Intersection Side-Object Alerts With Adaptive Notification Width

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driving support devices fail to accurately set notification regions for approaching lateral objects at intersections, leading to either omission or unnecessary notifications due to inconsistent sizing based on intersection dimensions.

Innovation Solution

A driving support device that adjusts the width of the notification target region based on the size of the intersection, using sensors and cameras to determine the region's dimensions and issue notifications only when the object is within this adjusted region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a constant notification target region size is used regardless of intersection size, then the device complexity is reduced, but notification precision deteriorates leading to omission or unnecessary notifications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification target region configurationVSAvoidnotification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The notification target region width is made dynamic by adjusting it according to the intersection size. The control device acquires the size of the intersection and determines the notification target region width in accordance with the acquired size, allowing the region to adapt to different intersection dimensions rather than using a fixed constant width.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The width parameter of the notification target region is changed based on the intersection size parameter. When the intersection size varies, the notification target region width is adjusted accordingly, ensuring that the notification region appropriately matches the actual traffic situation at different intersection scales.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the notification target region is set to a relatively small region for large intersections, then unnecessary notifications are reduced, but notification omission occurs for targets on adjacent lanes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunnecessary notificationsVSAvoidnotification completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The notification target region width is adjusted as a variable parameter based on intersection size. For large intersections, the width is increased to cover multiple lanes including adjacent lanes, ensuring that approaching targets on any lane within the intersection are detected and notified, thus maintaining notification completeness while avoiding unnecessary alerts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the notification target region is set to a relatively large region for small intersections, then notification completeness is improved, but excessive notifications occur for visually recognizable targets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification completenessVSAvoidexcessive notifications

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The notification target region width is dynamically adjusted according to the actual intersection size. For small intersections, the width is reduced to match the limited space, so that only targets that are truly difficult for the driver to visually recognize (those within the adjusted region) trigger notifications. This prevents excessive notifications while maintaining completeness for critical targets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If the notification target region width is fixed, then the ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to different intersection sizes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveregion setting simplicityVSAvoidintersection size adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The notification target region width transitions from a static fixed value to a dynamic value that automatically adjusts based on the detected intersection size. The control device acquires the intersection size and determines the notification target region width in accordance with the acquired size, enabling the system to adapt to various intersection configurations without manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-adjustment of the notification target region width based on the intersection size it detects. The control device automatically acquires the intersection size and determines the appropriate notification target region width without requiring external input or manual setting, making the system self-adaptive to different intersection environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12384294B2Driving support device, driving support method, and driving support program for notifying a driver of a vehicle of a target object approaching the vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.08.12 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

Provided is a driving support device including: a side sensor configured to detect a target object existing on a lateral side of an own vehicle; and a control device configured to notify a driver of the own vehicle of existence of a target object approaching the own vehicle from the lateral side of the own vehicle when, at a time of entry of the own vehicle into an intersection, the target object exists and the target object is positioned in a notification target region. The notification target region is a region having a strip shape which is included in a road crossing a road on which the own vehicle is traveling or stopped, and which extends from the intersection in an extending direction of the road. The control device is configured to acquire a size of the intersection, and to determine a width of the notification target region in accordance with the size of the intersection.