Turn signal modulator systems and methods

• US 10,343,596 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Bensalem, Salem
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Samson, Sara B
• Application Number:
  US15/721,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20190100133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices

Abstract

A turn signal modulation system is provided for controlling turn signals of a host vehicle. The turn signal modulation can include a vehicle braking sensor; a vehicle attitude sensor and a turn signal modulation circuit. The turn signal modulation circuit can include a communication receiver, communicatively coupled to receive information from the vehicle braking sensor and the vehicle attitude sensor; and a decision circuit with an input communicatively coupled to receive sensor information from the communication receiver. The sensor information can include information indicating an amount of braking force applied to the host vehicle and information indicating changes in vehicle attitude. The decision circuit may determine whether to actuate the turn signals using the amount of braking force applied to the host vehicle and the change in vehicle attitude.

Claims

1. A turn signal modulation system for controlling turn signals of a host vehicle comprising a turn signal system, the turn signal modulation system comprising:

a vehicle braking sensor;

a vehicle attitude sensor; and

a turn signal modulation circuit, comprising;

a communication receiver, communicatively coupled to receive information from at least the vehicle braking sensor and the vehicle attitude sensor;

a decision circuit comprising an input communicatively coupled to receive sensor information from the communication receiver, wherein the sensor information comprises information indicating whether the vehicle is in a turn lane of an intersection, an amount of braking force applied to the host vehicle and information indicating changes in vehicle attitude, and wherein the decision circuit is configured to actuate the turn signals if the vehicle is in a turn lane of the intersection and based on the amount of braking force applied to the host vehicle and the change in vehicle attitude; and

a transmitter communicatively coupled to send turn signal actuation instructions to the turn signal system.

2. The turn signal modulation system of claim 1, wherein a vehicle braking sensor comprises at least one of a sensor to determine an amount of braking force is being applied to brakes of the vehicle, and an accelerometer to determine a magnitude of deceleration experienced by the host vehicle.

3. The turn signal modulation system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle attitude sensor comprises a steering input sensor to detect an amount of steering input being applied by a driver of the host vehicle.

5. The turn signal modulation system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle attitude sensor comprises an accelerometer to detect a change in yaw of the vehicle.

4. The turn signal modulation system of 3, wherein the steering input sensor comprises a rotational encoder.

6. A method for turn signal modulation, comprising:

a plurality of vehicle sensors sensing information about a vehicle and transmitting that information to a turn signal modulation circuit;

the turn signal modulation circuit receiving information from the vehicle sensors;

the turn signal modulation circuit determining whether the vehicle is in a turn lane of an intersection;

the turn signal modulation circuit determining whether brakes of the vehicle are being applied above a threshold amount of brake application;

the turn signal modulation circuit determining whether a vehicle attitude change is greater than a determined threshold; and

if the vehicle is in a turn lane of the intersection, if the brakes of the vehicle are being applied above a threshold braking amount, and if the vehicle attitude change is greater than a determined attitude threshold, the turn signal modulation circuit transmitting a signal to a turn signal system of the vehicle to activate the turn signals.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining whether a vehicle attitude change is greater than a determined threshold comprises determining whether the vehicle steering wheel is rotated greater than a threshold amount.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein rotational encoders disposed on a steering column are used to determine the amount of rotation of the steering wheel.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein determining whether a vehicle attitude change is greater than a determined threshold comprises determining whether the vehicle is undergoing a yaw event by a degree of yaw greater than a threshold amount.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the turn signal modulation circuit determining whether the vehicle is approaching a turn lane at an intersection.

11. A method for turn signal modulation, comprising:

a plurality of vehicle sensors sensing information about a vehicle and transmitting that information to a turn signal modulation circuit, the sensed information including at least braking information indicating an amount of braking force being applied to the vehicle;

the turn signal modulation circuit receiving information from the vehicle sensors;

the turn signal modulation circuit determining whether the vehicle is in a turn lane of an intersection using sensor information received from the vehicle sensors;

the turn signal modulation circuit activating turn signals of the vehicle if the vehicle is in a turn lane of the intersection and the braking information indicates that the amount of braking being applied to the vehicle exceeds a braking threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the turn signal modulation circuit determining whether the vehicle is approaching an intersection.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the turn signal modulation circuit determining whether the vehicle is in a right turn lane or a left turn lane of the intersection.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the turn signal modulation circuit activating the right turn signal of the vehicle if the turn signal modulation circuit determines that the vehicle is in the right turn lane, and the left turn signal of the vehicle if the turn signal modulation circuit determines that the vehicle is in the left turn lane.