IP Library Granted Patent US 12,728,841
Granted Patent B2
US 12,728,841 · App. 18/987,126 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Driving assistance device, driving assistance method, and storage medium

Inventor: Masakazu Nishijima (Ebina, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60W30/09B60W50/14B60W2050/0083B60W2050/143B60W2050/146
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,728,841
App. No.
18/987,126
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A driving assistance device performs driving assistance for an own vehicle when a predetermined target exists in a driving assistance area that is set ahead of the own vehicle. The driving assistance device is able to make a setting change to increase an area size of the driving assistance area in such a manner that the driving assistance area expands outward from the vehicle. When the driving assistance area is expanded, the driving assistance device makes a setting change to reduce the driving assistance area when it is detected that the vehicle is traveling in any of an auxiliary lane and a through lane of an expressway.

Claims (10)

1 . A driving assistance device comprising a processor, the driving assistance device being configured to perform driving assistance for a vehicle when a predetermined target exists in a driving assistance area that is set ahead of the vehicle, the driving assistance device being configured to:

make a setting change to increase an area size of the driving assistance area in such a manner that the driving assistance area expands outward from the vehicle; and

when the driving assistance area is expanded and when the area size of the driving assistance area at a time when the driving assistance device detects that the vehicle is traveling in any of an auxiliary lane and a through lane of an expressway is not a smallest one of settable area sizes, make a setting change to reduce the area size of the driving assistance area to the smallest settable area size.

2 . A driving assistance method for performing driving assistance for a vehicle when a predetermined target exists in a driving assistance area that is set ahead of the vehicle:

making a setting change to increase an area size of the driving assistance area in such a manner that the driving assistance area expands outward from the vehicle; and

when the driving assistance area is expanded and when the area size of the driving assistance area at a time when the vehicle is detected to be traveling in any of an auxiliary lane and a through lane of an expressway is not a smallest one of settable area sizes, making a setting change to reduce the area size of the driving assistance area to the smallest settable area size.

3 . A non-transitory storage medium storing a computer program causing a computer to execute processes of:

performing driving assistance for a vehicle when a predetermined target exists in a driving assistance area that is set ahead of the vehicle;

making a setting change to increase an area size of the driving assistance area in such a manner that the driving assistance area expands outward from the vehicle; and

when the driving assistance area is expanded and when the area size of the driving assistance area at a time when the vehicle is detected to be traveling in any of an auxiliary lane and a through lane of an expressway is not a smallest one of settable area sizes, making a setting change to reduce the area size of the driving assistance area to the smallest settable area size.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: NISHIJIMA, MASAKAZU
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 069635/0567 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2024-025725 · Feb 22, 2024 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250269846A1 · Aug 28, 2025
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