DRIVING SUPPORT APPARATUS

• US 20170174262A1
• Filed: 12/20/2016
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: KOBAYASHI, Ayaka, WAKITA, Kentaro
• Granted Patent: US 10,486,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/00 Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/20 Direction indicator values
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/207 Steering angle of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/12 Lane keeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18163 Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0265 Automatic obstacle avoidance by steering
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A driving support apparatus includes an other vehicle detector, an other vehicle information acquisition unit, a proximity detector, a proximity controller and a setting unit. The other vehicle detector detects an other vehicle travelling on the second lane. The other vehicle information acquisition unit acquires information containing the size of the other vehicle. The proximity detector outputs a proximity signal when it is detected that the other vehicle is located in the detection range of set on the second lane at a predetermined detection distance from the own vehicle. The proximity controller activates a proximity control unit when detecting that a turn signal lever is operated while the proximity signal is being output. The setting unit increases the detection distance according to the size of the other vehicle.

Claims

1. A driving support apparatus comprising:

an other vehicle detection unit which detects a other vehicle travelling on a second lane adjacent to a first lane on which an own vehicle is travelling;

an other vehicle information acquisition unit which acquires information containing at least a size of the other vehicle detected by the other vehicle detection unit;

a proximity detector which outputs an proximity signal when it is detected that the other vehicle is located in a detection range set on the second lane at a predetermined detection distance from the own vehicle;

a proximity controller which activates a proximity control unit when it is detected that a turn signal lever is operated for a direction in which the own vehicle is to be moved towards a same side as that where the other vehicle was detected while the proximity signal is being output; and

a setting unit which compares a size of the own vehicle with that of the other vehicle and increases the detection distance more as the size of the other vehicle is larger than that of the own vehicle.

2. The driving support apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the proximity control unit includes at least one of a warning lamp to be lit at a position in sight of the driver of the own vehicle, a loudspeaker which outputs a warning sound inside the own vehicle and a vibrator which generates vibration in a steering of the own vehicle.

3. The driving support apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the own vehicle comprises an assist device which changes a steering angle of the steering, and

the proximity control unit includes the assistant device which generates a steering reaction force in a direction which inhibits the own vehicle from approaching the second lane.

4. The driving support apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the own vehicle comprises an assist device which changes a steering angle of the steering, and

the proximity control unit includes the assistant device which generates a steering reaction force in a direction which inhibits the own vehicle from approaching the second lane.

5. The driving support apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the setting unit increases the detection distance to a rear side by a respective distance predetermined according to the size of the other vehicle each time one of following cases is satisfied, where a head lamp of the own vehicle is lit, where a windshield wiper of the own vehicle is being operated, and outdoor air of the own vehicle is at a predetermined temperature or lower.

6. The driving support apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the information of the other vehicle includes a speed of the other vehicle, and

the setting unit compares the speed of the own vehicle with that speed of the other vehicle, and decreases the detection distance if the speed of the own vehicle is faster than that of the other vehicle, or increases the detection distance if the own vehicle is slower than that of the other vehicle.

7. The driving support apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the own vehicle comprises a first camera which has an angle of view including the second lane ahead of the own vehicle in which and a second camera which has an angle of view including the second lane of a rear-side area of the own vehicle in which, and

the other vehicle detection unit detects the other vehicle based on images acquired by at least one of the first camera and the second camera, and

the other vehicle information acquisition unit acquires information including at least a size of the other vehicle based on images acquired with at least one of the first camera and the second camera.

8. The driving support apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the own vehicle further comprises an antenna which receives electric waves emitted from a satellite of global positioning system, a positioning device which computes a three-dimensional position of the own vehicle from the electric wave received with the antenna and a communication device which acquires information on a location near the own vehicle based on the three-dimensional position,

the other vehicles detection unit detects the vehicle through the communication device based on the three-dimensional position, and

the other vehicle information acquisition unit acquires information containing at least the size of the other vehicle through the communication device based on the three-dimensional position.