System and method for monitoring road conditions using blind spot information

• US 9,489,849 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2014
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ichinokawa, Jumpei
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US14/219,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20150269843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/905, 701117-119, 701/301, 348/148, 348/149
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• 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

A system for monitoring roadway conditions for a vehicle has a control unit processing data captured by a plurality of existing blind spot information sensors coupled to the vehicle to detect objects around the vehicle, the data processed indicating congestion on the roadway.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring conditions on a roadway for a vehicle comprising:

a control unit monitoring a number of times that a plurality of existing blind spot information sensors coupled to the vehicle detect objects around the vehicle when the vehicle is moving, the number of times indicating traffic congestion on lanes of the roadway adjacent to and carrying traffic in a same direction as the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is a server located remotely from the vehicle, the server processing and storing the number of times the plurality of existing blind spot information sensors coupled to the vehicle detect objects around the vehicle when the vehicle is moving for transmittal to other vehicles.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a

Global Positioning System (GPS) unit coupled to the control unit recalculates a route for the vehicle to travel when the number of times the plurality of existing blind spot information sensors coupled to the vehicle detect objects around the vehicle when the vehicle is moving indicates traffic congestion on the roadway.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit has a plurality of threshold limits for the number of objects detected by the while the vehicle travels a predetermined distance, for indicating different traffic congestion levels on the roadway.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein

continuous detection of an object for a predetermined timeframe by one of the plurality of existing blind spot information sensors located on a left side of the vehicle provides a signal output by the control unit indicating that the vehicle is moving in a furthest left hand lane of the roadway carrying traffic in the same direction as the vehicle in relation to a driver of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein non-detection of an object for a predetermined timeframe by one of the plurality of existing blind spot information sensors located on a right side of the vehicle provides a signal output by the control unit indicating that the vehicle is moving in a furthest right hand lane of the roadway carrying traffic in the same direction as the vehicle in relation to a driver of the vehicle.