18463626. NOTIFICATION DEVICE simplified abstract (TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA)

NOTIFICATION DEVICE

Organization Name

TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor(s)

Taiki Iida of Nisshin-shi (JP)

NOTIFICATION DEVICE - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18463626 titled 'NOTIFICATION DEVICE

Simplified Explanation

The notification device described in the patent application is designed to recognize abnormalities on a road shoulder and notify oncoming vehicles to approach the vehicle in front safely. Here are some key points to explain the innovation:

• Abnormality recognition unit identifies abnormalities on the road shoulder or oncoming lane using external sensors in the vehicle.
• External notification unit emits sound or light signals outside the vehicle to alert oncoming vehicles.
• Notification control unit determines the timing of notifications based on estimated oncoming vehicle speed and pre-set risk levels for different types of abnormalities.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in:

• Road safety systems
• Vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems
• Advanced driver assistance systems

Problems Solved

The technology addresses issues such as:

• Improving road safety by alerting drivers to potential hazards
• Enhancing communication between vehicles on the road
• Reducing the risk of accidents caused by road abnormalities

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include:

• Increased awareness of road conditions for drivers
• Enhanced safety for both the vehicle occupants and other road users
• Potential reduction in accidents and injuries on the road

Potential Commercial Applications

Potential commercial applications of this technology could include:

• Integration into new vehicle models by automotive manufacturers
• Development of aftermarket safety devices for existing vehicles
• Licensing the technology to companies in the automotive industry

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art for this technology could be the use of external sensors in vehicles to detect road conditions and communicate with other vehicles on the road. This technology builds upon existing systems by specifically focusing on notifying oncoming vehicles about road abnormalities.

How does the notification control unit prioritize different types of abnormalities for notification?

The patent application does not provide specific details on how the notification control unit determines the priority of notifications for different types of abnormalities. Further information on the decision-making process could provide insights into the effectiveness of the system in real-world scenarios.

What is the range of the external notification unit's signals and how does it adjust based on the oncoming vehicle's speed?

The patent application mentions that the notification control unit determines the notification time based on the estimated speed of the oncoming vehicle. However, it does not elaborate on how the range or intensity of the signals emitted by the external notification unit is adjusted to account for varying speeds. Understanding this aspect could shed light on the system's adaptability to different driving conditions.

Original Abstract Submitted

The notification device includes an abnormality recognition unit that recognizes an abnormality existing on a road shoulder of an oncoming lane or an oncoming lane based on a detection result of an external sensor provided in the vehicle, an external notification unit that is provided in the vehicle and outputs at least one of sound and light toward the outside of the vehicle, and a notification control unit that performs notification by the external notification unit to an oncoming vehicle traveling on the oncoming lane so as to approach the vehicle in front of the vehicle. The notification control unit determines a notification time according to at least one of an estimated vehicle speed of the oncoming vehicle and a risk degree set in advance according to the type of abnormality.