DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRAFFIC SIGN RECOGNITION

• US 20130049988A1
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gunia, Dirk, Wey, Torsten, Doerne, Gerald, Roeber, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 9,070,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining whether to alert a driver of a vehicle to the presence of a traffic sign in the vehicle'"'"'s driving environment. An optical system on-board the vehicle detects the traffic sign and determine information related to the sign. Driving maneuvers carried out by the vehicle are monitored to determine driving situation information. The driving situation information and the traffic sign information are used to determine a probability that the sign is pertinent for the vehicle under the current driving conditions. If the probability is above a threshold, the driver is alerted to the traffic sign. The probability of the pertinence of the traffic sign may be further determined on the basis of lane-specific information such as vehicle position relative to a freeway exit ramp start or end, or performance of a lane change by the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

operating an optical system on-board a vehicle to detect a traffic sign and determine information related to the sign;

determining driving situation information of the vehicle;

using the driving situation information and the sign information to determine a probability that the sign is pertinent for the vehicle; and

if the probability is above a threshold, communicating presence of the sign to a vehicle driver.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sign information comprises at least one of a type of sign, a limit value prescribed by the sign, a position of the sign, and a restriction of the sign defined by an additional sign.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the driving situation information comprises at least one of a driving speed, a yaw rate, a steering wheel angle, a status of a vehicle navigation system, and a distance travelled by the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the probability of the pertinence of the traffic sign is further determined based on lane-specific information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the lane-specific information is related to at least one of a freeway exit ramp start and a freeway exit ramp end.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the lane-specific information is related to performance of a lane change by the vehicle.

7. A method of determining whether to alert a driver of a vehicle to a traffic sign comprising:

operating an optical system on-board the vehicle to detect the traffic sign and determine information related to the sign;

monitoring driving maneuvers carried out by the vehicle to determine driving situation information;

using the driving situation information and the traffic sign information to determine a probability that the sign is pertinent for the vehicle; and

if the probability is above a threshold, alerting the driver to the traffic sign.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the sign information comprises at least one of a type of sign, a limit value prescribed by the sign, a position of the sign, and a restriction of the sign defined by an additional sign.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the driving situation information comprises at least one of a driving speed, a yaw rate, a steering wheel angle, a status of a vehicle navigation system, and a distance travelled by the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the probability that the sign is pertinent is further determined based on lane-specific information.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the lane-specific information is related to at least one of a freeway exit ramp start and a freeway exit ramp end.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the lane-specific information is related to performance of a lane change by the vehicle.

13. Apparatus for determining whether presence of a traffic sign is to be communicated to a driver of a vehicle comprising:

a camera system detecting the traffic sign and generating traffic sign information;

a vehicle system generating driving situation information; and

a recognition module receiving the traffic sign information from the camera, receiving the driving situation information from the vehicle system, determining therefrom a probability that the traffic sign is pertinent for the vehicle, and communicating presence of the traffic sign to the driver if the probability is above a threshold level.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the camera system further serves as part of a lane keeping system.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sign information comprises at least one of a type of sign, a limit value prescribed by the sign, a position of the sign, and a restriction of the sign defined by an additional sign.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the driving situation information comprises at least one of a driving speed, a yaw rate, a steering wheel angle, a status of a vehicle navigation system, and a distance travelled by the vehicle.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the probability of the pertinence of the traffic sign is further determined based on lane-specific information.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the lane-specific information is related to at least one of a freeway exit ramp start and a freeway exit ramp end.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the lane-specific information is related to performance of a lane change by the vehicle.