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:
Dec. 03, 2013
Filed:
Jul. 28, 2009
Shinjiro Saito, Hitachinaka, JP;
Atsushi Yokoyama, Tokyo, JP;
Toshiharu Sugawara, Hitachinaka, JP;
Tatsuya Yoshida, Naka, JP;
Akira Takahashi, Isehara, JP;
Shinjiro Saito, Hitachinaka, JP;
Atsushi Yokoyama, Tokyo, JP;
Toshiharu Sugawara, Hitachinaka, JP;
Tatsuya Yoshida, Naka, JP;
Akira Takahashi, Isehara, JP;
Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd., Hitachinaka-shi, JP;
Abstract
According to conventional art, if there is an obstacle on the left of a vehicle, a control threshold value is set so as to avoid the obstacle. If the control threshold value is exceeded, the vehicle is controlled in accordance with a deviation quantity so as to return to a position where the control threshold avoids being exceeded. However, even if a risky oncoming vehicle is approaching the vehicle on the right, the vehicle is controllably moved toward the oncoming vehicle. Thus, disadvantageously, a driver has a sense of fear or discomfort. A vehicle control apparatus according to the present invention includes a calculation section configured to calculate a first risk level present on the left of the vehicle and a second risk level present on the right of the vehicle, a setting section configured to set a first control threshold for the left of the vehicle based on the first risk level and to set a second control threshold for the right of the vehicle based on the second risk level, a change section configured to change at least one of the first and second control thresholds based on the first and second risk levels, and a control section configured to control the vehicle based on the changed control threshold.