Distance-related electronically controlled cruise control system

A distance-related electronically controlled cruise control system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• an electronic control unit including a microprocessor, said microprocessor operating such that during a first regulating operation, a preset speed is basically maintained until a predetermined minimum distance to a target vehicle ahead is reached or undershot, and in which, during a second regulating operation following the reaching or undershooting of the predetermined minimum distance, speed regulation occurs in such fashion that the predetermined minimum distance is maintained by following the target vehicle at a regulated distance, and further operating such that in an event of detection of a standing object ahead of the target vehicle traveling ahead during the second regulating operation after the previously leading target vehicle veers aside, then during a transition from the second regulating operation to the first regulating operation, acceleration to the preset speed is prevented if at least one of a distance (d) to the standing object is below a first threshold (S1) and an actual speed (v) is below a second threshold (S2).

A method for operating a cruise control system of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

• maintaining a preset speed during a first regulating operation until a predetermined minimum distance to a target vehicle is reached or undershot;
• upon reaching or undershooting the predetermined minimum distance, maintaining the predetermined minimum distance by following the target vehicle at a regulated distance during a second regulating operation;
• upon detecting a standing object ahead of the target vehicle during the second regulating operation when the target vehicle moves aside, preventing an acceleration to the preset speed during a transition from the second regulating operation to the first regulating operation if at least one of a distance to the standing object is below a first threshold and an actual speed is below a second threshold.