Driving support systems, methods, and programs

• US 20070150134A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Yukio
• Application Number:
  US11/640,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20070150134A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered

Abstract

Driving support systems, methods, and programs for a host vehicle receive braking information from another vehicle traveling in front of the host vehicle. The systems, methods, and programs obtain current speed information of the host vehicle and obtain inter-vehicle distance information indicating a distance between the other vehicle and the host vehicle. The systems, methods, and programs generate host vehicle braking information based on the other vehicle braking information, the vehicle speed information, and the inter-vehicle distance information, the host vehicle braking information recommending a braking operation for the host vehicle. Based on the host vehicle braking information, the systems, methods, and programs control the host vehicle.

Claims

1. A driving support device for a host vehicle, the device comprising:

a sensor that receives braking information from another vehicle traveling in front of the host vehicle; and

a controller that;

obtains current speed information of the host vehicle;

obtains inter-vehicle distance information indicating a distance between the other vehicle and the host vehicle;

generates host vehicle braking information based on the other vehicle braking information, the vehicle speed information, and the inter-vehicle distance information, the host vehicle braking information recommending a braking operation for the host vehicle; and

controls the host vehicle based on the host vehicle braking information.

2. The driving support device according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the vehicle by automatically braking the host vehicle based on the host vehicle braking information.

3. The driving support device according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the vehicle by outputting the host vehicle braking information to a notifying device, the notifying device capable of generating and outputting notification information, the notification information enabling a driver of the host vehicle to recognize a need to perform a braking operation.

4. The driving support device according to claim 3, wherein the notifying device notifies a driver of at least one of:

information regarding an appropriate braking amount for stopping the host vehicle without contacting the other vehicle; and

information regarding a braking distance of the host vehicle when the appropriate braking amount is applied.

5. The driving support device according to claim 1, wherein the controller:

determines deceleration rate information indicating a rate at which the host vehicle decelerates, and stopping time information indicating a time required for the host vehicle to stop traveling from a beginning of a braking operation; and

based on the deceleration information, the stopping time information, and the host vehicle braking information, controls the vehicle by at least one of;

automatically braking the host vehicle based on the host vehicle braking information; and

outputting the host vehicle braking information to a notifying device, the notifying device capable of generating and outputting notification information, the notification information enabling a driver of the host vehicle to recognize a need to perform a braking operation.

6. The driving support device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is at least one of a camera, an infrared camera, a speaker, a microwave receiver, and a millimeter wave receiver.

7. The driving support device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a braking information output device that outputs host vehicle braking information related to braking operations of the host vehicle;

wherein the controller encodes the braking operations of the host vehicle and causes the braking information output device to output the encoded braking operations of the host vehicle as the host vehicle braking information.

8. The driving support device according to claim 7, wherein the braking information output device is at least one of a high intensity LED, an infrared LED, a speaker, a microwave transmitter, and a millimeter wave transmitter.

9. A driving support system, comprising:

the driving support device of claim 1;

and

another vehicle braking information generating device that transmits the other vehicle braking information, the other vehicle braking information generating device including;

a braking information output device that outputs the other vehicle braking information; and

a controller that encodes braking operations of the other vehicle and causes the braking information output device to output the encoded braking operations of the other vehicle as the other vehicle braking information.

10. A navigation system comprising the device of claim 1.

11. A driving support method for a host vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving braking information from another vehicle traveling in front of the host vehicle; and

obtaining current speed information of the host vehicle;

obtaining inter-vehicle distance information indicating a distance between the other vehicle and the host vehicle;

generating host vehicle braking information based on the other vehicle braking information, the vehicle speed information, and the inter-vehicle distance information, the host vehicle braking information recommending a braking operation for the host vehicle; and

controlling the host vehicle based on the host vehicle braking information.

12. The driving support method according to claim 11, further comprising controlling the vehicle by automatically braking the host vehicle based on the host vehicle braking information.

13. The driving support method according to claim 11, further comprising:

controlling the vehicle by outputting the host vehicle braking information to a notifying device;

generating and outputting notification information, the notification information enabling a driver of the host vehicle to recognize a need to perform a braking operation.

14. The driving support method according to claim 13, further comprising notifying a driver of at least one of:

information regarding an appropriate braking amount for stopping the host vehicle without contacting the other vehicle; and

information regarding a braking distance of the host vehicle when the appropriate braking amount is applied.

15. The driving support method according to claim 11, further comprising:

determining deceleration rate information indicating a rate at which the host vehicle decelerates, and stopping time information indicating a time required for the host vehicle to stop traveling from a beginning of a braking operation; and

based on the deceleration information, the stopping time information, and the host vehicle braking information, controlling the vehicle by at least one of;

automatically braking the host vehicle based on the host vehicle braking information; and

outputting the host vehicle braking information to a notifying device, the notifying device capable of generating and outputting notification information, the notification information enabling a driver of the host vehicle to recognize a need to perform a braking operation.

16. The driving support method according to claim 11, wherein the other vehicle braking information is received by at least one of a camera, an infrared camera, a speaker, a microwave receiver, and a millimeter wave receiver.

17. The driving support method according to claim 11, further comprising:

outputting host vehicle braking information related to braking operations of the host vehicle;

encoding the braking operations of the host vehicle; and

outputting the encoded braking operations of the host vehicle as the host vehicle braking information.

18. The driving support method according to claim 17, wherein the host vehicle braking information is output by at least one of a high intensity LED, an infrared LED, a speaker, a microwave transmitter, and a millimeter wave transmitter.

19. A driving support method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting the other vehicle braking information;

encoding braking operations of the other vehicle; and

outputting the encoded braking operations of the other vehicle as the other vehicle braking information.

20. A storage medium storing a set of program instructions executable on a data processing device, the instructions usable to implement the method of claim 11.