Vehicle Control Apparatus Target-Pair Distance Offset Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control apparatuses struggle to maintain proper inter-vehicle distance control behind a preceding vehicle, especially when the rear end of the preceding vehicle has a small reflecting area, leading to weak reflected waves that cannot be detected, resulting in ineffective inter-vehicle distance management.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control apparatus that utilizes a target-pair distance recognition system, where a separation distance between a target and a non-target reflection point is calculated and used as an offset to adjust the detected distance, allowing for accurate inter-vehicle distance control by subtracting the target-pair distance from the detected distance when recognized for a predetermined period, or using a previously set offset when not recognized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radar waves are transmitted to detect the rear end of the preceding vehicle, then inter-vehicle distance control can be implemented, but when the rear end has a small reflecting area, the reflected waves become too weak to be detected, resulting in detection failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a non-target reflection point as an intermediary element. Instead of directly detecting the weak reflection from the rear end target, the system detects reflections from adjacent non-target points on the same vehicle body and uses these as substitute measurement references to infer the inter-vehicle distance, thereby solving the detection reliability problem when direct target detection fails
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the target detection by using non-target reflection points. When the actual rear end target cannot be detected, the system copies the detection approach by identifying similar reflection characteristics from non-target points on the same vehicle, effectively creating a substitute target that provides the necessary distance information
2Device complexity
If the system uses detected distance directly for control, then the control logic is simple, but when target detection is unstable, the inter-vehicle distance control becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct physical target detection with a computational approach. Instead of relying solely on the physical radar detection of the rear end target, the system uses signal processing and calculation methods to derive distance information from non-target reflection points, substituting mechanical detection limitations with computational solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from directly measuring target reflection strength to measuring and comparing reflection characteristics of non-target points. By changing what parameter is being measured (from target-specific to vehicle-body-general reflections), the system achieves more reliable distance measurement that isn't dependent on the small rear end reflecting area
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective inter-vehicle distance control regardless of the stability of the target-pair distance recognition, ensuring consistent adaptive cruise control and maintaining the target inter-vehicle distance even in situations where the rear end of the preceding vehicle is not stably detected.
Implementation Method 1
The radar device is configured to transmit radar waves to the front of the subject vehicle and receive reflected waves
Implementation Method 2
reflected waves from a target that is a reflecting portion of the preceding vehicle, the vehicle carrying the apparatus being referred to as a subject vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control apparatus for implementing inter-vehicle distance control of a subject vehicle carrying the apparatus behind a preceding vehicle based on reflected waves from a target of the preceding vehicle. A target-pair distance is a distance between the target and a non-target reflection point that is closer to the subject vehicle than the target. A corrected distance calculator is configured to, in the presence of the target-pair distance being recognized, calculate a first corrected distance by subtracting the target-pair distance from a detected distance between the target and the subject vehicle, and in the absence of the target-pair distance being recognized, calculate a second corrected distance by subtracting an offset that is the previously set target-pair distance from the detected distance. A controller is configured to implement the inter-vehicle distance control based on the first or second corrected distance depending on the presence or absence of the target-pair distance being recognized.