Driving assistance method and system for conveying risk information

• US 7,558,672 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Egami, Masahiro, Hijikata, Shunsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/140,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20050273263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 701300-302, 701/41, 340/425.5, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 342/29, 342/41, 342/70, 180167-169
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/981 Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking

Abstract

A driving assisting system for conveying risk information to a driver of a vehicle. The system includes a detector configured to acquire data related to a driving condition of the vehicle and an object in the vicinity of the vehicle, and a data processor configured to calculate a collision risk potential of the vehicle to collide with the object based on the data related to the driving condition of the vehicle and the object. Information related to the collision risk potential to the driver of the vehicle via a visual signal and a haptic signal.

Claims

1. A driving assisting system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a detector configured to acquire data related to a driving condition of the vehicle and an object in the vicinity of the vehicle;

a data processor configured to perform the steps of;

calculating a collision risk potential of the vehicle to collide with the object based on the data related to the driving condition of the vehicle and the object; and

providing information related to the collision risk potential to the driver of the vehicle via a visual signal and a haptic signal;

wherein;

reponsive to the collision risk potential being a low risk, the data processor is configured to provide information related to a position of the vehicle within the lane in which the vehicle is driving via a haptic signal from the driver'"'"'s seat; and

responsive to the collision risk potential qualifying as a high risk, the data processor is configured to provide at least one of an indication of a position of the object relative to the vehicle, a relative speed between the object and the vehicle, a distance between the vehicle and the object, and a magnitude of the risk potential via at least one of a haptic signal and a visual display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the provided information relates to at least one of an indication of a position of the object relative to the vehicle, a relative speed between the object and the vehicle, a distance between the vehicle and the object, and a magnitude of the risk potential.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic signal is conveyed via the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the visual signal is displayed via a first display device corresponding to the left side of the vehicle, and a second display device corresponding to the right side of the vehicle; and

the visual signal is conveyed via one of the first display device and the second display device that corresponds to the position of the object relative to the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first display device is disposed on or near the left side mirror of the vehicle, and the second display device is disposed on or near the right side mirror of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the haptic signal is regulated to reflect the magnitude of the risk potential.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a vehicle.

2. A driving assisting system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a detector configured to acquire data related to a driving condition of the vehicle and an object in the vicinity of the vehicle;

a data processor configured to perform the steps of;

calculating a collision risk potential of the vehicle to collide with the object based on the data related to the driving condition of the vehicle and the object; and

providing information related to the collision risk potential to the driver of the vehicle via a visual signal and a haptic signal, wherein the provided information is selected from multiple types of information including at least two of a position of the vehicle within the lane in which the vehicle is driving, a relative position between the vehicle and the object, a relative movement between the vehicle and the object, a direction from which the object is approaching the vehicle, and the calculated collision risk potential.

7. A driving assisting system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a detector configured to acquire data related to a driving condition of the vehicle and an object in the vicinity of the vehicle;

a data processor configured to perform the steps of;

calculating a collision risk potential of the vehicle to collide with the object based on the data related to the driving condition of the vehicle and the object; and

providing information related to the collision risk potential to the driver of the vehicle via a visual signal and a haptic signal,

wherein the haptic signal is conveyed via the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle; and

wherein;

the haptic signal includes at least one of a first haptic input provided from a first portion of the driver'"'"'s seat corresponding to the left side of the vehicle, and a second haptic input provided from a second portion of the driver'"'"'s seat corresponding to the right side of the vehicle; and

the haptic signal is conveyed via one of the first portion of the driver'"'"'s seat and the second portion of the driver'"'"'s seat that corresponds to the position of the object relative to the vehicle.

10. A driving assisting method for use in a vehicle comprising:

acquiring data related to a driving condition of the vehicle and an object in the vicinity of the vehicle;

calculating a collision risk potential of the vehicle to collide with the object based on the data related to the driving condition of the vehicle and the object; and

providing information related to the collision risk potential to the driver of the vehicle via a haptic signal and a visual signal;

responsive to the collision risk potential being a low risk, providing information related to a position of the vehicle within the lane in which the vehicle is driving via a haptic signal from the driver'"'"'s seat; and

reponsive to the collision risk potential quality as a high risk, providing at least one of an indication of a position of the object relative to the vehicle, a relative speed between the object and the vehicle, a distance between the vehicle and the object, and a magnitude of the risk potential via at least one of a haptic signal and a visual display.

11. A driving assisting method for use in a vehicle comprising:

acquiring data related to a driving condition of the vehicle and an object in the vicinity of the vehicle;

calculating a collision risk potential of the vehicle to collide with the object based on the data related to the driving condition of the vehicle and the object;

determining a spatial relationship of the object relative to the vehicle; and

providing information related to the collision risk potential and the spatial relationship of the object relative to the vehicle, via a visual display and a haptic signal.

12. A vehicle comprising:

a detector configured to acquire data related to a driving condition of the vehicle and an object in the vicinity of the vehicle;

a data processor configured to perform the steps of;

calculating a collision risk potential of the vehicle to collide with the object based on the data related to the driving condition of the vehicle and the object; and

providing information related to the collision risk potential to the driver of the vehicle via a haptic signal and a visual signal;

wherein;

responsive to the collision risk potential being a low risk, the data processor is configured to provide information related to a position of the vehicle within the lane in which the vehicle is driving via a haptic signal from the driver'"'"'s seat; and

responsive to the collision risk potential qualifying as a high risk, the data processor is configured to provide at least one of an indication of a position of the object relative to the vehicle, a relative speech between the object and the vehicle, a distance between the vehicle and the object and a magnitude at the risk potential via at least one of a haptic signal and a visual display.

13. A driving assisting system for use in a vehicle comprising:

means for acquiring data related to a driving condition of the vehicle and an object in the vicinity of the vehicle;

data processing means configured to perform the steps of;

calculating a collision risk potential of the vehicle to collide with the object based on the data related to the driving condition of the vehicle and the object; and

providing information related to the collision risk potential to the driver of the vehicle via a haptic signal and a visual signal;

wherein;

responsive to the collision risk potential being a low risk, the data processing means is configured to provide information related to a position of the vehicle within the lane in which the vehicle is driving via a haptic signal from the driver'"'"'s seat; and

responsive to the collision risk potential qualifying as a high risk, the data processing means is configured provide at least one of an indication of a position of the object relative to the vehicle, a relative speed between the object and the vehicle, a distance between the vehicle and the object, and a magnitude of the risk potential via at least one of a haptic signal and a visual display.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the provided information relates to at least one of an indication of a position of the object relative to the vehicle, a relative speed between the object and the vehicle, a distance between the vehicle and the object, and a magnitude of the risk potential; and

the visual signal is provided via display means.

15. A driving assisting system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a detector configured to acquire data related to a driving condition of the vehicle and an object in the vicinity of the vehicle; and

a data processor configured to perform the steps of;

calculating a collision risk potential of the vehicle to collide with the object based on the data related to the driving condition of the vehicle and the object;

determining a spatial relationship of the object relative to the vehicle; and

providing information related to the collision risk potential and the spatial relationship of the object relative to the vehicle, via a visual display and a haptic signal.

16. A driving assisting system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a detector configured to detect a running state of the vehicle within a lane;

a detector configured to detect a running state of another vehicle that runs rear of the vehicle;

a risk potential calculation section configured to calculate a contact risk potential of the vehicle to contact with the another vehicle based on the detected running state of the vehicle and the detected running state of the another vehicle;

an information transmission device configured to transmit information to a driver of the vehicle;

an information modification section configured to modify information to be transmitted by the device in response to whether the calculated risk potential is in a low risk area that is less than a predetermined value or the calculated risk potential is in a high risk area that is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.

17. The driving assisting system as claimed in claim 16, wherein, when the calculated risk potential is in the high risk area, the information modification section allows the information transmission device to transmit to the driver of the vehicle the magnitude and direction of the calculated risk potential.

18. The driving assisting system as claimed in claim 16, wherein, when the calculated risk potential is in the low risk area, the information modification section allows the information transmission device to transmit to the driver of the vehicle the detected running stare of the vehicle within the lane.

19. The driving assisting system as claimed in claim 18, wherein, when the calculated risk potential is in the low risk area, the information modification section allows the information transmission device to transmit to the driver of the vehicle the detected running state of the another vehicle in addition to the detected running state of the vehicle within the lane.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the information transmission device includes a seat pressure control device configured to apply pressure to the driver of the vehicle from a driver'"'"'s seat; and

when the calculated risk is in the high risk area, the sear pressure control device applies pressure to the driver via the driver'"'"'s seat according to the magnitude and direction of the calculated risk potential.

21. The driving misting system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information transmission device is disposed on each of the left hand and right hand sides of the driver of the vehicle and includes a display that is configured to display the magnitude and direction of the calculated risk potential when the calculated risk potential is in the high risk area.

22. The driving misting system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the information transmission device includes a sear pressure control device that is configured to apply pressure to the driver of the vehicle from a driver'"'"'s seat in response to the running state of the vehicle within the lane when the calculated risk potential is in the low risk are.

23. The driving misting system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the information transmission device is disposed on each of the left hand and right hand sides of the driver of the vehicle and includes a display that is configured to display the detected running state of the another vehicle when the calculated risk potential is in the low risk area.

24. The driving assisting system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the information transmission device is disposed on each of the left hand and right hand sides of the driver of the vehicle and includes an indicator lamp that changes its color and brightness in response to the detected running state of the another vehicle when the calculated potential risk is in the low risk area.

25. The driving misting system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information transmission device includes a vibration generation device that is configured to vibrate that portion of a drivers seat which corresponds to the direction of the calculated risk potential when the calculated risk potential is in the high risk area.

26. The driving assisting system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information transmission device includes indicator lamps on the left hand and right hand of the driver of the vehicle and causes that one of the indicator lamps which corresponds to the direction of the calculated risk potential to turn on/off when the calculated risk potential is in the high risk area.

27. The driving assisting system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the information transmission device transmits to the driver of the vehicle a literal position of the vehicle within the lane, as the detected running state of the vehicle within the lane.

28. The driving misting system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the information transmission device transmits to the driver of the vehicle a degree to which the another vehicle approaches the vehicle, as the detected running state of the another vehicle.

29. A vehicle incorporating the driving assisting system as claimed in claim 16.