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US6882287B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Automotive lane change aid

Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc
•
Filing: 2002-07-31
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Granted: 2005-04-19
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Expires: 2022-07-31
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Abstract

Abstract A vehicle lane change aid system includes a detector that is operative to detect the presence of an other vehicle adjacent the vehicle, an indicator for providing an indication that a lane change maneuver of the vehicle may affect the other vehicle and a control receiving movement information of the vehicle. The control develops a position history of the vehicle at least as a function of the movement information. The control compares the detected presence of the other vehicle with the position history and provides an indication when a lane change maneuver may affect the other vehicle.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kenneth Schofield

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 19:24
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q9/00; B60Q9/008; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/34; B60Q1/346; B60R; B60R11/00; B60R11/04; B62; B62D; B62D15/00; B62D15/02; B62D15/029; G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G06; G06F; G06F18/00; G06F18/20; G06F18/24; G06V; G06V20/00; G06V20/50; G06V20/56; G06V20/58; G06V20/588; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/16; G08G1/161; G08G1/163; G08G1/167; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/90; B60R2300/00; B60R2300/80; B60R2300/804; B60T; B60T2201/00; B60T2201/08; B60T2201/089; G01S2013/9315; G01S2013/9316; G01S2013/932; G01S2013/9323; G01S2013/9324; G01S2013/9325; G01S2013/9327; G01S2013/93274

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim 129 words
A vehicle lane change aid system, comprising: a detector operative to detect the presence of another vehicle adjacent a vehicle; an indicator for providing an indication that a lane change maneuver of said vehicle may affect the another vehicle; a control receiving movement information of said vehicle, said control developing a position history of said vehicle at least as a function of said movement information, said control comparing said detected presence of the another vehicle with said position history and providing said indication when a lane change maneuver may affect the another vehicle; and a wireless communication system, wherein said wireless communication system is operable to receive information on road conditions; wherein said control develops said position history at least partially in response to said information on road conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 129 words
A vehicle lane change aid system, comprising: a detector operative to detect the presence of another vehicle adjacent a vehicle; an indicator for providing an indication that a lane change maneuver of said vehicle may affect the another vehicle; a control receiving movement information of said vehicle, said control developing a position history of said vehicle at least as a function of said movement information, said control comparing said detected presence of the another vehicle with said position history and providing said indication when a lane change maneuver may affect the another vehicle; and a wireless communication system, wherein said wireless communication system is operable to receive information on road conditions; wherein said control develops said position history at least partially in response to said information on road conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
The lane change aid system of claim 1 wherein said control determines a monitored zone in from said position history and provides said indication when said other vehicle is in said monitored zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The lane change aid system of claim 1 wherein said control determines said position history at least as a function of incremental distance traveled and steering angle of said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
The lane change aid system of claim 3 including a wheel rotation sensor signal indicative of said incremental distance traveled and a steering angle signal indicative of said steering angle of said vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
The lane change aid system of claim 4 wherein at least one of said wheel rotation sensor signal and said steering angle signal are provided over a vehicle data bus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
The lane change aid system of claim 1 wherein said detector is chosen from at least one of an image-based device, a radar sensor, an infrared sensor, a sonar sensor and a laser device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
The lane change aid system of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a plurality of sensors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
The lane change aid system of claim 7 including a video processor module, said video processor module receiving outputs of said plurality of sensors and combining said outputs in a database.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
The lane change aid system of claim 8 wherein said video processor module comprises said control.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
The lane change aid system of claim 9 wherein said control comprises a microcomputer-based control.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 33 words
The lane change aid system of claim 8 wherein said outputs of said plurality of sensors are supplied over a transmission link chosen from one of a fiber-optic cable and a wireless link.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 15 words
The lane change aid system of claim 1 wherein said indicator comprises a visual display.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
The lane change aid system of claim 12 wherein said visual display is adjacent an exterior mirror assembly attached to the vehicle door.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 29 words
The lane change aid system of claim 13 wherein said visual display is visible to a driver of said vehicle but not substantially visible to drivers of other vehicles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 16 words
The lane change aid system of claim 12 wherein said visual display comprises a heads-up display.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 15 words
The lane change aid system of claim 1 wherein said indicator comprises a tactile display.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 20 words
The lane change aid system of claim 16 wherein said tactile device is at a steering wheel of said vehicle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 16 words
The lane change aid system of claim 16 wherein said tactile device comprises a vibration transducer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 15 words
The lane change aid system of claim 1 wherein said indicator comprises an audio device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 23 words
The lane change aid system of claim 19 wherein said audio device generates at least one chosen from voice commands and audio warnings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 18 words
The lane change aid system of claim 1 wherein said control is operable to recognize lane edge positions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 21 words
The lane change aid system of claim 21 wherein said control is operable to distinguish between certain types of lane markers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 23 words
The lane change aid system of claim 22 wherein said control is operable to distinguish between at least dashed-line markers and non-dashed-line markers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 16 words
The lane change aid system of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a forward-facing imaging device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 24 words
The lane change aid system of claim 24 wherein said detector is operable to detect an oncoming car likely to collide with said vehicle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 32 words
The lane change aid system of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises at least one chosen from a rearward-facing camera, a side object detector, and a forward-facing camera and a side-facing camera.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 17 words
The lane change aid system of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises at least one imaging device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 23 words
The lane change aid system of claim 27 including a transmission system for transmitting image data from said at least one imaging device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 15 words
The lane change aid system of claim 28 including distributed processing of said image data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 34 words
The lane change aid system of claim 29 including at least one non-imaging device wherein said distributed processing processes data of said at least one imaging device and said at least one non-imaging device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 16 words
The lane change aid system of claim 30 wherein said data is in a common format.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 113 words
A vehicle lane change aid system, comprising: a detector operative to detect the presence of another vehicle adjacent a vehicle; an indicator for providing an indication that a lane change maneuver of said vehicle may affect the another vehicle; a control receiving movement information of said vehicle, said control developing a position history of said vehicle at least as a function of said movement information, said control comparing said detected presence of the another vehicle with said position history and providing said indication when a lane change maneuver may affect the another vehicle; wherein said detector comprises a forward-facing image device; and wherein said detector is operable to detect a traffic control device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 113 words
A vehicle lane change aid system, comprising: a detector operative to detect the presence of another vehicle adjacent a vehicle; an indicator for providing an indication that a lane change maneuver of said vehicle may affect the another vehicle; a control receiving movement information of said vehicle, said control developing a position history of said vehicle at least as a function of said movement information, said control comparing said detected presence of the another vehicle with said position history and providing said indication when a lane change maneuver may affect the another vehicle; wherein said detector comprises a forward-facing image device; and wherein said detector is operable to detect a traffic control device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 24 words
The lane change aid system of claim 32 wherein said position history comprises stored data representative of the preceding path traveled by said vehicle.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 13 words
The lane change aid system of claim 32 including a wireless communication system.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 21 words
The lane change aid system of claim 34 wherein said wireless communication system is operable to receive information on road conditions.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 24 words
The lane change aid system of claim 32 wherein said control determines if said vehicle is not responding to a detected traffic control device.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 27 words
The lane change aid system of claim 32 including a wireless communication system, wherein said control is operable to transmit safety warnings with said wireless communication system.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 30 words
The lane change aid system of claim 37 wherein said control is operable to determine if said vehicle may not stop in time to avoid a collision with another vehicle.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 55 words
The lane change aid system of claim 38 wherein said control responds to a determination that said vehicle may not stop in time to avoid a collision with said other vehicle by at least one chosen from transmitting a safety warning to the other vehicle and activation of a horn or headlights of said vehicle.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 32 words
The lane change aid system of claim 32 wherein said control includes an output for activating a turn signal of said vehicle in response to vehicle movement indicative of a lane change.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 14 words
The lane change aid system of claim 32 including at lane departure warning system.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 19 words
The lane change aid system of claim 41 wherein said lane departure warning system includes lane edge position determination.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 19 words
The lane change aid system of claim 42 wherein said lane departure warning system further includes oncoming vehicle monitoring.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 15 words
The lane change aid system of claim 42 further including a side object detection device.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 28 words
The lane change aid system of claim 33 further wherein said data is representative of at least up to the preceding approximate 100 meters traveled by said vehicle.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2008-04-18 2008-10-18 2009-04-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2012-04-18 2012-10-18 2013-04-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2016-04-18 2016-10-18 2017-04-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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