Warning device in motor vehicles

• US 20050007244A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Witzke, Michael, Lang, Heinrich, Snel, Jaap-Jan
• Granted Patent: US 7,079,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08

Abstract

A warning system for a vehicle is provided. The warning system has a sensor for detecting an obstruction near the vehicle, a control apparatus to produce a signal in response to the detected obstruction, and an alert device configured to direct a driver'"'"'s attention to the obstruction.

Claims

1-9. -9. Cancelled

10. A warning system for a vehicle having a display device disposed in a field of view of a driver of the vehicle, the warning system comprising:

a plurality of sensors disposed about the vehicle, the plurality of sensors configured to detect an object proximate the vehicle; and

a control apparatus in communication with the plurality of sensors, at least one of the plurality of sensors configured to send a signal of the detected object to the control apparatus, the control apparatus configured to produce an advisory signal responsive to the detected object signal to direct the driver to view the detected object in the display device.

11. The warning system of claim 10, further comprising an alert device disposed proximate the display device, the alert device configured to communicate the advisory signal to the driver.

12. The warning system of claim 11, wherein the alert device is configured to optically alert the driver.

13. The warning system of claim 12, wherein the alert device is a light emitting diode (LED).

14. The warning system of claim 13, wherein the light emitting diode (LED) is configured to blink upon receipt of the signal from the control apparatus to draw attention to the display device.

15. The warning system of claim 13, wherein the display device is a rearview mirror, the light emitting diode (LED) disposed on a portion of the rearview mirror.

16. The warning system of claim 13, wherein the display device is a monitor, the light emitting diode (LED) disposed proximate the monitor.

17. The warning system of claim 12, wherein the alert device is configured to display a text message to the driver.

18. The warning system of claim 10, wherein the alert device is an audio device configured to acoustically alert the driver of the detected object.

19. The warning system of claim 18, wherein the audio device is a voice module.

20. The warning system of claim 19, wherein the voice module is configured to state a location of the obstruction in response to the signal from the control apparatus.

21. The warning system of claim 18, wherein the audio device is selected from the group consisting of a voice module, a horn, a siren, a buzzer, a bell, a whistle, and combinations thereof.

22. The warning system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of sensors is selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic sensors, electromagnetic sensors, cameras, and combinations thereof.

23. The warning system of claim 10, wherein the display device is a plurality of display devices disposed about the vehicle in a field of regard of the driver, and wherein the alert device is a plurality of alert devices, at least one of the plurality of alert devices disposed proximate at least one of the plurality of display devices.

24. A warning system for a truck having at least two sensors, at least one of the two sensors located about a rear of the truck, the at least two sensors configured to detect a presence of an obstruction and produce an obstruction signal, the warning system comprising:

at least two display devices affixed to the truck and located in a field of regard of a driver of the truck;

a control apparatus in communication with the at least two sensors, the control apparatus configured to produce an advisory signal in response to the obstruction signal from at least one of the at least two sensors detecting the obstruction; and

an alert device in communication with the control apparatus responsive to the advisory signal, the alert device configured to alert the driver of the detected obstruction displayed in at least one of the at least two display devices.

25. The warning system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the at least two sensors is an ultrasonic sensor.

26. The warning system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the at least two sensors is an electromagnetic sensor.

27. The warning system of claim 26, wherein the electromagnetic sensor is selected from the group consisting of an infrared sensor, an ultraviolet sensor, a laser, a radar and combinations thereof.

28. The warning system of claim 24, wherein the display device is a mirror.

29. The warning system of claim 24, wherein the display device is a monitor.

30. The warning system of claim 29, wherein the alert device is a liquid crystal display (LCD) disposed on the monitor, the LCD configured to display a text message to the driver in response to the signal from the control apparatus.

31. The warning system of claim 24, wherein the alert device is disposed proximate the display device.

32. The warning system of claim 24, wherein the alert device is a light emitting diode (LED) located on the display device, the LED configured to blink in response to the advisory signal.

33. The warning system of claim 24, wherein the alert device is an acoustic device having a voice module configured to verbally alert the driver of the detected obstruction.

34. The warning system of claim 33, wherein the acoustic module is in communication with a loudspeaker configured to amplify the verbal alert, the loudspeaker further configured to be selectively energized by the driver.

35. A monitoring system for a vehicle comprising:

at least one sensor disposed on the vehicle, the at least one sensor configured to sense an obstruction located in a vicinity of the vehicle;

a control apparatus in communication with the at least one sensor, the control apparatus configured to produce an advisory signal in response to an obstruction signal from the at least one sensor;

a display device disposed in a field of regard of a driver of the vehicle; and

an alert device responsive to the advisory signal and configured to attract an attention of the driver of the vehicle to the display device when the display device is displaying the obstruction from the at least one sensor.

36. The monitoring system of claim 35, wherein the at least one sensor is an electromagnetic sensor.

37. The monitoring system of claim 36, wherein the electromagnetic sensor is a camera disposed on a rear of the vehicle, the camera configured to be selectively energized when the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction.

38. The monitoring system of claim 35, wherein the display device includes a mirror arrangement and a monitor, the mirror arrangement and the monitor disposed apart from each other.

39. The monitoring system of claim 38, wherein the mirror arrangement includes at least one wide-angle mirror and at least one main mirror, the at least one wide-angled mirror and the at least one main mirror disposed proximate each other.

40. The monitoring system of claim 38, wherein the alert device is a liquid crystal representation of the mirror arrangement, the liquid crystal representation disposed on the monitor and configured to be selectively illuminated when the at least one sensor senses the obstruction in a field of regard of the mirror arrangement.

41. An advisory system for a tractor-trailer having at least two sensors, at least one of the sensors located on a trailer of the tractor-trailer for sensing an obstruction located near the tractor-trailer for operating the tractor-trailer in a direction other than a forward direction, the advisory system comprising:

a control apparatus in electronic communication with the at least two sensors, the control apparatus configured to produce an advisory signal in response to the sensed obstruction; and

an alert apparatus in electronic communication with the control apparatus, the alert apparatus configured to produce an alert signal when the advisory signal is produced to inform a driver substantially instantaneously of a location of the obstruction such that the driver can avoid contact between the tractor-trailer and the obstruction.

42. The advisory system of claim 41, wherein the alert apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a voice module, a text message, a coded warning and combinations thereof.

43. The advisory system of claim 41, further comprising means for amplifying information about the obstruction to the driver.