VISUAL SIGNALLING DEVICE ADAPTABLE TO A VEHICLE

• US 20040041983A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astron Group Technologies SA
• Original Assignee: Astron Group Technologies SA
• Inventors: Bleiner, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,733,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/13
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body

Abstract

A visual signalling device adaptable to a running vehicle (1), comprises a rear emitter (3) for emitting a laser beam (9) towards the rear of the vehicle (1). The rear emitter (3) comprises elements generating designs for projection, by the laser beam, of a signaling design (11) at the rear of the vehicle. The invention is applicable to equipment for motor vehicle, bus, boat.

Claims

1. Visual signaling device suitable for a moving vehicle (1) comprising a rear emitter (3) for the emission of a laser beam (9) rearwardly of the vehicle (1), characterized by the fact

that the rear emitter (3) comprises means for generating designs for projection, by the laser beam, of signaling designs (11) to the rear of the vehicle.

2. Visual signaling device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact

that it comprises control means for the actuation of the rear emitter (3) for its conditional operation.

3. Visual signaling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact

that it comprises a front emitter (2) for emitting a laser beam (8) forwardly of the vehicle (1), said front emitter (2) comprises means for generating designs for the projection, by the laser beam, of signaling designs forwardly of the vehicle.

4. Visual signaling device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact

that it comprises control means for the actuation of the front emitter (2) for its conditional operation.

5. Visual signaling device according to claim 2 or 4, characterized by the fact

that the control means are connected to one or several detectors, for actuation upon detection of a change of condition of the vehicle or of weather conditions.

6. Visual signaling device according to claim 2, 4 or 5, characterized by the fact

that the control means are connected to a receiver (14) of an external control signal, for actuation upon reception of the external control signal.

7. Visual signaling device according to claim 2, 4, 5 or 6, characterized by the fact

that the means for generating designs are adapted to form a design from among several choices and that the control means are adapted to address different controls to the emitter according to the nature of the design to be projected.

8. Visual signaling device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that

it is on a vehicle (1) moving on a roadway (6)

it comprises at least one camera (16) observing a region to the front of the vehicle (1) in which are located marking strips (15) on the ground either centrally or laterally in the normal position of driving of the vehicle,

video processing means for computing the position of the marking strips (15) on the ground relative to the vehicle (1).

motorized means for rotating the front emitter (2) controlled to position the impact point of the laser beam toward the marking strips (15) on the ground.

9. Visual signaling device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact

that the rotation means are actuated such that the point of impact of the beam sweeps the surface of the targeted marking strip (15) on the ground.