US 9,517,718 B2 · Automatic activation of turn signals in a vehicle

Abstract

According to various embodiments, turn signals are automatically activated in response to signals received from a navigation system, based on the navigation instructions generated by the navigation system. The navigation system of a vehicle (either built into the vehicle or provided as a stand-alone unit) is communicatively coupled with or otherwise integrated with the turn signals of the vehicle. When the navigation system instructs the driver to perform a maneuver (such as making a turn), it can also cause the appropriate turn signal to be automatically activated at the appropriate time and/or distance in advance of the maneuver. When the navigation system detects that the maneuver has been made, or that the driver has ignored the system's instructions, the turn signal can be automatically deactivated.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A method for automatically activating a turn signal in a vehicle operated by a human driver, comprising:

in a navigation device operating in the vehicle operated by the human driver, receiving a destination;
in the navigation device, determining a current location of the vehicle;
in the navigation device, determining a route to the destination based on the current location of the vehicle;
in the navigation device, generating an instruction for following the determined route, the instruction specifying a maneuver to be performed by the human driver at a specified location;
on an output device, and in advance of the vehicle reaching the specified location, outputting the generated instruction to the human driver;
and
in advance of the vehicle reaching the specified location, and in advance of the specified maneuver being performed by the human driver, performing the step of:
automatically sending a signal from the navigation device to a turn signal controller to cause the turn signal of the vehicle to be automatically activated, wherein the automatically activated turn signal indicates the maneuver specified by the instruction output to the human driver.

5 more elements

A system for automatically activating a turn signal in a vehicle operated by a human driver, comprising:

an input device, configured to receive input specifying a destination for the vehicle operated by the human driver;
a geographical position determination device, configured to determine a current location of the vehicle;
a processor, communicatively coupled to the input device and to the geographical position determination device, configured to:
determine a route to the destination based on the current location of the vehicle;
and
generate an instruction for following the determined route, the instruction specifying a maneuver to be performed by the human driver at a specified location;
an output device, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to output the generated instruction to the human driver in advance of the vehicle reaching the specified location;
and
a signal transmission device, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to, in advance of the vehicle reaching the specified location, and in advance of the specified maneuver being performed by the human driver, perform the step of:
automatically sending a signal to a turn signal controller to cause the turn signal of the vehicle to be automatically activated, wherein the automatically activated turn signal indicates the maneuver specified by the instruction output to the human driver.

7 more elements

A non-transitory computer program product for automatically actin eating a turn signal in a vehicle operated by a human driver, the non-transitory computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed on a processor of a navigation device operating in the vehicle operated by the human driver, perform the steps of:

receiving a destination;
determining a current location of the vehicle;
determining a route to the destination based on the current location of the vehicle;
generating an instruction for following the determined route, the instruction specifying a maneuver to be performed by the human driver at a specified location;
in advance of the vehicle reaching the specified location, causing an output device to output the generated instruction;
and
in advance of the vehicle reaching the specified location, and in advance of the specified maneuver being performed by the human driver, performing the step of:
causing a signal to be automatically sent from the navigation device to a turn signal controller to cause the turn signal of the vehicle to be automatically activated, wherein the automatically activated turn signal indicates the maneuver specified by the instruction output to the human driver.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic activation of turn signals in a vehicle

Life of this patent

Automatic activation of turn signals in a vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28