System and method for automatically activating a turn signal of a vehicle

1 . A method for automatically activating a turn signal, comprising:

monitoring a vehicle occupant of a vehicle with a driver monitoring system, wherein the driver monitoring system includes at least one camera and is configured to determine a position of at least one eye of the vehicle occupant, a head direction of the vehicle occupant, and a shoulder movement of the vehicle occupant;

monitoring a movement of a steering wheel of the vehicle;

determining that a steering angle movement with respect to time is greater than a predetermined rate threshold;

detecting, using the driver monitoring system, that an eye gaze of the vehicle occupant, a head rotation, and the shoulder movement are directed toward a side view mirror of the vehicle;

determining that the eye gaze, the head rotation, and the shoulder movement are each greater than a movement threshold, wherein the movement threshold is a function of a speed of the vehicle; and

in response to determining that the eye gaze of the vehicle occupant, the head rotation, and the shoulder movement are greater than the movement threshold, and determining that the steering angle movement with respect to time is greater than the predetermined rate threshold, automatically activating the turn signal of the vehicle.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a steering wheel angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining that the steering wheel angle is greater than a predetermined angle threshold.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the turn signal of the vehicle is automatically turned on in response to additionally determining that the steering wheel angle is greater than the predetermined angle threshold.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that a transmission of the vehicle is in Drive or Low; and

wherein the turn signal of the vehicle is automatically turned on in response to additionally determining that the transmission is in Drive or Low.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing the vehicle a unique serial data signal to differentiate the automatic activation of the turn signal from a driver-initiated turn signal activation, and sending the unique serial data signal to a Lane Departure Warning subfunction to integrate with other active safety features in the vehicle.

7 . A system automatically activating a turn signal in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a steering wheel in the vehicle;

a side view mirror attached to the vehicle;

a camera positioned to monitor a vehicle occupant;

a controller in communication with the camera, wherein the controller is programmed to:

monitor the vehicle occupant to determine a position of at least one eye of the vehicle occupant, a head direction of the vehicle occupant, and a shoulder movement of the vehicle occupant;

monitor a movement of the steering wheel of the vehicle;

determine that a steering angle movement with respect to time is greater than a predetermined rate threshold;

detect, using the camera, that an eye gaze of the vehicle occupant, a head rotation, and the shoulder movement are directed toward the side view mirror;

determine that the eye gaze, the head rotation, and the shoulder movement are each greater than a movement threshold, wherein the movement threshold is a function of a speed of the vehicle; and

in response to determining that the eye gaze of the vehicle occupant, the head rotation, and the shoulder movement are greater than the movement threshold, and determining that the steering angle movement with respect to time is greater than the predetermined rate threshold, automatically activate the turn signal of the vehicle.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is programmed to monitor the movement of the steering wheel of the vehicle, and to automatically activate the turn signal in response to additionally determining that the movement of the steering wheel is greater than a predetermined angle threshold.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further programmed to:

determine that a transmission of the vehicle is in Drive or Low; and

automatically activate the turn signal in response to additionally determining that the transmission is in Drive or Low.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further programmed to:

provide the vehicle a unique serial data signal to differentiate the automatic activation of the turn signal from a driver-initiated turn signal activation, and send the unique serial data signal to a Lane Departure Warning subfunction to integrate with other active safety features in the vehicle.