Vehicle Speed Unit Setting via Map Data Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems face challenges in accurately setting speed units due to differences between vehicle-set units and units displayed on speed signs, leading to incorrect alarms or notifications, especially when units are mismatched or difficult to recognize, such as in rain, night, or when GPS signals are weak.
Innovation Solution
A unit setting apparatus that prioritizes map unit information based on vehicle position, driver input, and traffic sign recognition to set a consistent speed unit, using a CPU-driven system connected to a car navigation system and imaging unit to determine the appropriate unit from km/s to mps, ensuring accurate unit setting even without GPS data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traffic sign recognition is used to determine speed unit, then the system can adapt to local units, but recognition accuracy deteriorates in poor visibility conditions (rain, night)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces map data as an intermediary source to determine the speed unit when traffic sign recognition is unreliable. The system uses the vehicle's position from GPS to retrieve the appropriate speed unit from pre-stored map data, which serves as a reliable mediator between the recognition system and the unit setting, ensuring accuracy regardless of visibility conditions.
2Device complexity
If only traffic sign recognition is used, then the system is simple, but reliability deteriorates when GPS signals are weak or unrecognized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing speed unit information in map data before the vehicle reaches the location. When the vehicle's position is obtained via GPS, the system can immediately retrieve the correct speed unit from the map data without relying on real-time traffic sign recognition, ensuring reliable unit setting even when GPS signals are weak or signs are unrecognized.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different methods for determining speed units based on current conditions. It prioritizes traffic sign recognition when visible, falls back to map data when signs are unrecognized, and uses driver input as a final fallback, creating a dynamic multi-layered approach that maintains reliability across varying operational conditions.
3Measurement precision
If map data is used to determine speed unit, then accuracy is improved, but the system requires additional data storage and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the map data serve multiple functions: it provides both navigation information and speed unit determination. By storing speed unit information alongside geographic data in the map database, the system eliminates the need for separate data storage and processing systems, achieving high accuracy without proportionally increasing complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If driver input is required for unit selection, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional manual input
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by automatically determining the speed unit through traffic sign recognition or map data retrieval without requiring driver intervention. The driver only needs to provide input when explicitly requested by the system, making the operation mostly automatic and convenient while still allowing driver adaptability when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A unit setting apparatus sets a unit of distance used in a vehicle. A unit is set, which is indicated by map unit information, as a unit to be used, when a map unit acquisition section has acquired the map unit information. A unit is set, which is indicated by operation unit information, as a unit to be used, when the map unit acquisition section has not acquired the map unit information, and an operation unit acquisition section has acquired operation unit information. A unit is set, which is indicated by sign unit information, as a unit to be used, when the map unit acquisition section has not acquired the map unit information, the operation unit acquisition section has not acquired the operation unit information, and a sign unit acquisition section has acquired the sign unit information.