Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An adaptive cruise control system (1) for a
vehicle(3), capable of operating in at least two modes, a
first Cruise mode in which the speed of the vehicle (3) is
controlled to maintain a set speed, and a second Follow mode
in which the speed of the vehicle (3) is controlled to
maintain a set distance (9) from the preceding target
vehicle (5), the system (1) including means (7) to switch
from Cruise mode to Follow mode if a target vehicle (5)is
detected within a predetermined distance (9) of the
vehicle(3), and a driver display interface (11) for
displaying the mode of operation of the adaptive cruise
control system(1), characterised in that the system
(1)includes a change anticipation system (13) which detects
when the system operation is about to change mode from
Cruise to Follow and causes the display interface (11) to
display to the driver that the mode change is to occur,
prior to the system change to allow the driver to take
avoiding action
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
An adaptive cruise control system (1) according to
claim 1, in which a sensor (17) detects when a target
vehicle (5) is within an anticipation distance (25) in front
of the vehicle (3).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An adaptive cruise control system (1) according to
claim 2, in which the period between the display interface
(11) displaying that the mode change is to occur and the
start of Follow Mode is a predetermined period of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
An adaptive cruise control system (1) according to
claim 2, in which the period between the display interface
(11) displaying that the mode change is to occur and the
start of Follow Mode is the period between the target
vehicle entering the anticipation distance (25) and the
target vehicle entering the predetermined distance (9).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An adaptive cruise control system (1) according to
claim 3, in which the anticipation period is dependant upon
the radius of curvature of the road.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
An adaptive cruise control system (1) according to
any one of the preceding claims, in which the display
interface (11) includes two icons (27,29), one which when
illuminated indicates 'Cruise mode' and the other which when
illuminated indicates 'Follow mode' and in which during the
'Follow Mode' indicator is illuminated when the change
anticipation system has detected that change from Cruise to
Follow is to occur.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
An adaptive cruise control system (1) according to
any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the display interface
(11) includes two icons (27,29), one which when illuminated
indicates 'Cruise mode' and the other which when illuminated
indicates 'Follow mode' and a third icon which when
illuminated indicates that a mode change is to occur.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vehicle fitted with an adaptive cruise control
system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.