Preventing the collision of a vehicle with an obstacle

US 6,342,832 B1
Filed: 06/22/2000
Issued: 01/29/2002
Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1997
Status: Expired due to Fees

First Claim

Patent Images

1. Method for preventing collisions between a vehicle and an obstacle when parking the vehicle, the vehicle having at least one sensor for generating distance signals, the distance signals representing the distance of the vehicle from an obstacle, comprising:

detecting, in an evaluation unit, when at least one distance signal drops below a limiting value, and generating a brake pressure which causes the vehicle to come to a standstill in wheel brakes, wherein both the brake pressure and its gradient are determined as a function of said distance, of a velocity of the vehicle, or of both said distance and said velocity.

View all claims

1 Assignment

Timeline View

Assignment View

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

A process and device are disclosed for preventing a vehicle from colliding with an obstacle during parking. The object of the invention is therefore to ensure that a collision can be reliably avoided without any additional intervention of the drive. In a device with at least one sensor for generating signals which represent the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle, the signals are processed in an evaluation unit. When at least one distance-representing signal falls below a limit value, a warning signal is generated. This warning signal drives a control valve which generates a pressure difference between the working chamber and the vacuum chamber in a brake booster when the warning signal is generated. This pressure difference causes the braking pressure to rise in the wheel brake cylinder and therefore slows the vehicle down to a standstill.

27 Citations

View as Search Results

20 Claims

1. Method for preventing collisions between a vehicle and an obstacle when parking the vehicle, the vehicle having at least one sensor for generating distance signals, the distance signals representing the distance of the vehicle from an obstacle, comprising:
- detecting, in an evaluation unit, when at least one distance signal drops below a limiting value, and generating a brake pressure which causes the vehicle to come to a standstill in wheel brakes, wherein both the brake pressure and its gradient are determined as a function of said distance, of a velocity of the vehicle, or of both said distance and said velocity.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- - 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein, after the vehicle has come to a standstill, the brake pressure is further increased by a predefined amount and is subsequently kept constant.
  - 3. Method according to claim 1 wherein the limiting value is determined as a function of the velocity of the vehicle.
  - 4. Method according to claim 1, wherein, after reducing the brake pressure, the brake pressure is increased and then kept constant until an accelerator pedal is activated.
  - 5. Method according to claim 1, wherein, after the vehicle is started, an active build-up of brake pressure is deactivated until a switch is activated by the driver.
  - 6. Method according to claim 4, wherein a build-up of brake pressure which can be activated by the switch can be deactivated by the switch.
  - 7. Method according to claim 4, and further comprising terminating the active build-up of brake pressure by the switch.
  - 8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the brake pressure is maintained until it is additionally detected that the clutch has been actuated by the driver.
  - 9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the brake pressure is maintained until it is additionally detected that the driver has changed gear.
  - 10. Method according to claim 9, wherein only gear changes which lead to a change in the direction of travel are taken into account.
  - 11. Method according to claim 1, wherein the brake pressure is maintained until it is additionally detected that the accelerator pedal has been actuated by the driver.
  - 12. Method according to claim 2 wherein the limiting value is determined as a function of the velocity of the vehicle.
  - 13. Method according to claim 12, wherein, after the vehicle is started, an active build-up of brake pressure is deactivated until a switch is activated by the driver.
  - 14. Method according to claim 2, wherein, after the vehicle is started, an active build-up of brake pressure is deactivated until a switch is activated by the driver.
  - 15. Method according to claim 3, wherein, after the vehicle is started, an active build-up of brake pressure is deactivated until a switch is activated by the driver.
  - 16. Method according to claim 4, wherein, after the vehicle is started, an active build-up of brake pressure is deactivated until a switch is activated by the driver.
  - 17. Method according to claim 2, wherein the brake pressure is maintained until it is additionally detected that the accelerator pedal has been actuated by the driver.
  - 18. Method according to claim 3, wherein the brake pressure is maintained until it is additionally detected that the accelerator pedal has been actuated by the driver.
  - 19. Method according to claim 4, wherein the brake pressure is maintained until it is additionally detected that the accelerator pedal has been actuated by the driver.
  - 20. Method according to claim 5, wherein the brake pressure is maintained until it is additionally detected that the accelerator pedal has been actuated by the driver.

Specification

Resources

Litigation Campaign Assessment

Current Assignee
Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
Original Assignee
Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
Inventors
Fuchs, Alexander, Steiner, Manfred, Maack, Lorenz, Kiesewetter, Wolfgang, Knoff, Bernd, Lauer, Carsten, Pfeifle, Eberhard
Primary Examiner(s)
Hofsass, Jeffery
Assistant Examiner(s)
LA, ANH V

Application Number

US09/529,441
Time in Patent Office

586 Days
Field of Search

340/426, 340/436, 340/903, 340/901, 340/435, 340/451, 340/452, 340/453, 180/167, 180/169, 180/170, 701/3, 701/1, 701/97, 701/93, 701/95, 280/435, 280/88, 280/734, 280/761
US Class Current

340/436
CPC Class Codes

B60T 2201/10   Automatic or semi-automatic...

B60T 7/22   initiated by contact of veh...

G01S 13/931   of land vehicles

G01S 15/931   of land vehicles

G01S 2013/9314   Parking operations

G01S 2013/93185   Controlling the brakes

G01S 2013/932   using own vehicle data, e.g...

G01S 2013/9324   Alternative operation using...

G01S 2013/93271   in the front of the vehicles

G01S 2013/93272   in the back of the vehicles

Preventing the collision of a vehicle with an obstacle

First Claim

1 Assignment

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

27 Citations

20 Claims

Specification

Use Cases

Quick Links

Others

Preventing the collision of a vehicle with an obstacle

First Claim

1 Assignment

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

27 Citations

20 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Use Cases

Quick Links

Others