US 5,774,069 A · Auto-drive control unit for vehicles

Abstract

An auto-drive control unit which can switch a vehicle provided with an auto-drive mode from the auto-drive mode to a manual drive mode at a desired point. Based on detection signals from various types of sensors, an auto-drive controller controls an actuator to perform auto-drive. A changeover switch is provided to switch between the auto-drive and manual drive. The current position of the vehicle is detected by a GPS, and the controller calculates the time to reach the desired point. According to a shifting time to complete the shift to the manual drive, timing for operating the changeover switch is determined, and a message is shown on a warning display to urge a driver to operate the switch. When it is judged that the changeover cannot be completed in time, the controller forcedly decelerate the vehicle.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An auto-drive control unit for a vehicle having auto-drive and manual drive modes of operation, comprising:

running control means for performing auto-drive control running of the vehicle based on detection signals from a plurality of sensors,
changeover means for switching between the auto-drive and manual drive, memory means for storing a transition time inherent to the vehicle involved in the shift from the auto-drive to the manual drive,
arithmetic means for determining operation timing of said changeover means, on the basis of the transition time, required to complete the shift from the auto-drive to the manual drive before the vehicle has reached a scheduled location where the vehicle is to be run in the manual drive, and
information means for urging on the basis of said operation timing a driver to operate said changeover means.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Auto-drive control unit for vehicles

Life of this patent

Auto-drive control unit for vehicles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7