IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,731,739
Granted Patent B2
US 8,731,739 · App. 13/376,963 · Granted May 20, 2014

Drive supporting device

Inventors: Yuki Yamada (Susono, JP); Masato Endo (Susono, JP)
Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
B60W40/08H04W4/046G08G1/096725
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,731,739
App. No.
13/376,963
Granted
May 20, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drive supporting device includes a GPS, a front camera, and a communication device that acquire traffic signal information related to the time-series on/off state of a traffic signal and an ECU that supports the driving of a vehicle on the basis of the traffic signal information acquired by, for example, the communication device. The ECU changes a driver support aspect on the basis of the level of proficiency of the driver of the vehicle in a region in which the vehicle is currently located. In this way, even when the driver is in a strange place, it is possible to appropriately support the driving of the vehicle.

Claims (34)

1. A drive supporting device comprising:

an information acquiring unit that acquires traffic signal information related to a time-series on/off state of a traffic signal; and

a drive support unit that supports the driving of a vehicle on the basis of the traffic signal information acquired by the information acquiring unit,

wherein the drive support unit changes the aspect of providing a provision information generated on the basis of the traffic signal information to a driver, on the basis of a difference between the rules governing the traffic signal information in the region in which the vehicle is currently located and the rules governing the traffic signal information in a region in which the driver of the vehicle has nationality.

2. The drive supporting device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drive support unit changes the aspect of providing the provision information to the driver, on the basis of a difference between the rules of driving for the on/off state of the traffic signal in the region in which the vehicle is currently located and the rules of driving for the on/off state of the traffic signal in the region in which the driver of the vehicle has nationality.

3. The drive supporting device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drive support unit changes the aspect of providing the provision information to the driver, on the basis of a direction indicated by an arrow light and a direction in which the vehicle travels.

4. The drive supporting device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drive support unit controls the traveling of the vehicle on the basis of the traffic signal information acquired by the information acquiring unit, and changes an aspect of controlling the traveling of the vehicle on the basis of the difference between the rules governing driving in the region in which the vehicle is currently located and the rules governing driving in the region in which the driver of the vehicle has nationality.

5. The drive supporting device according to claim 4 ,

wherein the drive support unit changes a control target range of the traveling of the vehicle on the basis of the difference between the rules governing driving in the region in which the vehicle is currently located and the rules governing driving in the region in which the driver of the vehicle has nationality.

6. The drive supporting device according to claim 4 ,

wherein the drive support unit changes the control timing of the traveling of the vehicle on the basis of the difference between the rules governing driving in the region in which the vehicle is currently located and the rules governing driving in the region in which the driver of the vehicle has nationality.

7. A drive supporting device comprising:

an information acquiring unit that acquires traffic signal information related to a time-series on/off state of a traffic signal;

a drive support unit that supports the driving of a vehicle on the basis of the traffic signal information acquired by the information acquiring unit; and

a proficiency level determining unit that determines the level of proficiency of a driver of the vehicle in the region in which the vehicle is currently located,

wherein the proficiency level determining unit determines the level of proficiency of the driver of the vehicle in the region in which the vehicle is currently located on the basis of at least one of a driving time and a driving distance at a previous address of the driver and at least one of a driving time and a driving distance in the region in which the vehicle is currently located, and

wherein the drive support unit changes a driver support aspect on the basis of the level of proficiency of the driver of the vehicle in a region in which the vehicle is currently located.

8. The drive supporting device according to claim 7 ,

wherein the drive support unit changes an aspect of providing the driver with provision information which is created on the basis of the traffic signal information acquired by the information acquiring unit, on the basis of the level of proficiency of the driver of the vehicle in the region in which the vehicle is currently located.

9. The drive supporting device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the drive support unit changes the aspect of providing the provision information to the driver, on the basis of a difference between the traffic signal information in the region in which the vehicle is currently located and the traffic signal information in a region in which the level of proficiency of the driver of the vehicle is higher than that in the region in which the vehicle is currently located.

10. The drive supporting device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the drive support unit changes the aspect of providing the provision information to the driver, on the basis of a difference between the rules of driving for the on/off state of the traffic signal in the region in which the vehicle is currently located and the rules of driving for the on/off state of the traffic signal in the region in which the level of proficiency of the driver of the vehicle is higher than that in the region in which the vehicle is currently located.

11. The drive supporting device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the drive support unit changes the aspect of providing the provision information to the driver, on the basis of a direction indicated by an arrow light and a direction in which the vehicle travels.

12. The drive supporting device according to claim 7 ,

wherein the drive support unit controls the traveling of the vehicle on the basis of the traffic signal information acquired by the information acquiring unit, and changes an aspect of controlling the traveling of the vehicle on the basis of the level of proficiency of the driver of the vehicle in the region in which the vehicle is currently located.

13. The drive supporting device according to claim 12 ,

wherein the drive support unit changes a control target range of the traveling of the vehicle on the basis of the level of proficiency of the driver of the vehicle in the region in which the vehicle is currently located.

14. The drive supporting device according to claim 12 ,

wherein the drive support unit changes the control timing of the traveling of the vehicle on the basis of the level of proficiency of the driver of the vehicle in the region in which the vehicle is currently located.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2012
From: YAMADA, YUKI; ENDO, MASATO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 027743/0344 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120143395A1 · Jun 7, 2012