Methods, systems, and devices for e-mirror traffic lane identification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12597345-B2
Application number	US-202418668029-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2024
Priority date	May 17, 2024
Publication date	Apr 7, 2026
Grant date	Apr 7, 2026

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for assisting a driver of a vehicle. A traffic lane identification system may include one or more displays located on or within the vehicle. The system may further include an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the one or more displays. The ECU may transmit a real-time video data to a display so as to display the field of view of the surrounding area of the vehicle. The ECU may further generate a lane identifier indicating a current traffic lane of the vehicle. The ECU may further transmit the lane identifier to the display so as to display the lane identifier overlaid within the field of view of the surrounding area of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A traffic lane identification system for assisting a driver of a vehicle, comprising:
a display located on or within the vehicle; and an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the display and configured to:
transmit a real-time video data to the display so as to display a field of view of a surrounding area of the vehicle via the display;
generate a lane identifier indicating a current traffic lane of the vehicle;
transmit the lane identifier to the display so as to display the lane identifier overlaid within the field of view via the display;
determine that the vehicle is performing a lane change maneuver;
generate an updated lane identifier indicating a new current traffic lane of the vehicle;
transmit the updated lane identifier to the display so as to display the updated lane identifier overlaid within the field of view via the display; and
turn off the lane identifier from the display during the lane change maneuver.

2 . The traffic lane identification system of claim 1 , further comprising a camera coupled to the ECU and configured to capture the real-time video data of the field of view of the surrounding area of the vehicle.

3 . The traffic lane identification system of claim 2 , wherein the field of view of the surrounding area of the vehicle includes a rearward field of view with respect to the vehicle.

4 . The traffic lane identification system of claim 3 , wherein the display includes a digital rearview mirror configured to display the rearward field of view and/or the lane identifier.

5 . The traffic lane identification system of claim 1 , wherein the lane identifier includes a marker highlighting a lane marking of the current traffic lane of the vehicle.

6 . The traffic lane identification system of claim 1 , wherein the lane identifier includes a first zone including the current traffic lane of the vehicle and a second zone.

7 . The traffic lane identification system of claim 6 , wherein at least one of a color or a brightness of the second zone is adjusted with respect to the first zone.

8 . The traffic lane identification system of claim 1 , wherein the lane identifier includes a plurality of colors, each color of the plurality of colors is assigned to a respective traffic lane of a plurality of traffic lanes identified in the field of view.

9 . A traffic lane identification system for assisting a driver of a vehicle, comprising:
a camera configured to capture a real-time video data of a field of view of a surrounding area of the vehicle; a display located on or within the vehicle; and an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the display and the camera and configured to:
transmit the real-time video data to the display so as to display the field of view of the surrounding area of the vehicle via the display;
generate a lane identifier indicating a current traffic lane of the vehicle;
transmit the lane identifier to the display so as to display the lane identifier overlaid within the field of view via the display;
determine that the vehicle is performing a lane change maneuver;
turn off the lane identifier from the display during the lane change maneuver;
determine that the vehicle has completed the lane change maneuver;
generate an updated lane identifier indicating a new current traffic lane of the vehicle; and
transmit the updated lane identifier to the display so as to display the updated lane identifier overlaid within the field of view via the display.

10 . The traffic lane identification system of claim 9 , wherein:
the field of view of the surrounding area of the vehicle includes a rearward field of view with respect to the vehicle; and the display includes a digital rearview mirror configured to display the rearward field of view and/or the lane identifier.

11 . The traffic lane identification system of claim 9 , wherein the lane identifier includes a marker highlighting a lane marking of the current traffic lane of the vehicle.

12 . The traffic lane identification system of claim 9 , wherein:
the lane identifier includes a first zone including the current traffic lane of the vehicle and a second zone; and at least one of a color or a brightness of the second zone is adjusted with respect to the first zone.

13 . The traffic lane identification system of claim 9 , wherein the lane identifier includes a plurality of colors, each color of the plurality of colors is assigned to a respective traffic lane of a plurality of traffic lanes identified in the field of view.

14 . A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle, comprising:
transmitting, via an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle, a real-time video data to a display so as to display a field of view of a surrounding area of the vehicle via the display; generating, via the ECU, a lane identifier indicating a current traffic lane of the vehicle; transmitting, via the ECU, the lane identifier to the display so as to display the lane identifier overlaid within the field of view via the display: determining, via the ECU, that the vehicle is performing a lane change maneuver; disabling, via the ECU, the lane identifier from the display during the lane change maneuver; determining, via the ECU, that the vehicle has completed the lane change maneuver; generating, via the ECU, an updated lane identifier indicating a new current traffic lane of the vehicle; and transmitting, via the ECU, the updated lane identifier to the display so as to display the updated lane identifier overlaid within the field of view via the display.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the field of view of the surrounding area of the vehicle includes a rearward field of view with respect to the vehicle; and the display includes a digital rearview mirror configured to display the rearward field of view and/or the lane identifier.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the lane identifier includes at least one of:
a marker highlighting a lane marking of the current traffic lane of the vehicle; a first zone including the current traffic lane of the vehicle and a second zone, and at least one of a color or a brightness of the second zone is adjusted with respect to the first zone; or a plurality of colors, each color of the plurality of colors is assigned to a respective traffic lane of a plurality of traffic lanes identified in the field of view.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Engineering & Mfg North America Inc
• Toyota Jidosha Kk

Inventors

• Yoshizaki Coh L

Classifications

• G08G1/0125

  Traffic data processing · CPC title

• G08G1/0112

  from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD] · CPC title

• G01C21/3658

  Lane guidance · CPC title

• B60R2300/804

  for lane monitoring · CPC title

• B60R1/26

  to the rear of the vehicle · CPC title