Device and method for traffic sign recognition

Apparatus for determining whether presence of a traffic sign is to be communicated to a driver of a vehicle comprising:

• a camera system a) identifying an exit ramp start (ERS) and an exit ramp end (ERE) adjacent to a roadway on which the vehicle is travelling, and b) detecting the traffic sign and generating traffic sign information;
• a vehicle system generating driving situation information;
• and
• a recognition module operative to:
• receive the traffic sign information from the camera, receive the driving situation information from the vehicle system, determine therefrom that a) based on a position of the traffic sign relative to at least one of the ERS and the ERE that the traffic sign applies only to the exit ramp and b) that the vehicle is turning off onto the exit ramp, and communicate presence of the traffic sign to the driver only upon the determinations a) and b) above.

A method comprising:

• operating an optical system on-board a vehicle to detect:
• a) an exit ramp having a start and an end spaced from one another by a distance, and b) a speed limit sign and a position of the sign relative to the exit ramp;
• determining driving situation information of the vehicle;
• operating an traffic sign recognition module to determine that a) based on the position of the sign relative to the exit ramp the sign applies only to the exit ramp, and b) based on the driving situation information the vehicle is not turning off onto the exit ramp;
• and
• if the driving situation information indicates the vehicle is not turning off onto the exit ramp, suppressing communication of presence of the sign to a vehicle driver.