Automatic turn signal activation during a lane change maneuver

• US 9,573,515 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2014
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Zagorski, Chad T., Moshchuk, Nikolai K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilgendorf, Dale W
• Application Number:
  US14/583,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20160185279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• 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

Abstract

A method for automatic activation of a vehicle turn indicator is disclosed. The method may include determining whether a lane change maneuver is impending in a specified direction. The method may also include determining whether the vehicle turn indicator has been activated through a driver interface. The vehicle turn indicator may be engaged when not activated through the driver interface.

Claims

1. A method for automatic activation of a vehicle turn indicator comprising the steps of:

identifying a destination lane separate from a current lane of travel;

determining whether a turning maneuver to change lanes from the current lane of travel to the destination lane is impending in a specified direction;

determining whether the vehicle turn indicator has been engaged through a driver interface, in the direction of the destination lane;

engaging the vehicle turn indicator if the vehicle turn indication has not activated through the driver interface and determining whether a second level turn signal activation is enabled; and

activating the vehicle turn indicator in the direction of the destination lane at an intensified level relative to a first level turn signal activation used when the second level turn signal activation is not enabled.

2. A method for automatic activation and deactivation of a vehicle turn indicator comprising the steps of:

determining a destination lane;

determining whether a turning maneuver is impending in a specified direction, where the specified direction is toward the destination lane;

determining whether the vehicle turn indicator has been activated in the specified direction through a driver interface;

evaluating whether the destination lane is in one direction, where the one direction is one of always to the left or always to the right;

not engaging the vehicle turn indicator if the vehicle turn indicator has been activated through the driver interface;

engaging the vehicle turn indicator in a second direction that is not the one direction when it is determined that the destination lane is not in the one direction, and if the vehicle turn indicator has not been activated through the driver interface, and engaging the vehicle turn indicator in the one direction when it is determined that the destination lane is in the one direction, and if the vehicle turn indicator has not been activated through the driver interface, and identifying a destination lane separate from a current lane of travel;

determining whether an automatic turn signal escalation is enabled; and

activating the vehicle turn indicator in the direction of the destination lane at an intensified level relative to a first level turn signal activation used when a second level turn signal activation is not enabled.

3. A method for automatic activation and deactivation of a vehicle turn indicator comprising the steps of:

determining a destination lane;

determining whether a turning maneuver is impending in a specified direction, where the specified direction is toward the destination lane;

determining whether the vehicle turn indicator has been activated in the specified direction through a driver interface;

evaluating whether the destination lane is in one direction, where the one direction is one of always to the left or always to the right;

not engaging the vehicle turn indicator if the vehicle turn indicator has been activated through the driver interface;

engaging the vehicle turn indicator in a second direction that is not the one direction when it is determined that the destination lane is not in the one direction, and if the vehicle turn indicator has not been activated through the driver interface, and engaging the vehicle turn indicator in the one direction when it is determined that the destination lane is in the one direction, and if the vehicle turn indicator has not been activated through the driver interface, and engaging the turn signal in a first level when the automatic turn signal escalation is not enabled; and

engaging the vehicle turn indicator in a second level when the automatic turn signal escalation is enabled, wherein the first level activates the turn signal in one direction at a first intensity and the second level activates the turn signal in one direction at a second intensity level that is greater than the first intensity level.

4. A method for automatic vehicle turn signal activation comprising the steps of:

determining whether a turning maneuver is impending in a specified direction;

determining whether an automatic turn signal activation is enabled;

determining whether an automatic turn signal escalation is enabled;

engaging the vehicle turn signal in a first level when the automatic turn signal activation is enabled and the automatic turn signal escalation is not enabled, indicating the turning maneuver in one direction;

engaging the vehicle turn signal in a second level when the automatic turn signal activation is enabled and the automatic turn signal escalation is enabled, indicating the turning maneuver in one direction, and determining a destination lane where the turning maneuver is a lane change from a current lane of travel to the destination lane;

determining whether automatic turn signal activation is enabled;

exiting without automatic turn signal activation when it is determined that automatic turn signal activation is not enabled;

determining whether an automatic turn signal escalation is enabled;

activating the vehicle turn indicator in the direction of the destination lane at an intensified level relative to a first level turn signal activation used when a second level turn signal activation is not enabled;

determining whether the turning maneuver is active; and

disengaging the vehicle turn signal when the turning maneuver is not active.