Vehicle range-based lane change assist system and method

• US 20060261936A1
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Widmann, Glenn R., Smith, Matthew R., Harter, Joseph E. Jr., Scharenbroch, Gregory K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,501,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A lane change assist system and method are provided for assisting the driver of the vehicle in maneuvering a lane change. The system includes a range sensor mounted on a vehicle for sensing range to an object in a side detection zone adjacent to one side of the vehicle. The system also includes a controller for determining when the side detection zone is clear for the vehicle to change lanes based on the sensed range signal. The controller determines whether there is sufficient space to initial a lane change maneuver based on the sensed range signal and generates an output signal indicative thereof. An output is provided to warning lights indicative of the determined state for initiating the lane change maneuver.

Claims

1. A system for assisting the driver of a vehicle to maneuver a lane change, said system comprising:

a range sensor mounted on a vehicle for detecting an object in a side detection zone adjacent to one side of the vehicle and sensing range to the object;

a controller for determining when the side detection zone is clear for the vehicle to change lanes based on the sensed range, wherein the controller determines whether the side detection zone is sufficiently clear to initiate a lane change maneuver based on the sensed range and generates an output signal indicative thereof; and

an output for outputting the output signal indicative of the determined state for initiating the lane change maneuver.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising an indicator device for indicating to the driver of the vehicle when a lane change maneuver can be initiated based on the output signal.

3. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the indicator device comprises:

a first warning indicator for warning the driver when an object is detected in a first side detection zone; and

a second warning indicator for warning the driver when an object is detected in a second extended detection zone beyond the side detection zone.

4. The system as defined in claim 3, wherein the first and second warning indicators each comprises at least one LED.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the range sensor comprises a laser range sensor.

6. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the range sensor is located on a mirror assembly on the exterior side of the vehicle.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the range sensor is calibrated to calibrate range and angle of the sensor.

8. A method of assisting a driver of a vehicle in performing a lane change maneuver, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing presence of an object in a side region of a vehicle;

detecting range to the object detected in said side region of the vehicle;

comparing the determined range to at least one threshold range;

determining the object is within a side detection zone of the vehicle when the range is less than the at least one threshold range; and

generating an output signal indicative of the object being within the near detection zone when the determined range exceeds the threshold range.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the method further comprises the step of initiating a warning indicator based on the output signal when the determined range is less than a first threshold range.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the step of initiating a second indicator warning when the determined range exceeds the first greater threshold and is less than a second threshold range.

11. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein the warning indicator comprises a light indicator.

12. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the step of sensing comprises transmitting a laser beam.

13. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the method further comprises the step of calibrating the range sensor to calibrate angle and range.