IP Library Granted Patent US 12,337,879
Granted Patent B2
US 12,337,879 · App. 18/380,233 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Control device for vehicle

Inventors: Masakazu Aoki (Nagoya, JP); Yohsuke Hashimoto (Nagakute, JP); Satoshi Takamoto (Miyoshi, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60W60/005B60W2520/04B60W2554/402B60W2554/4041B60W2554/4042B60W2554/802
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,337,879
App. No.
18/380,233
Granted
Jun 24, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control device for a vehicle controls a subject vehicle configured to switch between manual driving and automated driving. The control device includes a processor and a memory device. The processor is configured to execute learning control that learns vehicle-to-vehicle distance when the driver stops the subject vehicle during the manual driving, and to reflect a learning result of the vehicle-to-vehicle distance by the learning control in a control of the vehicle-to-vehicle distance during the automated driving. The memory device is configured to store the vehicle-to-vehicle distance as learning data during the manual driving. In the learning control, the processor is configured to determine, based on vehicle operation information by the driver during a series of periods from a pre-stop period to a post-stop period of the subject vehicle, whether or not the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is caused to be stored in the memory device as the learning data.

Claims (22)

1. A control device for controlling a subject vehicle configured to switch between manual driving by a driver and automated driving, the control device comprising:

a processor configured to execute learning control that learns vehicle-to-vehicle distance of the subject vehicle with respect to a preceding vehicle when the driver stops the subject vehicle during the manual driving, and to reflect a learning result of the vehicle-to-vehicle distance by the learning control in a control of the vehicle-to-vehicle distance during the automated driving; and

a memory device configured to store the vehicle-to-vehicle distance as learning data during the manual driving, wherein

in the learning control, the processor is configured to determine, based on vehicle operation information by the driver during a series of periods from a pre-stop period to a post-stop period of the subject vehicle, whether or not the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is caused to be stored in the memory device as the learning data.

2. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

one or more learning conditions of storing the learning data in the learning control include one or more post-stop learning conditions related to the post-stop period,

the one or more post-stop learning conditions include at least one of:

a condition that both the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle are continuously stopped for a designated time;

a condition that the driver has no intention to turn right or left, or to pass the preceding vehicle;

a condition that a stop of the subject vehicle is not a stop for parking;

a condition that no other vehicle cuts in or crosses between the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle; and

a condition that the subject vehicle has not changed the vehicle-to-vehicle distance after stopping.

3. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

one or more learning conditions of storing the learning data in the learning control include one or more pre-stop learning conditions related to the pre-stop period, and

the one or more pre-stop learning conditions include a condition that vehicle speed of the subject vehicle has reached a threshold value or more after the subject vehicle stops last time.

4. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

in the learning control, the processor is configured:

when a height of the preceding vehicle is less than a threshold value, to store the vehicle-to-vehicle distance in the memory device as the learning data; and

when the height is equal to or greater than the threshold value, not to store the vehicle-to-vehicle distance in the memory device as the learning data.

5. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the subject vehicle is a four-wheeled car, and

in the learning control, when the preceding vehicle is a two-wheeled motorcycle, the processor is configured not to store the vehicle-to-vehicle distance in the memory device as the learning data.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2023
From: AOKI, MASAKAZU; HASHIMOTO, YOHSUKE; TAKAMOTO, SATOSHI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 065290/0771 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-199655 · Dec 14, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240199086A1 · Jun 20, 2024
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