Cut-In Vehicle Detection Thresholds for Stopped Host Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driving assist systems struggle to detect vehicles that may cut in front of a host vehicle when it is stopped.

Innovation Solution

A driving assist method and device that set a detection field for sensors in front of a host vehicle, determining if another vehicle has cut in based on the area of its rear or side surface entering the detection field, with different threshold values for traveling and stopped states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single threshold value is used for detecting cut-in vehicles, then the detection system is simple to operate, but it cannot effectively detect cut-in vehicles when the host vehicle is stopped

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut-in detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection threshold complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the detection threshold variable based on the host vehicle's operational state. The controller dynamically switches between a first threshold value when the vehicle is traveling and a second threshold value when the vehicle is stopped. This resolves the contradiction by enabling effective cut-in detection during stopping (improving reliability) while maintaining operational simplicity through automated state-based threshold selection (managing complexity).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the detection threshold parameter according to the host vehicle's state. When the vehicle transitions from traveling to stopped, the threshold changes from the first value to the second value. This allows the system to detect cut-in vehicles during stopping that would otherwise be missed with a single threshold, improving detection accuracy without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the detection threshold is lowered to detect stopped vehicles, then cut-in detection during stopping improves, but false detections during traveling increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut-in detection sensitivityVSAvoidfalse detection rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses parameter changes to adjust the detection threshold based on vehicle state. A lower second threshold value is applied when the vehicle is stopped to increase sensitivity and detect cut-in vehicles that may be stationary or moving slowly. A higher first threshold value is used when traveling to reduce false detections from normal traffic flow. This state-dependent parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between detection sensitivity and false detection rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by tailoring the detection threshold to the specific operational context. Different threshold values are assigned to different vehicle states (traveling vs. stopped), ensuring that the detection criteria are locally optimized for each situation. This prevents the harmful effect of false detections during traveling while maintaining high sensitivity during stopping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If the detection field is set between the host vehicle and preceding vehicle, then the system can detect cut-in vehicles, but the detection coverage is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut-in detection precisionVSAvoiddetection field coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the detection field configuration adaptable to different vehicle states. When the host vehicle is stopped, the system actively monitors the detection field for cut-in vehicles with heightened sensitivity. The detection field remains positioned between the host vehicle and preceding vehicle to maintain precision for cut-in detection, while the state-dependent threshold adjustment compensates for the limited coverage area during stopping scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4206054B1Driving assistance method and driving assistance device
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4206054B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4206054B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4206054B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A driving assist device (1) comprises a camera (10) that detects a presence of another vehicle ahead of a host vehicle and a controller (20) that sets a detection field of the camera (10). The controller (20) determines that another vehicle has cut in front of the host vehicle if a degree to which the other vehicle has entered into the detection field exceeds or equals a first prescribed value when the host vehicle is traveling, and determines that the other vehicle has cut in front of the host vehicle if the degree exceeds or equals a second prescribed value that is smaller than the first prescribed value when the host vehicle is stopped.