Vehicle collision avoidance apparatus and method

A collision avoidance/mitigation method for a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• inputting traffic-situation-related criteria and determining at least one traffic-situation-related threshold value using an input unit;
• determining the distance, width, relative speed, lateral offset and type of objects in the vehicle surroundings using a sensing unit;
• determining the state of movement of the vehicle using a measuring unit;
• using a control unit, processing the at least one traffic-situation-related threshold value, the distance, width, relative speed, lateral offset and type of objects, and the state of movement of the vehicle to determine a traffic-situation-related characteristic value;
• generating control signals for actuating an autonomous braking operation using the control unit when the characteristic value exceeds the traffic-situation-related threshold value;
• outputting the control signals using an output unit to vehicle elements that influence the movement of the vehicle, and to a display device;
• actuating brakes of a brake system of the vehicle based on the control signals;
• and
• opening a clutch and interrupting torque flux in response to the brakes of the vehicle being actuated without driver intervention based on the control signals.

A computer program product comprising a computer usable physical medium storing a computer executable program to:

• process information obtained from an input unit of a collision avoidance/mitigation apparatus of a vehicle relating to traffic-situation-related criteria and traffic-situation-related threshold values;
• process information relating to objects in the surroundings of the vehicle obtained from a sensing unit of the collision avoidance/mitigation apparatus;
• process information relating to the determination of the state of movement of the vehicle obtained from a measuring unit, of the collision avoidance/mitigation apparatus;
• generate control signals for actuating vehicle units that relate to the state of movement of the vehicle;
• actuate brakes of a brake system of the vehicle based on the control signals;
• and
• open a clutch and interrupting torque flux in response to the brakes of the vehicle being actuated without driver intervention based on the control signals.

A data processor for a vehicle collision avoidance/mitigation system, the data processor comprising a computer executable program to:

• process information relating to traffic-situation-related criteria and traffic-situation-related threshold values obtained from an input unit;
• process information relating to objects in the surroundings of the vehicle obtained from a sensing unit;
• process information relating to the determination of the state of movement of the vehicle obtained from a measuring unit of the collision avoidance/mitigation apparatus;
• generate control signals for actuating vehicle units that relate to the state of movement of the vehicle;
• actuate brakes of a brake system of the vehicle based on the control signals;
• and
• open a clutch and interrupting torque flux in response to the brakes of the vehicle being actuated without driver intervention based on the control signals.