IP Library Granted Patent US 12,725,522
Granted Patent B2
US 12,725,522 · App. 18/822,977 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Driving support apparatus

Inventor: Eiji Nunobiki (Mishima, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G08G1/166G01C21/3822
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 12,725,522
App. No.
18/822,977
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A driving support apparatus is configured to perform an alert to a driver of a host vehicle when there is an approaching vehicle that is located in an alert area set in a front side area or a rear side area of the host vehicle and is approaching the host vehicle. The driving support apparatus determines whether or not there is a median strip between the host vehicle and the approaching vehicle, when there is the approaching vehicle. The driving support apparatus does not perform the alert when there is the median strip between the host vehicle and the approaching vehicle.

Claims (23)

1 . A driving support system comprising a controller configured to perform an alert to a driver of a host vehicle when there is an approaching vehicle that is located in an alert area set in a front side area or a rear side area of the host vehicle and is approaching the host vehicle,

wherein,

the controller configured to:

determine whether or not there is a median strip between the host vehicle and the approaching vehicle, when there is the approaching vehicle; and

perform no alert when there is the median strip between the host vehicle and the approaching vehicle, and

during an initial time period from a start time at which an ignition of the host vehicle is changed from an off state to an on state to a time at which a travel distance from the start time is equal to or longer than a predetermined distance, determine whether or not there is the median strip between the host vehicle and the approaching vehicle, based on a prior determination that the median strip was present in the travel direction of the host vehicle before the ignition was changed to the off state.

2 . The driving support system according to claim 1 ,

wherein,

the controller is configured to:

determine whether or not there is the median strip in a travel direction of the host vehicle by referring to map data, when there is the approaching vehicle;

determine that there is the median strip between the host vehicle and the approaching vehicle so as to perform no alert, when there is the median strip in the travel direction and an approaching direction of the approaching vehicle is a suppression direction which is a predetermined direction relative to the travel direction depending on a left-hand traffic or a right-hand traffic.

3 . The driving support system according to claim 2 ,

wherein,

the suppression direction is predetermined to a direction from left to right relative to the travel direction in a left-hand traffic country or region, or to a direction from right to left relative to the travel direction in a right-hand traffic country or region.

4 . The driving support system according to claim 3 ,

wherein,

the map data in which a position of the median strip and a shape of a road is registered is stored in the driving support system, and

the controller is configured to:

specify a position of the host vehicle on the map data by comparing a shape of an actual route that the host vehicle actually traveled with the shape of the road;

refer to the map data to determine whether or not there is the median strip in front of the host vehicle or behind the host vehicle based on the position of the host vehicle on the map data;

store a result of a determination as to whether or not there is the median strip, when the ignition of the host vehicle is changed from the on state to the off state;

during the initial time period, determine whether or not there is the median strip in the travel direction of the host vehicle based on the result of the determination;

determine that there is the median strip between the host vehicle and the approaching vehicle, when there is the median strip in the travel direction of the host vehicle and an approaching direction of the approaching vehicle is a suppression direction which is a predetermined direction relative to the travel direction depending on a left-hand traffic or a right-hand traffic.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2024
From: NUNOBIKI, EIJI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 068471/0113 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-186164 · Oct 31, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250140118A1 · May 1, 2025
References Cited (13)
US 8355851B2 · Inoue et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8370040B2 · Inoue et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8417430B2 · Saeki · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8548709B2 · Morita · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8768597B2 · Kagawa · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9174643B2 · Aso · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 10017178B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10118617B2 · Urano et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10486698B2 · Masui et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20170278398A1 · Kato · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20190295419A1 · Tosa et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013134567A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017174055A · 2017 [cited by applicant]