ALERT SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE
First Claim
1. An alert system for a vehicle, said alert system comprising:
- a lane departure warning system operable to detect lane markers on a road being traveled by a vehicle equipped with said alert system;
said lane departure warning system comprising a forward facing camera having a field of view that encompasses the road ahead of and traveled on by the equipped vehicle;
wherein said forward facing camera views lane markers on the road being traveled by the equipped vehicle;
a side object detection system operable to detect the presence of another vehicle in an adjacent side lane adjacent to the lane being traveled by the equipped vehicle;
wherein said side object detection system comprises at least one of (a) a radar detector having a field of view to the side of and rearward of the equipped vehicle as it travels along the road and (b) an image-based detector having a field of view to the side of and rearward of the equipped vehicle as it travels along the road;
wherein said at least one of a radar detector and an image-based detector of said side object detection system detects the presence of an overtaking vehicle in the adjacent side lane;
wherein when said lane departure warning system detects a lane change into a side lane by the equipped vehicle and when said side object detection system detects a vehicle in that side lane, said alert system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein said alert system generates said alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle irrespective of the status of a turn signal of the equipped vehicle.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An alert system for a vehicle includes a forward facing camera having a field of view that encompasses the road ahead of and traveled on by the equipped vehicle, and may include a radar detector having a field of view to the side of and rearward of the equipped vehicle as it travels along the road and/or an image-based detector having a field of view to the side of and rearward of the equipped vehicle as it travels along the road. The alert system determines a lane change into a side lane by the equipped vehicle and detects a vehicle in that side lane, and an alert is generated to the driver of the equipped vehicle. The alert may be generated irrespective of the status of a turn signal of the equipped vehicle.
30 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An alert system for a vehicle, said alert system comprising:
-
a lane departure warning system operable to detect lane markers on a road being traveled by a vehicle equipped with said alert system; said lane departure warning system comprising a forward facing camera having a field of view that encompasses the road ahead of and traveled on by the equipped vehicle; wherein said forward facing camera views lane markers on the road being traveled by the equipped vehicle; a side object detection system operable to detect the presence of another vehicle in an adjacent side lane adjacent to the lane being traveled by the equipped vehicle; wherein said side object detection system comprises at least one of (a) a radar detector having a field of view to the side of and rearward of the equipped vehicle as it travels along the road and (b) an image-based detector having a field of view to the side of and rearward of the equipped vehicle as it travels along the road; wherein said at least one of a radar detector and an image-based detector of said side object detection system detects the presence of an overtaking vehicle in the adjacent side lane; wherein when said lane departure warning system detects a lane change into a side lane by the equipped vehicle and when said side object detection system detects a vehicle in that side lane, said alert system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said alert system generates said alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle irrespective of the status of a turn signal of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An alert system for a vehicle, said alert system comprising:
-
a forward facing camera having a field of view that encompasses the road ahead of and traveled on by the equipped vehicle; wherein said forward facing camera views lane markers on the road being traveled by the equipped vehicle; a radar detector having a field of view to the side of and rearward of the equipped vehicle as it travels along the road; wherein said radar detector detects the presence of an overtaking vehicle in an adjacent side lane; a control receiving inputs from said radar detector and said forward facing camera; wherein, responsive to said inputs, when said control determines a lane change into a side lane by the equipped vehicle and detects a vehicle in that side lane, said alert system generates an output; and wherein, responsive to said output, an alert is generated to the driver of the equipped vehicle irrespective of the status of a turn signal of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An alert system for a vehicle, said alert system comprising:
-
a forward facing camera having a field of view that encompasses the road ahead of and traveled on by the equipped vehicle, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS video camera sensor; wherein said forward facing camera views lane markers on the road being traveled by the equipped vehicle; a radar detector having a field of view to the side of and rearward of the equipped vehicle as it travels along the road; wherein said radar detector detects the presence of an overtaking vehicle in an adjacent side lane; a control receiving inputs from said radar detector and said forward facing camera; wherein, responsive to said inputs, when said control determines a lane change into a side lane by the equipped vehicle and detects a vehicle in that side lane, said alert system generates an output; and wherein, responsive to said output, an alert is generated to the driver of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said alert comprises at least one of (a) a visual alert, (b) a vibration alert, (c) an audible alert, (d) a voice command and (e) a heads-up-display alert. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification