Automated vehicle simulated lane-marking guidance system

• US 10,551,849 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2017
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Agarwal, Divya, Laur, Michael H., Hilnbrand, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trivedi, Atul
• Application Number:
  US15/713,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20190094880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/12 Lane keeping
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/10 Recognition assisted with metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

A simulated-attribute guidance system for an automated vehicle includes a location-device, a digital-map, and a controller. The location-device indicates a location of a host-vehicle. The digital-map indicates a position of a simulated-attribute proximate to the location of the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the location-device and the digital-map. The controller is configured to operate the host-vehicle in accordance with the simulated-attribute.

Claims

1. A simulated-attribute guidance system for an automated vehicle, said system comprising:

a location-device that indicates a location of a host-vehicle;

a digital-map that indicates a position of a simulated-attribute proximate to the location of the host-vehicle, wherein the simulated-attribute indicates a travel-path other than what is defined by instances of lane-markings present about the host-vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the location-device and the digital-map, said controller configured to operate the host-vehicle in accordance with the simulated-attribute.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the simulated-attribute includes a lane-marking.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the simulated-attribute includes a traffic-signal.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system includes

a camera that renders an image of an area proximate to a host-vehicle;

and

an image-processor configured to overlay the simulated-attribute onto the image, wherein the controller is configured to operate the host-vehicle in accordance with the simulated-attribute indicated in the image.

5. The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the image-processor is configured to remove an actual-marking from the image that is in conflict with the simulated-attribute.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the simulated-attribute includes pattern-information that defines a meaning of the simulated-attribute.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the simulated-attribute includes metadata that defines a meaning of the simulated-attribute.

8. A method of operating an automated vehicle, said method comprising:

determining a location of a host-vehicle with a location-device;

receiving, from a digital-map, a simulated-attribute proximate to the location of the host-vehicle, wherein the simulated-attribute indicates a travel-path other than what is defined by instances of lane-markings present about the host-vehicle; and

operating the host-vehicle in accordance with the simulated-attribute.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the simulated-attribute includes a lane-marking.

10. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the simulated-attribute includes a traffic-signal.

11. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the method includes

rendering an image of an area proximate to a host-vehicle;

and

overlaying the simulated-attribute onto the image.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the method includes

removing an actual-marking from the image that is in conflict with the simulated-attribute.

13. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the simulated-attribute includes pattern-information that defines a meaning of the simulated-attribute.

14. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the simulated-attribute includes metadata that defines a meaning of the simulated-attribute.