# US 11,299,162 B2 · Vehicle control device

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,299,162 B2
- Document ID: US11299162B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/502,761
- Filed: 2019-07-03
- Published: 2020-02-06
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-01
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Atsuki Kinoshita; Ko Igarashi; Yuki Mori
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299162B2

## CPC

- B60W 30/09: Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
- B60W 30/18163: {Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres}
- B60K 35/22: Display screens
- B60K 35/23: Head-up displays [HUD] (optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01)
- B60K 35/28: 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
- B60K 35/81: for controlling displays
- B60R 1/24: in front of the vehicle
- B60W 30/0956: {the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters}
- B60W 50/10: Interpretation of driver requests or demands
- B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
- B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
- B60K 2360/166: Navigation
- B60K 2360/175: Autonomous driving
- B60K 2360/176: Camera images
- B60K 2360/177: Augmented reality
- B60W 2050/146: {Display means}
- B60W 2540/215: Selection or confirmation of options
- B60W 2554/802: Longitudinal distance
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A vehicle control device includes a display control unit configured to display a preceding vehicle image corresponding to a preceding vehicle and an overtaking proposal activation image based on a relative situation of the preceding vehicle with respect to the host vehicle and a surrounding environment of the host vehicle and configured to control display such that the overtaking proposal activation image and the preceding vehicle image approach each other in response to approaching of the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle, an automatic overtaking proposal unit configured to propose the automatic overtaking to a driver when the overtaking proposal activation image reaches the preceding vehicle image on the display screen, and a vehicle control unit configured to execute the automatic overtaking of the preceding vehicle by the host vehicle when the approval determination unit determines that the driver has approved the automatic overtaking.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle control device controlling a host vehicle and providing a driver of the host vehicle with information related to the vehicle control by using a display screen of the host vehicle, the vehicle control device comprising:
a preceding vehicle recognition unit configured to recognize a relative situation of a preceding vehicle with respect to the host vehicle;
a surrounding environment recognition unit configured to recognize a surrounding environment of the host vehicle;
a display control unit configured to display a preceding vehicle image corresponding to the preceding vehicle and an overtaking proposal activation image for indicating a timing of activation of a proposal for automatic overtaking of the preceding vehicle by the host vehicle on the display screen based on the relative situation of the preceding vehicle with respect to the host vehicle and the surrounding environment of the host vehicle, and configured to control the display such that the overtaking proposal activation image and the preceding vehicle image approach each other in response to the host vehicle approaching the preceding vehicle;
an automatic overtaking proposal unit configured to propose the automatic overtaking to the driver when the overtaking proposal activation image reaches the preceding vehicle image on the display screen;
an approval determination unit configured to determine whether or not the driver has approved the automatic overtaking; and
a vehicle control unit configured to execute the automatic overtaking of the preceding vehicle by the host vehicle when the approval determination unit determines that the driver has approved the automatic overtaking.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle control device according to claim 1,
wherein the display control unit is configured to display the overtaking proposal activation image and the preceding vehicle image on the display screen, when time to collision between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is less than a TTC threshold and the host vehicle is capable of changing lanes from a traveling lane to an adjacent lane.

### Claim 3

A vehicle control device controlling a host vehicle and providing a driver of the host vehicle with information related to the vehicle control by using a HUD performing projection display on a windshield of the host vehicle, the vehicle control device comprising:
a preceding vehicle recognition unit configured to recognize a relative situation of a preceding vehicle with respect to the host vehicle;
a surrounding environment recognition unit configured to recognize a surrounding environment of the host vehicle;
a display control unit configured to project and display an overtaking proposal activation image for indicating a timing of activation of a proposal for automatic overtaking of the preceding vehicle by the host vehicle on the windshield based on the relative situation of the preceding vehicle with respect to the host vehicle and the surrounding environment of the host vehicle;
an automatic overtaking proposal unit configured to propose the automatic overtaking to the driver when the overtaking proposal activation image reaches the preceding vehicle on the windshield as seen from the driver;
an approval determination unit configured to determine whether or not the driver has approved the automatic overtaking; and
a vehicle control unit configured to execute the automatic overtaking of the preceding vehicle by the host vehicle when the approval determination unit determines that the driver has approved the automatic overtaking.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicle control device according to claim 3,
wherein the display control unit is configured to project and display the overtaking proposal activation image on the windshield, when time to collision between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is less than a TTC threshold and the host vehicle is capable of changing lanes from a traveling lane to an adjacent lane.