Vehicle light warning system and method

• US 20080012697A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Witt, Gerald J., Smith, Matthew R., Zhang, Harry
• Application Number:
  US11/486,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20080012697A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/349 Adjustment of brightness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/18 for varying the light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays

Abstract

A light warning system and method are provided for warning a driver of a vehicle of a sensed condition. The warning system includes a lighting device having first and second colored LEDs for generating a light beam viewable on a windshield in front of the driver of the vehicle. The system also includes a detection device for detecting a condition desirable of a warning and generating a warning signal. The system further includes a controller processing the warning signal and determining whether to present a light beam warning displayed to the driver on the windshield. The controller controls the lighting device to generate a flashing light beam, wherein the light beam flashes on and off for a time period less than one-half second.

Claims

1. A light warning system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a lighting device for generating a light beam in a region viewable to a passenger in a vehicle;

a detection device for detecting a condition desirable of a warning and generating a warning signal; and

a controller processing the warning signal and determining whether to present a light beam warning displayed to the driver, said controller controlling the lighting device to generate a flashing light beam, wherein the light beam flashes on for a time period of less than one-half second.

2. The light warning system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller controls the lighting device to generate a flashing light beam at a rate of approximately 10 Hz.

3. The light warning system as defined in claim 1, wherein the light beam flashes on for a time period of less than one-quarter second.

4. The light warning system as defined in claim 1, wherein the light beam turns on and off for at least three cycles.

5. The light warning system as defined in claim 1, wherein the lighting device comprises first and second differently colored lights for different warning conditions.

6. The light warning system as defined in claim 1, wherein the lighting device comprises a light emitting diode.

7. The light warning system as defined in claim 1, wherein the lighting device generates a light beam that is reflected off of a vehicle windshield such that a passenger in the vehicle views the light beam on the windshield.

8. The light warning system as defined in claim 1, wherein the lighting device is mounted in a vehicle dash.

9. The light warning system as defined in claim 1, wherein the passenger is the driver of the vehicle.

10. The light warning system as defined in claim 1, wherein the detection device comprises at least any one of a forward collision warning system, a lane departure warning system, a head pose monitor system, and a curve over-speed detection system.

11. The light warning system as defined in claim 1 further comprising an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light, wherein the brightness of the lighting device is selected based on the sensed ambient light.

12. The light warning system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller determines a head pose directivity, and wherein the brightness of the lighting device selected based on the head pose directivity.

13. A light warning system for warning a driver of a vehicle, said light warning system comprising:

a lighting device located on a vehicle for generating a light beam on a windshield of the vehicle in a region viewable to a driver of a vehicle;

a detection device for detecting a condition desirable of a warning and generating a warning signal; and

a controller processing the warning system and determining whether to present a light beam warning to the driver of the vehicle, said controller controlling the lighting device to generate a flashing light beam, wherein the light beam flashes for a time period of less than one-half second.

14. The light warning system as defined in claim 13, wherein the controller controls the lighting device to generate a flashing light beam at a rate of approximately 10 Hz.

15. The light warning system as defined in claim 13, wherein the light beam flashes on for a time period of less than one-quarter second.

16. The light warning system as defined in claim 13, wherein the light beam turns on and off for at least three cycles.

17. The light warning system as defined in claim 13, wherein the lighting device comprises first and second differently colored lights for different warning conditions.

18. The light warning system as defined in claim 13, wherein the lighting device comprises a light emitting diode.

19. The light warning system as defined in claim 13, wherein the lighting device is mounted in a dash of the vehicle.

20. A method of warning a driver of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a condition desirable of a warning and generating a warning signal indicative thereof;

generating a light beam in a region viewable to a driver of the vehicle upon detecting a condition desirable of a warning; and

controlling the lighting device to generate a flashing light beam, wherein the light beam flashes on for a time period less than one-half second.

21. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein the step of generating a flashing light beam comprises flashing the light beam cyclically on and off at a rate of about 10 Hz.

22. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein the step of generating a flashing light beam comprises flashing the lighting device on and off cyclically for at least three cycles.

23. The method as defined in claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

determining a first warning condition;

determining a second warning condition that is a more imminent threat than the first warning condition;

flashing a first lighting device based on the first warning condition; and

flashing a second lighting device based on the second warning condition.

24. The method as defined in claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

sensing ambient light; and

adjusting brightness of the lighting device based on the sensed ambient light.

25. The method as defined in claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

detecting head pose directivity of the driver; and

adjusting brightness of the lighting device based on head pose directivity of the driver.