Vehicle Driving Support Apparatus Cutting-In Vehicle Target Specification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle driving support systems face challenges in stabilizing the travel of a vehicle within its lane when a cutting-in vehicle is detected, as the timing of specifying the cutting-in vehicle as both an inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle and a following-travel steering target vehicle is often inappropriate, leading to instability and potential discomfort due to inaccurate trajectory determination and sudden deceleration.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle driving support apparatus that acquires target object information and performs inter-vehicle-distance control and following-travel steering control by specifying the cutting-in vehicle as the inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle earlier and as the following-travel steering target vehicle later, using distinct thresholds to ensure appropriate timing and maintain lane stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the cutting-in vehicle is specified as both inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle and following-travel steering target vehicle at the same early timing, then the inter-vehicle-distance control can respond quickly to the cutting-in vehicle, but the following-travel steering control becomes unstable due to the quick traveling behavior of the cutting-in vehicle in lane width direction

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveResponse speed of control systemVSAvoidStability of own vehicle travel in lane
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the target vehicle specification into two separate timing points: first specifying the cutting-in vehicle as the inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle, then later specifying it as the following-travel steering target vehicle. This segmentation allows each control system to activate at the appropriate time, preventing instability while maintaining quick response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by first establishing the inter-vehicle-distance control with the cutting-in vehicle as target before establishing the following-travel steering control. This preliminary specification allows the longitudinal distance control to stabilize first, creating a foundation for subsequent steering control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If the cutting-in vehicle is specified as both target vehicles at a late timing, then the stability of following-travel steering control is improved, but the accuracy of target object information degrades because the original target vehicle is hidden by the cutting-in vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveStability of following-travel steering controlVSAvoidAccuracy of target object information
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the target vehicle specification timing to address both concerns: early specification for inter-vehicle-distance control ensures continuous tracking of the cutting-in vehicle, while delayed specification for following-travel steering control ensures stability. This allows information accuracy and control stability to be optimized for each control type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary specification of the cutting-in vehicle as the inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle before it becomes hidden, ensuring continuous accurate tracking. This preliminary action maintains measurement precision for longitudinal control even when the vehicle later becomes obscured.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the cutting-in vehicle is specified as inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle too late, then the stability of control is improved, but the inter-vehicle distance becomes excessively short causing sudden deceleration and driver discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveStability of control systemVSAvoidDriver comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by specifying the cutting-in vehicle as the inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle as soon as it is detected, before the inter-vehicle distance becomes excessively short. This early specification prevents sudden deceleration by establishing longitudinal control in advance, ensuring driver comfort while maintaining stability through subsequent delayed steering control specification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3446941B1Vehicle driving support apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.07.01 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3446941B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3446941B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3446941B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

A driving support ECU (10) performs an inter-vehicle-distance control and a following-travel steering control. When an inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle and a following-travel steering target vehicle are the same specific other vehicle (TV) as each other, and there is a potential cutting-in vehicle (CV) between an own vehicle and the specific other vehicle, the driving support ECU (10) newly specifies the potential cutting-in vehicle (CV) as the inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle at a first time point in a cutting-in period and newly specifies the potential cutting-in vehicle (CV) as the following-travel steering target vehicle at a second time point in the cutting-in period.