A lane change reminder system and method

Abstract

This invention relates to vehicle lighting systems and discloses a lane change warning system. The system includes a vehicle status acquisition system for acquiring vehicle status information, an image generation unit for generating a lane change warning image based on the vehicle status information, and an image projection system for projecting the lane change warning image onto the lane the vehicle intends to merge into. The lane change warning image is configured to flash according to a set cycle based on the vehicle's lane change speed. This invention provides excellent steering information transmission and high driving safety. Furthermore, this invention also relates to a lane change warning method based on the above-mentioned lane change warning system. This method acquires vehicle speed and steering wheel angle to calculate the vehicle's lane change speed and controls multiple lane change warning icons on the lane change warning image to flash cyclically according to a set cycle based on the lane change speed. This invention provides a significant warning effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to vehicle lighting systems, specifically to a lane change warning system, and further to a lane change warning method. Background Technology

[0002] Changing lanes is a common driving maneuver. As the number of vehicles on the road increases, road conditions improve, and vehicle performance improves, vehicle speeds also increase, which makes changing lanes more dangerous.

[0003] When a vehicle changes lanes, it usually needs to transmit some information to the outside world so that surrounding vehicles know that it needs to change lanes. Since sound is easily interfered with, the use of light signals can better convey the information that the vehicle is about to change lanes.

[0004] In existing technologies, turn signals are typically used as a tool to convey turn signals to surrounding vehicles. However, existing turn signals convey turn signals in a single form, usually only by flashing the turn signal to convey information to vehicles in front and behind. In situations where headlights are more complex at night, drivers of surrounding vehicles are likely to overlook the flashing turn signals, especially drivers of vehicles driving alongside them, who may find it difficult to see the turn signals of adjacent vehicles, thus greatly increasing the risk of traffic accidents.

[0005] Therefore, a lane change reminder system is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The first aspect of this invention provides a lane change reminder system, which has good transmission effect of turning information and high driving safety.

[0007] The second aspect of this invention provides a lane change alert method, which has a significant alerting effect and high driving safety.

[0008] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the first aspect of the present invention provides a lane change warning system, including a vehicle status acquisition system for acquiring vehicle status information, an image generation unit for generating a lane change warning image based on the vehicle status information, and an image projection system for projecting the lane change warning image. The image projection system projects the lane change warning image onto the lane in front of the vehicle to be merged into, and the lane change warning image is configured to flash according to a set period based on the lane change speed of the vehicle.

[0009] Specifically, the vehicle status information includes steering wheel angle, vehicle speed, and turn signal. The image generation unit can determine the lane change speed based on the steering wheel angle and vehicle speed, and can determine the projection direction of the lane change reminder image based on the turn signal.

[0010] More specifically, the lane change reminder image has multiple lane change reminder icons, which are arranged along the width direction of the lane, and the multiple lane change reminder icons are configured to flash cyclically according to the lane change speed at a set cycle period.

[0011] More specifically, the lane change reminder image also includes a lane change trajectory line, a speed indicator, and a lane change speed indicator to display the lane change speed.

[0012] Furthermore, the image projection system includes a headlight, which includes a pixel-level headlight module and a driver board. The driver board can control the on / off state of corresponding pixel units in the pixel-level headlight module according to the lane change warning image output by the image generation unit, so that the lane change warning image can be formed at the corresponding position in the light field of the headlight.

[0013] Furthermore, the image projection system includes a projection unit and a projection direction control unit located on the top of the vehicle. The projection unit can project the lane change warning image, and the projection direction control unit can adjust the projection direction of the projection unit according to the turn signal and the steering wheel angle so that the lane change warning image is located at a set position.

[0014] Furthermore, a second aspect of the present invention provides a lane change reminder method, comprising the following steps:

[0015] A) Determine if the vehicle's turn signals are on;

[0016] B) When the turn signal is turned on, acquire the vehicle speed and steering wheel angle to calculate the vehicle's lane change speed based on the vehicle speed and steering wheel angle;

[0017] C) Generate a lane change warning image, display the lane change speed on the lane change warning image, and control multiple lane change warning icons on the lane change warning image to flash cyclically according to a set period based on the lane change speed.

[0018] Preferably, a plurality of lane change reminder icons are arranged along the width of the lane to flash sequentially along the lane change direction of the vehicle. After each lane change reminder icon flashes once, it flashes sequentially again along the lane change direction of the vehicle, and the above flashing process is repeated until the lane change is completed and the turn signal is turned off.

[0019] Specifically, the cycle period T of the cyclic flashing is:

[0020] T = k / (v × θ)

[0021] Where k is the conversion coefficient, v is the vehicle speed, and θ is the steering wheel angle.

[0022] More specifically, the width of the overall structure formed by the multiple lane change reminder icons is consistent with the width lw of the lane, and the flashing time of each lane change reminder icon in the lane change reminder image is ft. Therefore, in the cyclic flashing period, the position X of the next lane change reminder icon... n for:

[0023] X n =X n-1 +(ft*lw) / T

[0024] Among them, X n-1 The position of the currently flashing lane change warning icon.

[0025] The lane change warning system provided in the first aspect of this invention projects a lane change warning image, used to convey lane change information, onto the lane in front of the vehicle to which it intends to merge. This projects the image in front of vehicles traveling side-by-side, allowing them to promptly receive information that another vehicle is about to merge. This effectively avoids blind spots in side-by-side driving, preventing accidents caused by the inability to perceive the lane change intentions of other vehicles. Furthermore, the lane change warning image is designed to flash at a set interval according to the vehicle's lane change speed. This design, on the one hand, provides a better lane change warning effect, making it less likely for drivers of surrounding vehicles to overlook the image; on the other hand, the flashing cycle of the lane change warning image more intuitively conveys the vehicle's lane change speed, thus attracting the attention of drivers of surrounding vehicles and providing a better warning effect, further preventing traffic accidents.

[0026] The lane change warning method provided in the second aspect of the present invention can simultaneously acquire information such as vehicle speed and steering wheel angle when the vehicle's turn signal is turned on, thereby determining the vehicle's lane change speed. This lane change speed can be displayed on a lane change warning image, and multiple lane change warning icons on the image can flash cyclically according to a set period based on the lane change speed. This ensures that the lane change warning image has a good warning effect even in complex environments with complex headlight conditions at night, raising the driver's full awareness and thus better preventing traffic accidents.

[0027] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail in the following specific examples section. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the connection relationship of an example of the lane change reminder system of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an image projection system in the lane change reminder system of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the lane change reminder method of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating one projection scenario of the lane change reminder method of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another projection scenario for the lane change reminder method of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0034] It should be noted that the "left lane", "right lane" and "rear" in the following text are all based on the direction of vehicle travel. The direction of vehicle travel is forward, and the opposite is "rear". The lane to the left of the direction of vehicle travel is the "left lane", and the lane to the right of the direction of vehicle travel is the "right lane".

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment of the lane change warning system provided in the first aspect of the present invention, the lane change warning system includes a vehicle status acquisition system for acquiring vehicle status information, an image generation unit for generating a lane change warning image based on the vehicle status information, and an image projection system for projecting the lane change warning image, such as... Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the image projection system projects a lane change warning image onto the lane the vehicle intends to merge into. The lane change warning image is configured to flash at a set interval based on the vehicle's lane change speed. Vehicle status information includes steering wheel angle, vehicle speed, and turn signal. The image generation unit can determine the lane change speed (the speed along the lane width direction) based on the steering wheel angle and vehicle speed, thus judging the urgency of the lane change and controlling the flashing interval of the lane change warning image. For example, when the lane change speed is 0.5 m / s, the flashing interval is 2 seconds; when the lane change speed is 1 m / s, the flashing interval is 1 second. Furthermore, the image generation unit can also determine the projection direction of the lane change warning image based on the turn signal; that is, when the left turn signal is on... When the right turn signal is on, the image generation unit can determine that the vehicle will change lanes to the left lane, transmit image information to the image projection system and issue a command to control the image projection system to project a lane change warning image onto the left lane in front of the vehicle, so as to remind vehicles behind the lane change warning image on the left lane that a vehicle will change lanes. When the right turn signal is on, the image generation unit can determine that the vehicle will change lanes to the right lane, transmit image information to the image projection system and issue a command to control the image projection system to project a lane change warning image onto the right lane in front of the vehicle, so as to remind vehicles behind the lane change warning image on the right lane that a vehicle will change lanes.

[0036] The aforementioned technical solution projects a lane change warning image, used to convey lane change information, onto the lane in front of the vehicle that it intends to merge into. This allows the image to be projected directly in front of vehicles traveling alongside it, enabling these vehicles to promptly receive information about an impending lane change. This effectively avoids traffic accidents caused by blind spots in parallel driving, preventing drivers from noticing the lane change intentions of other vehicles. Furthermore, the lane change warning image is designed to flash at a set interval based on the vehicle's lane change speed. This design, on the one hand, provides a better lane change warning effect, making it less likely for drivers of surrounding vehicles to miss the image; on the other hand, the flashing cycle of the image more intuitively conveys the vehicle's lane change speed, thus attracting the attention of drivers of surrounding vehicles and providing a better warning effect, further preventing traffic accidents.

[0037] Specifically, in one embodiment of the lane change reminder system provided in the first aspect of the present invention, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the lane change warning image can have multiple lane change warning icons, preferably arranged along the width of the lane. These icons are designed to flash cyclically according to the lane change speed at a set interval. The content of the lane change warning icons can be warning text (e.g., "Caution: Vehicle changing lanes on the left," "Caution: Vehicle changing lanes on the right," or "Caution: Vehicle approaching from the left," "Caution: Vehicle approaching from the right," etc.) or warning signs (e.g., a triangular exclamation mark or a triangular slow-down sign), or a combination of warning text and warning signs. This allows drivers of surrounding vehicles to be immediately alerted to a potential hazard via the warning signs, enabling them to control their speed and increase vigilance. The warning text further informs drivers of surrounding vehicles of the approaching vehicle's direction, allowing them to observe and slow down or yield, thus providing a better warning and alerting effect. Lane change warning icons can be displayed as follows: Figure 4 or Figure 5 As shown, four lane change warning icons are arranged along the width of the lane. These four icons flash sequentially from left to right (changing lanes to the right) or from right to left (changing lanes to the left) depending on the direction of the lane change. Each icon flashes once, constituting one flashing cycle. After one flashing cycle, the four icons continue flashing in the same order, entering the second flashing cycle, and repeating this cycle until the lane change is completed and the turn signal is turned off. It's understood that initially, all four lane change warning icons are either not displayed or displayed at low brightness. When the first (located at position 1) lane change warning icon needs to flash, it will switch to being displayed or displayed at high brightness. The first lane change reminder icon can remain displayed or brightly lit, or it can switch back to its initial state of not being displayed or low brightness, until all four lane change reminder icons have flashed (i.e., all four lane change reminder icons have flashed). Then, all four lane change reminder icons switch back to their initial state of not being displayed or low brightness to allow for the second flashing cycle of the lane change reminder image. This continues until the lane change is completed and the turn signal is turned off. This flashing method makes drivers of vehicles intending to merge into the lane feel a stronger sense of "intrusion," as if the lane change reminder icon is the vehicle changing lanes itself, thus making it easier to alert the driver and achieving a good reminder and warning effect.

[0038] More specifically, in one embodiment of the lane change warning system provided in the first aspect of the present invention, the lane change warning image further includes a lane change trajectory line, a speed indicator, and a lane change speed indicator for displaying the lane change speed. The lane change trajectory line is the expected travel trajectory of the vehicle during the lane change, serving to remind vehicles behind the lane change trajectory line not to approach it to avoid a collision. Specifically, the lane change trajectory line can be as follows: Figure 4 or Figure 5 The dotted lines in the image indicate the lane change warning. The dotted lines can be highlighted cyclically along the vehicle's direction of travel for better visibility. Speed ​​signs indicate the speed of vehicles changing lanes, providing a speed reference for vehicles behind the lane change warning image, allowing them to reduce speed, give way, or maintain a safe distance. Lane change speed signs provide a reference for the merging speed of vehicles behind the lane change warning image, helping drivers determine whether to brake suddenly or change lanes abruptly, thus providing a better warning effect.

[0039] Optionally, in one embodiment of the lane change reminder system provided in the first aspect of the present invention, such as Figure 2 As shown, the image projection system includes a headlight, which comprises a pixel-level headlight module and a driver board. The driver board controls the illumination of corresponding pixel units in the pixel-level headlight module based on the lane change warning image output by the image generation unit, so that a lane change warning image can be formed at the corresponding position in the light domain of the headlight. Specifically, the image projection system is integrated with the headlight to output the lane change warning image through the pixel-level headlight module. For example, the turn signal module in the headlight is set as a pixel-level headlight module. When a vehicle changes lanes to the left and activates its left turn signal, the lane change warning image is projected onto the left lane through the left turn signal. When a vehicle changes lanes to the right and activates its right turn signal, the lane change warning image is projected onto the right lane through the right headlight. This allows for easy projection of the lane change warning image without changing the size of the headlight or making significant changes to its internal structure, thereby saving on the installation and use costs of the lane change warning system. Understandably, taking the solution of setting the turn signal module in the headlights as a pixel-level headlight module as an example, if multiple lane change warning icons are set to have one flashing while the others are not displayed, the flashing of the lane change warning icons at different locations can be achieved by adjusting the direction of the turn signal beam. Specifically, the adjustment of the direction of the turn signal beam can be achieved by adjusting the light output direction of the pixel-level headlight module or by turning the pixels in different areas of the pixel-level headlight module on or off. If multiple lane change warning icons are set to have one flashing while the others are displayed at low brightness, the flashing of the lane change warning icons at different locations can be achieved by adjusting the brightness of the pixels in different areas of the pixel-level headlight module.

[0040] Optionally, in one embodiment of the lane change warning system provided in the first aspect of the present invention, the image projection system includes a projection unit and a projection direction control unit disposed on the roof of the vehicle. The projection unit can project a lane change warning image, and the projection direction control unit can adjust the projection direction of the projection unit according to the turn signal and the steering wheel angle so that the lane change warning image is located at a set position. That is to say, the image projection system is designed separately on the roof of the vehicle. This design makes the projected lane change warning image less likely to be obstructed by surrounding vehicles. Moreover, the projection direction of the projection unit is related to the turn signal and the steering wheel angle. Specifically, the projection direction of the projection unit is consistent with the direction of the turned-on turn signal, and the left or right deflection angle of the projection unit is proportional to the steering wheel angle. That is to say, the larger the steering wheel angle, the larger the deflection angle of the projection unit, so that the distance between the lane change warning image and the parallel vehicle is closer, thereby more likely to arouse the alertness of the driver in the parallel vehicle and have a better warning effect.

[0041] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the lane change reminder method provided in the second aspect of the present invention, such as Figure 3 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0042] A) Determine whether the vehicle's turn signals are on, or whether the driver has activated the turn signal switch;

[0043] B) Obtain vehicle speed and steering wheel angle when the turn signal is turned on or the driver toggles the turn signal switch, and calculate the vehicle's lane change speed based on the vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

[0044] C) Generate a lane change warning image to display the lane change speed, and control multiple lane change warning icons on the lane change warning image to flash cyclically according to a set period based on the lane change speed.

[0045] The aforementioned technical solution acquires information such as vehicle speed and steering wheel angle simultaneously when the vehicle's turn signal is activated, thereby determining the vehicle's lane change speed. This lane change speed is then displayed on the lane change warning image, and multiple lane change warning icons on the image flash cyclically according to a set period based on the lane change speed. This ensures that the lane change warning image provides a good warning effect even in complex nighttime lighting conditions, raising the driver's awareness and thus better preventing traffic accidents.

[0046] Specifically, in one embodiment of the lane change reminder system provided in the second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of lane change reminder icons are preferably arranged along the width direction of the lane, so as to achieve sequential flashing along the lane change direction of the vehicle, and after each lane change reminder icon flashes once, it flashes sequentially again along the lane change direction of the vehicle, and the above flashing process is repeated until the lane change is completed and the turn signal is turned off. Specifically, the lane change reminder icons can be as follows: Figure 4 or Figure 5 The system displays four lane change warning icons. These icons flash sequentially from left to right (for right lane changes) or right to left (for left lane changes) depending on the vehicle's lane change direction. Each icon flashes once, constituting one flashing cycle. After one cycle, the four icons continue flashing in the same order, forming the second flashing cycle. This cycle repeats until the lane change is completed and the turn signal is turned off. Initially, all four icons are either not displayed or have low brightness. When the first (located at position 1) lane change warning icon needs to flash, it will switch to a displayed or high-brightness state. When the next lane change reminder icon (at position two) needs to flash, the first lane change reminder icon can continue to be displayed or in a high-brightness state, or it can switch back to the initial state of not being displayed or in a low-brightness state. This continues until all four lane change reminder icons have flashed (i.e., after all four lane change reminder icons have flashed), at which point all four lane change reminder icons switch back to the initial state of not being displayed or in a low-brightness state to facilitate the second flashing cycle of the lane change reminder image. This continues until the lane change is completed and the turn signal is turned off. The above flashing method can make drivers of vehicles that want to merge into the lane feel a stronger sense of "intrusion," as if the lane change reminder icon is the vehicle changing lanes. Therefore, it is easier to arouse the driver's alertness, thereby achieving a good reminder and warning effect.

[0047] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the lane change warning system provided in the second aspect of the present invention, the cycle period T of the lane change warning image flashing cyclically is:

[0048] T = k / (v × θ)

[0049] Where k is the conversion coefficient, v is the vehicle speed (in meters per second), and θ is the steering wheel angle. This allows the lane change warning image to flash for shorter cycles (T) as the vehicle speed increases and the turn / change is more abrupt; conversely, it allows for longer cycles (T) as the vehicle speed decreases and the turn / change is more gradual. This cycle length effectively conveys the speed of the lane change to drivers of surrounding vehicles in a more vivid and intuitive way.

[0050] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the lane change reminder system provided in the second aspect of the present invention, the width of the overall structure formed by the plurality of lane change reminder icons is consistent with the lane width lw, and the flashing time of each lane change reminder icon in the lane change reminder image is ft. Then, in the cycle of cyclic flashing, the position X of the next lane change reminder icon... n for:

[0051] X n =X n-1 +(ft*lw) / T

[0052] Among them, X n-1 This refers to the current position of the flashing lane change warning icon. In other words, the next lane change warning icon will be positioned by shifting the current icon's position to the left or right by a distance equal to the width of the lane change warning icon. It can be understood that the overall width of the multiple lane change warning icons should be the same as the lane width (lw), but these multiple icons do not necessarily need to be projected entirely into the lane where the lane needs to be merged. Specifically, for example... Figure 5 As shown, when a vehicle changes lanes at a curve, it is necessary to ensure that more than half of the multiple lane change reminder icons are projected into the lane to which it needs to merge. For example, if four lane change reminder icons are set, it is necessary to ensure that three of them are projected into the lane to which the vehicle needs to merge.

[0053] The optional embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the specific details in the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of the embodiments of the present invention, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and these simple modifications all fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0054] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. To avoid unnecessary repetition, the embodiments of the present invention will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

[0055] Furthermore, various different implementations of the present invention can be combined arbitrarily, as long as they do not violate the spirit of the present invention, they should also be regarded as the content disclosed in the present invention.

Claims

1. A lane change reminder system, characterized in that, The system includes a vehicle status acquisition system for acquiring vehicle status information, an image generation unit for generating a lane change warning image based on the vehicle status information, and an image projection system for projecting the lane change warning image onto the lane the vehicle intends to merge into in front of it. The lane change warning image is configured to flash at a set period according to the vehicle's lane change speed; the lane change speed is the speed of the vehicle along the width of the lane when it changes lanes. The lane change warning image has multiple lane change warning icons, which are arranged along the width of the lane and are configured to flash cyclically according to the lane change speed at a set cycle. The content of each lane change warning icon is at least one of warning text and warning signs that include the meaning of lane change warning. The multiple lane change warning icons flash sequentially according to the order corresponding to the lane change direction of the vehicle. The lane change warning image also includes a lane change trajectory line, a speed indicator, and a lane change speed indicator to display the lane change speed; the lane change trajectory line is the expected travel trajectory of the vehicle when changing lanes; the speed indicator is the vehicle's travel speed.

2. The lane change reminder system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle status information includes steering wheel angle, vehicle speed, and turn signal. The image generation unit can determine the lane change speed based on the steering wheel angle and vehicle speed, and can determine the projection direction of the lane change reminder image based on the turn signal.

3. The lane change reminder system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The image projection system includes a headlight, which includes a pixel-level headlight module and a driver board. The driver board can control the on / off state of corresponding pixel units in the pixel-level headlight module according to the lane change warning image output by the image generation unit, so that the lane change warning image can be formed at the corresponding position in the light field of the headlight.

4. The lane change reminder system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The image projection system includes a projection unit and a projection direction control unit located on the top of the vehicle. The projection unit can project the lane change warning image, and the projection direction control unit can adjust the projection direction of the projection unit according to the turn signal and the steering wheel angle so that the lane change warning image is located at a set position.

5. A lane change reminder method, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: A) Determine if the vehicle's turn signals are on; B) When the turn signal is turned on, the vehicle speed and steering wheel angle are acquired to calculate the lane change speed of the vehicle based on the vehicle speed and the steering wheel angle; the lane change speed is the speed of the vehicle along the width of the lane when it changes lanes. C) Generate a lane change warning image, display the lane change speed on the lane change warning image, and control multiple lane change warning icons on the lane change warning image to flash cyclically according to a set period based on the lane change speed; The lane change warning image has multiple lane change warning icons, which are positioned along the width of the lane on the lane the vehicle intends to merge into. These icons are configured to flash cyclically according to the lane change speed at a set interval. The content of each icon includes at least one of warning text and warning signs that convey the meaning of a lane change warning. The multiple lane change warning icons flash sequentially according to the direction the vehicle is changing lanes. The lane change warning image also includes a lane change trajectory line, a speed indicator, and a lane change speed indicator to display the lane change speed; the lane change trajectory line is the expected travel trajectory of the vehicle when changing lanes; the speed indicator is the vehicle's travel speed.

6. The lane change reminder method according to claim 5, characterized in that, Multiple lane change reminder icons are arranged along the width of the lane to flash sequentially in the lane change direction of the vehicle. After each lane change reminder icon flashes once, it flashes sequentially again in the lane change direction of the vehicle, and the above flashing process is repeated until the lane change is completed and the turn signal is turned off.

7. The lane change reminder method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cycle period T of the cyclic flashing is: T = k / (v × θ); Where k is the conversion coefficient, v is the vehicle speed, and θ is the steering wheel angle.

8. The lane change reminder method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The width of the collective lane change reminder icons is the same as the lane width lw. The flashing time of each lane change reminder icon in the lane change reminder image is ft. Therefore, in the cyclic flashing period, the position X of the next lane change reminder icon... n for: X n =X n-1 +(ft*lw) / T; Among them, X n-1 The position of the currently flashing lane change warning icon.

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