BLIND ZONE DETECTION AND ALERT SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20140098230A1
• Filed: 10/07/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baur, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US14/047,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20140098230A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots

Abstract

An alert system for a vehicle includes a sensor and a control. The sensor is disposed at a side portion of a vehicle and has at least a generally sidewardly and rearwardly sensing direction. The control is operable to process an output of the sensor to determine if an object of interest is present in the sensing region at or near the side of the vehicle. Responsive to at least one of (i) the vehicle being stopped, (ii) the vehicle transmission being shifted into park and (iii) the vehicle ignition being turned off, the control is operable to process the sensor output to detect an object at or near the side of the vehicle or approaching the vehicle along the side of the vehicle, and, responsive to detection of such an object, the alert system generates an alert to an occupant of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An alert system for a vehicle, said alert system comprising:

a sensor disposed at a side portion of a vehicle and having at least a generally sidewardly and rearwardly sensing direction;

a control operable to process an output of said sensor to determine if an object of interest is present in the sensing region at or near the side of the vehicle; and

wherein, responsive to at least one of (i) the vehicle being stopped, (ii) the vehicle transmission being shifted into park and (iii) the vehicle ignition being turned off, said control is operable to process said sensor output to detect an object at or near the side of the vehicle or approaching the vehicle along the side of the vehicle, and, responsive to detection of an object at or near the side of the vehicle or approaching the vehicle along the side of the vehicle, said alert system generates an alert to an occupant of the vehicle.

2. The alert system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to detect a cyclist or pedestrian at or near or approaching the side of the vehicle and said alert system is operable to alert the occupant of a potential hazard if the vehicle door at that side of the vehicle is opened.

3. The alert system of claim 1, wherein said alert comprises at least one of an audible alert and a visual alert within the vehicle cabin.

4. The alert system of claim 1, wherein said alert comprises at least a visual alert at an exterior portion of the vehicle and viewable by a person at or near or approaching the vehicle at that side of the vehicle.

5. The alert system of claim 4, wherein said alert comprises an indicator disposed at an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.

6. The alert system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to process said sensor output to detect an object at or near the side of the vehicle or approaching the vehicle along the side of the vehicle for a period of time following at least one of (i) the vehicle being stopped, (ii) the vehicle transmission being shifted into park and (iii) the vehicle ignition being turned off.

7. The alert system of claim 6, wherein said control is further responsive to a detection of the occupant within the vehicle.

8. The alert system of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprise at least one of an image-based sensor, a radar sensor, lidar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor and a time-of-flight sensor.

9. An alert system for a vehicle, said alert system comprising:

a camera disposed at a side of a vehicle and having a field of view in at least a generally sidewardly and rearwardly direction at the side of the vehicle;

a control operable to process image data captured by said camera to determine if an object of interest is present in the field of view at or near the side of the vehicle; and

wherein, responsive to at least one of (i) the vehicle being stopped, (ii) the vehicle transmission being shifted into park and (iii) the vehicle ignition being turned off, said control is operable to process captured image data to detect an object at or near the side of the vehicle or approaching the vehicle along the side of the vehicle, and, responsive to detection of an object at or near the side of the vehicle or approaching the vehicle along the side of the vehicle, said alert system generates an alert to an occupant of the vehicle to alert the occupant of a potential hazard if the vehicle door at that side of the vehicle is opened.

10. The alert system of claim 9, wherein said control is operable to detect a cyclist or pedestrian at or near or approaching the side of the vehicle and said alert system is operable to alert the occupant of the vehicle.

11. The alert system of claim 9, wherein said alert comprises at least one of an audible alert and a visual alert within the vehicle cabin.

12. The alert system of claim 9, wherein said alert comprises at least a visual alert at an exterior portion of the vehicle and viewable by a person at or near or approaching the vehicle at that side of the vehicle.

13. The alert system of claim 12, wherein said alert comprises an indicator disposed at an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.

14. The alert system of claim 9, wherein said control is operable to process captured image data to detect an object at or near the side of the vehicle or approaching the vehicle along the side of the vehicle for a period of time following at least one of (i) the vehicle being stopped, (ii) the vehicle transmission being shifted into park and (iii) the vehicle ignition being turned off.

15. The alert system of claim 14, wherein said control is further responsive to a detection of the occupant within the vehicle.

16. An alert system for a vehicle, said alert system comprising:

a sensor disposed at a side portion of a vehicle and having at least a generally sidewardly and rearwardly sensing direction, wherein said sensor comprise at least one of an image-based sensor, a radar sensor, lidar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor and a time-of-flight sensor;

a control operable to process an output of said sensor to determine if an object of interest is present in the sensing region at or near the side of the vehicle; and

wherein, responsive to at least one of (i) the vehicle being stopped, (ii) the vehicle transmission being shifted into park and (iii) the vehicle ignition being turned off, said control is operable to process said sensor output to detect an object at or near the side of the vehicle or approaching the vehicle along the side of the vehicle, and, responsive to detection of an object at or near the side of the vehicle or approaching the vehicle along the side of the vehicle, said alert system generates an alert to an occupant of the vehicle to alert the occupant of a potential hazard if the vehicle door at that side of the vehicle is opened.

17. The alert system of claim 16, wherein said alert comprises at least one of (i) an audible alert within the vehicle cabin, (ii) a visual alert within the vehicle cabin and (iii) a visual alert at an exterior portion of the vehicle and viewable by a person at or near or approaching the vehicle at that side of the vehicle.

18. The alert system of claim 16, wherein said alert comprises an indicator disposed at an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.

19. The alert system of claim 16, wherein said control is operable to process said sensor output to detect an object at or near the side of the vehicle or approaching the vehicle along the side of the vehicle for a period of time following at least one of (i) the vehicle being stopped, (ii) the vehicle transmission being shifted into park and (iii) the vehicle ignition being turned off.

20. The alert system of claim 16, wherein said control is further responsive to a detection of an occupant within the vehicle and wherein, responsive to detection of an occupant within the vehicle, said control is operable to process said sensor output to detect an object at or near the side of the vehicle or approaching the vehicle along the side of the vehicle.