Method for acquiring vehicle driving information and a system thereof

• US 6,631,312 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2001
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Ryoo, Nam-Kyoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/029,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/96, 701/93, 701/91, 342/70, 180/167, 340/435, 340/436
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons

Abstract

In order to enhance reliability of a determination regarding whether a preceding vehicle is running in the same lane as a following vehicle when only one of the preceding vehicle and the following vehicle is in a curved region of a road, a distance and an apart-angle of the preceding vehicle, and an amplitude of a reflective wave are detected, and it is determined, on the basis of the detected apart-angle and amplitude of the reflective wave, whether the preceding vehicle is in the same lane as the following vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring driving information of a following vehicle comprising:

detecting a distance to a preceding vehicle;

detecting an apart-angle of the preceding vehicle;

detecting an amplitude of a reflective wave reflected by the preceding vehicle; and

determining, on the basis of the detected apart-angle and the detected amplitude of a reflective wave, whether the preceding vehicle is in the same lane as the following vehicle; and

wherein

in the determining whether the preceding vehicle is in the same lane, it is determined that the preceding vehicle is running in the same lane if the detected apart-angle is greater than a predetermined angle and the detected amplitude of the reflective wave is less than a predetermined reference amplitude.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reference amplitude depends on the distance to the preceding vehicle and the apart-angle of the preceding vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining whether the following vehicle is running in a curved region;

determining that the following vehicle is exiting from the curved region if it is determined that the following vehicle is running in the curved region; and

determining that the following vehicle is entering into the curved region if it is determined that the following vehicle is not running in the curved region.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein it is determined whether the following vehicle is running in the curved region on the basis of a steering angle of the following vehicle.

5. A method for acquiring driving information of a following vehicle comprising:

detecting a distance to a preceding vehicle;

detecting an apart-angle of the preceding vehicle;

detecting an amplitude of a reflective wave reflected by the preceding vehicle; and

determining, on the basis of the detected apart-angle and the detected amplitude of a reflective wave, whether the preceding vehicle is in the same lane as the following vehicle; and

wherein

in the determining whether the preceding vehicle is in the same lane, it is determined that the preceding vehicle is not running in the same lane if the detected apart-angle is not greater than a predetermined angle and the detected amplitude of the reflective wave is less than a predetermined reference amplitude.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said predetermined reference amplitude depends on the distance to the preceding vehicle and the apart-angle of the preceding vehicle.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining whether the following vehicle is running in a curved region;

determining that the following vehicle is exiting from the curved region if it is determined that the following vehicle is running in the curved region; and

determining that the following vehicle is entering into the curved region if it is determined that the following vehicle is not running in the curved region.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein it is determined whether the following vehicle is running in the curved region on the basis of a steering angle of the following vehicle.

9. A system for acquiring driving information of a following vehicle comprising:

a detecting unit detecting a distance from the following vehicle to a preceding vehicle, an apart-angle of the preceding vehicle, and an amplitude of a reflective wave reflected from the preceding vehicle;

a steering angle detector detecting a steering angle of the following vehicle; and

a control unit determining, on the basis of the detected apart-angle and the detected amplitude of a reflective wave, whether the preceding vehicle is in the same lane as the following vehicle; and

wherein

in the determining whether the preceding vehicle is in the same lane;

it is determined that the preceding vehicle is running in the same lane if the detected apart-angle is greater than a predetermined angle and the detected amplitude of the reflective wave is less than a predetermined reference amplitude.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined reference amplitude depends on the distance to the preceding vehicle and the apart-angle of the preceding vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the control unit further performs:

determining whether the following vehicle is running in a curved region;

determining that the following vehicle is exiting from the curved region if it is determined the following vehicle is running in the curved region; and

determining that the following vehicle is entering into the curved region if it is determined that the following vehicle is not running in the curved region.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein it is determined whether the following vehicle is running in the curved region on the basis of a steering angle of the following vehicle.

13. A system for acquiring driving information of a following vehicle comprising:

a detecting unit detecting a distance from the following vehicle to a preceding vehicle, an apart-angle of the preceding vehicle, and an amplitude of a reflective wave reflected from said preceding vehicle;

a steering angle detector detecting a steering angle of the following vehicle; and

a control unit determining, on the basis of the detected apart-angle and the detected amplitude of a reflective wave, whether the preceding vehicle is in the same lane as the following vehicle; and

wherein

in the determining whether the preceding vehicle is in the same lane, it is determined that the preceding vehicle is not running in the same lane if the detected apart-angle is not greater than a predetermined angle and the detected amplitude of the reflective wave is less than a predetermined reference amplitude.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined reference amplitude depends on the distance to the preceding vehicle and the apart-angle of the preceding vehicle.