Patent ID: 6902021
Filing Date: 2005-06-07
Classification: B60K,B60W,G08G

Abstract:
1. An auto-cruise apparatus comprising, vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller for controlling a vehicle speed of a subject vehicle with a set vehicle speed as an upper limit of said vehicle speed such that a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between said subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle becomes equal to a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed becomes equal to said set vehicle speed when it is determined that there exists no preceding vehicle and input means capable of being operated by a driver with regard to a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control performed by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller wherein said set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and said set vehicle speed can be set by said driver via said input means, said auto-cruise apparatus further comprising: a constant vehicle speed controller for controlling said vehicle speed such that said vehicle speed is maintained at said set vehicle speed whether a preceding vehicle may exist or not; and a mode selector for selecting, in accordance with predetermined operations upon said input means, either a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode in which a travel of said subject vehicle is controlled by said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or a constant vehicle speed control mode in which said travel is controlled by said constant vehicle speed controller, wherein a travel control by either said vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller or said constant vehicle speed controller is performed in accordance with a travel mode that has been selected by said mode selector; wherein said input means further cpmprises vehicle-to-vehicle distance setting means for setting said set vehicle-to-vehicle distance; and wherein said mode selector performs a switching from said constant vehicle speed control mode to said vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode in response to such operation upon said vehicle-to-vehicle distance setting means that decreases said vehicle-to-vehicle distance when the subject vehicle is in said constant vehicle speed control mode.