APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ALERTING A DRIVER WHEN A VEHICLE DEPARTS FROM A PREDEFINED DRIVING AREA IN A LANE

• US 20060220904A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Jarlengrip, Johan
• Granted Patent: US 7,411,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/08 Lane monitoring; Lane Keeping Systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/082 using alarm actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

Method and apparatus (2) of a vehicle for alerting a driver of a vehicle when the vehicle deviates from a predefined driving area in a lane. The apparatus includes an image display unit (6) and a control unit (5) connected to each other to enable the apparatus to provide a visual warning via the image display unit when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area and where the visual warning is displayed in the form of a solid or broken line on the side of the image display unit (6) that corresponds to the side of the vehicle where the deviation occurs.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a vehicle for alerting a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle deviates from a predefined driving area in a lane, the apparatus comprising:

an image display unit (6) connected to a control unit (5) that together provide a visual warning (7) on the image display unit (6) when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area, the visual warning (7) taking the form of one of (i) a solid and (ii) a broken line at the side of the image display unit (6) that corresponds to the side of the vehicle toward which the deviation is occuring.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual warning (7) is in proportion to the size of the deviation.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual warning (7) is moved sideways in proportion to the size of the deviation.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual warning (7) is moved longitudinally in proportion to the speed of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein one of (i) an acoustic signal and (ii) a vibration signal alerts the driver when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area (10).

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is deactivated when an intentional lane change is carried out.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is deactivated when the vehicle'"'"'s direction indicator is activated.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the driving area (10) of the apparatus is modified to suit the type of road upon which the vehicle is being driven.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, further comprising a GPS receiver and a map database that enables the driving area (10) to be modified to suit the type of road upon which the vehicle is being driven.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is activated when there is risk that the driver may lose concentration or when the driver has actually lost concentration.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the parameters of the apparatus are modified when there is risk that the driver may lose concentration or when the driver has actually lost concentration.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is deactivated in the event of an external occurrence, when the vehicle is being driven below a predefined speed and/or when the vehicle is within a predefined geographical area.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus acts upon the vehicle'"'"'s steering mechanism when the vehicle is driven on or close to a lane line.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is installed upon a vehicle.

26. A computer program product comprising program code, stored on a medium that can be read by computer, for carrying out the recited steps of claim 15 when said program is executed by a computer.

15. A method for alerting a driver of a vehicle when the vehicle deviates from a predefined driving area in a driving lane, said method comprising:

detecting the limits of the driving lane and identifying the position of the vehicle in the driving lane;

comparing the position of the vehicle with the detected driving area; and

giving a visual warning to the driver when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area, via an image display unit, by means of a warning mark in the form of a solid or broken line on the side of the image display unit that corresponds to the side of the vehicle where the deviation occurs.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the position of the warning mark is proportional to the distance of the vehicle from the edge of the driving lane.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the warning mark moves along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in proportion to the vehicle'"'"'s speed.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the visual warning is deactivated when the vehicle'"'"'s indicators are active.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the visual warning is deactivated when the vehicle'"'"'s speed is less than a predefined speed and/or the vehicle is within a predefined geographical area.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein an audible signal alerts the driver when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area.

21. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein a vibration signal alerts the driver when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area.

22. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the apparatus is activated in the event of a predefined occurrence.

23. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the parameters of the apparatus are modified in the event of a predefined occurrence.

24. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the driving area of the apparatus is modified to suit the type of road on which the vehicle is being driven.

25. A computer program comprising program code for carrying out the recited steps of claim 15 when said program is executed by a computer.