US6122573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle control method and system for use in automatic driving system
Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
•
Filing: 1998-01-05
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Granted: 2000-09-19
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Expires: 2018-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle control method for use in an automatic driving system which transmits drive support information stored in each of markers buried in a road at regular intervals, to a vehicle which passes the marker, in order to support driving of the vehicle, comprising the steps of storing, in the marker, positional information indicative of the position of the marker, and at least one of road information indicative of the state of the road and control information concerning the speed and traveling direction of the vehicle, and transmitting, to the vehicle, the positional information and the at least one of the road information and the control information, which are used as the driving support information.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinichi Higashi
- 👤 Hiroshi Suzuki
- 👤 Akira Takagi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:06
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/09; G08G1/0962; G08G1/0967; G08G1/096708; G08G1/096725; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/021; G05D1/0259; G05D1/0261; G08G1/096733; G08G1/096741; G08G1/096766; G08G1/096783; G05D1/0276; G05D1/0278
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A vehicle control method for use in an automatic driving system which transmits drive support information stored in each of markers buried in a road, to a passing vehicle, in order to support driving of the passing vehicle, comprising the steps of: storing, in the marker, positional information indicative of a position of the marker, and at least one of road information indicative of a state of the road and control information concerning a driving speed and traveling direction for passing vehicle; and transmitting, to the passing vehicle, the positional information and the at least one of the road information and the control information, which are used as the drive support information, wherein the marker counts the number of passing vehicles and stores, as maintenance information, information indicative of the counted number, and transmits the maintenance information to an inspection vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A vehicle control method for use in an automatic driving system which transmits drive support information stored in each of markers buried in a road, to a passing vehicle, in order to support driving of the passing vehicle, comprising the steps of: storing, in the marker, positional information indicative of a position of the marker, and at least one of road information indicative of a state of the road and control information concerning a driving speed and traveling direction for passing vehicle; and transmitting, to the passing vehicle, the positional information and the at least one of the road information and the control information, which are used as the drive support information, wherein the marker counts the number of passing vehicles and stores, as maintenance information, information indicative of the counted number, and transmits the maintenance information to an inspection vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the marker also obtains information indicative of abnormality and failure of the marker itself, and stores the information indicative of the abnormality and failure as part of the maintenance information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the road information includes at least information indicative of the inclination, the curvature and the surface state of the road.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the control information includes at least speed instructing information, acceleration/deceleration instructing information and steering instructing information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the markers are buried in the road at regular intervals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
An automatic driving system for transmitting drive support information stored in each of markers buried in a road, to a passing vehicle, in order to support driving of the passing vehicle, wherein the marker includes storage means which stores positional information indicative of a position of the marker, and at least one of road information indicative of a state of the road and control information concerning a driving speed and travelling direction for the passing vehicle; the marker also includes communication means for transmitting, to the passing vehicle, the positional information and the at least one of the road information and the control information, which are used as the drive support information wherein the marker further includes a processing section for counting the number of passing vehicles; the storage means stores, as maintenance information, information indicative of the counted number; and the communication means transmits, to an inspection vehicle, the maintenance information stored in the storage means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
An automatic driving system for transmitting drive support information stored in each of markers buried in a road, to a passing vehicle, in order to support driving of the passing vehicle, wherein the marker includes storage means which stores positional information indicative of a position of the marker, and at least one of road information indicative of a state of the road and control information concerning a driving speed and travelling direction for the passing vehicle; the marker also includes communication means for transmitting, to the passing vehicle, the positional information and the at least one of the road information and the control information, which are used as the drive support information wherein the marker further includes a processing section for counting the number of passing vehicles; the storage means stores, as maintenance information, information indicative of the counted number; and the communication means transmits, to an inspection vehicle, the maintenance information stored in the storage means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An automatic driving system according to claim 5, wherein the processing section also obtains information indicative of abnormality and failure of the marker itself; and the maintenance information includes the information indicative of the abnormality and failure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automatic driving system according to claim 6, wherein the road information includes at least information indicative of the inclination, the curvature and the surface state of the road.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An automatic driving system according to claim 6, wherein the control information includes at least speed instructing information, acceleration/deceleration instructing information and steering instructing information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An automatic driving system according to claim 6, wherein the markers are buried in the road at regular intervals.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for use in a system which transmits drive support information stored in each of markers buried in a road, to a passing vehicle, in order to support driving of the passing vehicle, comprising the steps of: storing, in the marker, positional information indicative of a position of the marker, and road information indicative of a state of the road; transmitting, to the passing vehicle, the positional information and the road information, which are used as part of the drive support information; counting, using the marker, the number of passing vehicles; storing, in the marker, the counted number of passing vehicles; and transmitting, to an inspection vehicle which passes the marker, the counted number of passing vehicles.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for use in a system which transmits drive support information stored in each of markers buried in a road, to a passing vehicle, in order to support driving of the passing vehicle, comprising the steps of: storing, in the marker, positional information indicative of a position of the marker, and road information indicative of a state of the road; transmitting, to the passing vehicle, the positional information and the road information, which are used as part of the drive support information; counting, using the marker, the number of passing vehicles; storing, in the marker, the counted number of passing vehicles; and transmitting, to an inspection vehicle which passes the marker, the counted number of passing vehicles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein the maker counts the number of passing vehicles by the number of occasions of communication with the passing vehicles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: detecting, by the maker, abnormality and failure of the marker itself; storing, in the marker, the detected abnormality and failure; and transmitting, to the inspection vehicle, the detected abnormality and failure as part of the maintenance information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein the control information includes speed instructing information, acceleration/deceleration instructing information and steering instructing information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: storing, in the marker, control information concerning the speed and traveling direction for the passing vehicle; and transmitting, to the passing vehicle, the control information which is used as part of the driving support information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein the state of the road includes an inclination, curvature and surface condition of the road.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
119 words
A system which transmits drive support information stored in each of markers buried in a road, to a passing vehicle, in order to support driving of the passing vehicle, wherein the marker includes: a first memory location for storing positional information indicative of a position of the marker, and road information indicative of a state of the road; a transmitter for transmitting, to the passing vehicle, the positional information and the road information, which are used as part of the drive support information; a counter for counting the number of passing vehicles; and a second memory location for storing the counted number of passing vehicles, wherein said transmitter transmits, to an inspection vehicle, the counted number of passing vehicles.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
119 words
A system which transmits drive support information stored in each of markers buried in a road, to a passing vehicle, in order to support driving of the passing vehicle, wherein the marker includes: a first memory location for storing positional information indicative of a position of the marker, and road information indicative of a state of the road; a transmitter for transmitting, to the passing vehicle, the positional information and the road information, which are used as part of the drive support information; a counter for counting the number of passing vehicles; and a second memory location for storing the counted number of passing vehicles, wherein said transmitter transmits, to an inspection vehicle, the counted number of passing vehicles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 17, wherein the maker counts the number of passing vehicles by the number of occasions of communication with the passing vehicles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 18, wherein the state of the road includes an inclination, curvature and surface condition of the road.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system according to claim 17, wherein the maker further includes: a detector for detecting an abnormality or failure of the marker itself; and a third memory location for storing the detected abnormality or failure, wherein said transmitter transmits, to the inspection vehicle, the detected abnormality or failure as part of the maintenance information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system according to claim 17, wherein the maker further includes: a third memory location for storing control information concerning the speed and traveling direction for the passing vehicle, wherein said transmitter transmits, to the passing vehicle, the control information which is used as part of the driving support information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 17, wherein the control information includes speed instructing information, acceleration/deceleration instructing information and steering instructing information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-19 | 2004-03-20 | 2004-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-19 | 2008-03-20 | 2008-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-19 | 2012-03-20 | 2012-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |