VEHICLE BLIND SPOT DETECTION AND INDICATOR SYSTEM

• US 20090243822A1
• Filed: 10/23/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Company
• Inventors: Murata, Makoto, Shingyoji, Masahito, Fujita, Yasuhiko, Nakamura, Fumie, Hinninger, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,310,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A warning system for conveying alerts and information relating to a vehicle blind spot and objects detected therein, is disclosed. The system conveys an assortment of information through a single light emitting indicator. Also disclosed are various methods of indicating the advisability of lane changes, and modes of configuring the indicator and an associated sensing system and controller.

Claims

1. A vehicle blind spot detection and warning system, the system comprising:

a sensing system having (i) at least one sensor affixed to a vehicle and adapted to detect the presence and the proximity of an object in a detection area defined along a lateral region adjacent the vehicle, and (ii) a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicative of detection by said at least one sensor of an object in said detection area and proximity of said detected object from the vehicle;

a single light emitting indicator located within the interior of the vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the sensing system and the light emitting indicator;

wherein upon detection of the presence and the proximity of an object in said detection area, the controller receives the transmitted signal and controls a flashing frequency of the single light emitting indicator.

2. The vehicle blind spot detection and warning system of claim 1 wherein the single light emitting indicator is affixed to a dashboard within the interior of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle blind spot detection and warning system of claim 1 wherein the light emitting indicator is of a type selected from the group consisting of (i) an LED light, (ii) a halogen light, (iii) an incandescent light, and (iv) combinations thereof.

4. The vehicle blind spot detection and warning system of claim 1 wherein the light emitting indicator emits light having a color selected from the group consisting of (i) red, (ii) yellow, (iii) blue, (iv) green, and (v) white.

5. The vehicle blind spot detection and warning system of claim 1 wherein the controller varies the flashing frequency based upon the proximity of the object detected in the detection area.

6. The vehicle blind spot detection and warning system of claim 5 wherein the controller increases the flashing frequency as the proximity to vehicle increases.

7. The vehicle blind spot detection and warning system of claim 1 wherein the sensing system defines the detection area into multiple zones, and the controller varies the flashing frequency of the indicator based upon which zone the detected object is in.

8. The vehicle blind spot detection and warning system of claim 7 wherein the sensing system defines the detection area into three zones with a first zone being closest to the vehicle, and a third zone being farthest from the vehicle, and a second zone being between the first and third zones, and the controller controls the flashing frequency of the indicator such that the flashing frequency for detection of an object in the second zone is greater than the flashing frequency for detection of an object in the third zone.

9. The vehicle blind spot detection and warning system of claim 8 wherein the flashing frequency for detection of an object in the first zone is greater than the flashing frequency for detection of an object in the second zone.

10. A method for detecting the presence and proximity of an object in a detection area defined along a lateral region adjacent to a vehicle, and providing a visual indication of such presence and proximity, the method comprising:

sensing the presence of an object in the detection area and the proximity of the object from the vehicle;

transmitting information as to the presence and proximity of the sensed object; and

selecting a flashing frequency of a single light emitting indicator based upon the transmitted information to thereby provide visual indication of the presence and the proximity of the sensed object to the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the selected flashing frequency is based upon the proximity of the sensed object to the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the flashing frequency selected is greater as the proximity of the sensed object to the vehicle increases.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

identifying the state of a turn signal;

wherein the selecting a flashing frequency of the single light emitting indicator is also based upon the state of the turn signal.

14. A method for indicating advisability of a lane change to a driver of a vehicle by use of a single illuminating indicator, the vehicle including a turn signal selectable between an on position and off position and a blind spot detection and warning system adapted for detecting the presence of an object in a detection area defined along a rearward lateral region adjacent the vehicle, the method comprising:

assessing a state that the driver and vehicle are in, the state selected from the group consisting of (i) a first state in which the turn signal is off and no object is detected in the detection area, (ii) a second state in which the turn signal is off and an object is detected in the detection area, and (iii) a third state in which the turn signal is on and an object is detected in the detection area; and

controlling the operation of the single indicator such that if the first state is assessed, the indicator is not illuminated;

if the second state is assessed, the indicator is continuously illuminated; and

if the third state is assessed, the indicator is intermittently illuminated;

to thereby indicate advisability of a lane change.

15. A method for indicating to a driver of a vehicle a degree of danger associated with a lane change by use of a single illuminating indicator, the vehicle including a blind spot detection and warning system adapted for determining the proximity of an object in a detection area defined along a rearward lateral region adjacent the vehicle, the detection area further defining at least two zones wherein a first zone is nearest the vehicle and a second zone is farther from the vehicle than the first zone, the method comprising:

detecting whether an object is present in the detection area, and if so, determining which zone of the at least two zones the object is in; and

selecting a flashing frequency of the single illuminating indicator based upon the determination of which zone the object is in, wherein the flashing frequency selected for the object being in the first zone is greater than the flashing frequency selected for the object being in the second zone, thereby indicating an elevated degree of danger.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the detection area defines three zones with a third zone being farther from the vehicle than the second zone.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the flashing frequency selected for the object being in the third zone is less than the flashing frequency selected for the object being in the second zone.