Vehicle guidance system

• US 5,815,825 A
• Filed: 02/26/1996
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Aoki, Keiji, Tachibana, Akihide
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/607,027
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 701/24, 701/200, 701/301, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 318/580, 318/581, 318/587
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0261 using magnetic plots
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0293 Convoy travelling
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle running guidance system using magnetic markers for the purpose of reducing the number of magnetic markers to be laid on a road surface. The magnetic nails are laid as magnetic markers on a road. The radio wave generator tags are also laid. The radio wave generator tags transmit road curve data for a distance of about 100 m in the running direction. Power for the radio wave generator tags is supplied from a magnetic generator on a vehicle. On the vehicle, the relative displacement from a magnetic nail is detected by a magnetic sensor, and at the same time the road curve data from radio wave generator tags is received by a radio wave receiving device. The controller determines the amount of steering, based on relative displacement with respect to magnetic nails and road curve data, and supplies it to the actuator. Transmission of road curve data contributes to reducing the number of magnetic nails.

Claims

1. A vehicle guidance system comprising:

(a) a magnetic generator means laid on a road;

(b) road curve data transmitting means laid on the road to transmit road curve data in the running direction of a vehicle, wherein said road curve data transmitting means are beacons installed at the side of the road, said beacons are installed at a larger pitch than that of said magnetic generator means to transmit not only said data on the road curve but also the data on the position of the magnetic generator means laid within signal transmission areas;

(c) magnetic detector means mounted on a vehicle to detect magnetism from said magnetic generator means;

(d) position calculating means mounted on the vehicle to calculate, based on the magnetism detected by said magnetic detector means, the relative position to the road surface;

(e) receiver means mounted on the vehicle to receive the road curve data from said road curve data transmitting means; and

(f) control means mounted on the vehicle to control the running of a vehicle, based on the relative position calculated by said position calculator means and the road curve data received by said receiver means.

2. A vehicle guidance system comprising:

(a) a magnetic generator means laid on a road;

(b) road curve data transmitting means laid on the road to transmit road curve data in the running direction of a vehicle, wherein said road curve data transmitting means are beacons installed at the side of the road, said beacons are installed at a larger pitch than that of said magnetic generator means to transmit not only said data on the road curve but also the data on the position of the magnetic generator means laid within signal transmission areas;

(c) magnetic detector means mounted on a vehicle to detect magnetism from said magnetic generator means;

(d) position calculating means mounted on the vehicle to calculate, based on the magnetism detected by said magnetic detector means, the relative position to the road surface;

(e) receiver means mounted on the vehicle to receive the road curve data from said road curve data transmitting means; and

(f) control means mounted on the vehicle to control the running of a vehicle, based on the relative position calculated by said position calculator means and the road curve data received by said receiver means, wherein said vehicle has excitation means in the front thereof, and said road curve data transmitting means has an induction coil for generating induction voltage under influence of the magnetic field produced by said excitation means, and

said road curve data transmitting means transmits said road curve data using the power generated in said induction coil.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said excitation means generates a high frequency magnetic field when the vehicle passes the magnetic generator means laid in the vicinity of said road curve data transmitting means.