System and method for providing forward traffic light information during stop

• US 10,262,532 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2017
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Hyun, Dong Jin, Choi, Jun Yeong
• Primary Examiner(s): Girma, Fekadeselassie
• Application Number:
  US15/825,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20180350235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/176 Camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/178 Warnings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/182 Distributing information between displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/583 Data transfer between instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/10 Road Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• 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: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A method of providing forward traffic light information during a stop includes capturing a front image in a vehicle, detecting traffic light information from the front image, and outputting a notification corresponding to the traffic light information to a mobile terminal or the vehicle depending on at least one of a communication state with the mobile terminal and a monitor state of the mobile terminal. A system for providing forward traffic light information during a stop includes a mobile terminal, and a vehicle that captures a front image and to detect traffic light information from the front image, where a notification corresponding to the traffic light information is output to the mobile terminal or the vehicle depending on at least one of a communication state with the mobile terminal and a monitor state of the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A method of providing forward traffic light information during a stop, the method comprising:

capturing a front image in a vehicle;

detecting traffic light information from the front image;

outputting a notification corresponding to the traffic light information to a mobile terminal or the vehicle depending on at least one of a communication state with the mobile terminal and a monitor state of the mobile terminal; and

receiving state information of a monitor of the mobile terminal, wherein

the state information of the monitor indicates an on state or an off state, and

when the state information of the monitor indicates the on state, the notification corresponding to the traffic light information is output through the monitor of the mobile terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the vehicle is connected to the mobile terminal via a direct communication path.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein as a result of the determining, when the vehicle is connected to the mobile terminal via the direct communication path, transmitting the traffic light information to the mobile terminal by the vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein as a result of the determining, when the vehicle is not connected to the mobile terminal via the direct communication path, further comprising:

transmitting the traffic light information to a server via wireless communication by the vehicle; and

transmitting the traffic light information, received from the vehicle by the server, to the mobile terminal.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the transmitting of the traffic light information to the mobile terminal by the vehicle to the server includes transmitting a number assigned to the vehicle along with the traffic light information.

6. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the outputting includes, when the monitor of the mobile terminal is in the on state, displaying a pop-up window corresponding to the traffic light information to overlay the monitor of the mobile terminal.

7. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the outputting includes, when the monitor of the mobile terminal is in the on state, changing color of at least a partial region of the monitor of the mobile terminal to correspond to the traffic light information.

8. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the outputting includes, when the monitor of the mobile terminal is in the off state, controlling indoor lighting of the vehicle in response to the traffic light information.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the controlling of the indoor lighting of the vehicle includes, when the traffic light information is a red signal, turning on the indoor lighting of the vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the controlling of the indoor lighting of the vehicle includes, when the traffic light information is a green signal, turning off the indoor lighting of the vehicle.

11. A system for providing forward traffic light information during a stop, the system comprising:

a mobile terminal; and

a vehicle configured to capture a front image, to detect traffic light information from the front image, and to receive state information of a monitor of the mobile terminal, wherein

a notification corresponding to the traffic light information is output to the mobile terminal or the vehicle depending on at least one of a communication state with the mobile terminal and a monitor state of the mobile terminal,

the state information of the monitor indicates an on state or an off state, and

when the state information of the monitor indicates the on state, the notification corresponding to the traffic light information is output through the monitor of the mobile terminal.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle determines whether the vehicle is connected to the mobile terminal via a direct communication path.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein, as a result of the determination, when the vehicle is connected to the mobile terminal via the direct communication path, the vehicle transmits the traffic light information to the mobile terminal.

14. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a server configured to communicate with the vehicle or the mobile terminal,

wherein, as a result of the determination, when the vehicle is not connected to the mobile terminal via the direct communication path, the vehicle transmits the traffic light information to the server;

and

wherein the server transmits the traffic light information received from the vehicle to the mobile terminal.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the vehicle transmits a number assigned to the vehicle along with the traffic light information.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein, when the monitor of the mobile terminal is in the on state, the mobile terminal displays a pop-up window corresponding to the traffic light information to overlay the monitor of the mobile terminal.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein, when the monitor of the mobile terminal is in the on state, the mobile terminal changes color of at least a partial region of the monitor of the mobile terminal to correspond to the traffic light information.

18. A vehicle operatively associated with a system for providing forward traffic light information during stop, the vehicle comprising:

a camera unit configured to capture a front image;

a detection unit configured to detect traffic light information from the front image; and

a controller configured to control indoor lighting to correspond to the traffic light information.

19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein, when the traffic light information is a red signal, the controller turns on the indoor lighting of the vehicle.

20. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein, when the traffic light information is a green signal, the controller turns off the indoor lighting of the vehicle.