Vehicle driving guidance device and method

• US 9,696,177 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2013
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sasaki, Makiko
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US14/911,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20160195407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 701 36, 701428, 34099517
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/166 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/167 Vehicle dynamics information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A traveling route data generation section serves as a predicted traveling route setting section and is configured to set a predicted traveling route to a host vehicle. A monitor serves as a display unit and is configured to display a route image corresponding to the predicted traveling route set to the host vehicle. The route image is displayed on the monitor in a display mode corresponding to a driving force and/or a braking force of the host vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle driving guidance device comprising:

a predicted traveling route setting section configured to set a predicted traveling route to a host vehicle;

a predicted traveling state setting section configured to formulate a traveling plan indicative of how to drive the host vehicle along the predicted traveling route and set either a driving state or a braking state of the host vehicle traveling on the predicted traveling route to a road ahead of the host vehicle based on the traveling plan;

a traveling plan image generation section configured to generate a traveling plan image in which traveling state distinction images indicating the driving state and the braking state set by the predicted traveling state setting section are positioned in a route image corresponding to the predicted traveling route; and

a display unit configured to display the traveling plan image.

2. The vehicle driving guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the predicted traveling state setting section formulates the traveling plan based on information about a road on which the host vehicle travels including a speed limit of the road and a state of a traffic light and based on a speed of the host vehicle.

3. The vehicle driving guidance device according to claim 2, wherein the predicted traveling state setting section determines a state of the traffic light based on imaging data obtained by a camera for imaging an outside from a front of the host vehicle.

4. The vehicle driving guidance device according to claim 1, further comprising an obstacle detection section configured to detect an obstacle located in front of the host vehicle,

wherein the predicted traveling state setting section formulates the traveling plan depending on a result of a presence or absence of the obstacle detected by the obstacle detection section or a distance between the host vehicle and the obstacle.

5. The vehicle driving guidance device according to claim 4, wherein the obstacle detection section detects the obstacle based on at least imaging data obtained by a camera for imaging an outside from a front of the host vehicle and ranging data obtained by a ranging sensor for measuring a distance between the host vehicle and an object present in front of the host vehicle.

6. The vehicle driving guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the traveling plan image generation section differentiates a color of the traveling state distinction image indicating the driving state from a color of the traveling state distinction image indicating the braking state.

7. The vehicle driving guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the traveling plan image generation section sets a width of the route image in a range of a minimum width corresponding to a width of weaving of the host vehicle due to a control error of steering of the host vehicle to a maximum width corresponding to a width in which the width of the weaving of the host vehicle due to the control error of the steering of the host vehicle is added to a width of the host vehicle.

8. The vehicle driving guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the traveling plan image generation section increases a scope of the route image in a direction in which the host vehicle travels as a speed of the host vehicle increases.

9. A vehicle driving guidance device comprising:

a predicted traveling route setting section configured to set a predicted traveling route to a host vehicle; and

a predicted traveling state setting section configured to formulate a traveling plan indicative of how to drive the host vehicle along the predicted traveling route and set either an accelerating state or a decelerating state of the host vehicle traveling on the predicted traveling route to a road ahead of the host vehicle based on the traveling plan;

a traveling plan image generation section configured to generate a traveling plan image in which traveling state distinction images indicating the accelerating state and the decelerating state set by the predicted traveling state setting section are positioned in a route image corresponding to the predicted traveling route; and

a display unit configured to display the traveling plan image.

10. The vehicle driving guidance device according to claim 9, wherein:

the predicted traveling state setting section sets the host vehicle to either the accelerating state, the decelerating state or a coasting state; and

the traveling plan image generation section generates the traveling plan image in which traveling state distinction images indicating the accelerating state, the decelerating state and the coasting state set by the predicted traveling state setting section are positioned in the route image corresponding to the predicted traveling route.

11. The vehicle driving guidance device according to claim 9, wherein the traveling plan image generation section differentiates a color of the traveling state distinction image indicating the accelerating state from a color of the traveling state distinction image indicating the decelerating state.

12. A vehicle driving guidance method comprising:

a first setting step of setting a predicted traveling route to a host vehicle;

a second setting step of formulating a traveling plan indicative of how to drive the host vehicle along the predicted traveling route and setting either a driving state or a braking state of the host vehicle traveling on the predicted traveling route to a road ahead of the host vehicle based on the traveling plan;

a generation step of generating a traveling plan image in which traveling state distinction images indicating the driving state and the braking state set in the second setting step are positioned in a route image corresponding to the predicted traveling route; and

a display step of displaying the traveling plan image on a display unit.

13. A vehicle driving guidance method comprising:

a first setting step of setting a predicted traveling route to a host vehicle;

a second setting step of formulating a traveling plan indicative of how to drive the host vehicle along the predicted traveling route and setting either an accelerating state or a decelerating state of the host vehicle traveling on the predicted traveling route to a road ahead of the host vehicle based on the traveling plan;

a generation step of generating a traveling plan image in which traveling state distinction images indicating the accelerating state and the decelerating state set in the second setting step are positioned in a route image corresponding to the predicted traveling route; and

a display step of displaying the traveling plan image on a display unit.