IP Library Granted Patent US 12,528,487
Granted Patent B2
US 12,528,487 · App. 18/396,185 · Granted Jan 20, 2026

Vehicle system and vehicle

Inventor: Kenji Kimura (Nisshin, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60W50/14B60Q3/731B60Q5/005B60W40/08B60W50/16B60K2360/334B60Q3/80B60Q2800/10B60W2040/0827B60W2050/143B60W2050/146
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,528,487
App. No.
18/396,185
Granted
Jan 20, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle system includes a warning device and at least one electronic control unit. The at least one electronic control unit is configured to present a light stimulus to a driver, and determine whether the driver is facing forward, determine whether the driver holds a steering wheel, and cause the warning device to perform a first warning when it is determined that the driver is not facing forward while the light stimulus is being presented. The first warning is either the vibration or the sound. The at least one electronic control unit is configured to perform a second warning when it is determined that the driver does not hold the steering wheel before a predetermined time elapses after the first warning is started. The second warning includes the vibration and the sound.

Claims (46)

1 . A vehicle comprising:

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

an electronic control unit configured to:

cause the display projection device to present the light stimulus to the driver;

determine whether the driver's face is oriented toward the front of the vehicle in response to the display projection device presenting the light stimulus;

determine whether the driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle;

upon determination that the driver does not turn toward the front of the vehicle in response to the display projection device presenting the light stimulus, determine that a wakefulness level of the driver is reduced;

upon determination that the driver does not turn toward the front of the vehicle in response to the display projection device presenting the light stimulus and that the driver is not holding the steering wheel, determine that the wakefulness level of the driver is further reduced;

perform a first warning to the driver upon determination that the wakefulness level of the driver is reduced; and

perform a second warning that is stronger than the first warning to the driver upon determination that the wakefulness level of the driver is further reduced.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to perform the first warning by causing the sound output device to output the sound.

3 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein:

the warning device includes a vibration generation device; and

the electronic control unit is further configured to perform the second warning by causing the sound output device to output the sound and causing the vibration generation device to vibrate.

4 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:

the warning device includes a camera configured to capture an image of the driver; and

the electronic control unit is further configured to:

cause the camera to capture the image of the driver; and

determine whether the driver's face is oriented toward the front of the vehicle in response to the display projection device presenting the light stimulus based on the image captured by the camera.

5 . A method comprising:

causing a display projection device to present a light stimulus to a driver;

determining whether the driver's face is oriented toward the front of the vehicle in response to the display projection device presenting the light stimulus;

determining whether the driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle;

upon determination that the driver does not turn toward the front of the vehicle in response to the display projection device presenting the light stimulus, determining that a wakefulness level of the driver is reduced;

upon determination that the driver does not turn toward the front of the vehicle in response to the display projection device presenting the light stimulus and that the driver is not holding the steering wheel, determining that the wakefulness level of the driver is further reduced;

performing a first warning to the driver upon determination that the of a vehicle whose wakefulness level of the driver is reduced; and

performing a second warning that is stronger than the first warning to the driver upon determination that the wakefulness level of the driver is further reduced.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising performing the first warning by causing a sound output device to output a sound.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising performing the second warning by causing the sound output device to output the sound and causing a vibration generation device to vibrate.

8 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

causing a camera to capture an image of the driver; and

determining whether the driver's face is oriented toward the front of the vehicle in response to the display projection device presenting the light stimulus based on the image captured by the camera.

9 . 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;

determine whether the driver's face is oriented toward the front of the vehicle in response to the display projection device presenting the light stimulus;

determine whether the driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle;

upon determination that the driver does not turn toward the front of the vehicle in response to the display projection device presenting the light stimulus, determine that a wakefulness level of the driver is reduced;

upon determination that the driver does not turn toward the front of the vehicle in response to the display projection device presenting the light stimulus and that the driver is not holding the steering wheel, determine that the wakefulness level of the driver is further reduced;

perform a first warning to the driver upon determination that the of a vehicle whose wakefulness level is reduced; and

perform a second warning that is stronger than the first warning to the driver upon determination that the wakefulness level of the driver is further reduced.

10 . The non-transitory storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

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

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

11 . The non-transitory storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

cause a camera to capture an image of the driver; and

determine whether the driver's face is oriented turns toward the front of the vehicle in response to the display projection device presenting the light stimulus based on the image captured by the camera.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2023
From: KIMURA, KENJI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 066207/0214 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-225084 · Nov 18, 2016 · national
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17564759 · Dec 29, 2021
Continuation 16987668 · Aug 7, 2020
Continuation 15800806 · Nov 1, 2017
Related Publication 20240182057A1 · Jun 6, 2024
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