The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 02, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 25, 1998
Satoshi Hada, Wako, JP;
Shoji Ichikawa, Wako, JP;
Yoichi Sugimoto, Wako, JP;
Yoshihiro Urai, Wako, JP;
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A vehicle control system having a laser radar for detecting an obstacle present ahead on a course of travel of the vehicle; and control device for operating a brake or an alarm based on an output of the laser radar when a distance from the vehicle to the obstacle is less than a first predetermined value or is less than a third predetermined value. In the system, a millimeter-wave radar, which is inferior to the laser radar in position detection accuracy, but is superior in weather-proof operation, is provided. When the laser radar is inoperative, the control device operates the brake or alarm based on the output of the millimeter-wave radar when the distance is less than a second predetermined value (less than the first predetermined value) or is less than a forth predetermined value (greater than the third predetermined value), thereby expediting the alarm initiation to alert the vehicle driver at an appropriate time, while ensuring the proper brake initiation, so as not to cause the vehicle driver to experience annoyance.