TURNING DIRECTION INDICATOR

• US 20090205936A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: UENO, Wataru
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/61.280
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/40 having mechanical, electric or electronic automatic return to inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/42 having mechanical automatic return to inoperative position due to steering-wheel position , e.g. with roller wheel control

Abstract

A turning direction indicator controls the operation of a light source for turn signals and indicates a turning direction of the vehicle. A plurality of switch contacts are brought into electrical contact with each other, responsive to operation of an operating part. An angular velocity sensor detects an angular velocity of a vehicle turning, and outputs an angular velocity signal. A controller controls the output of a drive signal for causing operation of the light source, according to the electrical contact between the switch contacts and the angular velocity signal. The controller controls the output of the drive signal, according to the angular velocity signal, and a speed signal indicating a speed of the vehicle. The controller controls the output of the drive signal, according to the relation between the set threshold value and the angular velocity signal, and the relation between the angular velocity signal and the speed signal.

Claims

1. A turning direction indicator for use in a vehicle, for indicating a turning direction of the vehicle, the vehicle including a steering wheel, a speed meter, and a light source for a turn signal, the turning direction indicator comprising:

an operating part;

a plurality of switch contacts to be brought into or out of electrical contact with each other, in response to operation of the operating part;

an angular velocity sensor for detecting an angular velocity of a turn of the vehicle, and outputting an angular velocity signal; and

a controller for controlling output of a drive signal, according to the electrical contact between the switch contacts and the angular velocity signal, the drive signal being for causing operation of the light source.

2. The turning direction indicator of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the output of the drive signal, according to the angular velocity signal and a speed signal, the speed signal being indicative of a speed of the vehicle and supplied from the speed meter.

3. The turning direction indicator of claim 1, wherein the controller sets or calculates a predetermined threshold value for the angular velocity signal.

4. The turning direction indicator of claim 3, wherein the controller controls the output of the drive signal, according to a relation between the set threshold value and the angular velocity signal, and a relation between the angular velocity signal and a speed signal, the speed signal being indicative of a speed of the vehicle and supplied from the speed meter.

5. The turning direction indicator of claim 4, wherein, in a case where, while the speed signal is detected, the angular velocity signal exceeds the threshold value, and thereafter the angular velocity signal takes a constant value indicative of detection of no angular velocity, the controller controls the output of the drive signal so that the operation of the light source is stopped.

6. The turning direction indicator of claim 5, wherein the controller sets the threshold value, according to the speed signal.

7. The turning direction indicator of claim 4, wherein, in a case where the angular velocity signal exceeds the threshold value and the speed signal is detected, thereafter the angular velocity signal takes a constant value indicative of detection of no angular velocity signal while the speed signal is not detected, thereafter the angular velocity signal exceeds the threshold value and the speed signal is detected, and the angular velocity signal takes the constant value indicative of detection of no angular velocity while the speed signal is detected, the controller controls the output of the drive signal so that the operation of the light source is stopped.

8. The turning direction indicator of claim 4, wherein, in a case where, while the speed signal is detected, the angular velocity signal exceeds the set threshold value, thereafter the angular velocity signal takes a value indicative of an angular velocity in a reverse direction, and thereafter the angular velocity signal takes a constant value indicative of detection of no angular velocity, the controller controls the output of the drive signal so that the operation of the light source is stopped, a predetermined time period later after the angular velocity signal has taken the constant value.

9. The turning direction indicator of claim 4, wherein, in a case where, while the speed signal is detected, the angular velocity signal lower than the set threshold value is detected, thereafter the angular velocity signal indicative of an angular velocity in a reverse direction is detected, and an accumulated value that the controller obtains by accumulation of the values of the angular velocity signal exceeds the threshold value, the controller controls the output of the drive signal so that the operation of the light source is stopped a predetermined time period later after the angular velocity signal has taken a constant value.

10. The turning direction indicator of claim 4, wherein, in a case where, while the speed signal is detected, the angular velocity signal indicative of an angular velocity in a reverse direction of the turning direction is detected and the angular velocity signal continues for a predetermined time period, the controller controls the output of the drive signal so that the operation of the light source is stopped.

11. The turning direction indicator of claim 4, wherein, in a case where, while the speed signal is detected, the angular velocity signal indicative of an angular velocity in a reverse direction of the turning direction is detected, the angular velocity signal decreases once and thereafter increases in the reverse direction of the turning direction, and the increased angular velocity signal continues for a predetermined time period, the controller controls the output of the drive signal so that the operation of the light source is stopped.

12. The turning direction indicator of claim 1, wherein the operating part includes a lever of which position is changeable from a neutral position in upward and downward directions.

13. The turning direction indicator of claim 4, wherein the operating part includes a lever of which position is changeable from a neutral position in upward and downward directions.