Driving support system, driving support method and computer-readable storage medium storing program

• US 9,650,050 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zenrin Company Limited (Zenrin)
• Original Assignee: Zenrin Company Limited (Zenrin)
• Inventors: Inatsuka, Hiroyuki, Ogata, Shinji, Ohara, Hiroyuki, Nakamura, Junichi, Yuba, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US14/814,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20160046293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 701117-119, 701 70, 340992, 340907, 340915, 340909, 340905, 340936, 340901, 340929
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2400/00 Indexing codes relating to detected, measured or calculated conditions or factors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/30 Auxiliary equipments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

A driving support system includes a detector, a memory and a controller. The detector detects a present position of the vehicle. The memory stores lane information of a travelling lane and traffic light information in a state of being associated with each other. The traffic light information includes existing position information of a traffic light. The traffic light informs whether the vehicle travelling along the travelling lane is allowed to pass through the traffic light. The controller specifies the travelling lane on which the vehicle is travelling based on the lane information and the present position and supports the driving of the vehicle in accordance with the traffic light information and the traffic light associated with the travelling lane.

Claims

1. A driving support system for supporting a driving of a vehicle, the driving support system comprising:

a detector that detects a present position of the vehicle;

a memory that stores first lane information of a first travelling lane and first traffic light information in a state of being associated with each other, the first traffic light information including existing position information of a first traffic light, and that stores second lane information of a second travelling lane and second traffic light information in a state of being associated with each other, the second traffic light information including existing position information of a second traffic light, the first traffic light informing whether the vehicle travelling along the first travelling lane is allowed to pass through the first traffic light, and the second traffic light informing whether the vehicle travelling along the second travelling lane is allowed to pass through the second traffic light; and

a controller that specifies a travelling lane on which the vehicle is travelling based on the present position, that supports the driving of the vehicle in accordance with the first traffic light information of the first traffic light associated with the first travelling lane when the vehicle travels along the first travelling lane, and that supports the driving of the vehicle in accordance with the second traffic light information of the second traffic light associated with the second travelling lane when the vehicle travels along the second travelling lane.

2. The driving support system according to claim 1,

wherein the controller supports the driving of the vehicle by informing a vehicle driver of the first traffic light or the second traffic light, or by controlling an accelerator or a brake of the vehicle.

9. The driving support system according to claim 1,

wherein the memory further stores a first stop line position information indicating a position of a stop line associated with the first traffic light, and a second stop line position information indicating a position of a stop line associated with the second traffic light.

10. The driving support system according to claim 1,

wherein the controller supports the driving of the vehicle by initiating a displaying of a focus in association with a respective traffic light associated with the specified travelling lane.

11. The driving support system according to claim 1,

wherein the controller supports the driving of the vehicle by initiating an outputting of a sound.

13. The driving support system according to claim 1,

wherein the detector and the controller are each implemented via at least one processor.

3. A driving support system for supporting a driving of a vehicle, the driving support system comprising:

a detector that detects a present position of the vehicle;

a memory that stores first lane information of a first travelling lane and first traffic light information in a state of being associated with each other, the first traffic light information including existing position information of a first traffic light, the first traffic light informing whether the vehicle travelling along the first travelling lane is allowed to pass through the first traffic light, and that stores second lane information of a second travelling lane and second traffic light information in a state of being associated with each other, the second traffic light information including existing position information of a second traffic light, and the second traffic light informing whether the vehicle travelling along the second travelling lane is allowed to pass through the second traffic light;

a recognition unit that recognizes a display content of the first traffic light or the second traffic light; and

a controller that specifies the first travelling lane or the second travelling lane as a lane on which the vehicle is travelling based on the first lane information or the second lane information, and based on the present position, and that supports the driving of the vehicle in accordance with the first traffic light information or the second traffic light information, and in accordance with the display content of the first traffic light or the second traffic light associated with the specified lane.

4. The driving support system according to claim 3,

wherein the memory further stores a first stop line position information indicating a position of a stop line associated with the first traffic light, and a second stop line position information indicating a position of a stop line associated with the second traffic light,

wherein the controller supports the driving of the vehicle so as to stop the vehicle at the position of the first stop line associated with the first traffic light when the recognition unit recognizes the display content of the first traffic light as a display content which prompts to stop the vehicle, and

wherein the controller supports the driving of the vehicle so as to stop the vehicle at the position of the second stop line associated with the second traffic light when the recognition unit recognizes the display content of the second traffic light as a display content which prompts to stop the vehicle.

5. The driving support system according to claim 3,

wherein the controller supports the driving of the vehicle by informing a vehicle driver of the first traffic light or the second traffic light, or by controlling an accelerator or a brake of the vehicle.

12. The driving support system according to claim 3,

wherein the display content is associated with an output signal of the first traffic light or the second traffic light.

14. The driving support system according to claim 3,

wherein the detector, the recognition unit, and the controller are each implemented via at least one processor.

6. A driving support method for supporting a driving of a vehicle, the driving support method comprising:

detecting a present position of the vehicle;

storing first lane information of a first travelling lane and first traffic light information in a state of being associated with each other, the first traffic light information including existing position information of a first traffic light, the first traffic light informing whether the vehicle travelling along the first travelling lane is allowed to pass through the first traffic light;

storing second lane information of a second travelling lane and second traffic light information in a state of being associated with each other, the second traffic light information including existing position information of a second traffic light, and the second traffic light informing whether the vehicle travelling along the second travelling lane is allowed to pass through the second traffic light;

specifying a travelling lane on which the vehicle is travelling based on the present position; and

supporting the driving of the vehicle in accordance with the first traffic light information of the first traffic light associated with the first travelling lane when the vehicle travels along the first travelling lane, and that supports the driving of the vehicle in accordance with the second traffic light information of the second traffic light associated with the second travelling lane when the vehicle travels along the second travelling lane.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a program, which when executed by a computer causes the computer to execute operations of supporting a driving of a vehicle, the operations comprising:

storing a plurality of pieces of lane information of a plurality of travelling lanes, where the plurality of travelling lanes are positioned adjacent to each other within a road, each travelling lane being related to a respective piece of lane information;

storing a plurality of pieces of traffic light information that each includes existing position information of a respective traffic light, the respective traffic light which informs whether the vehicle travelling along a respective one of the travelling lanes is allowed to pass through the respective traffic light;

associating each one of the plurality of pieces of lane information with a respective one of the plurality of pieces of the traffic light information;

specifying a travelling lane on which the vehicle is travelling based on a present position of the vehicle, to support the driving of the vehicle in accordance with a first traffic light information of a first traffic light associated with a first travelling lane when the vehicle travels along the first travelling lane, and to supports the driving of the vehicle in accordance with a second traffic light information of a second traffic light associated with a second travelling lane when the vehicle travels along the second travelling lane,

wherein traffic light information associated with the first travelling lane is different from traffic light information associated with the second travelling lane.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium which stores data for causing a controller to execute operations of supporting a driving of a vehicle, the data comprising:

a plurality of pieces of lane information of a plurality of travelling lanes, wherein the plurality of travelling lanes are positioned adjacent to each other within a road, each travelling lane being related to a respective piece of lane information; and

a plurality of pieces of traffic light information that each includes existing position information of a respective traffic light, the respective traffic light which informs whether the vehicle travelling along a respective one of the travelling lanes is allowed to pass through the respective traffic light, each one of the plurality of pieces of the traffic light information in a state of being associated with a respective one of the plurality pieces of lane information,

wherein the controller supports the driving of the vehicle in accordance with a first traffic light information of a first traffic light associated with a first travelling lane when the vehicle travels along the first travelling lane, and supports the driving of the vehicle in accordance with a second traffic light information of a second traffic light associated with a second travelling lane when the vehicle travels along the second travelling lane, based on a present position of the vehicle, and

wherein traffic light information associated with the first travelling lane is different from traffic light information associated with the second travelling lane.