Vehicle deceleration control device

Abstract

A novel vehicle deceleration control device for ensuring a proper distance between a vehicle and a preceding vehicle, etc., equipped on a vehicle, automatically decelerates the vehicle by controlling braking force based on a target deceleration, calculated based on a relative distance and a relative speed between the vehicle and its preceding vehicle, etc., when automatic deceleration is required. The inventive device, however, will decelerate the own vehicle based on a maximum allowable deceleration when the magnitude of the target deceleration is larger than the magnitude of the maximum allowable deceleration, restricting the vehicle deceleration. The maximum allowable deceleration is determined based on the vehicle speed of the own vehicle when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and maintained at a constant or within a predetermined range, thereby enabling a driver to judge the necessity of braking operation by himself during restricting the vehicle deceleration more easily than ever.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle deceleration control device, in particular to a vehicle deceleration control device for decelerating a vehicle through automatic braking force control. Background technique [0002] In the field of vehicle operation control such as automobiles, by automatically controlling the braking force or the speed of the vehicle based on the relative distance and relative speed between the vehicle and the vehicle in front of it or other objects in front of the own vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the vehicle in front, etc.) To decelerate, it is known to perform deceleration control to ensure an appropriate distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle or the like. Devices for performing such deceleration control (or acceleration and deceleration control) are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2000-355232, 11-348746, 2002-67904, 10-32404, 10-297541 and 11-78600. [0003] During the au...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, the existing vehicle deceleration control devices disclosed in the above publications seldom take into consideration that the driver can easily judge the necessary braking operation.

[0005] In more detail in this regard, for example, in the device of JP 2000-355232, since the limit value of the deceleration is changed (reduced) together with the reduction of the vehicle speed of the own vehicle by the automatic deceleration control, it is difficult for the driver to estimate the By automatically controlling how much braking force will be applied

Since the limiting deceleration is lowered together with the decrease in vehicle speed, a driver who has experienced a high deceleration allowed according to a high vehicle speed at the start of deceleration control may expect further deceleration by automatic braking, and thus may postpone the braking operation start

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