Turn Indicator Control Using Road Branch Detection After Lane Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lane-change assist devices fail to turn off the turn indicator after a lane change when boundary lines cannot be detected by the vehicle's camera due to weathering, absence, or positioning issues.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle control device detects the presence of a road enabling a second course change by analyzing images from an imaging device, and turns off the turn indicator when such a road is detected, even if boundary lines are undetectable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a camera unit photographs the area ahead of the vehicle to detect boundary lines, then the turn indicator can be turned off after lane change, but the boundary lines cannot be detected on roads where they are weathered, faded, absent, or too wide for the camera range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection method by detecting roads that enable second course changes instead of directly detecting boundary lines. This intermediary approach allows the system to infer lane change completion indirectly through the presence or absence of detectable roads ahead, resolving the contradiction when boundary lines are undetectable due to weathering, fading, absence, or camera positioning limitations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct visual detection mechanism (camera detecting boundary lines) with an alternative detection mechanism (detecting roads enabling second course changes). This substitution allows the system to achieve turn indicator control reliability through a different detection approach that does not depend on the visibility of boundary lines
2Device complexity
If the turn indicator continues to blink after lane change on roads without detectable boundary lines, then the detection method is simple, but unnecessary indicator blinking occurs causing confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the detection of roads enabling second course changes as an intermediary indicator to determine when to turn off the turn indicator. This intermediary detection provides a reliable signal for indicator control without requiring complex boundary line analysis, thus reducing unnecessary blinking while keeping the detection method relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the detection result of roads enabling second course changes feeds back to control the turn indicator state. When no such roads are detected, the system infers lane change completion and turns off the indicator, creating a closed-loop control system that eliminates unnecessary blinking
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous travel controller detects whether a host vehicle is carrying out a first course change for changing a course in a direction indicated by a turn indicator. Upon detecting that the host vehicle is carrying out the first course change, detecting whether there is a road that enables a second course change for changing the course of the host vehicle that branches from the road after the first course change. When a road that enables the second course change is detected, the autonomous travel controller turns the turn indicator off.