IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,637,073
Granted Patent B2
US 12,637,073 · App. 18/139,115 · Granted May 26, 2026

Driver-assistance system for controlling a velocity of a vehicle during an approach to a traffic light

Inventors: Sherif Matta (Auburn Hills, MI); Hamzeh Alzu'bi (Auburn Hills, MI); Thomas Tasky (Auburn Hills, MI); Venkata Narayana Sri Lakshman Siddhartha Yedida (Auburn Hills, MI); Ajay Paudyal (Auburn Hills, MI)
Assignee: FEV Group GmbH
B60W30/14G08G1/096725G08G1/096766B60W2556/45
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,637,073
App. No.
18/139,115
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a driver-assistance system for controlling a velocity of a vehicle. The system having a receiver and a control system. The receiver is configured to receive traffic light data generated by a traffic light control unit for controlling a traffic light. The control system is configured to control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the traffic light data. The traffic light data indicates a current phase of the traffic light. The control system is configured to control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the traffic light data such that the vehicle stops in front of the traffic light when the current phase of the traffic light is a red phase and controls the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the traffic light data such that the vehicle reaches a prescribed target velocity when the current phase of the traffic light is a green phase.

Claims (55)

1 . A driver-assistance system for controlling a velocity of a vehicle, the driver-assistance system comprising:

a receiver configured to:

receive traffic light data generated by a traffic light control unit for controlling a traffic light, and

receive a local map data specifying an environment of the traffic light, the local map data being data of at least one of a dimension of a stop line, a distance between the stop line and the traffic light, or a width of a road on which the vehicle drives to the traffic light; and

a control system configured to:

calculate a length of a driving path to the traffic light dependent on the local map data;

control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the length of the driving path;

control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the traffic light data, wherein the traffic light data indicates a current phase of the traffic light,

control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the traffic light data such that the vehicle stops in front of the traffic light wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is a red phase, and

control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the traffic light data such that the vehicle reaches a prescribed target velocity wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is a green phase.

2 . The driver-assistance system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the traffic light data further comprises:

an information about a remaining duration of the green phase wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is the green phase or an information about a remaining duration of the red phase wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is the red phase; and

the control system is further configured to control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the remaining duration of the green phase wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is the green phase or dependent on the remaining duration of the red phase wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is the red phase.

3 . The driver-assistance system according to claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to receive the traffic light data using a short-range communication standard.

4 . The driver-assistance system according to claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to receive the traffic light data from a roadside unit wherein when the receiver passes by the roadside unit.

5 . The driver-assistance system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a GPS receiver for generating differential GPS data for specifying a GPS position of the vehicle;

the receiver is configured to receive information about a GPS position of the traffic light or a roadside unit;

the control system is configured to:

calculate a distance between the vehicle and the traffic light or the roadside unit using the information about the GPS position of the traffic light or the roadside unit and the differential GPS data, and

control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the calculated distance.

6 . A driver-assistance system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an adaptive cruise control system configured to stopping the vehicle behind a stopped vehicle by executing the velocity control algorithm; and

the control system is configured to:

initiate a velocity control algorithm of the adaptive cruise control system in order to stop the vehicle in front of the traffic light wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is the red phase, and

send at least a part of the traffic light data or further data generated dependent on the traffic light data to the adaptive cruise control system,

wherein the adaptive cruise control system is configured to execute the velocity control algorithm dependent on the traffic light data or the further data in order to stop the vehicle in front of the traffic light wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is the red phase.

7 . The driver-assistance system according to claim 1 , wherein the local map data being data including each of the dimension of the stop line, the distance between the stop line and the traffic light, and the width of the road on which the vehicle drives to the traffic light.

8 . A traffic control system comprising:

a driver-assistance system for controlling a velocity of a vehicle, the driver-assistance system having a receiver and a control system;

a traffic light having a traffic light control unit for controlling the traffic light; and

a roadside unit with a transmitter, the roadside unit is arranged at a distance from the traffic light in the opposite direction of travel and the transmitter is configured to send traffic light data generated by the traffic light control unit for controlling the traffic light, the traffic light data indicates a current phase of the traffic light,

wherein:

the receiver is configured to:

receive the traffic light data from the transmitter, and

receive a local map data specifying an environment of the traffic light, the local map data being data of at least one of a dimension of a stop line, a distance between the stop line and the traffic light, or a width of a road on which the vehicle drives to the traffic light, and

the control system is configured to:

calculate a length of a driving path to the traffic light dependent on the local map data,

control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the length of the driving path,

control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the traffic light data such that the vehicle stops in front of the traffic light wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is a red phase, and

control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the traffic light data such that the vehicle reaches a prescribed target velocity wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is a green phase.

9 . The traffic control system according to claim 8 , wherein the local map data being data including each of the dimension of the stop line, the distance between the stop line and the traffic light, and the width of the road on which the vehicle drives to the traffic light.

10 . A method for controlling a velocity of a vehicle by a driver-assistance system, wherein the driver-assistance system includes a receiver and a control system, the method comprising the following steps:

receiving traffic light data generated by a traffic light control unit for controlling a traffic light by the receiver, wherein the traffic light data indicates a current phase of the traffic light; receiving a local map data specifying an environment of the traffic light by the receiver, the local map data being data of at least one of a dimension of a stop line, a distance between the stop line and the traffic light, or a width of a road on which the vehicle drives to the traffic light;

calculating a length of a driving path to the traffic light dependent on the local map data by the control system;

controlling the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the length of the driving path by the control system; and

controlling the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the traffic light data by the control system such that the vehicle stops in front of the traffic light wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is a red phase or controlling the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the traffic light data such that the vehicle reaches a prescribed target velocity wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is a green phase.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the local map data being data including each of the dimension of the stop line, the distance between the stop line and the traffic light, and the width of the road on which the vehicle drives to the traffic light.

12 . A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium that is operable by a computer, the non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium comprising one or more programming instructions stored thereon for causing one or more processors to:

receive traffic light data generated by a traffic light control unit for controlling a traffic light by the receiver, wherein the traffic light data indicates a current phase of the traffic light; receive a local map data specifying an environment of the traffic light by the receiver, the local map data being data of at least one of a dimension of a stop line, a distance between the stop line and the traffic light, or a width of a road on which the vehicle drives to the traffic light;

calculate a length of a driving path to the traffic light dependent on the local map data by the control system;

control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the length of the driving path by the control system; and

control the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the traffic light data by the control system such that the vehicle stops in front of the traffic light wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is a red phase or controlling the velocity of the vehicle dependent on the traffic light data such that the vehicle reaches a prescribed target velocity wherein when the current phase of the traffic light is a green phase.

13 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12 , wherein the local map data being data including each of the dimension of the stop line, the distance between the stop line and the traffic light, and the width of the road on which the vehicle drives to the traffic light.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2024
From: FEV NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: FEV GROUP GMBH
Reel/Frame 067958/0549 →
EMPLOYMENT INVENTION AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 22, 2024
From: PAUDYAL, AJAY
To: FEV NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 066870/0090 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2024
From: ALZU'BI, HAMZEH; TASKY, THOMAS
To: FEV NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 066459/0947 →
EMPLOYMENT INVENTION AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 14, 2024
From: MATTA, SHERIF; YEDIDA, VENKATA NARAYANA SRI LAKSHMAN SIDDHARTHA
To: FEV NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 067499/0242 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240359687A1 · Oct 31, 2024
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