IP Library Granted Patent US 12,466,313
Granted Patent B2
US 12,466,313 · App. 18/430,812 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Driving assistance device

Inventor: Yui Minami (Toyota, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60Q3/70B60Q3/10B60Q3/217B60W40/06B60W40/08B60W50/14B60W2040/0818B60W2050/143B60W2050/146B60W2540/225B60W2540/229
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,466,313
App. No.
18/430,812
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A driving assistance device for assisting driving of a driver of a vehicle includes: an in-vehicle light device for illuminating an inner surface of an interior of the vehicle; and a control device for controlling the in-vehicle light device. The control device includes: a condition determination unit for determining whether or not a forward facing condition in which the driver should face forward is satisfied; and a light control unit for controlling the in-vehicle light device so that light moves on an inner surface of the vehicle toward a position ahead of the driver when it is determined that the forward facing condition is satisfied.

Claims (9)

1 . A driving assistance device for assisting driving of a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

an in-vehicle light device for illuminating an inner surface of an interior of the vehicle; and,

a control device for controlling the in-vehicle light device, wherein:

the in-vehicle light device includes a first embedded light provided on a side surface of an interior of the vehicle and a second embedded light provided on a front surface of the interior of the vehicle, and

the control device is configured to determine whether or not a forward facing condition in which the driver should face forward is satisfied; and control the first embedded light and the second embedded light so that light moves on the side and front surfaces of the vehicle toward a position ahead of the driver when it is determined that the forward facing condition is satisfied.

2 . The driving assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured, when it is determined that the forward facing condition is satisfied, to control the in-vehicle light device such that light moves from a rear side of the vehicle toward a front side of the vehicle on an inner surface of a side surface of the interior of the vehicle.

3 . The driving assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured, when it is determined that the forward facing condition is satisfied and the driver is not directed forward, to control the in-vehicle light device so that light moves toward the position ahead of the driver on the inner surface of the vehicle.

4 . The driving assistance device according to claim 3 , wherein the control device is configured to cause a warning to be displayed on a display device of the vehicle or a sound representing a warning to be output, when it is determined that the driver is not directed forward, after controlling the in-vehicle light device so that light moves toward a position ahead of the driver on the inner surface of the vehicle.

5 . The driving assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the forward facing condition is satisfied when at least one of a starting of a preceding vehicle of the vehicle, a switching of a traffic signal in front of the vehicle from a stop indication to a passage permission indication, and inattentiveness of the driver is detected.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2024
From: MINAMI, YUI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 066679/0647 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-017113 · Feb 7, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240262286A1 · Aug 8, 2024
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