Driver assistance system with traffic light alert

• US 10,152,886 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2018
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Weber, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US15/878,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20180165957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 340905, 340907, 340915, 340917, 340901, 701 70, 701117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A traffic light alert system for a vehicle includes a camera, a processor that processes image data captured by the camera to determine a signal status of a traffic light present ahead of the vehicle, and a global positioning system operable to determine a current geographical location of the vehicle. A display device is operable to display an iconistic traffic light representation. Responsive to determination, via processing of image data captured by the camera, that the traffic light ahead of and being approached by the vehicle has a particular signal status, a control controls the display device so that the displayed iconistic traffic light representation indicates the determined particular signal status. The control adjusts orientation of the displayed iconistic traffic light representation between horizontal orientation and vertical orientation responsive to the current geographic location of the vehicle as determined by the global positioning system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A traffic light alert system for a vehicle, said traffic light alert system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said traffic light alert system, wherein said camera views at least forward of the equipped vehicle and captures image data;

a processor that processes image data captured by said camera to determine a signal status of a traffic light present ahead of the equipped vehicle and in the field of view of said camera;

a global positioning system of the equipped vehicle that is operable to determine a current geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

a display device of the equipped vehicle, wherein said display device is operable to display an iconistic traffic light representation;

a control of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control controls said display device responsive to determination, via processing of image data captured by said camera, of the signal status of the traffic light present ahead of the equipped vehicle and being approached by the equipped vehicle;

wherein, responsive to determination, via processing of image data captured by said camera, that the traffic light ahead of and being approached by the equipped vehicle has a particular signal status, said control controls said display device so that the displayed iconistic traffic light representation indicates the determined particular signal status;

wherein said control is operable to adjust orientation of the displayed iconistic traffic light representation between horizontal orientation and vertical orientation; and

wherein said control adjusts orientation of the displayed iconistic traffic light representation between horizontal orientation and vertical orientation responsive to the current geographic location of the equipped vehicle as determined by the global positioning system of the equipped vehicle.

2. The traffic light alert system of claim 1, wherein said display device displays the iconistic traffic light representation with a background surrounding the displayed iconistic traffic light representation.

3. The traffic light alert system of claim 2, wherein, responsive to determination, via processing of image data captured by said camera, that the particular signal status of the traffic light present ahead of the equipped vehicle is an activated red light, said control controls said display device so that an iconistic red light of the displayed iconistic traffic light representation is illuminated and the surrounding background is displayed in red.

4. The traffic light alert system of claim 2, wherein, responsive to determination, via processing of image data captured by said camera, that the particular signal status of the traffic light present ahead of the equipped vehicle is an activated yellow light, said control controls said display device so that an iconistic yellow light of the displayed iconistic traffic light representation is illuminated and the surrounding background is displayed in yellow.

5. The traffic light alert system of claim 2, wherein, responsive to determination, via processing of image data captured by said camera, that the particular signal status of the traffic light present ahead of the equipped vehicle is an activated green light, said control controls said display device so that an iconistic green light of the displayed iconistic traffic light representation is illuminated and the surrounding background is displayed in green.

6. The traffic light alert system of claim 2, wherein, responsive to determination, via processing of image data captured by said camera, that the particular signal status of the traffic light present ahead of the equipped vehicle is an activated red light, said control controls said display device so that an iconistic red light of the displayed iconistic traffic light representation is illuminated and the surrounding background is displayed in red near the center of the surrounding background and surrounding the iconistic traffic light representation and is a different color towards an outer boundary of the surrounding background.

7. The traffic light alert system of claim 1, wherein determination of presence of the traffic light ahead of the equipped vehicle is made responsive to a communication system.

8. The traffic light alert system of claim 1, wherein determination of presence of the traffic light ahead of the equipped vehicle is made via vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.

9. The traffic light alert system of claim 1, wherein determination of presence of the traffic light ahead of the equipped vehicle is made via visible light communication.

10. The traffic light alert system of claim 1, wherein said traffic light alert system receives data encoded into light emitted by the traffic light.

11. The traffic light alert system of claim 10, wherein said processor of said traffic light alert system processes received encoded data to determine at least one of (i) a lane associated with the traffic light, (ii) a signal status of the traffic light and (iii) a time until the traffic light signal status changes.

12. The traffic light alert system of claim 10, wherein said control controls said display device responsive to processing of received encoded data.

13. The traffic light alert system of claim 1, wherein said camera is disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of the equipped vehicle and views through the windshield.

14. A traffic light alert system for a vehicle, said traffic light alert system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said traffic light alert system, wherein said camera views at least forward of the equipped vehicle and captures image data;

wherein said camera is disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of the equipped vehicle and views through the windshield;

wherein determination of presence of a traffic light ahead of the equipped vehicle is made responsive to a communication system;

a processor that processes image data captured by said camera to determine a signal status of the traffic light present ahead of the equipped vehicle and in the field of view of said camera;

a global positioning system of the equipped vehicle that is operable to determine a current geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

a display device of the equipped vehicle, wherein said display device is operable to display an iconistic traffic light representation;

a control of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, responsive to determination, via the communication system, of the traffic light ahead of the equipped vehicle and determination, via processing of image data captured by said camera, that the determined traffic light ahead of and being approached by the equipped vehicle has a particular signal status, said control controls said display device so that the displayed iconistic traffic light representation indicates the determined particular signal status;

wherein said control is operable to adjust orientation of the displayed iconistic traffic light representation between horizontal orientation and vertical orientation; and

wherein said control adjusts orientation of the displayed iconistic traffic light representation between horizontal orientation and vertical orientation responsive to the current geographic location of the equipped vehicle as determined by the global positioning system of the equipped vehicle.

15. The traffic light alert system of claim 14, wherein the determination of the presence of the traffic light ahead of the equipped vehicle is made via vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.

16. The traffic light alert system of claim 14, wherein said traffic light alert system receives data encoded into light emitted by the traffic light.

17. The traffic light alert system of claim 16, wherein said control controls said display device responsive to processing of received encoded data.

18. A traffic light alert system for a vehicle, said traffic light alert system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said traffic light alert system, wherein said camera views at least forward of the equipped vehicle and captures image data;

wherein said camera is disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of the equipped vehicle and views through the windshield;

wherein said traffic light alert system determines presence of a traffic light ahead of the vehicle;

a processor that, responsive to determination of the traffic light ahead of the vehicle, processes image data captured by said camera to determine a signal status of the determined traffic light present ahead of the equipped vehicle and in the field of view of said camera;

a global positioning system of the equipped vehicle that is operable to determine a current geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

a display device of the equipped vehicle, wherein said display device is operable to display an iconistic traffic light representation;

a control of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, responsive to determination by said traffic light alert system of the traffic light ahead of the equipped vehicle and determination, via processing of image data captured by said camera, that the determined traffic light ahead of and being approached by the equipped vehicle has a particular signal status, said control controls said display device so that the displayed iconistic traffic light representation indicates the determined particular signal status;

wherein said control is operable to adjust orientation of the displayed iconistic traffic light representation between horizontal orientation and vertical orientation; and

wherein said control adjusts orientation of the displayed iconistic traffic light representation between horizontal orientation and vertical orientation responsive to the current geographic location of the equipped vehicle as determined by the global positioning system of the equipped vehicle.

19. The traffic light alert system of claim 18, wherein the determination of the presence of the traffic light ahead of the equipped vehicle is made responsive to a communication system.

20. The traffic light alert system of claim 18, wherein the determination of the presence of the traffic light ahead of the equipped vehicle is made via visible light communication.