Vehicle Warning Systems and Methods

• US 20100315216A1
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Hada, Hiedki
• Granted Patent: US 8,536,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A collision detection unit mounts to a host vehicle. The collision detection unit includes a housing and a stop lamp associated with the housing and visible from outside the housing. A warning lamp is associated with the housing and is visible from outside the housing. A sensor is associated with the housing and is configured to detect an object.

Claims

1. A collision detection unit that mounts to a host vehicle, the collision detection unit comprising:

a housing;

a stop lamp associated with the housing and visible from outside the housing;

a warning lamp associated with the housing and visible from outside the housing; and

a sensor associated with the housing, the sensor configured to detect an object.

2. The collision detection unit of claim 1 further comprising a processing unit associated with the housing and configured to activate the warning lamp based on input from the sensor.

3. The collision detection unit of claim 2, wherein at least one of the stop lamp, warning lamp, sensor and processing unit is mounted at least partially within the housing.

4. The collision detection system of claim 3, wherein all of the stop lamp, warning lamp, sensor and processing unit are mounted at least partially within the housing, the housing being separate from the host vehicle.

5. The collision detection unit of claim 1, wherein the stop lamp has a first light source and the warning lamp has a second light source different from the first light source.

6. The collision detection unit of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a laser range sensor.

7. The collision detection system of claim 1, wherein the stop lamp is configured to display a first color and the warning lamp is configured to display a second color different from the first color.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

a rear windshield;

a collision detection unit mounted at the rear windshield, the collision detection unit comprising;

a housing;

a stop lamp mounted in the housing and visible from outside the vehicle;

a warning lamp mounted in the housing and visible from outside the vehicle;

a sensor mounted in the housing, the sensor configured to detect an object located behind the vehicle; and

a processing unit configured to activate the warning lamp based on input from the sensor.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the stop lamp has a first light source and the warning lamp has a second light source different from the first light source.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the processing unit is mounted in the housing, the stop lamp, warning lamp, sensor and processing unit being installed to the vehicle within the housing.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the sensor is a laser range sensor.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the stop lamp is a first stop lamp, the collision detection unit further comprising a second stop lamp spaced-apart from the first stop lamp.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the warning lamp is a first warning lamp, the collision detection unit further comprising a second warning lamp spaced-apart from the first stop lamp.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the stop lamp is configured to display a first color and the warning lamp is configured to display a second color different from the first color.

15. The vehicle of claim 8 further comprising an electronic control unit located outside the housing and connected to the processing unit.

16. The vehicle of claim 8 further comprising a vehicle speed sensor located outside the housing, the vehicle speed sensor configured provide vehicle speed information to the processing unit.

17. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein a portion of the housing is located within an interior of the vehicle and another portion of the housing is located outside the interior of the vehicle.

18. A method of warning a following vehicle from a host vehicle of a potential collision, the method comprising:

detecting the following vehicle using a sensor;

determining a speed between the following vehicle and the host vehicle using a processing unit;

determining a distance between the following vehicle and the host vehicle using the processing unit; and

warning the following vehicle if a threshold criteria is met by activating a warning lamp using the processing unit;

wherein the sensor, processing unit and warning lamp are mounted in a housing mounted to the host vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising indicating a braking operation by activating a stop lamp mounted within the housing.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the stop lamp displays a first color when activated and the warning lamp displays a second color different from the first color when activated.