Technique for operating a vehicle safely in a lane

• US 7,656,310 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Auto Director Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/416,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 340/902, 340/903, 340/905, 340/932, 340/933, 340/941, 340/435, 340/436, 340/465, 180/168, 180/169, 701/23, 701/41, 701/117
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

In a control and management system for automobiles, a central processor in the system connects traditionally unrelated vehicle subsystems together to realize synergistic functions such as smart driving, automatic parking, etc. A master interface having a display is employed in the system to help a user control and manage the vehicle functions.

Claims

1. A method for use in a system in a vehicle, comprising

detecting marking devices defining a lane in which the vehicle is moving, the marking devices being disposed on at least one side of the lane at a certain interval;

determining whether the vehicle is subject to improper steering in the lane based at least on detection of the marking devices;

providing an alert when no marking devices are detected on the at least one side of the lane for a predetermined number of intervals; and

generating a turn signal when a departure from the lane is indicated.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the marking devices includes a magnet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is steered automatically in the lane.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein automatic steering of the vehicle is terminated when the vehicle departs from the lane.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising generating a message to inform a user of a termination of the automatic steering.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the message is provided on a display element in the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined number of intervals are consecutive.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the departure from the lane is indicated by manipulating an indicator provided on a display element in the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the indicator comprises an arrow indicating a direction in which the vehicle is moving.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the marking devices are indicated on a display element in the vehicle.

11. A system for use in a vehicle, comprising

a device for detecting marking devices defining a lane in which the vehicle is moving, the marking devices being disposed on at least one side of the lane at a certain interval;

a processor configured to determine whether the vehicle is subject to improper steering in the lane based at least on detection of the marking devices;

an interface for providing an alert when no marking devices are detected on the at least one side of the lane for a predetermined number of intervals; and

a mechanism for generating a turn signal when a departure from the lane is indicated.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the marking devices includes a magnet.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the vehicle is steered automatically in the lane.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein automatic steering of the vehicle is terminated when the vehicle departs from the lane.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising generating a message to inform a user of a termination of the automatic steering.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the message is provided on a display element in the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the predetermined number of intervals are consecutive.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the departure from the lane is indicated by manipulating an indicator provided on a display element in the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the indicator comprises an arrow indicating a direction in which the vehicle is moving.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the marking devices are indicated on a display element in the vehicle.