Patent ID: 8024099

Claim:
A deceleration control apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a speed sensor for detecting an actual vehicular speed; a detection device operable to detect a start of a curve in a path of the vehicle; and a controller operable to: compute a lateral acceleration limitation value as the vehicle enters the curve based on the distance of the vehicle from the start of the curve, wherein the lateral acceleration limitation value decreases from a maximum prescribed lateral acceleration value in advance of the curve to a reference lateral acceleration value at the start of the curve, wherein the reference lateral acceleration is based on the radius of the curve and is smaller than the prescribed lateral acceleration value; set a target vehicular speed calculated based on the lateral acceleration limitation value and a yaw rate of the vehicle, wherein the target vehicular speed decreases as the lateral acceleration limitation value decreases, and the target vehicular speed decreases as the yaw rate of the vehicle increases; and apply deceleration to the vehicle if the actual vehicular speed exceeds the target vehicular speed.