Patent ID: 6517172
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: B60Q,B60T,G01S

Abstract:
An enhanced autonomous emergency braking apparatus comprising:a braking system coupled to a variable brake booster, said variable brake booster being operative to produce a variable brake booster force; a brake pedal coupled to said variable brake booster, said brake pedal exerting a brake pedal force upon said variable brake booster, wherein said braking system exerts a braking force proportional to said brake pedal force during normal operation; an accelerator pedal operative to control engine speed and coupled to an accelerator position sensor, said accelerator position sensor being operative to generate an accelerator position signal; a forward detection apparatus operative to detect vehicle distance, vehicle speed, and imminent contact and generate an imminent contact signal, a vehicle distance signal, and a vehicle speed signal; and a controller coupled to said variable brake booster and being operative to receive said accelerator position signal, said imminent contact signal, said vehicle distance signal, and said vehicle speed signal, said controller including control logic operative to automatically apply a predetermined amount of variable brake booster force proportional to said vehicle distance signal and said vehicle speed signals in response to said imminent contact signal and also amplify said variable brake booster force, wherein said braking system exerts an additional braking force proportional to said brake pedal force.