IP Library Granted Patent US 12,428,014
Granted Patent B2
US 12,428,014 · App. 18/396,329 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

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
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,428,014
App. No.
18/396,329
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
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 (48)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a warning device including 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 control the warning device to perform a warning including outputting a sound from the sound output device when the electronic control unit determines that a driver of a vehicle does not hold a steering wheel of the vehicle during presenting a light stimulus to the driver.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to control the warning device to perform the warning including outputting the sound from the sound output device and causing a vibration generation device to vibrate when the electronic control unit determines that the driver of the vehicle does not hold the steering wheel of the vehicle during presenting the light stimulus to the driver.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:

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

the electronic control unit is further configured to determine whether the driver of the vehicle does not hold the steering wheel of the vehicle based on the image of the driver captured by the camera.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to:

determine whether a change in a traffic environment ahead of the vehicle is detected; and

upon determination that a change in the traffic environment ahead of the vehicle is detected, present the light stimulus from the display projection device.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to:

determine whether the change in the traffic environment ahead of the vehicle is ended; and

upon determination that the change in the traffic environment ahead of the vehicle is ended, terminate the presentation of the light stimulus from the display projection device.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to:

determine whether the driver of the vehicle faces toward a front of the vehicle during presentation of the light stimulus from the display projection device; and

upon determination that the driver of the vehicle does not face toward the front of the vehicle during the presentation of the light stimulus, perform the warning including outputting the sound from the sound output device.

7. A method comprising:

presenting a light stimulus to a driver of the vehicle; and

performing a warning including outputting a sound when the driver of a vehicle does not hold a steering wheel of the vehicle during the presenting of the light stimulus to the driver.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising performing the warning including outputting the sound and causing a vibration generation device to vibrate when the driver of the vehicle does not hold the steering wheel of the vehicle during presenting of the light stimulus to the driver.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

capturing an image of the driver with a camera; and

determining whether the driver of the vehicle does not hold the steering wheel of the vehicle based on the image of the driver captured by the camera.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether a change in a traffic environment ahead of the vehicle is detected; and

upon determination that a change in the traffic environment ahead of the vehicle is detected, presenting the light stimulus.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining whether the change in the traffic environment ahead of the vehicle is ended; and

upon determination that the change in the traffic environment ahead of the vehicle is ended, terminating the presentation of the light stimulus.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining whether the driver of the vehicle faces toward a front of the vehicle during the presenting of the light stimulus; and

upon determination that the driver of the vehicle does not face toward the front of the vehicle during the presenting of the light stimulus, performing the warning including outputting the sound.

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

present a light stimulus to a driver of the vehicle; and

perform a warning including outputting a sound when the driver of a vehicle does not hold a steering wheel of the vehicle during the presenting of the light stimulus to the driver.

14. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform the warning including outputting the sound and causing a vibration generation device to vibrate when the driver of the vehicle does not hold the steering wheel of the vehicle during presenting of the light stimulus to the driver.

15. The non-transitory storage medium claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

capture an image of the driver with a camera; and

determine whether the driver of the vehicle does not hold the steering wheel of the vehicle based on the image of the driver captured by the camera.

16. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

determine whether a change in a traffic environment ahead of the vehicle is detected; and

upon determination that a change in the traffic environment ahead of the vehicle is detected, present the light stimulus.

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

determine whether the change in the traffic environment ahead of the vehicle is ended; and

upon determination that the change in the traffic environment ahead of the vehicle is ended, terminate the presentation of the light stimulus.

18. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

determine whether the driver of the vehicle faces toward a front of the vehicle during the presenting of the light stimulus; and

upon determination that the driver of the vehicle does not face toward the front of the vehicle during the presenting of the light stimulus, perform the warning including outputting the sound.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2023
From: KIMURA, KENJI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 066143/0568 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-225084 · Nov 18, 2016 · national
Continuity (5)
Continuation 18396185 · Dec 26, 2023
Continuation 17564759 · Dec 29, 2021
Continuation 16987668 · Aug 7, 2020
Continuation 15800806 · Nov 1, 2017
Related Publication 20240181961A1 · Jun 6, 2024
References Cited (55)
US 5488353A · Kawakami · 1996 [cited by examiner]
US 5769085A · Kawakami · 1998 [cited by examiner]
US 5795306A · Shimotani · 1998 [cited by examiner]
US 6927694B1 · Smith · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 10115164B1 · Binion · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 10241509B1 · Fields · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10800429B2 · Kimura · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11577744B2 · Kimura · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20050030184A1 · Victor · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20050100191A1 · Harbach · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20060191730A1 · Alden · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20060287779A1 · Smith · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20070013495A1 · Suzuki · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20080089559A1 · Koumura · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20080239527A1 · Okabe · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20120078122A1 · Yokoyama · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120242819A1 · Schamp · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20130021462A1 · Kadoya · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20130162794A1 · Wakiyama · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20130222212A1 · Lorenz · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20140309864A1 · Ricci · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20160068103A1 · McNew · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160107642A1 · Salgado · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160121907A1 · Otake · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160355190A1 · Omi · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20170140232A1 · Banno · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20170240109A1 · Kimura · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20170369075A1 · Hwang · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180029604A1 · Niino · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180086346A1 · Fujisawa · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180111628A1 · Tamagaki · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180113454A1 · Emura · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180141570A1 · Kimura · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180297611A1 · Fujisawa · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20220118999A1 · Kimura · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220166957A1 · Ye · 2022 [cited by examiner]
CN 205395922U · 2016 [cited by applicant]
DE 102009050404A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
DE 102010041961A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
DE 102015009217B3 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007072629A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012050690A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013203103A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015138383A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017151637A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2016096701A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance Issued To U.S. Appl. No. 17/564,759 dated Feb. 12, 2025, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action dated Jul. 13, 2022, Issued to U.S. Appl. No. 16/987,668, filed Aug. 7, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance dated Oct. 27, 2022, Issued to U.S. Appl. No. 16/987,668, filed Aug. 7, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action dated Aug. 10, 2023, Issued to U.S. Appl. No. 17/564,759, filed Dec. 29, 2021. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 18/396,185, Inventor: Kenji Kimura, filed Dec. 26, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Final Rejection issued to U.S. Appl. No. 17/564,759 dated Jul. 17, 2024, 15 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action dated Jan. 24, 2024, Issued to U.S. Appl. No. 17/564,759, filed Dec. 29, 2021. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued to U.S. Appl. No. 18/396,185 dated Mar. 17, 2025. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action dated Apr. 2, 2025, issued to U.S. Appl. No. 18/396,185. [cited by applicant]