Driving assistance method and system

• US 7,228,233 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kimura, Takeshi, Naito, Genpei
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHUONG P
• Application Number:
  US11/150,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/70, 701/96, 701/301, 701/302, 701/41, 701/45, 701/46, 340/435, 340/436, 340/903, 382/103, 382/106, 382/107
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/08 Active safety systems predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision or attempting to minimise its consequences
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/02 related to ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal

Abstract

A driving assistance system for regulating an operation of a vehicle in a discrete manner according to different ranges of risk potentials associated with the vehicle, such that different risk potentials in different ranges are conveyed to the driver in a different and discrete manner. The system includes a device for calculating a risk potential associated with the vehicle, and a data processor for regulating an operation of the vehicle, such as a reaction force applied to the acceleration pedal, based on a control parameter assuming one of a plurality of values according to the calculated risk potential associated with the vehicle, wherein each of the values is assigned to one of a plurality of predetermined ranges of risk potentials.

Claims

1. A system for assisting a driver in operating a vehicle, comprising:

a device for calculating a risk potential associated with the vehicle, wherein the calculated risk potential falls in one of a plurality of predetermined regions; and

a data processor configured to;

regulate a value of a control parameter, wherein the value of the control parameter remains unaltered if the calculated risk potential remains in the same one of the regions, and the value of the control parameter is altered if the calculated risk potential changes from a first one of the regions to a second one of the regions; and

control a reaction force applied to a driver controlled input device based on the value of the control parameter;

whereby information related to a change of the risk potential associated with the vehicle from the first one of the predetermined regions to the second one of the regions is conveyed to the driver via a change of the reaction force.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data processor, responsive to the calculated risk potential changing from a first risk potential in a first predetermined region to a second risk potential in a second predetermined region, changes the control parameter from a first value corresponding to the first predetermined region to a second value corresponding to the second predetermined region,

wherein the control parameter changes from the first value to the second value at a predetermined rate of change.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second value is constant.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein responsive to the second predetermined region representing a higher risk potential, the second value has a higher value, and the control parameter changes from the first value to the second value at a higher rate.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of predetermined regions includes a first region that the value of the control parameter varies with the risk potential, and a second region that the value of the control parameter is a constant value.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined regions includes at least two different lengths.

7. A method for assisting a driver in operating a vehicle, comprising:

calculating a risk potential associated with the vehicle, wherein each calculated risk potential falls in one of a plurality of predetermined regions;

regulating a value of a control parameter, wherein the value of the control parameter remains unaltered if the calculated risk potential remains in the same one of the regions, and the value of the control parameter is altered if the calculated risk potential changes from a first one of the regions to a second one of the regions; and

controlling a reaction force applied to a driver controlled input device based on the value of the control parameter;

whereby information related to a change of the risk potential associated with the vehicle from the first one the predetermined regions to the second one of the regions is conveyed to the driver via a change of the reaction force.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a device for calculating a risk potential associated with the vehicle, wherein each calculated risk potential falls in one of a plurality of predetermined regions;

a data processor configured to regulate a value of a control parameter, and control a reaction force applied to a driver controlled input device based on the value of the control parameter;

wherein the value of the control parameter remains unaltered if the calculated risk potential remains in the same one of the regions, and the value of the control parameter is altered if the calculated risk potential changes from a first one of the regions to a second one of the regions; and

whereby information related to a change of the risk potential associated with the vehicle from the first one the predetermined regions to the second one of the regions is conveyed to the driver via a change of the reaction force.

9. A system for assisting a driver in operating a vehicle, comprising:

means for calculating a risk potential associated with the vehicle, wherein each calculated risk potential falls in one of a plurality of predetermined regions;

means for regulating a value of a control parameter and for controlling a reaction force applied to a driver controlled input device based on the value of the control parameter;

wherein the value of the control parameter remains unaltered if the calculated risk potential remains in the same one of the regions, and the value of the control parameter is altered if the calculated risk potential changes from a first one of the regions to a second one of the regions; and

controlling a reaction force applied to a driver controlled input device based on the value of the control parameter;

whereby information related to a change of the risk potential associated with the vehicle from the first one the predetermined regions to the second one of the regions is conveyed to the driver via a change of the reaction force.

10. A system for assisting a driver in operating a vehicle, comprising:

a risk calculating section configured to calculate a value of risk potential associated with the vehicle, wherein each calculated risk potential falls in one of a plurality of predetermined regions, and each of the regions is assigned a predetermined value of a control parameter;

a data processor configured to;

control at least one of a reaction force applied to a driver controlled input device based on the value of the control parameter; and

determine which one of the regions that the calculated risk potential falls, and a control value corresponding to the determined region;

wherein;

a value of the control parameter remains unaltered when the calculated value of risk potential remains in the same one of the regions, and

the value of the control parameter changes when the calculated risk potential changes from a first one of the regions to a second one of the regions.