Lane position maintenance apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising the steps of:
- at a terrestrial vehicle that is moving with respect to a lane;
identifying at least one boundary of the lane;
determining when the terrestrial vehicle is moving laterally to at least within a predetermined distance of the boundary of the lane;
providing at least one signal to a driver of the terrestrial vehicle when the terrestrial vehicle is moving laterally to at least within the predetermined distance of the boundary of the lane, such that the signal has an intensity that is increasingly less as the terrestrial vehicle is more proximal to the predetermined distance and increasingly greater as the terrestrial vehicle is more proximal to the boundary of the lane.
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Abstract
Proximity of a moving vehicle with respect to a lane boundary is ascertained and the degree of proximity is used to provide a variable signal to the driver of the vehicle to alert the driver to such proximity. In one embodiment, the variable signal to the driver includes haptic sensations that are imparted through, for example, the steering wheel and/or the driver'"'"'s seat. Visual and audible signals can also be used if desired. The signal itself can vary in intensity with respect to boundary proximity in a variety of ways, including through both linear and non-linear patterns, variable maximum signal intensity, and so forth.
67 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method, comprising the steps of:
at a terrestrial vehicle that is moving with respect to a lane;
identifying at least one boundary of the lane;
determining when the terrestrial vehicle is moving laterally to at least within a predetermined distance of the boundary of the lane;
providing at least one signal to a driver of the terrestrial vehicle when the terrestrial vehicle is moving laterally to at least within the predetermined distance of the boundary of the lane, such that the signal has an intensity that is increasingly less as the terrestrial vehicle is more proximal to the predetermined distance and increasingly greater as the terrestrial vehicle is more proximal to the boundary of the lane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A lane maintenance device for use in a terrestrial vehicle that is traveling in a lane, comprising:
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input means for receiving information regarding a present position of the terrestrial vehicle with respect to at least one boundary of the lane;
logic means for comparing the present position with a predetermined proximity range;
when the terrestrial vehicle is within the predetermined proximity range, providing a driver alert signal having an intensity that at least partially corresponds to a present position of the terrestrial vehicle within the predetermined proximity range, such that the intensity of the driver alert signal is relatively less as the terrestrial vehicle is more distal to the boundary of the lane and relatively greater as the terrestrial vehicle is more proximal to the boundary of the lane. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification