Having Inter-vehicle Distance Or Speed Control Patents (Class 701/96)
  • Patent number: 10380434
    Abstract: The present invention describes a vehicle detection system and method for detecting one or more vehicles in a dynamic varying region of interest, ROI. The system comprises a scene recognition module (101), a road topology estimation module (102), and a vehicle detecting module (103). The scene recognition module is configured for receiving either high exposure image or low exposure image for identifying condition of one or more scenes in a dynamically varying region of interest. The road topology estimation module configured for receiving either high exposure image or low exposure image for determining at least one of a curve, slope and vanishing point of a road in the dynamically varying region of interest. The vehicle detecting module is coupled with the scene recognition module and road topology module for detecting one or more vehicles on the road at night time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: KPIT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Snehal Gor, Darshan Kumar Beeruka
  • Patent number: 10377383
    Abstract: A system includes a processor. The system includes a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a relative area within a specified distance from a first vehicle and free of another vehicle, identify a second vehicle within a second specified distance of the relative area, transmit the relative area to the second vehicle, and navigate the first vehicle to the relative area within a specified time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Lei, Allen R. Murray
  • Patent number: 10373498
    Abstract: A communication device (202) for performing communication with other vehicle through a wireless communication network which performs communication by switching a communication state to a standby state or to a connecting state, and a state setting means (208) for selectively setting a state of the communication device to the standby state or to the connecting state are provided, wherein the state setting means judges whether or not at least one predetermined condition is met based on the information on an own vehicle and/or the information on other vehicle, sets the communication device to the connecting state when the condition is met, and sets the communication device to the standby state provided that the condition is not met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tanabe
  • Patent number: 10363931
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control device which is capable of preventing a vehicle from being excessively close to a preceding vehicle, a vehicle control method and a vehicle control program. The vehicle control device includes: recognizer configured to recognize peripheral conditions, a gradient traveling controller configured to control traveling of the vehicle, a following traveling controller configured to control the traveling of the vehicle to maintain a predetermined distance from a preceding vehicle, and a receiver configured to receive at least one instruction to switch an operation of the gradient traveling controller and the following traveling controller to an ON state, wherein the operation of the following traveling controller is prioritized when at least one instruction to set the operation of both the gradient traveling controller and the following traveling controller to the ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kanta Tsuji, Shinji Ijima
  • Patent number: 10347127
    Abstract: A computing device may be configured to receive sensor information indicative of respective characteristics of vehicles on a road of travel of a first vehicle. The computing device may be configured to identify, based on the respective characteristics, a second vehicle that exhibits an aggressive driving behavior manifested as an unsafe or unlawful driving action. Also, based on the respective characteristics, the computing device may be configured to determine a type of the second vehicle. The computing device may be configured to estimate a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The computing device may be configured to modify a control strategy of the first vehicle, based on the aggressive driving behavior of the second vehicle, the type of the second vehicle, and the distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and control the first vehicle based on the modified control strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-yves Droz, Jiajun Zhu
  • Patent number: 10336336
    Abstract: A vehicular control apparatus includes at least one electronic control unit. The at least one electronic control unit is configured to recognize a first preceding vehicle in a driving lane and to calculate a first target acceleration of the vehicle. The at least one electronic control unit is also configured to recognize a second preceding vehicle in an adjacent lane, and to calculate a second target acceleration of the vehicle. The at least one electronic control unit is configured to acquire lane change information of the vehicle, and to select the smaller of the first target acceleration and the second target acceleration as a target acceleration of the vehicle. The at least one electronic control unit is configured to control a speed of the vehicle in a lane change period by using the selected target acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Matsumoto, Kazuaki Aso, Junichi Morimura
  • Patent number: 10328937
    Abstract: The invention relates to the operation of a motor vehicle having a long-distance driver assistance system comprising at least one sensor which detects the area in front of a vehicle, and a control device which is designed to detect another motor vehicle traveling ahead, in order to drive the motor vehicle relative to the other vehicle traveling ahead when the driver assistance system is activated and operationally ready, wherein the activated driver assistance system can be deactivated from a control or regulating mode by driver activity, wherein upon deactivation, the system may enter into a system standby mode continuously detecting the area in front of the motor vehicle, and can reactivate autonomously once another motor vehicle traveling ahead is detected and a drag deceleration is required to reduce a velocity difference between the operated motor vehicle and the other vehicle traveling ahead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Stefan Schuberth, Ralf Held, Jörg Hösterei
  • Patent number: 10328938
    Abstract: An adaptive cruise control system for motor vehicles, including a sensor for measuring the distance to a preceding vehicle and an adaptive cruise controller for calculating control interventions into the drive system and/or braking system of the host vehicle for regulating the distance to a setpoint distance, a detuning parameter being adjustable in the adaptive cruise controller, which determines the intensity of the response of the adaptive cruise controller to control deviations, wherein a traffic jam detection module and a detuning controller which, with the detuning parameter as a manipulated variable, adjust the frequency of control interventions having an intensity above a certain minimum intensity to a setpoint frequency adapted to the traffic jam situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Schubert
  • Patent number: 10322720
    Abstract: A vehicle control device mounted in a vehicle comprises an object detection section for detecting a connection path which is connected to a traveling road, a speed distribution area setting section for setting a speed distribution area, and an avoidance control execution section for executing avoidance control of changing the vehicle speed and/or a steering direction of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle speed from exceeding the allowable upper limit value in the speed distribution area, wherein the speed distribution area setting section is configured, upon detection of the connection path by the object detection section, to set the speed distribution area on an assumption that an object exists in a connection region between the detected connection path and the traveling road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ohmura, Tetsuya Tachihata
  • Patent number: 10315653
    Abstract: A vehicle running control apparatus is provided with: a first detector configured to detect an inter-vehicle distance, and a speed of a self-vehicle or a relative speed; a second detector configured to detect accelerator-off and brake-off; a first calculator configured to calculate an approaching degree; a second calculator configured to calculate target deceleration corresponding to an engine brake amount on the basis of the approaching degree if the accelerator-off and the brake-off are detected; a controller configured to change the engine brake amount in accordance with the target deceleration; and a regulator configured to regulate or restrict a number of changes from an increase side to a reduction side of the engine brake amount, and a number of changes from the reduction side to the increase side, to be less than or equal to a predetermined number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shin Noumura
  • Patent number: 10308248
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control apparatus and method for improving fuel efficiency in a CACC system, which can improve fuel efficiency through control of a vehicle speed so that a vehicle travels using an optimized cost in consideration of a target vehicle speed, current vehicle speed, minimum driving speed set in the vehicle, and a deceleration distance if the vehicle that uses the CACC system senses a forward vehicle and enters into a CACC active mode. The control method for improving fuel efficiency in a CACC system includes setting a target speed profile based on a target speed of the subject vehicle and an expected driving path, determining whether a target vehicle to be followed by the subject vehicle exists, and controlling the driving speed of the subject vehicle according to the set target speed profile depending on whether or not the target vehicle exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoon Soo Kim, Dong Gyu Noh, In Yong Jung, Su Lyun Sung, Seung Wook Park, Jong Rok Park, Kyung Joo Bang, Cho Rong Ryu, Min Byeong Lee, Hahk Rel Noh, Dae Sung Hwang
  • Patent number: 10286952
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling control apparatus includes a first setting unit and a correcting unit. The control target point setting unit sets a set position of a preceding vehicle ahead of an own vehicle in a vehicle width direction as a control target point of follow-up traveling for traveling while following the preceding vehicle. The steering control amount correcting unit corrects, on a basis of deviation between a target steering angle that brings the own vehicle to the control target point and an actual steering angle, an amount of a steering control that controls the own vehicle to the target steering angle which is a steering angle that brings the own vehicle to the control target point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Takaso, Fumihito Yamaguchi, Koji Matsuno, Masayuki Yajima
  • Patent number: 10269241
    Abstract: A method for geographic region detection of traffic infrastructure via a receiver disposed in the region of the traffic infrastructure for a detection region of the receive unit, wherein status data of vehicles is communicated by the vehicles several times to the receive unit via wireless communication during the period in which vehicles pass through the detection region of the receiver, the receiver, or a processor connected to the receive unit, computes a vector for each vehicle, where the vector extends from a first position of the vehicle to a second position of the vehicle, and the receiver or the processor determines directions of travel of the vehicles and the geographic location of roadways and/or lanes of the roadways of the traffic infrastructure in the detection region from the vectors of all the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Fuereder, Thomas Sachse
  • Patent number: 10252721
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for controlling vehicles in a vehicle convoy. The vehicles in the vehicle convoy include a following vehicle and a preceding vehicle positioned immediately ahead of the following vehicle. The method includes receiving vehicle convoy data about an environment surrounding the vehicle convoy, and detecting an intention of a remote vehicle to execute a cut-in maneuver into a path of the following vehicle. The method includes controlling a vehicle system of the following vehicle to project a status indication to a ground surface between the following vehicle and the preceding vehicle. Further, the method includes determining whether the cut-in maneuver is acceptable based on the intention of the remote vehicle and a distance between the following vehicle and the preceding vehicle, and controlling the following vehicle based on whether the cut-in maneuver is acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xue Bai
  • Patent number: 10246093
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle generates a change-operating-mode signal to change operation from a normal mode with an engine engaged and running to a coasting mode with the engine disengaged and/or switched off in response to a freewheeling distance exceeding a threshold. The freewheeling distance may be based on state parameters of the motor vehicle, such as position, speed, acceleration, weight, tire pressure, braking pressure, and air resistance, for example, data related to a second vehicle obtained from forward sensors, for example, and/or ambient parameters such as air temperature, wind speed, and wind direction, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Hansen, Harald Stoffels, Bernd Schumacher, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Patent number: 10242254
    Abstract: In a camera system (1) including a plurality of camera modules (3 to 6) that capture images of the circumference of a vehicle (2), the camera modules (3 to 6) outputting captured camera images, and a display unit (7) inside the vehicle displaying a vehicle circumferential image generated by combining each of the images, the camera modules (3 to 6) include respective object recognition units (3j to 6j) that each execute object recognition processing on a camera image captured by the camera module and communication interfaces (3g to 6g) that communicate via a vehicle network (9) provided in the vehicle (2). The communication interfaces (3g to 6g) output, to the vehicle network (9), coordinate information of an object (12) recognized by the respective object recognition units (3j to 6j).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakata, Mizuki Suzumura
  • Patent number: 10239522
    Abstract: In an inter-vehicle control apparatus, a controller performs acceleration control of an own vehicle, based on an actual inter-vehicle physical quantity and a target inter-vehicle physical quantity. A limiter sets a limit value for a target jerk during the acceleration control. A detector detects an occurrence of at least one of: an event in which the inter-vehicle distance becomes discontinuously shorter; and an event in which a target inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the target inter-vehicle physical quantity becomes discontinuously longer. A determiner determines a risk of collision with the preceding vehicle, based on an operation state of the preceding vehicle in relation to the own vehicle. When at least one of the events is detected, the limiter sets the limit value to a value based on the risk of collision such that change in deceleration of the own vehicle is kept lower as the risk of collision decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Sudou, Jin Kurumisawa, Toyohito Nozawa, Tatsuya Namikiri
  • Patent number: 10227004
    Abstract: A number-of-operations information storage unit (113) stores number-of-operations information in which a plurality of conditions of the vehicle is defined and number of acceleration operations and number of deceleration operations performed by a vehicle are described for each condition defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehiko Hanada, Mengxiong Wang
  • Patent number: 10214211
    Abstract: A drive control apparatus includes: an inter-vehicle distance sensor configured to detect an inter-vehicle distance D of an own vehicle and a preceding vehicle; an inter-vehicle distance arithmetic unit; a follow driving control unit configured to perform control of acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle such that the inter-vehicle distance D coincides with a target inter-vehicle distance Dtr; a camera configured to detect the number of lanes N of a road L; an image processing unit; and a lane number determining unit. The follow driving control unit performs control of acceleration or deceleration at a maximum acceleration or deceleration Gmax according to the number of lanes N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sachio Kobayashi, Mahito Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 10192446
    Abstract: A method for detecting a possible lane change of a fellow vehicle in the environment of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is located in a first lane, is provided. A system is also provided having a control unit and at least one sensor device for detecting a possible lane change of a fellow vehicle in the environment of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is located in a first lane. Furthermore, a vehicle is provided having a system for detecting a possible lane change of a fellow vehicle in the environment of the vehicle, as well as a computer program product for detecting a possible lane change of a fellow vehicle in the environment of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Bernhard Mueller
  • Patent number: 10193641
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for estimating an expected reception quality in an interval of time for car-to-X communication including a receiving device for acquiring data packets and a memory, wherein the memory stores at least one empirically determined variable for reception patterns of data packets in a first interval of time, which variable indicates or can be used to determine how high the probability is of a data packet or n data packets being successfully received in a subsequent, second interval of time, wherein the apparatus is designed so that the reception pattern is determined for a first interval of time before the interval of time and the associated probability for the interval of time is read from the memory, wherein a warning message is generated and/or a transmission parameter and/or a functionality of a driver assistance function is/are changed on the basis of the probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Tetiana Zinchenko, Jan-Niklas Meier, Burak Simsek
  • Patent number: 10173680
    Abstract: A vehicle speed control device performs vehicle speed control for controlling the vehicle speed of a host vehicle so that the vehicle speed of the host vehicle becomes a preset vehicle speed that is set in advance when a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle is not detected and for controlling the vehicle speed of the host vehicle so that the host vehicle follows the preceding vehicle when the preceding vehicle is detected. The vehicle speed control device determines whether the host vehicle is positioned in an acceleration-control-inhibited area based on the position detected by a position detection unit and, when the preceding vehicle is not detected and a position determination unit determines that the host vehicle is positioned in the acceleration-control-inhibited area, the vehicle speed control device performs acceleration-control-inhibition vehicle speed control of the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sayaka Ono, Kazuaki Aso
  • Patent number: 10173681
    Abstract: Automatically regulating vehicle longitudinal dynamics in accordance with a preceding vehicle includes determining a first state variable dependent on vehicle acceleration, a second state variable dependent on engine drive torque, a third state variable dependent on the operating state of at least one permanent brake, and information about the preceding vehicle, and adjusting at least one regulating parameter of a regulation function and regulating the longitudinal dynamics depending on the at least one regulating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: WABCO GMBH
    Inventors: Mathias Baum, Karsten Breuer, Stephan Kallenbach
  • Patent number: 10166998
    Abstract: An image processing device applied to a driving assistance system, which includes: a driving assistance device that detects a relative position of a lane marking with respect to a vehicle and assists a driving of the vehicle based on a detected positional information; and a head-up display device that projects a display image on a projection area arranged on the vehicle to visually recognize a virtual image of the display image, includes: an acquisition device that acquires the positional information; and a generation device that generates the display image including a predetermined display element. The generation device generates the display image to visually recognize the display element at a position associated with the positional information and to visually recognize the display element as a shape inclined toward the vehicle from the lane marking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Kamiya, Nozomi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 10160452
    Abstract: Provided is a route guidance apparatus and a route guidance method which are capable of appropriately performing route guidance on a road where a plurality of lanes exist on one side. The route guidance apparatus 12 or the route guidance method determines the timing of the automated or manual lane change based on the total required distance Dlcttl corresponding to the number of required lane changes Nlcn required for reaching the target lane 502tar from the current lane 502cur, and the remaining distance to the planned course change point Prc from the current position Pcur. When the timing of the lane change is reached, the timing of the automated lane change or the manual lane change is guided, or the automated lane change is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kubota, Haruhiko Nishiguchi, Satoshi Fujii, Ryohsaku Arakawa, Kei Oshida
  • Patent number: 10152061
    Abstract: A drive assist apparatus includes a data collection part that collects driving behavior data representing driving maneuvers and vehicle behaviors caused by the driving maneuvers for each drivers, a classification part that classifies the driving behavior data into a plurality of clusters each showing a tendency of driving behavior of the drivers by clustering the driving behavior data, a storage part that stores cluster information representing a driving behavior characteristic of each of the clusters, a subject data acquisition part that acquires, as subject data, the driving behavior data for a subject driver to be assisted, an estimation part that estimates, as a corresponding cluster, one of the clusters to which the subject driver is assumed to belong by comparing the subject data with the cluster information stored in the storage part, and an assist providing part that provides a drive assist depending on the estimated corresponding cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Bando, Masataka Mori, Kazuhito Takenaka
  • Patent number: 10152064
    Abstract: Various applications for use of mass estimations of a vehicle, including to control operation of the vehicle, sharing the mass estimation with other vehicles and/or a Network Operations Center (NOC), organizing vehicles operating in a platoon and/or partially controlling the operation of one or more vehicles operating in a platoon based on the relative mass estimations between the platooning vehicles. When vehicles are operating in a platoon, the relative mass between a lead and a following vehicle may be used to scale torque and/or brake commands generated by the lead vehicle and sent to the following vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Peloton Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Philip Switkes, Stephen M. Erlien, Austin B. Schuh
  • Patent number: 10137881
    Abstract: A system for controlling regenerative braking in a hybrid vehicle, includes: a driving information sensor detecting driving information; a motor assisting a driving force of an engine in an acceleration interval of the hybrid vehicle; a motor controller charging a battery using a regenerative energy generated by the motor; a hybrid controller calculating a first braking force generated by friction in the engine according to a first gear stage of the hybrid vehicle, setting a second braking force due to friction in the engine used to compensate for a limited regenerative braking force using a kick-down shifting at a second gear stage as a target regenerative braking force, and controlling the kick-down shifting using a third gear stage that compensates for the limited regenerative braking force and corresponds to the braking force due to friction in the engine; and a transmission controller performing the kick-down shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kum Lim Choi
  • Patent number: 10137894
    Abstract: A driving assistance system includes an electronic control unit and a notifying unit. The electronic control unit detects an inter-vehicle distance and relative velocity, controls the subject vehicle, performs a first notification operation when the inter-vehicle distance becomes equal to or larger than a first distance and the relative velocity becomes equal to or higher than a first velocity, or equal to or larger than a second distance, sets an inter-vehicle distance when the forward vehicle and the subject vehicle are stopped as a reference inter-vehicle distance and performs a second notification operation when a difference between the reference inter-vehicle distance and the inter-vehicle distance becomes equal to or larger than a third distance. The electronic control unit does not perform the second notification operation at least until after the first notification operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Minoru Nakadori
  • Patent number: 10137871
    Abstract: A controller for an adaptive braking system on a host vehicle identifies a first target in a lane of travel of the host vehicle; monitors for an active braking intervention request; monitors for other targets in adjacent lanes of travel to the host vehicle; and transmits a first braking signal at the output to control a braking action at a first braking level in response to receiving the active braking intervention request and identifying no other targets in adjacent lanes of travel to the host vehicle. If the controller identifies a second target in an adjacent lane of travel, then receives a travel signal indicative of change in the direction of travel of the host vehicle toward the second target; it will transmit a second braking signal to control the braking action at a second braking level. The second level of braking is different than the first level of braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Michael K. Lesher, Andrew L. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 10140861
    Abstract: Various aspects of a system and method for driving assistance along a path are disclosed herein. In accordance with an embodiment, a unique identifier is received from a communication device at an electronic control unit (ECU) of a first vehicle. The unique identifier is received when the first vehicle has reached a first location along a first portion of the path. A communication channel is established between the first vehicle and the communication device based on the received unique identifier. Data associated with a second portion of the path is received by the ECU from the communication device based on the established communication channel. Alert information associated with the second portion of the path is generated by the ECU based on the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manish Gupta, Ramesha Chelur Ramachandra Sastry, Pramod Chintalapoodi, Sho Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10131355
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling control apparatus includes an obtaining unit, a detector, and a controller. The obtaining unit obtains traveling environment information. The traveling environment information includes at least lane line information of a lane along which an own vehicle travels and preceding vehicle information. The detector detects traveling information of the own vehicle. The controller performs a steering control on a basis of the traveling environment information and the traveling information. When the obtaining unit obtains only the lane line information and when the obtaining unit obtains both the lane line information and the preceding vehicle information, the controller performs the steering control on a basis of the lane line information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Takaso, Hajime Oyama
  • Patent number: 10119488
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for control of a combustion engine in a vehicle. In operation, at least one future speed profile for an actual speed of the vehicle is simulated during a road section ahead based on information about the road section and on knowledge that coasting with the combustion engine shut down will be applied during the road section. Subsequently, based on the future speed profile, a starting point in time is determined, when the combustion engine will need to be started for forward driving the vehicle and/or to brake the vehicle. Subsequently, a starting point brought forward in time is determined based on the need for a forward driving or braking force arising, where the starting point brought forward in time precedes the starting point in time. Subsequently, the combustion engine is controlled to be started at the starting point brought forward in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Roos, Mikael Ögren, Olof Larsson
  • Patent number: 10106163
    Abstract: In assisting merging vehicles on the road, a own vehicle is accelerated to target speed on a first lane. The own vehicle accelerated to the target speed is caused to change a travel lane from the first lane into a second lane. A distance A from the own vehicle to a reference position is acquired in the first lane, and speed of the own vehicle is also acquired. A traveling distance B required for the own vehicle to stop is calculated under a condition where the own vehicle traveling at speed acquired starts to slow down at predetermined deceleration. Assisting in merging is performed, on condition that a value obtained by subtracting the calculated distance B from the acquired distance A is smaller than a predetermined threshold value during a period from a start time of the acceleration to a start time of changing the travel lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Fujiki, Hiroaki Niino, Shotaro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10095935
    Abstract: A vision system of a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view that encompasses first and second regions exterior of the vehicle. The camera captures image data that includes a first set of image data representative of the first region of the field of view and a second set of image data representative of the second region of the field of view. An image processor processes the first set of image data to detect a pedestrian present in the first region based on a first predetermined orientation of a pedestrian. The image processor processes the second set of image data to detect a pedestrian present in the second region based on a second predetermined orientation of a pedestrian.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Nikhil Gupta
  • Patent number: 10086844
    Abstract: A vehicle sensor diagnosis system and method, and a vehicle including such a system are provided. The vehicle sensor diagnosis system is configured to predict upcoming vehicle surrounding conditions along at least a section of a host vehicle route based on database information on the host vehicle surroundings along the section and information on a current host vehicle surrounding, estimate an expected level of sensor performance for the route section based on the prediction, assess the level of sensor performance detected during host vehicle travel along the host vehicle route section, assess if a difference between the estimated level of sensor performance and the detected level of sensor performance for the host vehicle route section exceeds a first threshold difference and, if so, initiate a diagnose result communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Erik Coelingh, Stefan Solyom, Mattias Erik Brannstrom
  • Patent number: 10065644
    Abstract: A vehicle control system to configured to operate a vehicle autonomously while keeping a safe distance from a preceding vehicle is provided. The vehicle control system is configured to operate the vehicle autonomously to follow a preceding vehicle while keeping a predetermined distance, and to determine a presence of a passenger in the vehicle. If the vehicle is operated autonomously to follow the preceding vehicle while carrying a passenger, the vehicle control system selects a longest distance from the preceding vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito Endo, Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Kensei Hata, Yasuyuki Kato, Yushi Seki, Katsuya Iwazaki, Hideaki Komada
  • Patent number: 10059345
    Abstract: A method for guiding a motor vehicle includes: guiding, in a first operating mode, the motor vehicle in an automated manner by a driver assistance system; subsequently guiding, in a second operating mode, the motor vehicle in a nonautomated fashion by a driver; and transitioning from the first operating mode to the second operating mode by adjusting, by a pedal actuator, a gas pedal of the motor vehicle such that at a beginning of the second operating mode, the gas pedal assumes a transfer pedal position that corresponds to the vehicle movement of the motor vehicle at the end of the first operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Schnieders, Harald Dittmann
  • Patent number: 10062288
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a first vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining, by a processor, that a second vehicle is going to merge into a current lane of the first vehicle at a merge point; and in response to the determining: obtaining, by the processor, a velocity history of the second vehicle, determining, by the processor, a first time value associated with the first vehicle and the merge point; determining, by the processor, a second time value associated with the second vehicle and the merge point; determining, by the processor, an intention of the second vehicle based on the velocity history, the first time value, and the second time value; and selectively generating, by the processor a command to at least one of control the first vehicle and provide notification based on the intention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi, Chiyu Dong, John M. Dolan
  • Patent number: 10040453
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to preemptively modifying operation of a trailing vehicle according to predicted acceleration inputs. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to identifying that a lane ahead of the trailing vehicle has cleared of a leading vehicle, determining an acceleration profile for the trailing vehicle that indicates a predicted acceleration that is anticipated to be provided by a driver as a function of an environmental context. The environmental context characterizes at least current surroundings of the trailing vehicle. The method includes adjusting operating parameters of the trailing vehicle according to the acceleration profile to preemptively optimize the trailing vehicle in anticipation of an acceleration input from the driver that correlates with the predicted acceleration. The method includes controlling the trailing vehicle to accelerate based, at least in part, on the operating parameters upon receiving the acceleration input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey David Gaither
  • Patent number: 10000211
    Abstract: A vehicle travel control apparatus for improved vehicle following includes a sensor that obtains preceding vehicle speed information representing a vehicle speed of a preceding vehicle, and preceding vehicle information representing at least one of a lateral position and a lateral speed of the preceding vehicle with respect to a traveling direction of a host vehicle, and a controller that, during a following mode in which the host vehicle follows the preceding vehicle, determines a target value related to acceleration/deceleration of the host vehicle based on the preceding vehicle speed information such that the host vehicle follows the preceding vehicle, and controls the acceleration/deceleration of the host vehicle such that the target value is implemented. During the following mode, the controller corrects the target value related to the acceleration/deceleration of the host vehicle based on the preceding vehicle information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamada, Takeshi Nanami
  • Patent number: 9972202
    Abstract: A driving assistance method executed by a driving assistance device including a tri-axial accelerometer, an information presentation controller, and an information presentation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takamasa Koshizen
  • Patent number: 9959768
    Abstract: Apparatuses, computer programs and methods are provided. A method includes causing display on an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle of a dynamic sign acknowledging the presence of at least one road user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Leppanen, Arto Lehtiniemi, Pasi Saari, Erika Reponen
  • Patent number: 9952599
    Abstract: A driving control device uses a recognition reliability, and more specifically, uses an inter-vehicle distance, a radius of curvature of a road, and a gradient of the road, to determine detection precision with respect to a leading vehicle. Lane markings are set as restriction positions in cases in which the recognition reliability for the leading vehicle is greater than or equal to a reference. Positions closer to the vehicle than the lane markings are set as the restriction positions in cases in which the recognition reliability for the leading vehicle is lower than the reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sachio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9919599
    Abstract: A terminal detection unit detects a mobile terminal located inside a vehicle. An action history information generation unit and storage unit associate the mobile terminal detected by the terminal detection unit and an action of the vehicle associated with each other and store them as action history information. An action suggestion unit searches the action history information stored in the storage unit for the action associated with the mobile terminal detected by the terminal detection unit and suggests the found action to a passenger of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Fuchiwaki, Keizo Yamanaka, Naoki Miura, Yasunori Nihei
  • Patent number: 9902398
    Abstract: A driving control device that performs overtaking control, includes: a preceding vehicle information acquisition unit configured to acquire preceding vehicle information about a speed of a preceding vehicle; a determination unit configured to determine propriety of the overtaking control, based on a traveling environment; an overtaking vehicle speed calculation unit configured to calculate an overtaking vehicle speed of a host vehicle, based on the preceding vehicle information, in response to a determination by the determination unit that the overtaking control is possible; and a driving control unit configured to execute the overtaking control using the overtaking vehicle speed, wherein the overtaking vehicle speed calculation unit is configured to calculate an overtaking vehicle speed which is faster than a speed of the preceding vehicle and in which a speed difference relative to the speed of the preceding vehicle becomes a predetermined speed difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihiro Takahashi, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 9896104
    Abstract: A method of controlling coasting of a vehicle, may include a preparing step of measuring an interval between an objective vehicle and a foregoing vehicle traveling ahead of the objective vehicle. a starting step of calculating a distance moved by coasting for a first predetermined time from a current speed of the objective vehicle and of starting coasting when the calculated movement distance is larger than the interval measured in the preparing step. an ending step of calculating a distance moved by coasting for a second predetermined time from the current speed of the objective vehicle after coasting is started in the starting step, and of giving an instruction to end coasting when the calculated movement is larger than the interval measured in the preparing step, in which the time T1 is longer than the time T2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Tae Hyuck Kim, Jin Woo Cho, Jae Hoon Cho
  • Patent number: 9878710
    Abstract: The invention regards a method for improving performance of a method for computationally predicting a future state of a target object, a driver assistance system and a vehicle with such driver assistance system. First data describing a traffic environment including a target object is acquired. On the basis of the acquired data at least one prediction step for estimating a future state of an object in the traffic environment is performed and a signal indicative of a prediction result describing an estimated future state of the target object and/or an ego vehicle is generated. An actual state of the target object and/or the ego vehicle is observed and quality of the prediction by comparing the observed actual state and the prediction result is estimated. Finally the prediction result and/or parameters of the prediction algorithm is adapted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Schmüdderich, Sven Rebhan
  • Patent number: 9874634
    Abstract: A radar apparatus derives (i) first target information of a first target existing in the transmission range of the transmission wave, the first target being a rear end portion of a vehicle and (ii) second target information of a second target existing in the transmission range of the transmission wave, the second target being a portion of the vehicle other than the rear end portion of the vehicle. The radar apparatus calculates a distance difference between the first target and the second target, and predicts, in a case where the first target information of the first target derived in a previous target information derivation process is not derived in a latest target information derivation process, a position of the first target, using the distance difference and the second target information of the second target derived in the latest target information derivation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Takumi Moriuchi, Yayoi Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9849864
    Abstract: A parking assist system for a vehicle is provided that includes a brake system having at least one wheel count encoder configured to output a wheel count signal and a controller configured to limit a velocity of the vehicle in a first mode. The controller is also configured to stop the vehicle at a target location in a second mode, and prevent overshoot of the target location by the vehicle in a third mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Bales, Michael Hafner