Navigation system activation of a vehicular directional signal

• US 8,577,554 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Wolterman, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOYER, DALE S
• Application Number:
  US12/900,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20120089300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/45, 701/48, 701/400
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/40 having mechanical, electric or electronic automatic return to inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09 Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions railroad crossing signals B61L; reflectors E01F, G08B; indicating arrangements for variable information by selection or combination of individual elements G09F9/00

Abstract

Devices, methods and systems describe a turn signal activation system. As the navigation system determines that the vehicle is approaching a turn or other operation, the turn signal may be automatically activated in the appropriate direction (e.g., right-turn signal for a right turn, and a left-turn signal for a left turn). Once the navigation system determines that it is appropriate to deactivate the turn signal, the turn signal may be automatically deactivated. In this fashion, other drivers on the road may be able to anticipate the actions of the vehicle based on the activation and deactivation of the turn signals, and thereby prevent accidents from occurring.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly activating a turn signal of a vehicle using a portable navigation system, the method comprising:

determining, using the portable navigation system, that the vehicle is approaching a turn;

wirelessly transmitting a first request for information indicating whether the turn signal is activated, the first request being transmitted from the portable navigation system to a vehicle control system integrated into the vehicle;

wirelessly receiving a first response from the vehicle control system indicating that the turn signal is not activated;

wirelessly transmitting a first command to automatically activate the turn signal, the first command being transmitted from the portable navigation system to the vehicle control system;

determining, using the portable navigation system, that the vehicle has completed the turn;

in response to determining that the vehicle has completed the turn, wirelessly transmitting a second request for information indicating whether the turn signal is deactivated, the second request being transmitted from the portable navigation system to the vehicle control system;

wirelessly receiving a second response from the vehicle control system indicating that the turn signal is not deactivated; and

wirelessly transmitting a second command to automatically deactivate the turn signal, the second command being transmitted from the portable navigation system to the vehicle control system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request, the first response and the first command are each wireless, BLUETOOTH-compliant signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request, the first response, the second request, the second response, the first command and the second command are each wireless, BLUETOOTH-compliant signals.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a turning of a steering wheel of the vehicle effectuates a deactivation of an activated turn signal; and

preventing the turn signal from being deactivated by the turning of the steering wheel until after the portable navigation system determines that the turn is completed or that the vehicle is past an intersection of the turn.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a warning that the turn signal is not activated, wherein the warning includes an audio message played through a speaker of the portable navigation system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the warning further includes displaying a flashing message on a screen of the portable navigation system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an indication that the turn signal was automatically activated for the vehicle by playing an audio message and flashing a message on a screen of the portable navigation system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an indication that the turn signal was automatically deactivated for the vehicle by playing an audio message and flashing a message on a screen of the portable navigation system.

9. A system for determining turn-by-turn directions and activating a turn signal when a vehicle is scheduled to make a turn, the system comprising:

a navigation device including;

a processor configured to detect an upcoming turn based on a calculated travel route and a current location of the vehicle, generate a first request for information indicating whether the turn signal is activated in response to detecting that the upcoming turn is a predetermined distance away, receive a first response indicating that the turn signal is not activated and initiate a first command to automatically activate the turn signal, determine that the vehicle has completed the turn, generate a second request for information indicating whether the turn signal is deactivated, receive a second response indicating that the turn signal is not deactivated, and initiate a second command to automatically deactivate the turn signal, and

a first wireless transceiver coupled to the processor, the first wireless transceiver configured to transmit the first request for information indicating whether the turn signal is activated, receive the first response indicating that the turn signal is not activated, transmit the first command to cause the activation of the turn signal, transmit the second request for information indicating whether the turn signal has been deactivated after the turn has been completed, receive the second response indicating that the turn signal has not been deactivated, and transmit the second command to cause the deactivation of the turn signal; and

a vehicle control system including;

a turn-signal activation unit configured to activate and deactivate a turn-signal of the vehicle, and

a second wireless transceiver coupled to the turn signal activation unit, the second wireless transceiver configured to receive the first request for information indicating whether the turn signal is activated, transmit the first response indicating that the turn signal is not activated, receive the first command from the first wireless transceiver, transmit a signal causing the turn-signal activation unit to activate the turn signal, receive the second request for information indicating whether the turn signal has been deactivated after the turn has been completed, transmit the second response indicating that the turn signal has not been deactivated, and receive the second command to cause the deactivation of the turn signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to detect passing of an intersection of the turn, generate the second request for information indicating whether the turn signal has been deactivated, process the second response that the turn signal has not been deactivated, generate the second command in response to detecting the passing of an intersection of the turn, the first wireless transceiver is configured to transmit the second request for information indicating whether the turn signal has been deactivated, receive the second response that the turn signal has not been deactivated, transmit the second command to cause deactivation of a turn signal of the vehicle, and the second wireless transceiver is configured to receive the second request for information indicating whether the turn signal has been deactivated, transmit the second response that the turn signal has not been deactivated, receive the second command from the first wireless transceiver, process the second command, and transmit a signal causing the turn-signal actuation unit to deactivate the turn signal.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to generate an audio warning or a visual warning, as a reminder to activate the turn signal of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to generate an audio message or a visual message, to indicate that the turn signal was automatically activated.