Intersection Turn Notification Timing for Blind-Angle Oncoming Traffic

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Solution Overview

Problem

In-vehicle sensors struggle to detect traffic participants at blind angles, particularly when large vehicles obstruct the view, making it difficult to assess collision risks during right turns at intersections on left-hand traffic roads.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle notification system that calculates notification issuance distances based on deceleration rates and relative vehicle speeds, issuing alerts at appropriate timings to enhance driver awareness of oncoming vehicles, even when they are obscured by obstacles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If in-vehicle sensors are used to detect traffic participants, then detection capability is provided, but detection reliability deteriorates when vehicles are present at blind angles behind obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoiddetection difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a notification system that acts as an intermediary between the sensor detection limitations and the driver. When sensors fail to detect vehicles at blind angles, the system calculates potential collision risks based on vehicle positions and issues notifications to alert drivers, thereby compensating for the detection reliability deficiency without requiring the sensors themselves to improve

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calculation of notification issuance distances based on deceleration rates and relative vehicle speeds before actual collision risk materializes. By proactively identifying potential hazards at blind angles and notifying drivers in advance, the system addresses the detection difficulty before it becomes a critical safety issue

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If notification issuance distance is calculated using preset deceleration rate, then calculation simplicity is achieved, but accuracy deteriorates when vehicle speeds vary significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation simplicityVSAvoiddistance calculation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic calculation approach where the notification issuance distance is adjusted based on real-time vehicle speeds. When the own vehicle's speed exceeds a threshold, the system switches from using the other vehicle's speed to using the relative vehicle speed for calculation, thereby adapting to varying driving conditions while maintaining calculation simplicity through clear conditional logic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4700741A1Vehicle notification system
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP
  • EP4700741A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4700741A1 patent drawingFigure 2
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AI summary

The vehicle notification system sets a notification issuance timing in accordance with a relative position of a right turning vehicle VA to an intersection CS in a traffic situation where the right turning vehicle VA and a straight traveling vehicle VB are approaching the intersection CS from opposite directions. The system calculates a notification issuance distance Dth1, Dth2 on the basis of a preset deceleration rate DEC1, DEC2 as a distance required for deceleration of the straight traveling vehicle VB, and performs notification issuance in a predetermined mode in a case where the straight traveling vehicle VB is located at the notification issuance distance DEC1, DEC2 from the intersection CS or is located at a position closer to the intersection CS than the notification issuance distance at the notification issuance timing.