IP Library Granted Patent US 12,145,590
Granted Patent B2
US 12,145,590 · App. 17/665,252 · Granted Nov 19, 2024

Merging support device, merging support system, merging support method, and computer-readable medium

Inventors: Shintaro Miike (Tokyo To, JP); Masahito Oishi (Kanagawa Ken, JP); Yongxiang Wang (Kanagawa Ken, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
B60W30/18163B60W30/10B60W40/04B60W50/14B60W2050/146B60W2400/00B60W2554/4043B60W2554/4045B60W2554/4046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,145,590
App. No.
17/665,252
Granted
Nov 19, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A merging support device includes a memory and a hardware processor coupled to the memory. The hardware processor is configured to: execute control of the first vehicle corresponding to behavior when a second vehicle merges into a first lane, based on a vehicle speed and a vehicle position of a second vehicle traveling in a second lane that merges into a first lane in which a first vehicle is traveling; and notify a driver of the first vehicle about information on a control content of the first vehicle by the hardware processor.

Claims (32)

1. A merging support device comprising:

a memory; and

a hardware processor coupled to the memory, wherein the hardware processor is configured to:

execute control of a first vehicle, the control corresponding to behavior of the first vehicle when a second vehicle merges into a first lane, based on a vehicle speed and a vehicle position of the second vehicle traveling in a second lane that merges into a first lane in which the first vehicle is traveling;

notify a driver of the first vehicle about information on a control content of the first vehicle by the hardware processor; and

display, on a display device mounted in the first vehicle, a path traveled by the second vehicle until the second vehicle merges into the first lane.

2. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein, the hardware processor is configured to make notification of the information on the control content of the first vehicle, before the control of the first vehicle corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane is initiated.

3. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to give notification of the information on the control content of the first vehicle, after the control of the first vehicle corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane is initiated.

4. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to give notification of information indicating that the control of the first vehicle has been interrupted, in a case where the control of the first vehicle is interrupted after the control of the first vehicle corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane is initiated.

5. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to give notification of information indicating that an operation by the driver of the first vehicle has intervened in a case where the operation intervenes after the control of the first vehicle corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane is initiated.

6. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to give notification that an operation by the driver of the first vehicle is necessary in a case where it is determined that the operation is necessary after the control of the first vehicle is initiated.

7. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to give notification of a position of the second vehicle after the second vehicle has merged into the first lane.

8. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to give notification of a speed difference between the first vehicle and the second vehicle after the second vehicle has merged into the first lane.

9. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to cause a direction indicator of the first vehicle to flash as the control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane.

10. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to turn on a brake lamp of the first vehicle as the control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane.

11. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to activate a horn of the first vehicle as the control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane.

12. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to perform a lane change of the first vehicle as the control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane.

13. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to change a vehicle speed of the first vehicle as the control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane.

14. The merging support device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to detect a speed and a position of the second vehicle, based on vehicle information transmitted using wireless communication from the second vehicle.

15. A merging support system comprising:

the merging support device according to claim 1 ; and

a center server that collects information on the vehicle speed and the vehicle position transmitted from the second vehicle and transmits the information to the first vehicle.

16. A merging support method comprising:

detecting, by a hardware processor, a vehicle speed and a vehicle position of a second vehicle traveling in a second lane that merges into a first lane in which a first vehicle is traveling;

executing, by the hardware processor, control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane, based on the vehicle speed and the vehicle position of the second vehicle;

notifying, by the hardware processor, a driver of the first vehicle about information on a control content of the first vehicle; and

displaying, by the hardware processor, on a display device mounted in the first vehicle, a path traveled by the second vehicle until the second vehicle merges into the first lane.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which an executable program is recorded, the program, when executed by a computer including a hardware processor, performs operations including:

detecting a vehicle speed and a vehicle position of a second vehicle traveling in a second lane that merges into a first lane in which a first vehicle is traveling;

executing control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane, based on the vehicle speed and the vehicle position of the second vehicle;

notifying a driver of the first vehicle about information on a control content of the first vehicle; and

displaying, on a display device mounted in the first vehicle, a path traveled by the second vehicle until the second vehicle merges into the first lane.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066709/0702 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2022
From: MIIKE, SHINTARO; OISHI, MASAHITO; WANG, YONGXIANG
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059834/0169 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-018270 · Feb 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220250623A1 · Aug 11, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,555,482