Method for Controlling Direction Indicator and Device for Controlling Direction Indicator

• US 20200130567A1
• Filed: 04/27/2017
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Taniguchi, Yohei, Shino, Tatsuya, Ishimaru, Shuko, Ito, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 10,926,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/343 Manually actuated switching arrangements therefor hand actuated multifunction switches B60Q1/1461; B60Q1/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/40 having mechanical, electric or electronic automatic return to inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/12 Lane keeping

Abstract

A direction indicator is configured to start blinking in response to an operation of a driver of a subject vehicle and automatically turn off after a first blinking time elapses. When the subject vehicle changes lanes in an automated or autonomous manner due to the operation of the driver, a control apparatus is used to extend the first blinking time to a second blinking time longer than the first blinking time and control the direction indicator to automatically turn off.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a direction indicator using a processor, the direction indicator being configured to start blinking in response to an operation of a driver of a subject vehicle and automatically turn off after a first blinking time elapses, the method comprising:

when the subject vehicle changes lanes in an automated or autonomous manner due to the operation of the driver, extending the first blinking time to a second blinking time longer than the first blinking time; and

controlling the direction indicator to automatically turn off.

2. The method of controlling a direction indicator according to claim 1, comprising:

when the subject vehicle changes lanes in the automated or autonomous manner, determining during the first blinking time whether or not the subject vehicle can change lanes, on a basis of a detection result of a first detector equipped in the subject vehicle to detect a situation around the subject vehicle; and

when determining that the subject vehicle can change lanes, extending the first blinking time to the second blinking time.

3. The method of controlling a direction indicator according to claim 1, comprising:

when the subject vehicle changes lanes in the automated or autonomous manner, determining during the first blinking time whether or not the driver has steered in a direction of the lane change, on a basis of a detection result of a second detector equipped in the subject vehicle to detect a direction of steering control performed by the driver; and

when determining that the driver has steered in the direction of the lane change, controlling the direction indicator to blink for the first blinking time from a timing at which the driver has steered.

5. The method of controlling a direction indicator according to claim 2, comprising:

when the subject vehicle changes lanes in the automated or autonomous manner, determining during the first blinking time whether or not the driver has steered in a direction of the lane change, on a basis of a detection result of a second detector equipped in the subject vehicle to detect a direction of steering control performed by the driver; and

when determining that the driver has steered in the direction of the lane change, controlling the direction indicator to blink for the first blinking time from a timing at which the driver has steered.

4. An apparatus for controlling a direction indicator, the apparatus comprising a processor configured to control the direction indicator to start blinking in response to an operation of a driver of a subject vehicle and automatically turn off after a first blinking time elapses, the processor operating to:

when the subject vehicle changes lanes in an automated or autonomous manner due to the operation of the driver, extend the first blinking time to a second blinking time longer than the first blinking time; and

control the direction indicator to automatically turn off.