US6580996B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle adaptive cruise control system and method
Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Inc
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Filing: 2002-08-07
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Granted: 2003-06-17
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Expires: 2022-08-07
Abstract
Abstract An automatic cruise control system and method for a host vehicle that includes a vehicle follow mode when the host vehicle detects an in-path vehicle and an auto-resume mode for accelerating to a driver set speed upon elimination of the in-path vehicle from the host vehicle path. The auto-resume mode includes a determination of the traffic density around the host vehicle and reduces the rate of acceleration for higher traffic densities.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark P. Friedrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:00
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W30/00; B60W30/14; B60W30/16; B60K; B60K31/00; B60K31/0008; B60W2554/00; B60W2554/40; B60W2554/406; B60W2720/00; B60W2720/10; B60W2720/106; G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S2013/9327; G01S2013/93271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of operating a host vehicle having adaptive cruise control comprising the steps of: operating the host vehicle in the adaptive cruise control mode at a preset speed; encountering an in-path vehicle in the path of the host vehicle; slowing the host vehicle to maintain a predetermined vehicle following interval; sensing when the in-path vehicle is not in the path of the host vehicle such that the host vehicle may begin to return to the preset speed; beginning automatic acceleration mode; determining a traffic density adjacent to and in front of the host vehicle; and accelerating at one of at least two predetermined acceleration rates based upon the determined traffic density.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of operating a host vehicle having adaptive cruise control comprising the steps of: operating the host vehicle in the adaptive cruise control mode at a preset speed; encountering an in-path vehicle in the path of the host vehicle; slowing the host vehicle to maintain a predetermined vehicle following interval; sensing when the in-path vehicle is not in the path of the host vehicle such that the host vehicle may begin to return to the preset speed; beginning automatic acceleration mode; determining a traffic density adjacent to and in front of the host vehicle; and accelerating at one of at least two predetermined acceleration rates based upon the determined traffic density.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two predetermined acceleration rates is four acceleration rates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined acceleration rates are generally inversely proportional to the determined traffic density.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of accelerating includes acceleration at the one of at least two predetermined acceleration rates until the host vehicle reaches the preset speed or a second in-path vehicle is encountered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of determining a second traffic density, and accelerating at one of the at least two predetermined acceleration rates based upon the second determined traffic density.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of operating a host vehicle having adaptive cruise control comprising the steps of: operating the host vehicle in the adaptive cruise control mode at a preset speed; encountering an in-path vehicle in the path of the host vehicle; slowing the host vehicle to maintain a predetermined vehicle following interval; sensing when the in-path vehicle is not in the path of the host vehicle such that the host vehicle may begin to return to the preset speed; beginning automatic acceleration mode; determining a traffic density adjacent to and in front of the host vehicle; and accelerating at one of at least two predetermined acceleration rates based upon the determined traffic density until the host vehicle reaches the preset speed or a second in-path vehicle is encountered.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of operating a host vehicle having adaptive cruise control comprising the steps of: operating the host vehicle in the adaptive cruise control mode at a preset speed; encountering an in-path vehicle in the path of the host vehicle; slowing the host vehicle to maintain a predetermined vehicle following interval; sensing when the in-path vehicle is not in the path of the host vehicle such that the host vehicle may begin to return to the preset speed; beginning automatic acceleration mode; determining a traffic density adjacent to and in front of the host vehicle; and accelerating at one of at least two predetermined acceleration rates based upon the determined traffic density until the host vehicle reaches the preset speed or a second in-path vehicle is encountered.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the at least two predetermined acceleration rates is four acceleration rates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined acceleration rates are generally inversely proportional to the determined traffic density.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
An automatic cruise control system for a host vehicle comprising: an object sensing system that includes at least one object detector capable of detecting other vehicles in front of and adjacent to the host vehicle; a set speed selector capable of selecting a set speed for the host vehicle; a vehicle follower capable of following behind an in-path vehicle at a predetermined interval; an auto-resume accelerator capable of accelerating the host vehicle to the set speed; a traffic density determiner capable of determining a value for traffic density; an auto-resume acceleration limiter capable of limiting the rate of acceleration caused by the auto-resume accelerator based on the value of traffic density generated by the traffic density determiner.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
117 words
An automatic cruise control system for a host vehicle comprising: an object sensing system that includes at least one object detector capable of detecting other vehicles in front of and adjacent to the host vehicle; a set speed selector capable of selecting a set speed for the host vehicle; a vehicle follower capable of following behind an in-path vehicle at a predetermined interval; an auto-resume accelerator capable of accelerating the host vehicle to the set speed; a traffic density determiner capable of determining a value for traffic density; an auto-resume acceleration limiter capable of limiting the rate of acceleration caused by the auto-resume accelerator based on the value of traffic density generated by the traffic density determiner.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The automatic cruise control system of claim 9 wherein the object detector includes at least one radar sensor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 2006-06-16 | 2006-12-16 | 2007-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-16 | 2010-12-16 | 2011-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-16 | 2014-12-16 | 2015-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |