Pedal Misapplication Warning Guidance for Faster Vehicle Deceleration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driver assistance systems struggle to effectively guide drivers to decelerate their vehicles promptly after a pedal misapplication operation, as current warning methods, such as buzzer alerts and display instructions, may not promptly convey the need to release the accelerator pedal.

Innovation Solution

A driver assistance device equipped with processors that determine a pedal misapplication condition, providing immediate visual and auditory warnings directly instructing the driver to release the currently depressed pedal, accompanied by an attention-attracting illustration and audio messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a warning buzzer is used to attract the driver's attention, then the driver's attention is attracted, but the driver is not guided to perform appropriate pedal operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver awarenessVSAvoidpedal operation guidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary communication medium (display device showing text messages and images) between the warning buzzer and the driver's pedal operation. The display shows messages like 'Release the accelerator pedal' and images of foot positions, serving as a mediator that translates the alert into specific operational guidance, thus resolving the contradiction between attracting attention and guiding operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If text messages are displayed to instruct the driver to depress the brake pedal, then the driver receives instruction, but it takes considerable time to read and comprehend the message

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstruction clarityVSAvoiddriver reaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the instruction into multiple components: a concise text message ('Release the accelerator pedal'), a visual image showing foot position, and an icon indicating the correct action. This segmentation allows the driver to quickly comprehend the instruction through multiple sensory channels simultaneously, reducing reaction time while maintaining clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of instructing the driver to press the brake pedal (positive action), the patent inverts the instruction by telling the driver to release the accelerator pedal (negative action). This inversion simplifies the cognitive load as releasing a pedal is more intuitive and faster to execute than pressing another pedal, thus reducing reaction time while maintaining instructional clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If the driver is instructed to depress the brake pedal, then the driver is guided to brake, but the driver may not recognize that he/she is erroneously depressing the accelerator pedal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeceleration guidanceVSAvoiderror recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by displaying information that confirms the system has detected accelerator pedal depression ('Accelerator is depressed') and provides feedback on the correct action ('Release the accelerator pedal'). This feedback loop helps the driver recognize the error state and understand what correction is needed, resolving the contradiction between guiding deceleration and enabling error recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3800081B1Driver assistance device and driver assistance method
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3800081B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3800081B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3800081B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A driver assistance device includes a one or more processors (10, 30, 40, 50). The one or more processors (10, 30, 40, 50) is configured to determine whether a pedal misapplication determination condition is satisfied, and output, when the one or more processors determines that the pedal misapplication determination condition is satisfied, at least one of a warning display and warning audio directly instructing a driver to release the pedal that is depressed at a point in time of outputting.