IP Library Granted Patent US 12,488,685
Granted Patent B2
US 12,488,685 · App. 18/466,152 · Granted Dec 2, 2025

Vehicle external environment detection system and vehicle

Inventor: Hideaki Kato (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
G08G1/0967G06V20/58G08G1/005G08G1/166B60W30/18154B60W50/14B60W2556/65G06V40/25
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,488,685
App. No.
18/466,152
Granted
Dec 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle external environment detection system includes a first vehicle and a second vehicle. The first vehicle includes an image sensor, a first processing circuit, and a first communication circuit. The first processing circuit identifies a moving method of a person around the first vehicle based on a result of the imaging performed by the image sensor, estimates a person's moving speed based on the moving method, and calculates an arrival time at which the person arrives at an intersection based on the person's moving speed. The first communication circuit transmits notification data including data regarding the arrival time. The second communication circuit receives the notification data. The second processing circuit calculates an interference possibility between the second vehicle and the person based on the data regarding the arrival time included in the notification data and warns an occupant on the second vehicle when the interference possibility is high.

Claims (27)

1 . A vehicle external environment detection system comprising:

a first vehicle comprising

an image sensor configured to perform imaging of a surrounding region,

a first processing circuit configured to identify a moving method of a person around the first vehicle based on a result of the imaging performed by the image sensor, estimate a moving speed of the person based on the moving method, and calculate an arrival time at which the person arrives at an intersection based on the moving speed of the person, and

a first communication circuit configured to transmit notification data comprising data regarding the arrival time; and

a second vehicle comprising

a second communication circuit configured to receive the notification data,

a second processing circuit configured to calculate a possibility of interference between the second vehicle and the person based on the data regarding the arrival time comprised in the notification data, and

a travel control processor configured to, in response to determining that there is the possibility of interference, control at least one of braking and steering of the second vehicle to avoid the interference between the second vehicle and the person.

2 . The vehicle external environment detection system according to claim 1 , wherein

the first processing circuit is configured to

estimate that the moving speed comprises a first moving speed when the moving method is walking, and

estimate that the moving speed comprises a second moving speed faster than the first moving speed when the moving method is a micromobility vehicle.

3 . The vehicle external environment detection system according to claim 1 , wherein

the first processing circuit is configured to

detect a height of the person when the moving method is walking, and

estimate the moving speed of the person based on the height of the person.

4 . The vehicle external environment detection system according to claim 1 , wherein

the first processing circuit is configured to detect a moving direction of the person,

the notification data comprises data regarding the moving direction of the person, and

the second processing circuit is configured to warn an occupant on the second vehicle in response to determining that there is the possibility of interference, while providing information regarding a direction from which the person enters the intersection, based on the data regarding the moving direction of the person comprised in the notification data.

5 . A vehicle comprising:

an image sensor configured to perform imaging of a surrounding region;

a processing circuit configured to identify a moving method of a first person around the vehicle based on a result of the imaging performed by the image sensor, estimate a moving speed of the first person based on the moving method, and calculate an arrival time at which the first person arrives at a first intersection based on the moving speed of the first person; and

a communication circuit configured to transmit first notification data regarding the arrival time, and receive, from another vehicle, second notification data regarding an arrival time at which a second person arrives at a second intersection based on a moving speed of the second person,

wherein the processing circuit is further configured to, in response to receiving the second notification data from the another vehicle, calculate a possibility of interference between the another vehicle and the second person based on the second notification data regarding the arrival time, and

wherein the vehicle further comprises a travel control processor configured to, in response to determining that there is the possibility of interference, control at least one of braking and steering of the vehicle to avoid the interference between the vehicle and the second person.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2023
From: KATO, HIDEAKI
To: SUBARU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064985/0250 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-161816 · Oct 6, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240119832A1 · Apr 11, 2024
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