Vehicle information presenting device

• US 10,086,753 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ebina, Akihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Tun, Nay
• Application Number:
  US15/128,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20170106786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/283 Steering wheels; Gear levers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/40 specially adapted for specific vehicle types
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/06 Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/28 non-mechanical , e.g. following a line or other known markers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters

Abstract

A vehicle information presenting device used for an automated driving vehicle that automatically performs traveling control of the vehicle based on a traveling state of the vehicle and information on an outside of the vehicle includes: a steering wheel; a light-emitting unit that is disposed in the steering wheel and emits light; and a light-emitting control unit that causes the light-emitting unit to emit light, wherein the light-emitting control unit changes a light-emitting state of the light-emitting unit to induce a driver to switch from automated driving to manual driving in accordance with a system state of the automated driving.

Claims

1. A vehicle information presenting device used for an automated driving vehicle that automatically performs traveling control of the vehicle based on a traveling state of the vehicle and information on an outside of the vehicle, comprising:

a steering wheel;

a light-emitting unit that is disposed in the steering wheel and emits light; and

a light-emitting control unit that causes the light-emitting unit to emit light, wherein

the light-emitting control unit changes a light-emitting state of the light-emitting unit to induce a driver to switch from automated driving to manual driving in accordance with a system state of the automated driving, and causes each of gripping positions separated on left and right of an upper side of the steering wheel to emit light for indicating positions of the steering wheel to be gripped with left and right hands to the driver, and

the light-emitting control unit does not cause an upper portion of the gripping positions to emit light,

wherein when the steering wheel is turned by the automated driving, the light-emitting control unit causes the gripping positions that are appropriate for a manual driving operation to emit light.

2. The vehicle information presenting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting control unit categorizes the system state into areas and causes the light-emitting unit to emit light in accordance with a categorized system state.

3. The vehicle information presenting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting control unit causes the light-emitting unit to emit light such that the light-emitting of the light-emitting unit is formed in a shape of a hand.

4. The vehicle information presenting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting control unit enlarges a light-emitting region of the light-emitting unit as the system state becomes more unstable, and causes the light-emitting unit to emit light such that the light-emitting of the light-emitting unit is formed in a shape of a hand when the system state is categorized as a most unstable area.

5. The vehicle information presenting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting control unit changes at least one of brightness and a color of the light in accordance with the system state.

6. The vehicle information presenting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting control unit alternates light-emitting regions of the steering wheel.