Patent ID: 6418370
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: B60K,B60Q,B60T,B60W,G08G

Abstract:
A distance control apparatus for controlling a distance between two traveling vehicles, said control apparatus comprising:distance detecting means for detecting a physical quantity directly or indirectly representing an actual distance between said two traveling vehicles; acceleration/deceleration means for accelerating and decelerating a succeeding vehicle; and distance control means for performing a distance control so as to maintain a target distance between said two traveling vehicles by actuating said acceleration/deceleration means based on said physical quantity detected by said distance detecting means, wherein said distance control means performs a temporary distance control for suppressing a deceleration degree of said succeeding vehicle to a smaller value compared with a deceleration degree attainable during an ordinary distance control when said two traveling vehicles are departing from each other under a condition where the actual distance between said two traveling vehicles is already shorter or will soon become shorter than a standard target distance.