DEVICE AND METHOD OF RUNNING CONTROL FOR VEHICLE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device of running control for a vehicle, capable of easily and speedily changing the distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle to an appropriate distance and easily returning the distance to a previously set vehicle distance while running after the preceding vehicle. SOLUTION: The device of running control for a vehicle comprises a vehicle distance sensor 1, a vehicle speed sensor 2, a fixed vehicle distance signal input means 5 for generating a setting signal for setting a target distance between vehicles, a variable vehicle distance signal input means 6 for generating a release signal for releasing the maintained target distance between vehicles, and a control means 9 for controlling the distance to the preceding vehicle in the fixed vehicle distance mode or in the variable vehicle distance mode according to the sensors and signals inputted from the input means. The control means 9 controls the running of the vehicle in the fixed vehicle distance mode in which the distance between vehicles is controlled to the target vehicle distance based on a previously stored fixed vehicle distance coefficient when a signal is inputted from the fixed vehicle distance signal input means 5. On the other hand, the control means 9 controls the running of the vehicle in the variable vehicle distance mode in which the vehicle distance coefficient corresponding to the distance between vehicles operated by the driver is operated one by one when a signal is inputted from the variable vehicle distance signal input means 6. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO