IP Library Granted Patent US 12,728,852
Granted Patent B2
US 12,728,852 · App. 18/963,198 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Vehicle control device and storage medium

Inventor: Hikaru Akimoto (Mishima, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60W30/143B60W2554/406B60W2720/106
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,728,852
App. No.
18/963,198
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control unit is provided for executing cruise control for causing a vehicle to travel while maintaining a set speed, and the control unit is a vehicle control device that determines whether or not there is a traffic factor affecting the cruise control on the basis of a detection value for detecting the surroundings of the vehicle in the cruise control for maintaining the set speed, and adjusts first acceleration set in the cruise control according to the content of the traffic factor when the traffic factor is present.

Claims (24)

1 . A vehicle control device that controls a host vehicle to perform a cruise control that causes the host vehicle to maintain travel at a set speed, the vehicle control device comprising:

a processor configured to

acquire a detection value output from a sensor installed on the host vehicle, the sensor being configured to detect surroundings of the host vehicle; and

determine whether traffic factor that affects the cruise control is present based on the acquired detection value while the cruise control is performed, wherein

the processor adjusts a first acceleration that is set in the cruise control in response to determining that the traffic factor affects the cruise control, and

the traffic factor includes one or more of a lane width, a road curvature, or a road gradient associated with a road environment in which the vehicle is travelling.

2 . The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to

adjust the first acceleration according to the density when the traffic factor indicates a density of traffic present around the host vehicle affects the cruise control.

3 . The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to

adjust the first acceleration using a second acceleration as target acceleration when the traffic factor indicates a difference between the second acceleration and the first acceleration exceeds a reference value, the second acceleration being an acceleration of a second vehicle around the host vehicle while the second vehicle is traveling.

4 . The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to

calculate an acceleration adjustment value based on the one or more properties of the lane width, the road curvature, or the road gradient associated with a road environment; and

multiplies the first acceleration by the acceleration adjustment value to calculate an adjusted first acceleration to be set in the cruise control.

5 . The vehicle control device according to claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to

increase the acceleration adjustment value as the lane width increases and reduce the acceleration adjustment value as the lane width decreases.

6 . The vehicle control device according to claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to

increase the acceleration adjustment value as the road curvature increases and reduce the acceleration adjustment value as the road curvature decreases.

7 . The vehicle control device according to claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to

increase the acceleration adjustment value as the road gradient increases and reduce the acceleration adjustment value as the road gradient decreases.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that cause a vehicle control device to control a host vehicle to perform a cruise control that causes the host vehicle to maintain travel at a set speed, the cruise control comprising:

acquiring a detection value output from a sensor installed on the vehicle, the sensor being configured to detect surroundings of the vehicle; and

determining whether a traffic factor that affects the cruise control is present based on the acquired detection value while the cruise control is performed, wherein

the program instructions cause vehicle control device to adjust a first acceleration that is set in the cruise control in response to a determination that the traffic factor affects the cruise control, and

the traffic factor includes one or more of a lane width, a road curvature, or a road gradient associated with a road environment in which the vehicle is travelling.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2024
From: AKIMOTO, HIKARU
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 069427/0451 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2024-018695 · Feb 9, 2024 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250256712A1 · Aug 14, 2025
References Cited (23)
US 6580996B1 · Friedrich · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 8355851B2 · Inoue et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8370040B2 · Inoue et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8417430B2 · Saeki · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8548709B2 · Morita · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8768597B2 · Kagawa · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9174643B2 · Aso · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 10017178B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10118617B2 · Urano et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10486698B2 · Masui et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 12205464B2 · Pedersen · 2025 [cited by examiner]
US 20120083987A1 · Schwindt · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20170327116A1 · Heo · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20190295419A1 · Tosa et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200001871A1 · Wang · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200307581A1 · Shimbo · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20220219691A1 · Maleki · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20230067494A1 · Westover · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230234587A1 · Ito · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230399013A1 · Kume · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20250145157A1 · Dobkowitz · 2025 [cited by examiner]
JP 2005075303A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011048456A · 2011 [cited by applicant]