Navigation system activation of a vehicular directional signal

• US 9,440,581 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Wolterman, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOYER, DALE S
• Application Number:
  US14/064,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20140052313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/40 having mechanical, electric or electronic automatic return to inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09 Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions railroad crossing signals B61L; reflectors E01F, G08B; indicating arrangements for variable information by selection or combination of individual elements G09F9/00

Abstract

Devices, methods and systems describe a turn signal activation system. As the navigation system determines that the vehicle is approaching a turn or other operation, the turn signal may be automatically activated in the appropriate direction (e.g., right-turn signal for a right turn, and a left-turn signal for a left turn). Once the navigation system determines that it is appropriate to deactivate the turn signal, the turn signal may be automatically deactivated. In this fashion, other drivers on the road may be able to anticipate the actions of the vehicle based on the activation and deactivation of the turn signals, and thereby prevent accidents from occurring.

Claims

1. A method for automatically deactivating a turn signal of a vehicle having a vehicle control system, the method comprising:

determining, using the vehicle control system, that the turn signal is active;

determining, using a processor connected to or integrated in a navigation system, whether the vehicle has completed a turn;

determining, using the vehicle control system, whether the turn signal is deactivated; and

automatically deactivating the turn signal using the vehicle control system, in response to determining that the turn signal is not deactivated and that the vehicle has completed the turn.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, from the processor to the vehicle control system, a request for information including whether the turn signal is deactivated;

receiving, at the processor, a response from the vehicle control system indicating whether the turn signal is deactivated; and

transmitting, from the processor to the vehicle control system, a command to automatically deactivate the turn signal, wherein the step of automatically deactivating the turn signal is performed in response to receiving the command at the vehicle control system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the request, the response and the command are each wireless signals.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the request and the response are each signals transmitted using a data transmission wire.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

preventing, using the vehicle control system, the turn signal from being deactivated by an operation of a steering wheel of the vehicle until after determining that the vehicle has completed the turn.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, using the processor, whether the vehicle is past an intersection of the turn; and

automatically deactivating the turn signal using the vehicle control system, in response to determining that the turn signal is not deactivated and that the vehicle is past the intersection.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

preventing, using the vehicle control system, the turn signal from being deactivated by an operation of a steering wheel of the vehicle until after determining that the vehicle is past the intersection.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, using the processor or the vehicle control system, whether the vehicle is stopped;

determining, using the processor, whether the vehicle is past an intersection of the turn, after determining that the vehicle is stopped; and

automatically deactivating the turn signal using the vehicle control system, in response to determining that the turn signal is not deactivated and that the vehicle is past the intersection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation system is integrated into the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, using an audio or visual output of the vehicle or the navigation system, an indication that the turn signal was automatically deactivated.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the vehicle has completed the turn is performed in response to determining that the turn signal is active, and the step of determining whether the turn signal is deactivated is performed in response to determining that the vehicle has completed the turn.

12. A method for deactivating a turn signal of a vehicle having a vehicle control system, the method comprising:

determining, using the vehicle control system, that the turn signal is active;

determining, using a processor connected to or integrated in a navigation system, whether the vehicle has completed a turn;

transmitting, from the processor to the vehicle control system, a request for information including whether the turn signal is deactivated;

receiving, at the processor, a response from the vehicle control system indicating whether the turn signal is deactivated; and

transmitting, from the processor to the vehicle control system, a command for automatically deactivating the turn signal, after receiving the response indicating that the turn signal is not deactivated and after determining that the vehicle has completed the turn.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining, using the processor, that the vehicle is approaching the turn when a time to the turn or a distance to the turn is within a threshold; and

transmitting, the command from the processor to the vehicle control system, for automatically deactivating the turn signal, after determining that the vehicle is not approaching the turn.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

preventing, using the vehicle control system, the turn signal from being deactivated by an operation of a steering wheel of the vehicle until after determining that the vehicle has completed the turn.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining, using the processor or the vehicle control system, whether the vehicle is stopped;

determining, using the processor, whether the vehicle is past an intersection of the turn, after determining that the vehicle is stopped; and

automatically transmitting the command to the vehicle control system for automatically deactivating the turn signal, after determining that the vehicle is past the intersection.

16. A system for automatically deactivating a turn signal of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle control system configured to determine that the turn signal is active; and

a processor connected to or integrated in a navigation system, the processor configured to determine whether the vehicle has completed a turn,

wherein the vehicle control system is further configured to;

determine whether the turn signal is deactivated, and

automatically deactivate the turn signal, in response to determining that the turn signal is not deactivated and that the vehicle has completed the turn.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to:

transmit a request to the navigation system for information including whether the turn signal is deactivated,

receive a response from the vehicle control system indicating whether the turn signal is deactivated, and

transmit a command to the vehicle control system for automatically deactivating the turn signal.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the request, the response and the command are each wireless signals.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the request, the response and the command are each signals transmitted using a data transmission wire.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the vehicle control system is configured to prevent the turn signal from being deactivated by an operation of a steering wheel of the vehicle until after determining that the vehicle has completed the turn.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the vehicle is past an intersection of the turn, and the vehicle control system is configured to automatically deactivate the turn signal, in response to determining that the turn signal is not deactivated and that the vehicle is past the intersection.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the vehicle control system is configured to prevent the turn signal from being deactivated by an operation of a steering wheel of the vehicle until after determining that the vehicle is past the intersection.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein

the processor or the vehicle control system is configured to determine whether the vehicle is stopped,

the processor is configured to determine whether the vehicle is past an intersection of the turn, in response to determining that the vehicle is stopped, and

the vehicle control system is configured to automatically deactivate the turn signal, after determining that the turn signal is not deactivated and that the vehicle is past the intersection.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the navigation system is integrated into the vehicle.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein

the processor is configured to determine whether the vehicle has completed the turn is in response to determining that the turn signal is active, and

the vehicle control system is configured to determine whether the turn signal is deactivated in response to determining that the vehicle has completed the turn.

26. A system for automatically deactivating a turn signal of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle control system configured to determine that the turn signal is active;

a processor connected to or integrated in a navigation system, the processor configured to;

transmit a request to the vehicle control system for information including whether the turn signal is deactivated,

receive a response from the vehicle control system indicating whether the turn signal is deactivated,

determine whether the vehicle has completed a turn, and

transmit a command to the vehicle control system for automatically deactivating the turn signal, after receiving the response indicating that the turn signal is not deactivated and after determining that the vehicle has completed the turn.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine that the vehicle is approaching the turn when a time to the turn or a distance to the turn is within a threshold, and

transmit the command to the vehicle control system for automatically deactivating the turn signal after determining that the vehicle is not approaching the turn.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the vehicle control system is configured to prevent the turn signal from being deactivated by an operation of a steering wheel of the vehicle until after determining that the vehicle has completed the turn.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein

the vehicle control system or the processor is configured to determine whether the vehicle is stopped,

the processor is configured to determine whether the vehicle is past an intersection of the turn, after determining that the vehicle is stopped, and

the processor is configured to automatically transmit the command to the vehicle control system for automatically deactivating the turn signal, after determining that the vehicle is past the intersection.