Driving device and method using imaging device signal and navigation signal

• US 8,909,388 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2013
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Seon Su, Park, Seung-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US14/143,416
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0095 Automatic control mode change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/16 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/072 Curvature of the road
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/076 Slope angle of the road

Abstract

A driving device and method based on a front image and a navigation system are provided. The driving method includes receiving, by a controller, an image measured by a gyro sensor and an imaging device and calculating the condition of the road ahead. The controller determines the road condition from a navigation map which corresponds to the location received from a GPS and determines whether the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device and the road condition read out from the navigation map are the same. The method further includes operating, by the controller, a vehicle in a first driving mode corresponding to the condition of the road ahead based on the GPS and the navigation map, when the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device and the road condition read out from the navigation map are substantially the same.

Claims

1. A driving device based on a forward image and a navigation system, comprising;

a map storing unit configured to store a navigation map that includes road conditions and geographic information;

a GPS configured to calculate and output the current location in response to a GPS satellite signal;

an imaging device configured to obtain an image of a front area of a vehicle;

a gyro sensor configured to sense the inclination of the vehicle;

a timer configured to determine time;

a controller configured to;

calculate the condition of the road ahead from the images measured by the gyro sensor and the imaging device;

determine and compares the road condition from the navigation map that corresponds to the location received from the GPS; and

operate the vehicle to turn in a first driving mode that corresponds to the condition of the road ahead based on the GPS and the navigation map, when the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device and the road condition read out from the navigation map are substantially the same, as the result of the comparison; and

a shifting unit configured to shift based on a control signal from the controller.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to shift into a second driving mode based on the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device, when the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device and the road condition determination from the navigation map are different.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to:

calculate the condition of the road ahead from the image measured by the gyro sensor and the imaging device at a first cycle in the first driving mode;

shift by determining and comparing the road condition on the navigation map which corresponds to the location received from the GPS; and

shift at a second cycle shorter than the first cycle in the second driving mode.

4. A driving method based on a forward image and navigation, comprising:

receiving, by a controller, an image measured by a gyro sensor and an imaging device and calculating the condition of the road ahead;

determining, by the controller, the road condition on a navigation map which corresponds to the location received from a GPS;

determining, by the controller, whether the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device and the road condition determination from the navigation map are substantially the same; and

operating, by the controller, a vehicle in a first driving mode that corresponds to the condition of the road ahead based on the GPS and the navigation map, when the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device and the road condition read out from the navigation map are substantially the same.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

performing, by the controller, shifting control to a second driving mode based on the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device, when the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device and the road condition read out from the navigation map are different.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

calculating, by the controller, the condition of the road ahead from the image measured by the gyro sensor and the imaging device in the first cycle in the first driving mode;

shifting, by the controller, by determining and comparing the road condition on the navigation map which corresponds to the location received from the GPS; and

shifting, by the controller, in a second cycle shorter than a first cycle in the second driving mode.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

shifting or accelerating/decelerating, by the controller, based on weather or a fire from the road condition calculated by the imaging device in the second driving mode.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions executed by a controller, the computer readable medium comprising:

program instructions that receive an image measured by a gyro sensor and an imaging device and calculating the condition of the road ahead;

program instructions that determine the road condition on a navigation map which corresponds to the location received from a GPS;

program instructions that determine whether the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device and the road condition determination from the navigation map are substantially the same; and

program instructions that operate a vehicle in a first driving mode that corresponds to the condition of the road ahead based on the GPS and the navigation map, when the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device and the road condition read out from the navigation map are substantially the same.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising:

program instructions that perform shifting control to a second driving mode based on the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device, when the road condition calculated by the gyro sensor and the imaging device and the road condition read out from the navigation map are different.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

program instructions that calculate the condition of the road ahead from the image measured by the gyro sensor and the imaging device in the first cycle in the first driving mode;

program instructions that shift by determining and comparing the road condition on the navigation map which corresponds to the location received from the GPS; and

program instructions that shift in a second cycle shorter than a first cycle in the second driving mode.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, further comprising:

program instructions that shift or accelerate/decelerate, by the controller, based on weather or a fire from the road condition calculated by the imaging device in the second driving mode.