US5774069A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Auto-drive control unit for vehicles
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1996-11-05
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Granted: 1998-06-30
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Expires: 2016-11-05
Abstract
Abstract An auto-drive control unit which can switch a vehicle provided with an auto-drive mode from the auto-drive mode to a manual drive mode at a desired point. Based on detection signals from various types of sensors, an auto-drive controller controls an actuator to perform auto-drive. A changeover switch is provided to switch between the auto-drive and manual drive. The current position of the vehicle is detected by a GPS, and the controller calculates the time to reach the desired point. According to a shifting time to complete the shift to the manual drive, timing for operating the changeover switch is determined, and a message is shown on a warning display to urge a driver to operate the switch. When it is judged that the changeover cannot be completed in time, the controller forcedly decelerate the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroaki Tanaka
- 👤 Kazunori Kagawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:40
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W60/00; B60W60/005; B60W60/0057; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/12; B60W50/00; B60W50/08; B60W50/082; B60W50/14; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/24; B62D1/28; B62D15/00; B62D15/02; B62D15/025; G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/021; G05D1/0276; G05D1/0278
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An auto-drive control unit for a vehicle having auto-drive and manual drive modes of operation, comprising: running control means for performing auto-drive control running of the vehicle based on detection signals from a plurality of sensors, changeover means for switching between the auto-drive and manual drive, memory means for storing a transition time inherent to the vehicle involved in the shift from the auto-drive to the manual drive, arithmetic means for determining operation timing of said changeover means, on the basis of the transition time, required to complete the shift from the auto-drive to the manual drive before the vehicle has reached a scheduled location where the vehicle is to be run in the manual drive, and information means for urging on the basis of said operation timing a driver to operate said changeover means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
An auto-drive control unit for a vehicle having auto-drive and manual drive modes of operation, comprising: running control means for performing auto-drive control running of the vehicle based on detection signals from a plurality of sensors, changeover means for switching between the auto-drive and manual drive, memory means for storing a transition time inherent to the vehicle involved in the shift from the auto-drive to the manual drive, arithmetic means for determining operation timing of said changeover means, on the basis of the transition time, required to complete the shift from the auto-drive to the manual drive before the vehicle has reached a scheduled location where the vehicle is to be run in the manual drive, and information means for urging on the basis of said operation timing a driver to operate said changeover means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
The auto-drive control unit according to claim 1, further comprising: vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed and position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, wherein said arithmetic means calculate a scheduled location arrival time of the vehicle on the basis of the vehicle speed and a distance between the current position and the scheduled location where the vehicle shall be driven in the manual drive and determine said operation timing on the basis of a difference between said transition time and said scheduled location arrival time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The auto-drive control unit according to claim 1, further comprising: auto-brake means for decelerating the vehicle when the driver does not operate said changeover means at said operation timing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The auto-drive control unit according to claim 3, further comprising: auto-steering means for moving the vehicle from an auto-drive lane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The auto-drive control unit according to claim 1, wherein the scheduled location where the vehicle is to run in the manual drive is a safety zone of the auto-drive lane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
An auto-drive control unit for a vehicle having auto-drive and manual drive modes, comprising: a controller for performing auto-drive, a mode changeover switch for alternately switching between an auto-drive mode and a manual drive mode, a memory for storing a transition time inherent to the vehicle involved in the shift from the auto-drive mode to the manual drive mode, and information means for giving, at a time based on the transition time, a message advising operating said changeover switch to shift to the manual drive mode to a driver while the vehicle is running in the auto-drive mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
An auto-drive control unit for a vehicle having auto-drive and manual drive modes, comprising: a controller for performing auto-drive, a mode changeover switch for alternately switching between an auto-drive mode and a manual drive mode, a memory for storing a transition time inherent to the vehicle involved in the shift from the auto-drive mode to the manual drive mode, and information means for giving, at a time based on the transition time, a message advising operating said changeover switch to shift to the manual drive mode to a driver while the vehicle is running in the auto-drive mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The auto-drive control unit according to claim 6, further comprising: an auto-braking device for decelerating the vehicle when said changeover switch is not operated in accordance with said message.
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) | 2001-06-29 | 2001-12-29 | 2002-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-29 | 2005-12-29 | 2006-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-29 | 2009-12-29 | 2010-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |