Vehicle Headway Control with Dual Deceleration Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle assist systems for controlling deceleration can operate simultaneously, leading to driver confusion and misinterpretation of control specifics, as multiple deceleration controls may activate regardless of the driver's intentions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle headway distance control apparatus with two deceleration control systems and a driver-operable selection section, allowing the driver to turn each system on or off independently, ensuring that both systems do not operate simultaneously, and providing notification and priority selection to prevent confusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple deceleration control systems are provided in a vehicle, then the versatility and adaptability of deceleration control are improved, but the driver may experience confusion and misinterpretation due to simultaneous operation of different controls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeceleration control adaptabilityVSAvoiddriver understanding of control status
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

A selection section is introduced as an intermediary component between the driver and multiple deceleration control systems. This selection section allows the driver to choose which deceleration control system to activate, preventing simultaneous operation of multiple systems and eliminating driver confusion. The selection section mediates the interaction by ensuring only one control system operates at a time while providing clear feedback about the selected system's status.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple deceleration control systems with different control specifics are provided, then the adaptability to different driving conditions is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple independent control systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeceleration control adaptabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The selection section serves multiple functions: it selects which deceleration control system to activate, provides feedback about the selected system, and prevents simultaneous operation of multiple systems. By making the selection section multi-functional, the overall system complexity is reduced despite having multiple deceleration control systems available, as the selection section consolidates several control management functions into a single component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the driver is allowed to freely select between multiple deceleration control systems, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of incorrect selection and confusion increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver control selection easeVSAvoidcontrol selection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The selection section provides feedback to the driver about which deceleration control system is currently selected or available. This feedback mechanism ensures that the driver's selection is accurately reflected in the system state, preventing incorrect selection and confusion. The feedback creates a reliable connection between driver intent and system response, maintaining both ease of operation and selection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP1832463B1Vehicle headway distance control
Publication Date: 2012.08.01 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP1832463B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1832463B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1832463B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle headway distance control apparatus (3) is provided with a first deceleration (α*1) control system for controlling the deceleration of a vehicle according to a distance (L) between the host vehicle and a preceding obstacle, and a second deceleration (α*2) control system, which is different from the first deceleration control system and which controls the deceleration of a vehicle according to the same distance (L). A driver operable selection section (8∼13) is configured to allow a driver to arbitrarily turn "on" and "off" each of the first and second deceleration control systems, but prohibit simultaneously operation of both of the first and second deceleration control systems.