Vehicle drive support device

• US 8,977,428 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Endo, Masato, Yamada, Yuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Jabr, Fadey
• Assistant Examiner(s): INGRAM, THOMAS P
• Application Number:
  US13/203,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20110313609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,195 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/36, 701/70, 701/93, 701/96, 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/302, 340/435, 340/438, 340/436, 180/167, 180/168, 180/170
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A GPS and a map information database acquire information regarding an arrow light which displays a signal for prohibiting travel in a particular direction, such as a red arrow light. A display and a loudspeaker supply information to a motorist of a host vehicle based on the information acquired by the GPS and the map information database, or a brake ECU and a brake actuator brake the host vehicle without depending on the manipulation by the motorist based on the information acquired by the GPS and the map information database. As a result, it is possible to correctly support driving even when a red arrow light or the like for prohibiting travel in a right turn direction.

Claims

1. A vehicle drive support device comprising:

a red arrow light information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a red arrow light which displays a signal for prohibiting travel in a particular turning direction;

a drive assistant operation unit configured to supply information to a motorist of a host vehicle based on the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit and to drive the host vehicle without depending on manipulation by the motorist based on the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit, the drive assistant operation unit supplies the information to the motorist or drives the host vehicle dependent on a monitored state of the vehicle;

a travel direction detection unit that detects a travel direction of the host vehicle;

a vehicle traffic signal information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding an illumination state of a vehicle traffic signal which displays a signal for prohibiting travel in a straight direction; and

an accelerator pedal sensor that detects whether or not an accelerator pedal of the host vehicle is pressed,

wherein, in a case where a travel direction of the host vehicle detected by the travel direction detection unit corresponds with a direction in which a signal of the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit prohibits travel, the drive assistant operation unit supplies information or drives the host vehicle,

wherein, in a case where the vehicle traffic signal relating to the information acquired by the vehicle traffic signal information acquisition unit displays a signal for prohibiting travel in a straight direction, and the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit displays a signal for prohibiting travel in the particular turning direction, and in a case where a travel direction of the host vehicle detected by the travel direction detection unit is a straight direction, the drive assistant operation supplies information or drives the host vehicle when the accelerator pedal sensor detects a pressing amount of the accelerator pedal, and

wherein, in a case where the travel direction of the host vehicle detected by the travel direction detection unit corresponds with a direction in which a signal of the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit prohibits the travel, the drive assistant operation unit supplies information or drives the host vehicle without depending on whether or not the accelerator pedal sensor detects a pressing amount of the accelerator pedal.

2. The vehicle drive support device according to claim 1, wherein the red arrow light information acquisition unit acquires information regarding an illumination state of the red arrow light, and

the drive assistant operation unit supplies information or drives the host vehicle when the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit displays a signal for prohibiting travel in the particular turning direction.

3. The vehicle drive support device according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a speed of the host vehicle,

wherein, in a case where the vehicle speed sensor detects that a speed of the host vehicle exceeds a threshold value, the drive assistant operation unit supplies information with more information, a longer information supply time, a higher information supply frequency, or a higher attention degree, and drives the host vehicle with more manipulation, a longer time, or a higher manipulation frequency in comparison with a case where the vehicle speed sensor detects that a speed of the host vehicle is equal to or lower than the threshold value.

4. A vehicle drive support device comprising:

a red arrow light information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a red arrow light which displays a signal for prohibiting travel in a particular turning direction;

a drive assistant operation unit configured to supply information to a motorist of a host vehicle based on the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit and to drive the host vehicle without depending on manipulation by the motorist based on the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit, the drive assistant operation unit supplies the information to the motorist or drives the host vehicle dependent on a monitored state of the vehicle;

a travel direction detection unit that detects a travel direction of the host vehicle; and

a pedestrian detection unit that detects a possibility of presence of a pedestrian who crosses a direction in which the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit prohibits travel,

wherein, in a case where a travel direction of the host vehicle detected by the travel direction detection unit corresponds with a direction in which a signal of the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit prohibits travel, the drive assistant operation unit supplies information or drives the host vehicle,

wherein the drive assistant operation unit changes a timing for supplying information or a timing for driving the host vehicle depending on the possibility of presence of a pedestrian detected by the pedestrian detection unit,

wherein the pedestrian detection unit detects an illumination state of a pedestrian traffic signal for a pedestrian who crosses a direction in which a signal of the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit prohibits travel, and

wherein, in a case where the pedestrian detection unit detects that the pedestrian traffic signal displays a signal for permitting crossing of a pedestrian, the drive assistant operation unit expedites a timing for supplying information or a timing for driving the host vehicle in comparison with a case where the pedestrian detection unit detects that the pedestrian traffic signal displays a signal for prohibiting crossing of a pedestrian.

5. The vehicle drive support device according to claim 4, wherein the red arrow light information acquisition unit acquires information regarding an illumination state of the red arrow light, and

the drive assistant operation unit supplies information or drives the host vehicle when the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit displays a signal for prohibiting travel in the particular turning direction.

6. The vehicle drive support device according to claim 4, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a speed of the host vehicle,

wherein, in a case where the vehicle speed sensor detects that a speed of the host vehicle exceeds a threshold value, the drive assistant operation unit supplies information with more information, a longer information supply time, a higher information supply frequency, or a higher attention degree, and drives the host vehicle with more manipulation, a longer time, or a higher manipulation frequency in comparison with a case where the vehicle speed sensor detects that a speed of the host vehicle is equal to or lower than the threshold value.

7. A vehicle drive support device comprising:

a red arrow light information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a red arrow light which displays a signal for prohibiting travel in a particular turning direction;

a drive assistant operation unit configured to supply information to a motorist of a host vehicle based on the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit and to drive the host vehicle without depending on manipulation by the motorist based on the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit, the drive assistant operation unit supplies the information to the motorist or drives the host vehicle dependent on a monitored state of the vehicle;

a travel direction detection unit that detects a travel direction of the host vehicle; and

a pedestrian detection unit that detects a possibility of presence of a pedestrian who crosses a direction in which a signal of the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit prohibits travel,

wherein, in a case where a travel direction of the host vehicle detected by the travel direction detection unit corresponds with a direction in which a signal of the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit prohibits travel, the drive assistant operation unit supplies information or drives the host vehicle,

wherein the drive assistant operation unit changes a timing for supplying information or a timing for driving the host vehicle depending on the possibility of presence of a pedestrian detected by the pedestrian detection unit,

wherein the pedestrian detection unit acquires information regarding an illumination state of a vehicle traffic signal which displays a signal for prohibiting travel in a straight direction, and

wherein, in a case where the vehicle traffic signal relating to the information acquired by the pedestrian detection unit displays a signal for prohibiting travel in a straight direction, and the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit displays a signal for prohibiting travel in the particular turning direction, the drive assistant operation unit expedites a timing for supplying information or a timing for driving the host vehicle in comparison with a case where the vehicle traffic signal relating to the information acquired by the pedestrian detection unit displays a signal for permitting travel in a straight direction, and the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit displays a signal for prohibiting travel in the particular turning direction.

8. The vehicle drive support device according to claim 7, wherein the red arrow light information acquisition unit acquires information regarding an illumination state of the red arrow light, and

the drive assistant operation unit supplies information or drives the host vehicle when the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit displays a signal for prohibiting travel in the particular turning direction.

9. The vehicle drive support device according to claim 7, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a speed of the host vehicle,

wherein, in a case where the vehicle speed sensor detects that a speed of the host vehicle exceeds a threshold value, the drive assistant operation unit supplies information with more information, a longer information supply time, a higher information supply frequency, or a higher attention degree, and drives the host vehicle with more manipulation, a longer time, or a higher manipulation frequency in comparison with a case where the vehicle speed sensor detects that a speed of the host vehicle is equal to or lower than the threshold value.

10. A vehicle drive support device comprising:

a red arrow light information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a red arrow light which displays a signal for prohibiting travel in a particular turning direction;

a drive assistant operation unit configured to supply information to a motorist of a host vehicle based on the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit and to drive the host vehicle without depending on manipulation by the motorist based on the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit, the drive assistant operation unit supplies the information to the motorist or drives the host vehicle dependent on a monitored state of the vehicle;

a travel direction detection unit that detects a travel direction of the host vehicle; and

a pedestrian detection unit that detects a possibility of presence of a pedestrian who crosses a direction in which a signal of the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit prohibits travel,

wherein, in a case where a travel direction of the host vehicle detected by the travel direction detection unit corresponds with a direction in which a signal of the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit prohibits travel, the drive assistant operation unit supplies information or drives the host vehicle,

wherein the drive assistant operation unit changes a timing for supplying information or a timing for driving the host vehicle depending on the possibility of presence of a pedestrian detected by the pedestrian detection unit,

wherein the pedestrian detection unit detects presence of a pedestrian who crosses a direction in which a signal of the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit prohibits travel based on communication between the pedestrian and the host vehicle,

wherein, in a case where the pedestrian detection unit detects presence of a pedestrian who crosses a direction in which a signal of the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit prohibits travel, the drive assistant operation unit expedites a timing for supplying information or a timing for driving the host vehicle in comparison with a case where the pedestrian detection unit does not detect presence of a pedestrian who crosses a direction in which a signal of the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit prohibits travel.

11. The vehicle drive support device according to claim 10, wherein the red arrow light information acquisition unit acquires information regarding an illumination state of the red arrow light, and

the drive assistant operation unit supplies information or drives the host vehicle when the red arrow light relating to the information acquired by the red arrow light information acquisition unit displays a signal for prohibiting travel in the particular turning direction.

12. The vehicle drive support device according to claim 10, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a speed of the host vehicle,

wherein, in a case where the vehicle speed sensor detects that a speed of the host vehicle exceeds a threshold value, the drive assistant operation unit supplies information with more information, a longer information supply time, a higher information supply frequency, or a higher attention degree, and drives the host vehicle with more manipulation, a longer time, or a higher manipulation frequency in comparison with a case where the vehicle speed sensor detects that a speed of the host vehicle is equal to or lower than the threshold value.