Patent ID: 8498778

Claim:
A turn signal control system for use with a right turn signal and a left turn signal of a motor vehicle and a vehicle navigation system, the turn signal control system comprising: a processor configured to be operably coupled to the vehicle navigation system, the processor configured to receive map data and route data from the vehicle navigation system, the map data including positions of side roads, the processor being configured to determine a turn zone of the vehicle based on a set of criteria, the set of criteria including the route data and the map data, wherein the turn zone is defined as a position in which the vehicle is approaching a turn, the turn zone having a first predetermined length when the side roads are closer to each other than a predetermined threshold distance, the turn zone having a second predetermined length when the side roads are farther apart than the predetermined threshold distance, the first and second predetermined lengths being unequal; and a turn signal controller operably coupled to the processor and configured to activate one of the right and left turn signals when the vehicle is in the turn zone.