Description
Following is a sample of the information contained on this CD: This application is based on Japanese Patent Application Nos. 11-225372 filed Aug. 9, 1999 and 2000-172059 filed Jun. 8, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated hereinto by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates in general to a vehicle stability control apparatus adapted to assure stable running of an automotive vehicle, and more particularly to techniques for improving running safety of the vehicle. 2. Discussion of Related Art A so-called vehicle stability control (VSC) is known, wherein a vehicle running stability control device is operated under a hazardous running condition of an automotive vehicle, to apply a brake to at least one wheel of the vehicle, and/or reduce an output of an engine of the vehicle, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,802 by was of example. Under some running conditions of the vehicle, a vehicle running stability control is not sufficient or effective to assure stable running or turning of the vehicle, namely, to safely clear an obstacle or prevent a collision of the vehicle with the obstacle, or to prevent a deviation of the running vehicle from the nominal running path or traffic lane of the vehicle. JP-A-10-264795 discloses an example of an improved vehicle stability control apparatus which is adapted to deal with such a problem that may happen under severe vehicle running conditions beyond the capacity of the conventional vehicle stability control. This apparatus is equipped with a CCD (charge-coupled device) camera for obtaining an image of a scene in front of the vehicle as seen by the vehicle operator in the vehicle running direction. Described more specifically, the improved vehicle stability control apparatus incorporates obstacle-clearance determining means for detecting an obstacle which lies in front of the vehicle in a running path of the vehicle, on the basis of image data
