Collision prediction apparatus

• US 20080269992A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawasaki, Tomoya
• Application Number:
  US11/980,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20080269992A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads

Abstract

A collision prediction ECU of a collision prediction apparatus estimates a state of presence of a detected front obstacle. At this time, the collision prediction ECU estimates the state of presence on the basis of road shape data supplied from a navigation ECU of a navigation apparatus. Further, the collision prediction ECU checks and corrects the calculated road gradient value. At this time, the collision prediction ECU corrects the gradient value on the basis of road gradient data supplied from the navigation ECU. Further, the collision prediction ECU changes a collision avoidance time on the basis of travel environment data supplied from the navigation ECU. Moreover, the collision prediction ECU obtains an ETC gate pass-through signal from the navigation ECU and determines whether the vehicle is passing through the gate. The collision prediction apparatus performs collation prediction on the basis of the corrected values.

Claims

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A collision prediction apparatus mounted on a vehicle, the collision prediction apparatus comprising front obstacle detection means for detecting a front obstacle present on a route of travel of the vehicle, and predictive collision determination means for predictively determining whether the vehicle will collide with the detected front obstacle, on the basis of a predetermined collision determination reference value, the apparatus further comprising:

pass-through information acquiring means for acquiring pass-through information representing that the vehicle is passing through an automatic fee settlement site;

pass-through information acquisition determination means for determining whether the pass-through information has been acquired by the pass-through information acquiring means;

front obstacle determination means for determining whether the front obstacle detected by the front obstacle detection means is a stationary object existing generally in front of the vehicle and the distance between the vehicle and the front obstacle is equal to or less than a predetermined distance; and

predictive determination prohibition means for prohibiting the predictive collision determination means from performing the predictive determination when the pass-through information is determined to have been acquired by the pass-through information acquiring means and when the front obstacle determination means determines that the front obstacle is a stationary object existing generally in front of the vehicle and the distance between the vehicle and the front obstacle is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.

26. A collision prediction apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the pass-through information is supplied from a navigation apparatus amounted on the vehicle.

27. A collision prediction apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the navigation apparatus comprises present location detection means for detecting a present location of the vehicle, and storage means for storing at least the location of the automatic fee settlement site in a retrievable manner, and supplies the pass-through information on the basis of the present location detected by the present location detection means and the location of the automatic fee settlement site stored in the storage means.

28. A collision prediction apparatus according to claim 25, furthering comprises occupant-protection-apparatus control means for starting operation of an occupant protection apparatus when the predictive collision determination means predictively determines that the vehicle will collide with the front obstacle, the occupant protection apparatus including at least an apparatus mounted on the vehicle and adapted to avoid the collision or an apparatus mounted on the vehicle and adapted to mitigate impact at the time of the collision.

29. A collision prediction apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the front obstacle detection means is formed of a millimeter-wave radar which is provided at a front end portion of the vehicle and which detects the front obstacle on the basis of a period of time between transmission of a millimeter wave and receipt of the wave.