The present invention relates to a blind spot informative system and a method thereof, and more particularly to a blind spot informative system and a method thereof that provides relevant information and recommendations to assist driver for the prevention of collisions.
Modern vehicles install various apparatuses to enhance safety. Nowadays, in addition to the traditional safety systems, such as anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-force distributor (EBD), traction control system (TRC), electronic stability control (ESC), supplemental restraint system (SRS), etc., much attentions are given to advance driver assistance systems (ADAS). On top of ADAS, a blind spot detection system provides warming to drivers about the existence of obstacles not seen by drivers. Radars are adapted to detect obstacles within the blind spots around a vehicle. The detection system then alters the driver if any object is spotted so that the driver can act accordingly.
An embodiment of the present invention provides a blind spot informative system. The system includes: a sensing module disposed in a vehicle and configured to detect and gather a plurality of parameters of an object nearby the vehicle; an arithmetic unit configured to evaluate a chance the object would collide with the vehicle and, if a collision is foreseeable, an estimated time of collision based on the parameters and available data; and a display device configured to display the estimated time of collision to inform a driver of the vehicle.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides an informative method including: collecting parameters of an object nearby a vehicle upon a detection of the object, wherein the parameters at least include the velocity of the object and the distance between the object and the vehicle; estimating a chance that the object would collide with the vehicle based on the parameters, and if the collision is foreseeable, an estimated time of collision; and presenting the estimated time of collision to a driver of the vehicle.
A further embodiment of the present invention discloses a blind spot informative system implemented in a vehicle driving in accordance with a planned route. The system includes: a sensing module disposed in a vehicle and configured to detect an object within a blind spot of the vehicle and collect a velocity of the object and a distance between the object and the vehicle; an arithmetic unit connected to the sensing module and configured to evaluate a chance the object would collide with the vehicle, and if the collision is foreseeable, an estimated time of collision based on the planned route, the velocity of the object and the distance between the object and the vehicle; and a display device configured to display the estimated time of collision in line with the planned route to a driver of the vehicle.
Apart from the foregoing, the blind spot information system and method thereof further provides at least one feasible advice to the driver of the vehicle for the avoidance of the collision. Additionally, the degree of urgency in response to the collision may also be assessed for the driver's reference. Therefore, by implementing the present invention, the overall safety can be enhanced.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
To provide a better understanding of the present invention, preferred embodiments will be explained in the following paragraphs. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings with numbered elements to elaborate on the contents and effects to be achieved. It should be noted that the drawings are simplified schematics, and therefore show only the components and combinations associated with the present invention, in order to provide a clearer description of the basic architecture or method of implementation. The components would be complex in reality. In addition, for ease of explanation, the components shown in the drawings may not represent their actual number, shape, and dimensions; details can be adjusted according to design requirements.
The present invention provides a blind spot informative system that not only detects obstacles in blind spots of a vehicle, but also provides information and advices for the driver to act upon it.
Moreover, the system 100 may optionally include sub-sensing modules. For instance, as shown in
Those parameters (e.g. the distance, the relative velocity, etc.) collected by the sensing module 110 are sent, through physical connections or wirelessly, to the arithmetic unit 120 upon which the arithmetic unit 120 estimates informative data between the vehicle 10 and the nearby object. The content of the informative data will be explained in detail below. The display device 130 then presents the informative data to inform the driver. In the present invention, the display device 130 may be, for instance without limitation, a center informative display (CID), a head up display (HUD), or a display disposed on the windshield, the window, the sunroof, the dashboard, the rearview mirror, the right rearview mirror or the left rearview mirror of the vehicle 10.
Apart from the sensing module 110, to provide proper advices to the driver, the system 100 may also include sensors (or sensor-like devices) disposed on the vehicle capable of collecting data of the vehicle 10. The data may include, without limitation, the status, the direction and the speed of the vehicle 10. Additionally, the vehicle 10 may also equip with communication facilitates capable of receiving, for instance, traffic condition, map, and GPS data, etc. Based on all the available information, including without limitations, the route, the speed and the direction of the vehicle 10, the status of the nearby object, moving or still, the speed and the direction of the nearby object, if it is moving, and the distance and the relative velocity between the vehicle 10 and the nearby object, etc. the arithmetic unit 120 estimates, for instance without limitations, the chance the vehicle 10 will collide with the nearby object and, if so, when (i.e. how many time left for the driver of the vehicle 10 to react). Moreover, the arithmetic unit 120 may further evaluate, if the collision is foreseeable, what options the driver has to avoid it. For instance, whether the driver of the vehicle should slow down, speed up, make a turn, or change the drive lane, and in which direction to avoid the situation. The results therefore obtained are collectively called the informative data which will be, entirely or selectively, presented on the display device 130. Thus, instead of merely issuing a warming sound/signal to alert the driver, the present blind spot informative system 100 takes an even more advanced approach to assist the driver and eliminate the risk of collision.
Apart from that, in another embodiment, the present invention may take a further step to advise the driver of the vehicle 10 about the avoidance of the possible collision. The method is illustrated in
As mentioned, the informative data may further include the degree of urgency (e.g. immediately or smoothly) in response to the collision. In another embodiment, as shown in
Moreover, in another embodiment of the present invention the driver's planned route will also be considered when giving advices. The planned route may be determined by a pre-input route, a change of the gear, or an enablement of a turn signal. Assuming an object is approaching at the rear-left side of the vehicle 10, the sensing module 110 gathers the parameters with respect to the object including the status of the object, the moving direction and the velocity, if applicable, of the object, and the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object. Moreover, as mentioned above, the parameters in relation to, for example, the traffic condition and the width of the lane are also considered. Aside from these parameters, while evaluating the feasible recommendations, the arithmetic unit 120 in the current embodiment further considers the driver's planned route. For instance, assuming the vehicle 10 is moving forward and meanwhile the driver issues the right-turn signal and is about to make a right turn. Under the scenario, the advices given by the present invention will also take the driver's intention into account to avoid possible collisions. Precisely, since the object is at the rear-left side of the vehicle 10 and the driver's planned route would likely to avoid the possible collision, the system 100 of the present invention may instruct the driver to make the turn right away provided there is no obstacle in the drive lane that the driver intends to go.
On the other hand, assuming the driver plans to make a left turn instead. The arithmetic unit 120 determines that the left-turn would increase the chance of collision between the vehicle 10 and the object located close by the rear-left side of the vehicle 10, the system 100 then advises the driver either not to make the turn or tell the driver how much time left to make the planned turn without being collided with the object. Similarly, the informative data including the advices are presented on the display device 130.
The least steps of proceeding the above scenario are summarized in
Step 3010: the sensing module 110 detects a nearby object and gathers parameters related to the object, the parameters may include, without limitations, the status of the object, the direction and the velocity, if applicable, of the object, and the distance between the subject vehicle and the object.
Step 3020: the system 100 notices that the driver is about to make a turn, the arithmetic unit 120 estimates the chance the vehicle 10 will be collided with the object, and if the collision is foreseeable, the estimated time of collision, etc. based on the obtained parameters and other available data, such as e.g. the direction of the turn, the velocity of the vehicle 10, etc.
Step 3030: the arithmetic unit 120 further evaluates if it will be safe for the driver to make the turn and, if applicable, calculates how much time left for the driver to make the planned turn when the direction is identical to the place where the object is.
Step 3040: the arithmetic unit 120 also recommends the degree of urgency that the turn must be made.
Step 3050: the display device 130 selectively or entirely displays the informative data including the recommendation as described previously.
In another embodiment, the system 100 may only provide the informative data solely related to the planned route. Precisely, if the driver intends to make a right turn, the system 100 will then only consider the possible collision at the right-hand side and ignore the potential obstacles at the left-hand side since the risk of collision at the left-hand side would be low. In other words, the evaluation will only be conducted when a planned route is ascertained. In doing so, the arithmetic unit 120 can decrease its processing time of the estimations and therefore provide only necessary information with less distraction to the driver in a prompt way.
In brief, the method of providing informative data as well as suggestions for the avoidance of collision in accordance with the present invention shown in
Step ST1: gathering parameters regarding an object nearby a vehicle;
Step ST2: determining informative data including, without limitation, the chance of collision and, if applicable, the estimated time of collision, and feasible advices for the avoidance of the collision; and
Step ST3: displaying the informative data to the driver of the vehicle.
The parameters may include the status of the object (i.e. is it moving or still), the velocity and direction of the object if it is moving, and the distance between the object and the vehicle. Additionally, the parameters may also include the vehicle's velocity and direction, the traffic condition and the width of lane etc. Moreover, it may also include the driver's planned route which may be ascertained when the driver issues a turn signal.
As for the informative data, it may contain the chance of collision, the estimated time of collision, if applicable, and feasible recommendations to avoid the collision. The informative data is presented on a display device to inform the driver. Depending on the preferences and design choices, the system may further determine the degree of urgency in response to the possible collision.
It should be noted that the above flowcharts are conceptually illustrated merely. The orders of the steps taken to furnish the present invention may not be exactly the same as depicted above and in the diagrams. Further, some step may be swapped with another, and some additional process may be added. For example, as disclosed early, the sensing module may only start collecting parameters regarding the relevant object at the right-hand side when the driver issues the right indicator and is about to make a right turn.
To sum up, in light of the foregoing, the present invention provides a system and a method that not only warns drivers as for the existence of objects in the blind spots but also gives informative data to the driver. Particularly, the present invention further suggests feasible advices, such as change the drive lane, make a turn, slow down or speed up, etc. and how urgent an act must be completed for the avoidance of foreseeable collision.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201711088659.7 | Nov 2017 | CN | national |
201721475238.5 | Nov 2017 | CN | national |