DRIVING ASSIST DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20090058678A1
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: KUME, Takanori, KORE, Haruhisa, IWASE, Koji, MATSUOKA, Satoru
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/904
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/308 by overlaying the real scene, e.g. through a head-up display on the windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8033 for pedestrian protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays

Abstract

A driving assist device for a vehicle of the present invention, comprising an object detection device to detect an object to be recognized around the vehicle, an eyes-direction specification device to specify a direction of driver'"'"'s eyes, and a mark indication device to indicate a specified-shape mark at a specified portion of a windshield that is located in the direction of the driver'"'"'s eyes specified by the eyes-direction specification device and then to indicate the specified-shape mark in such a manner that the mark overlaps with the object. Accordingly, the driver can be properly made recognize any object in danger even in case the driver'"'"'s eyes are not directed to such object.

Claims

1. A driving assist device for a vehicle, comprising:

an object detection device to detect an object to be recognized around the vehicle;

an eyes-direction specification device to specify a direction of driver'"'"'s eyes; and

a mark indication device to indicate a mark with a specified shape on a windshield when the object is detected by the object detection device,

wherein the mark indication device is configured to indicate the specified-shape mark at a specified portion of the windshield that is located in the direction of the driver'"'"'s eyes specified by the eyes-direction specification device and then to indicate the specified-shape mark in such a manner that the mark overlaps with the object.

2. The driving assist device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said mark indication device is configured to indicate the specified-shape mark repeatedly in such a manner that the mark indicated repeatedly moves from a position of the driver'"'"'s-eyes direction specified by said eyes-direction specification device to a position of the object indicated.

3. The driving assist device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said mark indication device is configured to continue said repeated indication of the specified-shape mark until a vehicle driver gazes at the object.

4. The driving assist device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said mark indication device is configured to change shape of said specified-shape mark to be indicated in accordance with a kind of the object.

5. The driving assist device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said mark indication device is configured to change at least one of shape, color and moving speed of said specified-mark to be indicated in accordance with a degree of danger of the object.

6. The driving assist device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said object detected by the object detection device is at least one of a pedestrian, another vehicle, a traffic signal, an intersection, and a cross walk.

7. The driving assist device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein in case a plurality of objects are detected by said object detection device, said mark indication device is configured to indicate the specified-shape mark for a plurality of objects in order of priority of indication of objects.