Technique for assisting a vehicle user to make a turn

• US 6,982,635 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Auto Director Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/380,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/692, 340/435, 340/436, 340/425.5, 340/475, 340/961, 340/439, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 180/199, 180/271, 180/280, 701/1, 701/301, 342/118, 342/455, 434/1, 434/2, 434/29, 434/62, 434/66, 434/68
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/13 Aquaplaning, hydroplaning
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/32 Vehicle surroundings
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/02 Driver type; Driving style; Driver adaptive features
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/20 Tyre data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/406 Traffic density
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18145 : Cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 : Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/025 : Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation B62D1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 : Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/221 : Column-oriented storage; Management thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 : Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 : Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 : for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 : Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2553 : Binding renewal aspects, e.g. using keep-alive messages

Abstract

A control system is employed in a vehicle to assist a user to operate the vehicle effectively and safely. The system provides driving assistance to the user by taking into account the user'"'"'s physical condition, the vehicle condition and the surrounding conditions. The surrounding conditions include, e.g., road, weather and traffic conditions, external to the vehicle. The vehicle condition concerns the conditions of the brakes, steering, tires, radiator, etc. of the vehicle. Signs of fatigue, stress and illness of the user are monitored by the control system to assess the user'"'"'s physical condition.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a user of a vehicle to make a turn around an object comprising:

detecting the object;

measuring a first distance that the vehicle has been traveling since the time of detecting the object;

measuring a second distance from a side of the vehicle to the object;

determining a third distance before the vehicle turns as a function of at least the second distance; and

instructing the user to make the turn when the first distance exceeds the third distance.

2. The method of claim 1 being invoked when a turn signal is put on in advance of the turn.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second distance comprises a lateral distance.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first distance is measured using an odometer in the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the third distance is determined also as a function of a length of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the user is instructed to make the turn via audio media.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the user is instructed to make the turn via textual media.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the user is instructed to make the turn via video media.

9. A method for assisting a user to make a turn around an object comprising:

detecting the object;

measuring a travel distance that the vehicle has been covering since the time of detecting the object;

determining whether the vehicle is going to hit the object based at least on a first distance from a side of the vehicle to the object;

notifying the user when it is determined that the vehicle is going to hit the object;

if it is determined that the vehicle is not going to hit the object,

determining a second distance that the vehicle needs to travel before the vehicle makes the turn; and

prompting the user to make the turn when the travel distance exceeds the second distance.

10. The method of claim 9 being invoked when a turn signal is put on in advance of the turn.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the first distance comprises a lateral distance.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the second distance is determined as a function of at least the first distance.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the second distance is determined as a function of at least a length of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the user is instructed to make the turn via audio media.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the user is instructed to make the turn via textual media.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the user is instructed to make the turn via video media.