Granted Patent B2

US 12,403,925 · App. 17/564,759 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Inventor: Kenji Kimura (Nisshin, JP)

Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

B60W50/14B60Q3/731B60Q5/005B60W40/08B60W50/16B60K2360/334B60Q3/80B60Q2800/10B60W2040/0827B60W2050/143B60W2050/146

Abstract

Claims (82)

1. A method to be performed by an electronic control unit of a vehicle, the method comprising:

presenting a light stimulus to a driver of the vehicle;

making a first determination as to whether the driver is facing forward;

upon determining, in the first determination, that the driver is not facing forward, performing a first warning;

after performing the first warning:

making a second determination as to whether the driver is facing forward;

upon determining, in the second determination, that the driver is facing forward, terminating the first warning;

upon determining, in the second determination, that the driver is not facing forward:

making a third determination as to whether the driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle;

upon determining, in the third determination, that the driver is not holding the steering wheel:

terminating the first warning; and

performing a second warning.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

upon determining, in the third determination, that the driver is holding the steering wheel, repeating the second determination.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

capturing an image of the driver's face with a camera; and

determining whether the driver is facing forward based on the captured image.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the first warning comprises outputting a sound.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the second warning comprises causing a vibration in an interior of the vehicle and outputting a second sound.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after performing the second warning:

making a fourth determination as to whether the driver is facing forward; and

upon determining, in the fourth determination, that the driver is facing forward, terminating the second warning.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

upon determining, in the fourth determination, that the driver is not facing forward:

making a fifth determination as to whether the driver is holding the steering wheel; and

upon determining, in the fifth determination, that the driver is holding the steering wheel, terminating the second warning.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

upon determining, in the fifth determination, that the driver is not holding the steering wheel, repeating the fourth determination.

9. A vehicle comprising:

a warning device including at least one of a vibration generation device configured to generate vibration, a sound output device configured to output sound, and a display projection device to present a light stimulus; and

an electronic control unit configured to:

cause the display projection device to present a light stimulus to a driver of the vehicle;

make a first determination as to whether the driver is facing forward;

upon determining, in the first determination, that the driver is not facing forward, perform a first warning;

after performing the first warning:

make a second determination as to whether the driver is facing forward;

upon determining, in the second determination, that the driver is facing forward, terminate the first warning;

upon determining, in the second determination, that the driver is not facing forward:

make a third determination as to whether the driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle;

upon determining, in the third determination, that the driver is not holding the steering wheel:

 terminate the first warning; and

 perform a second warning.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to:

upon determining, in the third determination, that the driver is holding the steering wheel, repeat the second determination.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to:

perform the first warning by causing the sound output device to output a first sound; and

perform the second warning by causing the vibration generation device to vibrate and causing the sound output device to output a second sound.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to, after performing the second warning:

make a fourth determination as to whether the driver is facing forward; and

upon determining, in the fourth determination, that the driver is facing forward, terminate the second warning.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to:

upon determining, in the fourth determination, that the driver is not facing forward:

make a fifth determination as to whether the driver is holding the steering wheel; and

upon determining, in the fifth determination, that the driver is holding the steering wheel, terminate the second warning.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to:

upon determining, in the fifth determination, that the driver is not holding the steering wheel, repeat the fourth determination.

15. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium, having instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

cause a display projection device to present a light stimulus to a driver of a vehicle;

make a first determination as to whether the driver is facing forward;

upon determining, in the first determination, that the driver is not facing forward, perform a first warning;

after performing the first warning:

make a second determination as to whether the driver is facing forward;

upon determining, in the second determination, that the driver is facing forward, terminate the first warning;

upon determining, in the second determination, that the driver is not facing forward:

make a third determination as to whether the driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle;

upon determining, in the third determination, that the driver is not holding the steering wheel:

terminate the first warning; and

perform a second warning.

16. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

upon determining, in the third determination, that the driver is holding the steering wheel, repeat the second determination.

17. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

perform the first warning by causing a sound output device to output a first sound; and

perform the second warning by causing a vibration generation device to vibrate and causing the sound output device to output a second sound.

18. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to, after performing the second warning:

make a fourth determination as to whether the driver is facing forward; and

upon determining, in the fourth determination, that the driver is facing forward, terminate the second warning.

19. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

upon determining, in the fourth determination, that the driver is not facing forward:

make a fifth determination as to whether the driver is holding the steering wheel; and

upon determining, in the fifth determination, that the driver is holding the steering wheel, terminate the second warning.

20. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

upon determining, in the fifth determination, that the driver is not holding the steering wheel, repeat the fourth determination.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (52)