Flow corridor detection and display system

• US 10,249,196 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2017
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Krnja, Filip, Shaw, Vincent Leslie, Woodhouse, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako K
• Application Number:
  US15/658,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20180025647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 340901, 340903, 340905, 3404255, 34042622, 34042623, 340436, 340438, 340439
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/005 Electro-mechanical devices, e.g. switched electric switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0295 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09626 where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A flow corridor detection system for use on a vehicle is provided. The system includes one or more sensors configured to measure available space in front of the vehicle; a data module include vehicle trajectory data that predicts trajectories of other vehicles, a memory defining vehicle dimension data, a dynamic memory having driver behavior and skill data, a processor configured to combine sensor measurements with data from the data module, memory and dynamic memory in order to detect a corridor through which the vehicle can proceed, and to quantify the risk level associated with the corridor. A display is configured to represent the location and risk level of the corridor to the driver of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle corridor detection system comprising:

sensors configured to measure a space in front of a vehicle;

a module having trajectory data predictive of vehicle trajectories via a memory defining vehicle dimension data, a dynamic memory including behavior and skill data, and a processor to combine the space with the trajectory data to detect a corridor, and quantify a risk level associated with the corridor, wherein vehicle progress through the corridor is monitored by the sensors and stored in the dynamic memory indicative of driver behavior; and

a display to represent the corridor and risk level.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensors are ultra-sonic parking sensors.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor combines with the space and trajectory data via trajectory mapping and object recognition.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to measure a tilt angle of the vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors measures speed of the vehicle.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the display represents the corridor as a series of nested gates showing a recommended vehicle trajectory.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the risk level is indicated by a color of the gates.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein and the corridor is updated in real time.

9. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a switch to positively initiate the module.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the switch is positioned on a steering wheel or handle bars of the vehicle.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the module is further configured to, in response to the sensors detecting that a proximity to neighboring vehicles has fallen below a predetermined threshold, detect the corridor automatically.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the display is configured to represent the corridor overlaid onto the space in front of the vehicle.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the module is further configured to interface with a route guidance system to obtain data pertaining to an intended route taken by the vehicle.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the dynamic memory is configured to hold more than one driver profile.

15. A vehicle driving aid system comprising:

sensors configured to measure a space in front of a vehicle;

a module having trajectory data predictive of vehicle trajectories via a memory defining vehicle dimension data, a dynamic memory including behavior and skill data, and a processor to combine the space with the trajectory data to detect a corridor, and quantify a risk level associated with the corridor, wherein the module is configured to, in response to the sensors detecting that a proximity to neighboring vehicles has fallen below a predetermined threshold, automatically detect the corridor and quantify the risk level; and

wherein vehicle progress through the corridor is monitored by the sensors and stored in the dynamic memory as being indicative of driver behavior; and

a display to represent the corridor and risk level as a series of nested gates showing a recommended vehicle trajectory that is overlaid onto data indicative of the space.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the dynamic memory is configured to hold more than one driver profile.

17. The system according to claim 15 further comprising a switch to positively initiate the module.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the gates are substantially rectangular.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the gates are tilted to represent a two-wheeled vehicle leaning.