USER ADAPTIVE VEHICLE HAZARD WARNING APPARATUSES AND METHOD

• US 20080042813A1
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: WHEATLEY, DAVID J., HURWITZ, JOSHUA B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,609,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• 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

Apparatuses and methods for providing improved in-vehicle warnings are disclosed. A driver'"'"'s prior driving performance and a summary representation of that performance may be used as parameters in a hazard or collision warning algorithm. Information from sensors regarding the vehicle, driver, and external traffic and roadway conditions may be used to estimate driver performance variables in particular driving situations. Each driver performance estimate may be included into one or more overall summary variables for that driving situation. The value of these summary variables may then be used in an algorithm to control the nature and timing of a warning, when a similar situation arises again in the future.

Claims

1. A method of controlling presentation of vehicle hazard warnings to a driver of a vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

identifying the driver of the vehicle;

detecting a driving situation based upon information from one or more sensors;

detecting a potential driving hazard;

determining a predicted driver performance parameter for the identified driver to avoid the hazard in the driving situation based upon stored information regarding past performances of the identified driver in one or more similar driving situations;

determining an estimated driver performance parameter for the identified driver in the detected driving situation in order to avoid the hazard;

comparing the predicted driver performance parameter to the estimated driver performance parameter;

determining whether to provide a warning to the identified driver, based upon the act of comparing; and

if the act of comparing indicates that the warning should be provided, determining one or more modalities of presentation of the warning.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving situation comprises following a lead vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the driving hazard comprises deceleration of the lead vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predicted driver performance parameter comprises a response time for the identified driver when responding to the driving hazard.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predicted driver performance parameter comprises speed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predicted driver performance parameter comprises acceleration.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

measuring an actual performance parameter for the identified driver; and

updating the stored information regarding the past performances of the identified driver, based upon the actual performance parameter for the identified driver.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more modalities of presentation comprises visual presentation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more modalities of presentation comprises auditory presentation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more modalities of presentation comprises haptic presentation.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of determining a starting time for the warning based upon the identity of the driver and the stored information regarding past performances of the identified driver.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of determining an intensity for the warning based upon the identity of the driver and the stored information regarding past performances of the identified driver.

13. An apparatus for providing a warning to a driver when operating a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor integration module operable to identify a driving situation based upon information received from one or more sensors;

a threat assessment module operable to determine an estimated driver performance parameter in order for the driver to avoid a potential driving hazard, wherein the threat assessment module is communicably coupled to the sensor integration module;

a storage module operable to store information regarding the driver'"'"'s performance, wherein the storage module is communicably coupled to the sensor integration module;

a driver interface control module operable to determine whether to provide a warning to the driver based upon the information regarding the driver'"'"'s performance, wherein the driver interface control module is communicably coupled to the threat assessment module; and

one or more warning devices communicably coupled to the driver interface control module.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more warning devices comprise a visual warning device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more warning devices comprise an auditory warning device.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more warning devices comprise a haptic warning device.

17. A method of providing a hazard warning to a driver of a vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

identifying the driver of the vehicle;

detecting a driving situation based upon information from one or more sensors;

detecting a potential hazard;

determining a predicted time available for the identified driver to avoid the hazard;

determining an estimated response time for the identified driver to respond to the potential hazard, based upon stored information regarding past performances of the identified driver in one or more similar driving situations; and

providing the hazard warning to the identified driver, if the time available for the identified driver to avoid the potential hazard is less than or equal to the estimated response time plus a safety margin, wherein the safety margin is greater than or equal to zero.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the act of measuring the actual response time for the identified driver to respond to the potential hazard.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the act of updating the stored information regarding past performances of the identified driver based on the actual response time.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the act of determining one or more modalities of presentation of the hazard warning based on the identity of the driver.