Turning-Vehicle Alert Zone Control for Intersection False Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing alert apparatuses fail to accurately determine when a vehicle turning at a traffic intersection has a low probability of colliding with another vehicle, leading to unnecessary alerts and driver annoyance, especially in complex intersections where the approaching vehicle does not cross the turning vehicle's path.

Innovation Solution

An alert apparatus with sensors and an electronic control unit that sets a determination area based on the vehicle's turning direction and moving direction angle, adjusting the area's position and size to accurately identify oncoming vehicles with a high collision probability and reduce false alerts by using a two-dimensional coordinate system to assess the approaching vehicle's position and predicted route.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the alert apparatus uses a fixed determination area to detect oncoming vehicles, then the detection coverage is comprehensive, but false alerts increase in complex intersections where vehicles do not actually cross paths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealert accuracyVSAvoidfalse alerts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The determination area is dynamically adjusted based on the own vehicle's turning direction and angle. When the own vehicle turns right, the determination area is set on the right side; when turning left, it is set on the left side. This dynamic positioning ensures the alert apparatus only monitors relevant oncoming traffic lanes, reducing false alerts in complex intersections while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage for actual collision risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of uniformly monitoring all directions, the alert apparatus focuses detection resources on specific local areas based on turning direction. The determination area is localized to the appropriate side (left or right) depending on the turning maneuver, concentrating detection capability where collision risk actually exists while ignoring areas where no collision is possible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If the alert apparatus monitors all approaching vehicles in the surrounding area, then detection coverage is maximized, but the complexity of determining collision probability increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision probability assessmentVSAvoiddetermination logic
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring area is segmented into distinct determination areas based on turning direction. Rather than evaluating all approaching vehicles uniformly, the system divides the surrounding area into relevant zones (left side for left turns, right side for right turns) and applies simplified collision probability logic specific to each segment, reducing overall determination complexity while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the determination area parameter based on the turning direction parameter. By linking the determination area position to the turning direction, the system automatically adjusts the monitoring focus, simplifying the collision probability assessment to depend on whether vehicles are in the appropriate determination area rather than requiring complex multi-factor analysis for all vehicles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the alert apparatus sets the determination area away from the own vehicle by a predetermined distance, then false alerts are reduced, but detection of oncoming vehicles at closer distances is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunnecessary alertsVSAvoiddetection timing
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The alert apparatus performs preliminary detection by monitoring vehicles entering the determination area before they reach the own vehicle. By positioning the determination area at an appropriate distance and using the predicted moving route crossing condition, the system identifies potential collision risks in advance, allowing timely alert issuance without premature false alerts, thus balancing early detection with false alert reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4043310B1Alert apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4043310B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4043310B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4043310B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An alert apparatus sets a determination area which is at a turning direction side of an own vehicle with respect to a longitudinal direction line of the own vehicle and extends forward from the own vehicle or from near the own vehicle when an angle condition that a moving direction angle corresponding to an angle defined by a longitudinal direction line of the own vehicle and a moving direction of an approaching vehicle is within a predetermined angle range, is satisfied (1704). The alert apparatus sets the determination area which is at the turning direction side of the longitudinal direction line and away forward from the own vehicle by a predetermined distance when the angle condition is not satisfied (1707).