Systems and methods for traffic sign assistance

• US 10,380,437 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Europe SA (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Gillet, Christophe, Kawasaki, Tomoya, Kaneshige, Yuzo, Rycken, Tom, Sano, Tomoya
• Primary Examiner(s): Fujita, Katrina R
• Application Number:
  US15/518,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20170308761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees

Abstract

A traffic sign assistance system for a vehicle including optical recognition unit to obtain data regarding a regulation indicator in proximity to the vehicle, at least one sensor unit configured to monitor a vehicle travel direction, and processing unit. The processing unit are configured to determine a location of a location of a next road intersection based on the vehicle travel direction, measure a distance between a location of the regulation indicator and the location of the next road intersection, cause display of a regulation value associated with the regulation indicator on a display device to be maintained if the distance is less than a predetermined threshold value and a change in vehicle travel direction is detected, and hide the regulation value associated with the regulation indicator from the display device if the distance is greater than the predetermined threshold value and a change in vehicle travel direction is detected.

Claims

1. A method for providing driver assistance, comprising:

receiving image data regarding a regulation indicator in proximity to the vehicle and a next road intersection;

tracking a distance traveled between the regulation indicator to a location of the next road intersection, based on the image data;

monitoring a vehicle travel direction;

displaying a regulation value associated with the regulation indicator when the distance traveled is less than a predetermined threshold value and a change in vehicle travel direction is detected; and

hiding the regulation value associated with the regulation indicator when the distance traveled is greater than a predetermined threshold value and a change in vehicle travel direction is detected.

2. The method for providing driver assistance according to claim 1, comprising monitoring state information related to a state of the vehicle to detect a vehicle turn, wherein the state information comprises at least one of a vehicle speed and a steering wheel position.

3. The method for providing driver assistance according to claim 2, wherein the next road intersection is detected based on the state information.

4. The method for providing driver assistance according to claim 2, comprising maintaining display of the regulation indicator after a change in direction of the vehicle only when the distance is less than the predetermined threshold value.

5. The method for providing driver assistance according to claim 1, comprising resetting the measured distance to zero upon detection of a second regulation indicator prior to the next road intersection.

6. The method for providing driver assistance according to claim 1, wherein the regulation value is a speed limit.

7. A traffic sign assistance system for a vehicle, comprising:

a camera configured to obtain data regarding a regulation indicator and road intersections in proximity to the vehicle;

at least one sensor configured to monitor a vehicle travel direction;

an ECU configured to;

determine a location of a next road intersection based on the vehicle travel direction and the data obtained by the camera;

track a distance between a location of the regulation indicator and the location of the next road intersection;

cause display of a regulation value associated with the regulation indicator on a display device to be maintained if the distance is less than a predetermined threshold value and a change in vehicle direction is detected; and

hide the regulation value associated with the regulation indicator from the display device if the distance is greater than the predetermined threshold value and a change in vehicle direction is detected.

8. The driver assistance system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a steering wheel position sensor.

9. The driver assistance system according to claim 8, wherein the next road intersection is detected based on the sensor.

10. The driver assistance system according to claim 7, wherein, the ECU is configured to reset the measured distance to zero upon detection of a second regulation indicator prior to the next road intersection.

11. The driver assistance system according to claim 7, wherein the regulation value is a speed limit.

12. The driver assistance system according to claim 7, wherein the ECU is configured to maintain display of the regulation indicator after a change in direction of the vehicle indicated by the state information, only when the distance is less than the predetermined threshold value.