Device for preventing animal casualties which can be inflicted by a vehicle

• US 20030156016A1
• Filed: 02/10/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Moench, Jochen, Heimburger, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US10/361,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20030156016A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/10 using light sources, e.g. lasers or flashing lights
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/16 using sound waves
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/18 using ultrasonic signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers

Abstract

A device for preventing animal casualties from a vehicle, in particular in darkness has a control-and regulating a unit which obtains at least a first input signal and a second input signal, wherein the first input signal indicates a position of a light switch of the vehicle, so that when the position of the light switch is in a high beam position, the control-and regulating device, in response to obtaining the second input signal, turns off a high beam and turns on a low beam.

Claims

1. A device for preventing animal casualties from a vehicle, in particular in darkness, comprising a control-and regulating means which obtains at least a first input signal and a second input signal, wherein the first input signal indicates a position of a light switch of the vehicle, so that when the position of the light switch is in a high beam position, said control-and regulating device, in response to obtaining the second input signal, turns off a high beam and turns on a low beam.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the second input signal is a position of the horn of the vehicle, and the control-and regulating means turns off the high beam and turns on the low beam, when the second input signal indicates an activation of the horn.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, and said control-and regulating means is formed so that a signal of an ABS braking system is obtained as a third input signal, and said control-and regulating means turns off the high beam and turns on the low beam when the third input signal indicates a braking in an ABS control region of the braking system over a predetermined value.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the second input signal is an actuation of an ABS braking system, said control-and regulating means being formed so that it turns off a high beam and turns on a low beam when the second input signal indicates a braking in an ABS regulating region of a braking system or a braking over a predetermined value.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said control and regulating system is formed so that it obtains a signal of a horn as a third input signal, said control-and regulating means being formed so that it turns off a high beam and turns on a low beam when said third input signal indicates an actuation of the horn.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the second input signal is a signal of a radar unit of the vehicle, said control-and regulating means being formed so as to turn off a high beam and to turn on a low beam when the second input signal indicates an availability of life or objects on the roadway.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said control-and regulating means is formed so that a signal of an ABS braking system or a horn is obtained as a third input signal, said control-and regulating means being formed so as to turn off a high beam and to turn on a low beam when said third input signal indicates a braking in an ABS regulating region of the braking system or a braking over a predetermined value or an actuation of the horn.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said control-and regulating means is formed so that it retains the low beam turned on continuously.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said control-and regulating means is formed so that it additionally turns on a warning blinking device of the vehicle.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said control-and regulating means activates a horn or an additional acoustic signal transducer of the vehicle.

11. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein said additional acoustic signal transducer is a horn in an ultrasound region.