Lane keep assist system having augmented reality indicators and method thereof

• US 9,403,436 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2015
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Yamada, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/620,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20160236569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/439, 340/932.2, 340/575, 340/576, 340/444, 340/447, 340/438, 340/461, 340/465, 340/466
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/167 Vehicle dynamics information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/172 Driving mode indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/177 Augmented reality
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver

Abstract

A vehicle having a head-up display for a lane keep assist system showing augmented reality indicators is provided. The vehicle determines a direction of travel and displays the augmented reality indicators on the head-up display represented at tire positions within the vehicle and angled in the direction of travel.

Claims

1. A method for alerting a driver of a vehicle deviating from a lane comprising:

determining a steering angle of the vehicle;

determining a projected path based on the steering angle;

displaying augmented reality indicators on a head-up display represented as wheel tracks of the vehicle in a direction of the steering angle; and

providing an alert notification through the augmented reality indicators on the head-up display when the projected path crosses the lane.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising initializing the augmented reality indicators by extending the augmented reality indicators to a point beyond a line of sight.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the steering angle of the vehicle comprises retrieving vehicle data from an angle monitor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the projected path based on the steering angle comprises extending imaginary lines out of the wheel tracks.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the augmented reality indicators on the head-up display represented as the wheel tracks of the vehicle in the direction of the steering angle comprises aligning the wheel tracks with tire positions on the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the alert notification through the augmented reality indicators on the head-up display when the projected path crosses the traffic lane comprises extending an augmented reality indicator on the head-up display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the alert notification through the augmented reality indicators on the head-up display when the projected path crosses the traffic lane comprises providing a blind spot warning when a neighboring vehicle is approaching.

8. A lane keep assist system of a vehicle comprising:

a head-up display;

at least one processor; and

a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing program instructions that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

determine a direction of travel;

display augmented reality indicators on the head-up display represented at tire positions within the vehicle and angled in the direction of travel.

9. The lane keep assist system of claim 8, wherein the head-up display provides three-dimensional graphics on a ground plane.

10. The lane keep assist system of claim 8, comprising an angle motor for determining the direction of travel.

11. The lane keep assist system of claim 8, wherein the augmented reality indicators on the head-up display are depicted as wheel tracks.

12. The lane keep assist system of claim 8, wherein the memory storing program instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to extend an augmented reality indicator on the head-up display when the vehicle is predicted to deviate from the lane.

13. The lane keep assist system of claim 12, wherein the memory storing program instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to highlight the augmented reality indicator when a neighboring vehicle is present.

14. The lane keep assist system of claim 13, wherein the memory storing program instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to change the color of the augmented reality indicator reflecting a speed of the neighboring vehicle.

15. The lane keep assist system of claim 8, wherein the memory storing program instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to display lane guidance markings outside the display augmented reality indicators.

16. A vehicle comprising:

an angle monitor determining a steering angle; and

a head-up display depicting augmented reality indicators represented at tire positions on the vehicle and angled in the direction of the steering angle.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the augmented reality indicators are wheel tracks displayed on a ground plane.

18. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein an augmented reality indicator is extended when a projected path veers into an adjacent lane.

19. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein an augmented reality indicator is highlighted when a neighboring vehicle is in a blind spot.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the augmented reality indicator changes color of the augmented reality indicator reflecting a speed of the neighboring vehicle.