IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,528,458
Granted Patent B2
US 12,528,458 · App. 18/882,765 · Granted Jan 20, 2026

Vehicle control apparatus

Inventor: Kazuya Okamoto (Toyota, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60W30/09B60W50/14B60W2510/20B60W2552/10B60W2554/804B60W2710/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,528,458
App. No.
18/882,765
Granted
Jan 20, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A processor of a vehicle control apparatus is configured to, in a case where a second object is present within a predetermined range obliquely behind a subject vehicle in a second traveling lane adjacent to a first traveling lane, limit an override function in a case where a first condition is satisfied, a second condition is satisfied, and a third condition is satisfied. The first condition is for determining that a risk of contact between a first object and the subject vehicle is high. The second condition is for determining that the subject vehicle is undergoing a driving operation to move closer to the second traveling lane. The third condition is for determining that a risk of contact between the second object and the subject vehicle is high.

Claims (22)

1 . A vehicle control apparatus comprising:

an onboard sensor configured to acquire information regarding a subject vehicle, information regarding a driver of the subject vehicle, and information regarding an object located around the subject vehicle; and

a processor having a risk reduction function of executing risk reduction processing of controlling the subject vehicle to reduce a risk of contact between a first object and the subject vehicle based on the information acquired from the onboard sensor and further having an override function of executing override processing of limiting the risk reduction function in a case where the driver of the subject vehicle is executing a predetermined driving operation, the first object being located ahead of the subject vehicle in a first traveling lane in which the subject vehicle is traveling, wherein

the processor is configured to, in a case where a second object is present within a predetermined range obliquely behind the subject vehicle in a second traveling lane adjacent to the first traveling lane, limit the override function in a case where a first condition is satisfied, a second condition is satisfied, and a third condition is satisfied,

the first condition being for determining that the risk of contact between the first object and the subject vehicle is high,

the second condition being for determining that the subject vehicle is undergoing a driving operation to move closer to the second traveling lane,

the third condition being for determining that a risk of contact between the second object and the subject vehicle is high.

2 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first condition includes a condition regarding distance and relative velocity between the subject vehicle and the first object,

the second condition includes a condition regarding a steering angle of the subject vehicle, and

the third condition includes a condition regarding distance and relative velocity between the subject vehicle and the second object.

3 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the risk reduction processing includes first risk reduction processing and second risk reduction processing of respectively controlling a first device and a second device mounted on the subject vehicle,

the override processing includes first override processing and second override processing of respectively limiting execution of the first risk reduction processing and the second risk reduction processing, and

the processor is configured to determine whether or not part of the subject vehicle is entering the second traveling lane and limit execution of any one or both of the first override processing and the second override processing depending on a result of the determination.

4 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the first risk reduction processing is processing of controlling a notification device serving as the first device such that a predetermined warning is issued to the driver of the subject vehicle,

the second risk reduction processing is processing of controlling a braking device serving as the second device such that the subject vehicle is braked, and

the processor is configured to limit the first override processing in a case where the part of the subject vehicle is entering the second traveling lane, and limit the first override processing and the second override processing in a case where the subject vehicle is not entering the second traveling lane.

5 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the onboard sensor includes a sensor that acquires information regarding a direction of a line of sight of the driver of the subject vehicle, and

the processor is configured to limit the override function in a case where the first condition to the third condition are satisfied and a fourth condition is satisfied, the fourth condition being for determining that the driver of the subject vehicle is casting a line of sight to the second traveling lane.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2024
From: OKAMOTO, KAZUYA
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 068562/0750 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-222909 · Dec 28, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250214572A1 · Jul 3, 2025
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