US 12,115,964 B1
Gear selection for merging into faster traffic
Thomas S. Hawley, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Bradley S. Nowlin, Howell, MI (US); and Syed S. Ali, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Plano, TX (US); and TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, (JP)
Filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 26, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/226,714.
Int. Cl. B60W 10/10 (2012.01); B60Q 1/34 (2006.01); B60R 1/12 (2006.01); B60W 30/18 (2012.01); B60W 30/08 (2012.01)
CPC B60W 10/10 (2013.01) [B60Q 1/343 (2013.01); B60R 1/1207 (2013.01); B60W 30/18163 (2013.01); B60W 30/08 (2013.01); B60W 2540/18 (2013.01); B60W 2554/4041 (2020.02); B60W 2554/4045 (2020.02); B60W 2554/80 (2020.02); B60W 2554/804 (2020.02); B60W 2710/1005 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lane assist system for a vehicle, comprising:
an automatic transmission;
a sensor for detecting an adjacent vehicle in an adjacent lane; and
an electronic control unit connected to the sensor and configured to:
determine that the vehicle intends to move from a current lane to the adjacent lane,
calculate a time duration for the adjacent vehicle in the adjacent lane to reach the vehicle, and
control operation of the automatic transmission to prepare the vehicle for a lane change based upon the determination that the vehicle intends to move from the current lane to the adjacent lane and the time duration.