Patent ID: 7664589
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: B60W

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for a vehicle for following a preceding vehicle, the apparatus comprising: an inter-vehicle distance sensor that detects an inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle; a brake device that decelerates the vehicle; a stop-holding device, different from the brake device, that maintains a stopped state of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped and the stop-holding device is in a working state; a controller including an automatic stop-holding system that controls operating states of the stop-holding device when the automatic stop-holding system is in an enabled state; and an operation member for setting the automatic stop-holding system in one of the enabled state and a disabled state; and wherein the controller is configured to perform control for following the preceding vehicle using the brake device based on a signal from the inter-vehicle distance sensor; to release the brake device when the vehicle is stopped and the stop-holding device is in the working state; and to change at least one operating condition of the control for following the preceding vehicle after exiting the stopped state according to whether the automatic stop-holding system is in the enabled state or in the disabled state when the vehicle is stopped.