Dynamic Alarm Line Length Adjustment for Vehicle Intersection Collision Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle alarm systems inadequately differentiate between potential collisions and routine approaches at intersections, leading to unnecessary alarms and reduced driver attention to critical approaching objects.

Innovation Solution

The alarm system dynamically adjusts the length of virtual alarm lines based on the vehicle's state (straight driving vs. turning) and traffic laws, allowing for precise collision determination and reduced false alarms by setting shorter or longer alarm lines depending on the lane change and traffic direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the alarm system raises an alarm based on any approaching object regardless of vehicle state, then the driver is alerted to all potential objects, but unnecessary alarms are generated when the vehicle is turning at intersections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealarm reliabilityVSAvoidfalse alarms
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm line length is dynamically adjusted based on the vehicle's running state. When the vehicle is turning at an intersection, the alarm line length is set to a second length that is shorter than the first length used during straight driving. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to differentiate between critical approaching objects during straight driving and routine approaches during turns, thereby reducing false alarms while maintaining alarm reliability for genuine hazards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the alarm line length is kept long during turns to detect all approaching objects, then no critical objects are missed, but the driver receives unnecessary alarms for routine approaches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision detection accuracyVSAvoiddriver attention
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm system applies different alarm line lengths according to the local running state of the vehicle. During straight driving, a longer alarm line (first length) is used to detect all approaching objects. During turns at intersections, a shorter alarm line (second length) is used to exclude routine approaches from opposing lanes. This localized adjustment of detection parameters maintains collision detection accuracy for critical scenarios while reducing unnecessary alarms that would distract the driver.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the alarm system uses a fixed alarm line length for all driving conditions, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot differentiate between critical and non-critical approaching objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealarm line setting complexityVSAvoidcollision risk assessment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm line length transitions from a fixed value to a dynamic parameter that automatically adjusts based on the vehicle's running state. The control unit detects whether the vehicle is turning at an intersection and automatically sets the appropriate alarm line length (first length for straight driving, second length for turns). This dynamic adjustment mechanism maintains operational simplicity for the driver while significantly improving the precision of collision risk assessment by differentiating between critical and non-critical approaching objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3579212B1Alarm system for vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 MAZDA MOTOR CORP
  • EP3579212B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3579212B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3579212B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To provide an alarm system for a vehicle that can appropriately raise an alarm to a driver of a vehicle that is entering an intersection. An alarm system 1 for a vehicle includes an alarm line setting part 51 that sets a right alarm line 61 and a left alarm line 62 both extending forward from a vehicle 2. The alarm line setting part 51 sets the length of the right alarm line 61 and the left alarm line 62 at L1 when the vehicle is running in a straight line. The alarm line setting part 51 sets the length of the right alarm line 61 or the left alarm line 62 at a length different from L1 when the vehicle 2 is to turn left or right at an intersection 83 to enter a first lane 81 or a second lane 82.