EMERGENCY BRAKING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

1 . An emergency braking apparatus for a host vehicle, comprising:

a sensor mounted to the host vehicle and configured to detect an outer or inner area of the host vehicle;

a processor configured to process data collected by the sensor; and

a controller configured to provide control signals for controlling the host vehicle based on the data processed by the processor,

wherein the sensor detects a state of a driver or a traveling state of the host vehicle,

the processor determines a level of inattentiveness of the driver based on the detected state of the driver or the detected traveling state of the host vehicle, and

the controller provides a braking signal for braking the host vehicle based on the level of inattentiveness of the driver.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor detects a motion of the driver or the traveling state of the host vehicle.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the sensor detects whether a preceding vehicle is present, and

the processor determines an expected collision time based on a relative velocity and relative distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle if the preceding vehicle is present and determines whether a collision occurs by comparing the expected collision time with a collision risk time, and

the controller provides the braking signal for braking the host vehicle if the expected collision time is smaller than the collision risk time.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:

the processor determines a target deceleration quantity to be reached by the host vehicle and a target pedal force value necessary to reach the target deceleration quantity in order for the relative velocity between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is a given velocity or less, and

if the target deceleration quantity is smaller than a deceleration threshold value reachable through emergency braking, the processor determines a situation in which normal braking is possible.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein in the situation in which normal braking is possible, the controller provides the braking signal for braking the host vehicle based on a pedal force value of a brake pedal of the host vehicle.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein if the pedal force value is smaller than a minimum pedal force value capable of braking the host vehicle, the processor determines to change into a situation in which an emergency action is necessary.

7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein if the pedal force value is not smaller than the minimum pedal force value capable of braking the host vehicle,

the processor compares the pedal force value with the target pedal force value, and

the controller provides the braking signal for braking the host vehicle.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein if the pedal force value is smaller than the target pedal force value, the controller assists the pedal force of the brake pedal so that the pedal force value reaches the target pedal force value.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein if the pedal force value is not smaller the target pedal force value, the controller provides the braking signal for braking the host vehicle based on the pedal force value.

10 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:

the processor determines a target deceleration quantity for the host vehicle so that the relative velocity between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is a given velocity or less, and

if the target deceleration quantity is greater than a deceleration threshold value reachable through emergency braking, the processor determines a situation in which an emergency action is necessary.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein in the situation in which an emergency action is necessary, the controller provides an emergency action signal for preventing a front collision against the preceding vehicle and a rear collision against a following vehicle.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:

the processor determines a level of inattentiveness of the driver based on data collected by the sensor, and

if an emergency action is necessary based on the level of inattentiveness of the driver, the controller provides a signal to warn an emergency braking situation, a driver protection action signal, and an emergency braking signal simultaneously.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller provides the driver protection action signal so that an airbag of the host vehicle operates in advance.

14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:

the processor determines the rear collision against the following vehicle based on the relative velocity and relative distance between the host vehicle and the following vehicle, and

if the rear collision against the following vehicle is expected, the controller provides the following vehicle with the signal to warn the emergency braking situation and the emergency braking signal simultaneously.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the controller provides a following to vehicle warning signal so that a braking lamp or horn of the host vehicle operates.

16 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:

the processor determines whether the rear collision against the following vehicle is present based on the relative velocity and relative distance between the host vehicle and the following vehicle, and

if the rear collision against the following vehicle is not present, the controller provides an emergency braking signal for the host vehicle.

17 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller provides a signal to control acceleration performance of the host vehicle along with the braking signal for braking the host vehicle.

18 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the controller provides a signal to restrict the acceleration performance of the host vehicle so that the acceleration performance is reduced.

19 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein in the situation in which an emergency action is necessary, the controller provides an emergency action signal for preventing a front collision against the preceding vehicle and a rear collision against a following vehicle.