HMI Control Unit for Adaptive Lane Change Notification Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing notification systems for lane changes in driving assistance systems do not effectively notify occupants of guidance information due to varying road shapes and vehicle travel situations, leading to inappropriate notification states.

Innovation Solution

A notification system that includes a route decision unit, a notification unit, and an HMI control unit, which controls the notification start time of guidance information based on the number of lanes between the current lane and the recommended lane, continuing notifications even after a lane change if the initial notification start time has not been reached, and adjusts the start time based on distance from the lane change limit point.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the notification system uses fixed notification start times for each lane, then the notification timing is simple to control, but the guidance information is not provided in appropriate notification states depending on road shape or traveling situation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification control simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to road shape and traveling situation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system dynamically adjusts notification start times based on the vehicle's current lane and the number of lanes between the current lane and the recommended lane. Instead of using fixed notification timings, the system calculates and sets appropriate notification start times adaptively, allowing the notification behavior to change according to the specific traveling situation and road configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the notification start time parameter based on the number of lanes between the current lane and the recommended lane. By adjusting this temporal parameter according to the spatial relationship between lanes, the system provides appropriate notification timing that adapts to different road configurations and traveling situations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If the notification system provides guidance information for multiple lanes, then the guidance coverage is improved, but the notification timing becomes more complex to manage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguidance information coverageVSAvoidnotification timing management

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system segments the guidance information by lane, providing specific notification start times for each lane based on the number of lanes between the current lane and the recommended lane. This segmentation allows comprehensive guidance coverage for multiple lanes while managing complexity through systematic, lane-by-lane notification timing control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system systematically adjusts the notification start time parameter for each lane based on the number of lanes between the current lane and the recommended lane. This parameter-based approach provides comprehensive guidance coverage while maintaining manageable complexity through consistent adjustment rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of moving object

If the notification system continues guidance information after lane change, then the guidance completeness is improved, but the notification timing precision is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguidance information durationVSAvoidnotification start time precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system maintains continuous guidance information provision after a lane change, ensuring that the guidance action continues without interruption. The system determines whether to continue or end notification based on whether the vehicle has reached the notification start time for the new lane, providing continuous useful guidance while adapting to the changed traveling situation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11359928B2Notification system, notification control method, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A notification system includes a route decision unit that decides a route to a destination of a vehicle, a notification unit that notifies an occupant of guidance information for guiding the occupant regarding a lane change from a traveling lane of the vehicle to a recommended lane associated with the route to the destination decided by the route decision unit, and an HMI control unit that controls a notification start time of the guidance information for each lane on the basis of the number of lanes between the traveling lane and the recommended lane. In a case where the vehicle performs a lane change after a notification of the guidance information, the HMI control unit continues a notification of the guidance information even when a notification start time which is set for a lane after a lane change has not been reached.