Early detection of turning and automatic response by the vehicle

• US 9,701,241 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2015
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Raghu, Kaushik, Natarajan, Premkumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Pipala, Edward J
• Application Number:
  US14/857,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20170080853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/80 characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• 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: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

A system and method for early detection of turning intent and automatic actuation of a turn signal in a vehicle is provided. The system has an image recognition system and turn determination unit for identifying turn predictors and processing them to determine if a turn is about to happen. In response, a corresponding turn signal is automatically initiated for a predetermined period of time, and further vehicle systems can be updated.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle system for detecting a vehicle is about to turn comprising:

one or more sensors configured to detect one or more turn predictors;

left and right turn signal indicators to signal a direction the vehicle is about to turn; and

means for determining the vehicle is about to turn based on input from the one or more sensors so that one of the left and right turn signal indicators is automatically activated based on the determination,

wherein one of the right and left turn signal indicators is automatically deactivated after a predetermined amount of time has passed since one of the right and left turn signals is activated and the vehicle has not completed a turn.

2. The in-vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the means for determining includes a turn determination unit having a processor that uses turn logic to evaluate the inputs from the one or more sensors.

3. The in-vehicle system of claim 2, wherein the turn determination unit determines the vehicle is about to turn in response to detection of an arrow painted on a portion of a road that the vehicle passes over.

4. The in-vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises an image recognition system including one or more cameras mounted in the vehicle.

5. The in-vehicle system of claim 4, wherein the image recognition system includes a one or more databases and a processor configured to compare the sensed images with stored turn predictor images to detect at least one or more visual turn predictors.

6. The in-vehicle system of claim 5, wherein the one or more visual turn predictors comprises at least one of:

road turn predictors, sign turn predictors, traffic light turn predictors, or other vehicle turn predictors.

7. The in-vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the means for determining the vehicle is about to turn updates a navigation system in the vehicle based on the determination.

8. The in-vehicle system of claim 7, wherein the update to the navigation system comprises updated route guidance in response to the determination that the vehicle is about to turn.

9. An in-vehicle system for detecting a vehicle is about to turn comprising:

an image recognition system configured to detect one or more turn predictors;

a processor on which is stored computer code which, when executed on the processor, causes the system to;

determine that the vehicle is about to turn based on one or more turn predictors detected by the image recognition system, and

update the function of one or more components in the vehicle based on the determination,

wherein the processor further determines the direction the vehicle is about to turn based on the one or more turn predictors and activates a corresponding turn signal for a predetermined time period and deactivates the corresponding turn signal after the predetermined time period has passed when no turn has occurred.

10. The in-vehicle system of claim 9, wherein the one or more components further comprise, a driver assistance system and a navigation system.

11. The in-vehicle system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to receive inputs from a speedometer and a navigation system and determine the vehicle is about to turn based on inputs form the speedometer, the navigation system, and the image recognition system.

12. The in-vehicle system of claim 11, wherein the processor determines the vehicle is about to turn in response to one or more turn predictors from the image recognition system and a change in vehicle speed input from the speedometer.

13. The in-vehicle system of claim 11, wherein the processor determines the vehicle is about to turn in response to one or more turn predictors from the image recognition system and indication of an intersection ahead input from the navigation system.

14. The image recognition system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to determine the vehicle is about to turn based on the image recognition system detecting a turn arrow on a road directly in the forward path of the vehicle and to determine the vehicle is not about to turn based on the image recognition system detecting a turn arrow on a road offset from the forward path of the vehicle.

15. A method for determining a vehicle is about to turn and automatically controlling activation of a turn signal indicator, the method comprising:

detecting one or more visual turn predictors with an image recognition system;

determining the vehicle is about to turn based on the one or more detected visual indicators; and

automatically controlling activation of a turn signal to indicate a turning direction corresponding to the determination the vehicle is about to turn, and

automatically controlling deactivation of the turn signal after a predetermined time has passed and the vehicle has not turned.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising detecting a change in speed of the vehicle, wherein a processor is configured to determine the vehicle is about to turn based on the one or more detected visual indicators and the change in speed.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more detected visual indicators comprises at least one of a road indicator, a sign indicator, a traffic light indicator and another vehicle indicator.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein detecting one or more visual turn predictors comprises detecting one or more painted indicators on a road the vehicle is travelling on.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the vehicle is about to turn further comprises determining a direction the vehicle is about to turn.