IP Library Granted Patent US 12662155
Granted Patent B2
US 12662155 · App. 19/032,720 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Drop-off assistance device and drop-off assistance system

Inventors: Masaho Ishida (Toyota, JP); Hiroaki Iida (Hashima, JP); Issei Matsunaga (Nagoya, JP); Haruki Hirasawa (Toyota, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60W50/14G06V20/58B60W2050/143B60W2420/403B60W2420/408B60W2556/65
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12662155
App. No.
19/032,720
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The drop-off assistance device includes: a sensor for detecting an object behind the vehicle; a communication device capable of communicating with another vehicle; a notification device for notifying an occupant of the vehicle; a sensor; a communication device; and a controller connected to the notification device, wherein the controller detects a rear vehicle located behind the vehicle based on a detection result of the sensor at the time of parking and stopping the vehicle, establishes communication with the rear vehicle in response to the detection of the rear vehicle, and causes the notification device to notify the presence of the approaching object in response to the communication device receiving the detection of the approaching object to be notified from the rear vehicle.

Claims (16)

1 . A drop-off assistance device comprising:

a sensor configured to detect an object behind a vehicle;

a communication device configured to communicate with other vehicles;

a notification device configured to notify an occupant of the vehicle about information; and

a controller connected to the sensor, the communication device, and the notification device, wherein the controller is configured to:

detect a rear vehicle located behind the vehicle based on a detection result from the sensor during parking or stopping of the vehicle;

cause the communication device to establish communication with the rear vehicle in response to detection of the rear vehicle; and

when the communication device receives, from the rear vehicle, detection of an approaching object that is a target of notification, cause the notification device to give a notification about presence of the approaching object.

2 . The drop-off assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the rear vehicle is at least either of a vehicle parked or stopped behind the vehicle and a vehicle towed by the vehicle.

3 . The drop-off assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to, when determination is made that the approaching object that has ever been detected is not currently detected based on information received from the rear vehicle, detect the approaching object using the sensor and cause the notification device to give a notification about the presence of the approaching object.

4 . A drop-off assistance system comprising:

a first controller mounted on a first vehicle; and

a second controller mounted on a second vehicle, wherein

the first controller is configured to detect the second vehicle located behind the first vehicle based on a detection result from a sensor of the first vehicle during parking or stopping of the first vehicle, and establish communication between the first vehicle and the second vehicle in response to detection of the second vehicle,

the second controller is configured to detect an approaching object that is a target of notification based on a detection result from a sensor of the second vehicle, or receive detection of the approaching object from a rear vehicle behind the second vehicle, and transmit information on the approaching object to the first vehicle, and

the first controller is configured to cause the first vehicle to give a notification about presence of the approaching object in response to reception of the information on the approaching object from the second vehicle.