sensor in the controlled vehicle; b) identifying a vehicle in front which is located within a defined lane width of the controlled vehicle in the evaluating unit in the controlled vehicle; c) transmitting a signal from the evaluating unit to the servo device so that a preassigned following time t f of the controlled vehicle from the vehicle in front is maintained; d) determining from data received by the evaluating unit from the distance sensor, a transverse velocity with respect to the lane of the controlled vehicle for each other vehicle detected inside or outside of the defined lane width; and e) altering the defined lane width as a function of the transverse velocities detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the defined lane width is decreased upon detection of a transverse velocity of a vehicle in front located in the same lane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the defined lane width is increased upon detection of a transverse velocity of a detected vehicle located in an adjacent lane in a direction toward the lane of the controlled vehicle provided that the detected vehicle is closer to the controlled vehicle than a vehicle in front which is located in the same lane as the controlled vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the variation of defined lane width is dynamically altered according to the magnitude of the transverse velocity and/or of the relative velocity between the controlled vehicle and the detected vehicles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-25 | 2004-01-24 | 2004-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-25 | 2008-01-24 | 2008-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-25 | 2012-01-24 | 2012-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |