Driving assistance method and system

• US 7,729,859 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• 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 W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chuong P
• Application Number:
  US11/797,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20070299612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/41, 701/45, 701/46, 701/70, 701/96, 701/301, 701/302, 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 having an accelerator pedal comprising:

a controller configured to;

calculate a repulsive force between the vehicle and an obstacle in front to give a calculated value of the repulsive force;

calculate risk potential associated with the vehicle;

determine which one of a plurality of predetermined risk regions the calculated risk potential falls in;

limit the calculated value of the repulsive force by an upper bound depending on which one of the plurality of predetermined risk regions the calculated risk potential falls in; and

change the upper bound from a predetermined value of the upper bound preset by one of the plurality of predetermined risk regions toward a different predetermined value of the upper bound preset by the next one of the plurality of predetermined risk regions at a predetermined rate with respect to time in response to determination that the calculated risk potential falls in the next one of the plurality of predetermined risk regions after leaving the one of the plurality of predetermined risk regions; and

a device configured to modify, according to the limited calculated value of the repulsive force, at least one of a driving force applied to the vehicle, a braking force applied to the vehicle and a reaction force applied to the driver via the accelerator pedal.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is configured to modify, according to the limit calculated value of the repulsive force all of the driving force applied to the vehicle, the braking force applied to the vehicle and the reaction force applied to the driver via the accelerator pedal.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined risk regions include a first risk region, a second risk region and a third risk region, and the controller is configured to increase the upper bound in response to an increase in the calculated risk potential from the first risk region to the second risk region and an increase in the calculated risk potential from the second risk region to the third risk region.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the predetermined rate with respect to time during a change of the calculated risk potential from the first risk region to the second risk region is lower than the predetermined rate with respect to time during a change of the calculated risk potential from the second risk region to the third risk region.