Alarm information providing apparatus for vehicle

• US 20040090314A1
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Iwamoto, Taro
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1469 controlled by or attached to a single lever, e.g. steering column stalk switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system

Abstract

A means for recognizing surrounding circumstances of a vehicle in a plurality of directions, a means for providing alarm information to a driver according to surrounding information output from the means for recognizing surrounding circumstances, and a means for receiving an alarm information request so as to control the means for providing alarm information using an instruction from the driver as a trigger, are provided. The means for receiving an alarm information request specifies a direction of the surrounding information to be output according to the instruction from the driver, and outputs information of an identified direction as the trigger to the means for providing alarm information. The means for providing alarm information switches alarm information to be provided according to the instruction from the driver, based on the information of the direction output from the means for receiving an alarm information request.

Claims

1. An alarm information providing apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

means for recognizing surrounding circumstances of the vehicle in a plurality of directions;

means for providing alarm information to a driver according to surrounding information output from the means for recognizing surrounding circumstances; and

means for receiving an alarm information request so as to control the means for providing alarm information using an instruction from the driver as a trigger;

wherein

the means for receiving an alarm information request includes functions of specifying a direction of the surrounding information to be output according to the instruction from the driver, and outputting information of a specified direction as the trigger to the means for providing alarm information, and

the means for providing alarm information includes a function of switching indicated alarm information according to the instruction from the driver based on the information of the direction output from the means for receiving an alarm information request.

2. The alarm information providing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for indicating a lane change, which informs the lane change to a following vehicle driving behind, wherein the means for providing alarm information operates with an enough time for an effective corresponding period by a time that the means for indicating a lane change operates.

3. The alarm information providing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the effective corresponding period is set prior to an operation of the means for indicating a lane change.

4. The alarm information providing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for receiving an alarm information request comprises a touch sensing means which operates by a touch of the driver, and

the touch sensing means specifies the direction of the surrounding information according to a touch position where the driver touches.

5. The alarm information providing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for receiving an alarm information request is configured with a switching structure which operates by a pressure applied by the driver, and

the means for receiving an alarm information request having the switching structure specifies the direction of the surrounding information by identifying a direction of the pressure applied by the driver.

6. The alarm information providing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for providing alarm information has a function of providing the alarm information to the driver through an oscillation via a component material of the means for receiving an alarm information request.

7. The alarm information providing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for indicating a lane change comprises a lever for operating a direction indicator, and

the means for receiving an alarm information request is provided to the lever for operating the direction indicator.

8. The alarm information providing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for receiving an alarm information request is provided independently of the lever for operating the direction indicator.