Lane-Specific Traffic Signal Timing Display for Intersection Navigation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current driver assistance systems in vehicles lack comprehensive information about traffic situations at intersections with multiple lanes, particularly in urban areas, making it difficult for drivers to select the best lane for passing through intersections efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that determine and display the switching times of traffic signals and traffic situations on individual lanes, using data from vehicle sensors and infrastructure communication, to provide graphic information on traffic jam lengths and signal status, allowing drivers to choose the fastest lane to pass through intersections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If comprehensive traffic information is provided for all lanes at intersections, then driver decision-making is improved, but information complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic situation informationVSAvoidinformation processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments traffic information by individual lanes, with each lane having its own traffic jam length indicator and signal status display. This allows drivers to see specific information for each lane without being overwhelmed by a single complex aggregate display, resolving the contradiction by organizing comprehensive information into manageable lane-specific segments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses visual copies or representations of traffic jam lengths (graphical indicators) and signal statuses for each lane, rather than displaying raw data. These visual copies make complex traffic information easily comprehensible at a glance, improving driver decision-making without proportionally increasing processing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If real-time traffic data is collected and processed, then accuracy of traffic situation display is improved, but data transmission requirements and system resource usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic situation accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential traffic parameters needed for lane selection (traffic jam length and signal status) from the complete traffic data set. By taking out only the critical information for each lane rather than processing and transmitting all available traffic data, the system achieves accurate traffic situation display while minimizing data transmission energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If detailed lane-specific traffic information is displayed, then ease of lane selection is improved, but display complexity and driver cognitive load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelane selection processVSAvoiddisplay system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing specific traffic information (traffic jam length and signal status) for each individual lane rather than a generic overall traffic condition. This allows drivers to easily compare lanes and select the optimal one based on localized conditions for their specific routing needs, improving ease of lane selection without requiring overly complex display systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3154043B1Method and system for providing information about the surroundings of a crossing
Publication Date: 2021.01.13 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3154043B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3154043B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3154043B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for providing information in a vehicle (1) about a traffic situation in the vicinity of an intersection (25) with at least one traffic signal (6) leading to several lanes (8). The method involves the vehicle (1) first determining data on the switching times of the traffic signal (6), and second determining data on the traffic situation on the lanes (8) in the vicinity of the intersection (25). Based on the determined first and second data, graphic data is generated and displayed in the vehicle (1). This graphic data represents the length of a traffic jam in front of the traffic signal (6) in the direction of travel of the vehicle (1) separately for the lanes (8) and the current status of the traffic signal (6) for the lanes (8). The invention further relates to a system for providing such information, which is particularly capable of carrying out this method.