Method of controlling a collision warning system using right of way

• US 8,587,418 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2010
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mochizuki, Yutaka, Yester, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/845,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20120025965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/464, 340438-439, 340902-905, 340917-919, 340/929, 340/932, 340/936, 340/995.13, 340/995.28, 340/441
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

A collision warning system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The collision warning system includes a first mode and a second mode. The system operates in the first mode when the motor vehicle has right of way. The system operates in the second mode where the motor vehicle does not have right of way.

Claims

1. A method of operating a collision warning system in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving information related to a target vehicle;

determining if the motor vehicle has right of way over the target vehicle;

the collision warning system including multiple alert modes;

operating the collision warning system in a normal alert mode when the motor vehicle has right of way over the target vehicle;

operating the collision warning system in an enhanced alert mode when the target vehicle has right of way over the motor vehicle;

wherein the normal alert mode is different than the enhanced alert mode;

wherein the normal alert mode includes a warning alert, the warning alert being associated with a serious threat of collision; and

wherein the enhanced alert mode includes the warning alert and an informing alert, the informing alert being associated with a potential threat to the motor vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method of determining if the motor vehicle has right of way over the target vehicle further includes the steps of:

receiving information related to a first roadway associated with the motor vehicle and receiving information related to a second roadway associated with the target vehicle;

determining a first roadway characteristic from the information related to the first roadway and a second roadway characteristic from the information related to the second roadway;

comparing the first roadway characteristic with the second roadway characteristic; and

determining a right of way condition of the motor vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of operating the collision warning system further includes the steps of:

determining that the collision warning system is operating in the normal alert mode;

calculating a threat level, the threat level being associated with a threat of collision between the motor vehicle and the target vehicle and wherein the threat level is associated with a first threat level and a second threat level that is higher than the first threat level;

issuing the warning alert when the threat level is the second threat level; and

issuing no alert when the threat level is the first threat level.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of operating the collision warning system further includes the steps of:

determining that the collision warning system is operating in the enhanced alert mode;

calculating a threat level, the threat level being associated with a threat of collision between the motor vehicle and the target vehicle and wherein the threat level is associated with a first threat level and a second threat level that is higher than the first threat level;

issuing the warning alert when the threat level is the second threat level; and

issuing the informing alert when the threat level is the first threat level.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving information from the target vehicle includes a step of receiving information about a traffic sign and wherein the motor vehicle has right of way over the target vehicle when the motor vehicle encounters a traffic sign at an intersection.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving information from the target vehicle includes a step of receiving information about a turning status of a motor vehicle and wherein the motor vehicle has right of way over the target vehicle when the motor vehicle is turning right.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the motor vehicle has right of way over the target vehicle when the motor vehicle is not turning.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the motor vehicle does not have right of way over the target vehicle when the motor vehicle is turning left.

9. A method of operating a collision warning system in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving information related to a first roadway associated with the motor vehicle and receiving information related to a second roadway associated with a target vehicle;

determining a first roadway characteristic from the information related to the first roadway and a second roadway characteristic from the information related to the second roadway;

comparing the first roadway characteristic with the second roadway characteristic;

determining a right of way condition of the motor vehicle;

operating the collision warning system in a normal alert mode when the motor vehicle has right of way over the target vehicle;

operating the collision warning system in an enhanced alert mode when the target vehicle has right of way over the motor vehicle; and

wherein the normal alert mode is different than the enhanced alert mode;

wherein the normal alert mode includes a warning alert, the warning alert being associated with a serious threat of collision; and

wherein the enhanced alert mode includes the warning alert and an informing alert, the informing alert being associated with a potential threat to the motor vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first roadway characteristic is a first speed limit of the first roadway and wherein the second roadway characteristic is a second speed limit of the second roadway and wherein the motor vehicle is determined to have right of way over the target vehicle when the first speed limit is greater than the second speed limit.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first roadway characteristic is a first lane count of the first roadway and wherein the second roadway characteristic is a second lane count of the second roadway and wherein the motor vehicle is determined to have right of way over the target vehicle when the first lane count is greater than the second lane count.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first roadway characteristic is a first lane width of the first roadway and wherein the second roadway characteristic is a second lane width of the second roadway and wherein the motor vehicle is determined to have right of way over the target vehicle when the first lane width is greater than the second lane width.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first roadway characteristic is a first traffic signal phase length of the first roadway and wherein the second roadway characteristic is a second traffic signal phase length of the second roadway and wherein the motor vehicle is determined to have right of way over the target vehicle when the first traffic signal phase length is greater than the second traffic signal phase length.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the number of alerts issued in the enhanced alert mode is greater than the number of alerts issued in the normal alert mode.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the collision warning system issues only warning alerts in the normal alert mode and wherein the collision warning system prevents informing alerts in the normal alert mode.

16. A method of operating a collision warning system in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving information related to a target vehicle;

determining if the motor vehicle has right of way over the target vehicle;

the collision warning system including multiple alert modes;

operating the collision warning system in a normal alert mode when the motor vehicle has right of way over the target vehicle;

operating the collision warning system in an enhanced alert mode when the target vehicle has right of way over the motor vehicle;

wherein the collision warning system issues more alerts in the enhanced alert mode than in the normal alert mode;

wherein the normal alert mode includes a warninq alert, the warninq alert being associated with a serious threat of collision; and

wherein the enhanced alert mode includes the warninq alert and an informinq alert, the informinq alert being associated with a potential threat to the motor vehicle.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the collision warning system prevents alerts from being issued when the motor vehicle is substantially stopped.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the collision warning system prevents the informing alert from being issued in the normal alert mode.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the collision warning system can send one or more informing alerts and warning alerts in the enhanced alert mode.

20. The method according to claim 16,

wherein the step of operating the collision warninq system further includes the steps of:

determining that the collision warninq system is operating in the enhanced alert mode;

calculating a threat level, the threat level being associated with a threat of collision between the motor vehicle and the target vehicle and wherein the threat level is associated with a first threat level and a second threat level that is higher than the first threat level;

issuinq the warning alert when the threat level is the second threat level; and

issuing the informing alert when the threat level is the first threat level.