Patent ID: 7259661
Filing Date: 2007-08-21
Classification: B60K,B60T,B60W

Abstract:
1. A collision warning method for a vehicle, the vehicle having a device for measuring the distance from the vehicle to a second vehicle traveling ahead and a control unit programmed to generate a warning when a danger of collision of the vehicle and the second vehicle is determined, the method comprising the steps of: repetitively calculating in the control unit a deceleration rate for the vehicle sufficient to maintain a preselected distance between the vehicle and the second vehicle when the vehicle is decelerated subsequent to expiration of a braking reaction time of the driver of the vehicle, the calculation being based at least in part on a relative speed of the vehicle and the second vehicle, the distance between the vehicle and the second vehicle, a deceleration rate for the second vehicle and the preselected distance; repetitively comparing the calculated deceleration rate for the vehicle against a deceleration rate associated with vehicle braking initiated by the driver of the vehicle; and generating a collision warning signal when the calculated deceleration rate for the vehicle exceeds the deceleration rate associated with vehicle braking initiated by the driver of the vehicle; wherein the deceleration rate for the vehicle “a  where: