System and method for initiating and executing an automated lane change maneuver

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11046320-B2
Application number	US-201816218963-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2018
Priority date	Dec 13, 2018
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

A system for initiating and executing an automated lane change maneuver in a vehicle may include a steering wheel interface having a display; and a monitor to detect a viewing direction of the user. The interface may detect a first predetermined gesture by the user; in response to the first predetermined gesture, transmit a first signal to the vehicle instructing the vehicle to prepare for the automated lane change maneuver; display a status of the automated lane change maneuver; display a prompt for the user to visually confirm safety of the automated lane change maneuver. The monitor may continuously detect the viewing direction of the user; and in response to the viewing direction of the user changing, transmit a second signal to the vehicle instructing the vehicle to execute the automated lane change maneuver.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for initiating and executing an automated lane change maneuver in a vehicle operated by a user and having a steering wheel, the system comprising:
an interface comprising a display, the interface being provided in the steering wheel; and
a monitor structured to detect a viewing direction of the user, wherein the interface and the monitor are operably connected, and the interface is structured to:
detect a first predetermined gesture by the user;
in response to the first predetermined gesture by the user, transmit a first signal to the vehicle instructing the vehicle to prepare for the automated lane change maneuver;
display, on the display, a status of the automated lane change maneuver;
display, on the display, a prompt for the user to visually confirm safety of the automated lane change maneuver; and

the monitor is structured to:
in response to the prompt for the user to visually confirm safety of the automated lane change maneuver; detect the viewing direction of the user; and
in response to the viewing direction of the user changing to visually confirm safety of the automated lane change maneuver, transmit a second signal to the vehicle instructing the vehicle to execute the automated lane change maneuver.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a touchless motion detector structured to detect the first predetermined gesture by the user.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a touch screen detector and the first predetermined gesture comprises a predetermined movement of a finger or hand of the user on the touch screen detector.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to display a first indicator indicating acknowledgment of the first predetermined gesture.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the display is configured to display, after a first predetermined time period, a second indicator to indicate a passage of the first predetermined time period.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the display is configured to display, after a second predetermined time period, a third indicator to indicate a time out and cancellation of the automated lane change maneuver.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the prompt comprises a dynamic graphic.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface is structured to, in response to a second predetermined gesture by the user, transmit a third signal to the vehicle instructing the vehicle to cancel the automated lane change maneuver.

9. A method for initiating and executing an automated lane change maneuver in a vehicle operated by a user and having a steering wheel, the method comprising:
providing an interface comprising a display in the steering wheel, and a monitor structured to detect a viewing direction of the user;
detecting, with the interface, a first predetermined gesture by the user;
in response to the detection of the first predetermined gesture, transmitting a first signal to the vehicle instructing the vehicle to prepare for the automated lane change maneuver;
displaying, on the display, a status of the automated lane change maneuver;
displaying, on the display, a prompt for the user to visually confirm safety of the automated lane change maneuver;
in response to the prompt for the user to visually confirm safety of the automated lane change maneuver; detecting, with the monitor, the viewing direction of the user; and
in response to the viewing direction of the user changing to visually confirm safety of the automated lane change maneuver, transmitting a second signal to the vehicle instructing the vehicle to execute the automated lane change maneuver.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the displaying a status of the automated lane change maneuver comprises displaying a first indicator indicating acknowledgement of the first predetermined gesture.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the displaying a status of the automated lane change maneuver further comprises displaying, after a first predetermined time period, a second indicator to indicate a passage of the first predetermined time period.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the displaying a status of the automated lane change maneuver further comprises displaying, after a second predetermined time period, a third indicator to indicate a time out and cancellation of the automated lane change maneuver.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the displaying a prompt comprises displaying a dynamic graphic.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
in response to a second predetermined gesture by the user, transmitting a third signal to the vehicle instructing the vehicle to cancel the automated lane change maneuver.

15. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first indicator has a first color, the second indicator has a second color, and the third indicator has a third color; and
the first color, the second color, and the third color are different from each other.

16. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first indicator blinks at a first frequency, the second indicator blinks at a second frequency, and the third indicator blinks at a third frequency.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second frequency is higher than the first frequency, and the third frequency is higher than the second frequency.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the dynamic graphic comprises an indicator that moves in a direction of the automated lane change maneuver.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first indicator has a first color, the second indicator has a second color, and the third indicator has a third color;
the first color, the second color, and the third color are different from each other;
the first indicator blinks at a first frequency, the second indicator blinks at a second frequency, and the third indicator blinks at a third frequency; and
the second frequency is higher than the first frequency, and the third frequency is higher than the second frequency.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the dynamic graphic comprises an indicator that moves in a direction of the automated lane change maneuver.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Bertollini Gary P
• Szczerba Joseph F
• Mathieu Roy J
• Napoleon Alicia

Classifications

• B60K35/28

  characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver · CPC title

• B60K35/22

  Display screens · CPC title

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B60K2360/149

  Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for · CPC title