IP Library Granted Patent US 12,466,402
Granted Patent B2
US 12,466,402 · App. 18/194,206 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Follow-up travel support device, follow-up travel support method and non transitory recording medium

Inventors: Sui Kurihashi (Sunto-gun, JP); Yoshiaki Atsumi (Susono, JP); Hayato Shirai (Tagata-gun, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60W30/143B60W50/14B60W2520/10B60W2554/4041B60W2556/45B60W2720/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,466,402
App. No.
18/194,206
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The follow-up travel support device includes a processor configured to detect a surrounding vehicle around a host vehicle, and set a target vehicle speed of the host vehicle. The processor is configured to set the target vehicle speed to a speed different from a set speed of the host vehicle until a partner vehicle that performs a follow-up travel in which a following vehicle follows a preceding vehicle together with the host vehicle is detected as the surrounding vehicle.

Claims (19)

1 . A follow-up travel support device comprising a processor configured to:

detect a surrounding vehicle around a host vehicle, and

set a target vehicle speed of the host vehicle,

wherein the processor is configured to set the target vehicle speed to a speed different from a set speed of the host vehicle until a partner vehicle that performs a follow-up travel in which a following vehicle follows a preceding vehicle together with the host vehicle is detected as the surrounding vehicle,

wherein the set speed of the host vehicle is a set speed of an adaptive cruise control set by an occupant of the host vehicle, and the processor is configured to control acceleration and deceleration of the host vehicle so that a speed of the host vehicle becomes the target vehicle speed, and

wherein the processor is configured to notify the occupant of the host vehicle that the speed of the host vehicle is changed from the set speed of the adaptive cruise control via an output device of the host vehicle.

2 . The follow-up travel support device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to set the target vehicle speed to a speed lower than the set speed until the partner vehicle is detected as the surrounding vehicle when a SOC of a battery of the host vehicle or a remaining fuel amount of the host vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

3 . The follow-up travel support device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to set the target vehicle speed to a speed higher than the set speed until the partner vehicle is detected as the surrounding vehicle when a current time is included in a predetermined time zone.

4 . The follow-up travel support device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to set the target vehicle speed based on preference information preset by an occupant of the host vehicle until the partner vehicle is detected as the surrounding vehicle.

5 . The follow-up travel support device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to set the target vehicle speed based on information transmitted from a server outside the host vehicle to the host vehicle until the partner vehicle is detected as the surrounding vehicle.

6 . The follow-up travel support device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to set the target vehicle speed to a speed lower than the set speed until the partner vehicle is detected as the surrounding vehicle when the set speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and set the target vehicle speed to a speed higher than the set speed until the partner vehicle is detected as the surrounding vehicle when the set speed is less than the predetermined value.

7 . The follow-up travel support device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to propose a lane change to a lane suitable for the target vehicle speed to the driver of the host vehicle via an output device of the host vehicle when setting the target vehicle speed to a speed different from the set speed of the host vehicle.

8 . A follow-up travel support method executed by a computer, comprising:

detecting a surrounding vehicle around a host vehicle;

setting a target vehicle speed of the host vehicle to a speed different from a set speed of the host vehicle until a partner vehicle that performs a follow-up travel in which a following vehicle follows a preceding vehicle together with the host vehicle is detected as the surrounding vehicle; and

notifying a driver of the host vehicle of the target vehicle speed via an output device of the host vehicle when acceleration and deceleration of the host vehicle is controlled by the driver of the host vehicle.

9 . A non-transitory recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program, the computer program causing a computer to:

detect a surrounding vehicle around a host vehicle; and

set a target vehicle speed of the host vehicle to a speed higher than a set speed of the host vehicle until a partner vehicle that performs a follow-up travel in which a following vehicle follows a preceding vehicle together with the host vehicle is detected as the surrounding vehicle when a current time is included in a predetermined time zone.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2023
From: KURIHASHI, SUI; ATSUMI, YOSHIAKI; SHIRAI, HAYATO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 063193/0864 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-089167 · May 31, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230382375A1 · Nov 30, 2023
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