Driving support methods, apparatus, and programs

• US 7,519,471 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Yukio, Shibata, Yumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peche; Jorge O
• Application Number:
  US11/245,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/209, 701/36, 701/96, 701/301, 701/302, 340/995.19, 340/990, 340/995.27, 340/995.28, 340/903, 340/461, 340/435, 340/436, 340/425.5, 345/958, 345/427, 345/959, 345/7, 359/857, 359/630
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/958 Collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/959 Object path adherence

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and programs display a virtual escort vehicle that appears to be driving ahead of a user'"'"'s vehicle on at least one of a windshield of the user'"'"'s vehicle and a display disposed in front of a driving seat of the user'"'"'s vehicle and display a driving instruction for the user'"'"'s vehicle based on actual driving condition information and standard driving condition information for a predetermined reference point located ahead of the current position of the user'"'"'s vehicle.

Claims

1. A driving support method, comprising:

displaying a virtual escort vehicle that appears to be driving ahead of a user'"'"'s vehicle on at least one of a windshield of the user'"'"'s vehicle and a display disposed in front of a driving seat of user'"'"'s vehicle;

determining a braking start distance based on an actual vehicle speed, a predetermined standard deceleration rate, and a predetermined standard speed for a predetermined reference point located ahead of the current position of the user'"'"'s vehicle;

determining a reaction distance by multiplying the actual vehicle speed by a predetermined reaction time;

determining as an instruction display start position, a point located before a distance calculated by addition of the braking start distance and the reaction distance based on the predetermined reference point; and

turning on a brake lamp of the virtual escort vehicle as an instruction of braking for the user'"'"'s vehicle when the current position of the user'"'"'s vehicle reaches the instruction display start position.

2. A driving support apparatus, comprising:

a controller configured to;

display a virtual escort vehicle that appears to be driving ahead of a user'"'"'s vehicle on at least one of a windshield of the user'"'"'s vehicle and a display disposed in front of a driving seat of user'"'"'s vehicle;

determine a braking start distance based on an actual vehicle speed, a predetermined standard deceleration rate, and a predetermined standard speed for a predetermined reference point located ahead of the current position of the user'"'"'s vehicle;

determine a reaction distance by multiplying the actual vehicle speed by a predetermined reaction time;

determine as an instruction display start position, a point located before a distance calculated by addition of the braking start distance and the reaction distance based on the predetermined reference point; and

turn on a brake lamp of the virtual escort vehicle as an instruction of braking for the user'"'"'s vehicle when the current position of the user'"'"'s vehicle reaches the instruction display start position.