Vehicle signal apparatus

摘要

Apparatus provides a signal to an operator of a following vehicle when it is necessary to take appropriate action to avoid coming within a predetermined distance of a lead vehicle proceeding in the same direction. From initial predicted forward velocities and distances of the lead and following vehicles, the signal apparatus (1) derives subsequent predicted velocities and positions of the lead and following vehicles and a subsequent predicted distance D(t) between the lead vehicle and the following vehicle after a projected short time interval while assuming a predetermined braking action of the following vehicle (2), derives and compares the subsequent predicted distance D(t) between the lead vehicle and the following vehicle with a least distance DLEAST, and (3) sets the least distance DLEAST equal to the subsequent predicted distance D(t) between the lead vehicle and the following vehicle if the latter is smaller. The signal apparatus iteratively applies the calculating means, beginning with forward velocities and positions derived from sensor signals as the initial predicted forward velocities and distances in the first iteration and generates a signal if and when the least distance becomes smaller than a minimum allowable distance DMIN.