Patent ID: 6265990
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: B60K,B60W,G08G

Abstract:
A distance control apparatus for controlling a distance between first and second traveling vehicles, said control apparatus comprising:acceleration/deceleration means for accelerating and decelerating said second vehicle, said acceleration/deceleration means including a plurality of deceleration devices independently operable and different from each other in degree of attainable deceleration;distance control means for performing a distance control by obtaining a control value required for controlling the distance between said first and said second traveling vehicles based on a relationship between an actual value and a target value as well as a relative speed between said first and said second traveling vehicles, and by actuating said acceleration/deceleration means based on said control value to control the distance between said first and said second traveling vehicles, said distance control means selecting at least one of said plurality of deceleration devices to decelerate said said second vehicle;warning means for performing a warning operation correlating with said distance control performed by said distance control means, said warning means being capable of generating a warning when the distance between said first and said second traveling vehicles is shorter than a predetermined warning distance under the condition where the distance control is in progress; andwarning prohibiting means for preventing said warning means from performing said warning operating when a deceleration level attainable by said at least one of said deceleration devices selected by said distance control means is lower than a predetermined maximum level even if the distance between said first and said second traveling vehicles is shorter than said predetermined warning distance.