ALARM DEVICE

• US 20140225722A1
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Yoshihiko, Kawasaki, Tomoya, Komoguchi, Tetsuya
• Granted Patent: US 9,123,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A control unit of an alarm device suppresses the activation of an alarm for a second another vehicle when a self-vehicle is reversing from a parked state, in a case where after one of a first detection unit, which is configured to detect another vehicle approaching from the back right of the self-vehicle, or the second detection unit, which is configured to detect another vehicle approaching from the back left of the self-vehicle, detects a first another vehicle, another one of the first detection unit or the second detection unit detects the second another vehicle, in a case where a distance difference between a first distance between the first another vehicle and the self-vehicle and a second distance between the second another vehicle and the self-vehicle is less than or equal to a predetermined distance, in a case where a speed difference between a first speed of the first another vehicle and a second speed of the second another vehicle is less than or equal to a predetermined speed, or in a case where a time difference between a first estimated crossing time of the first another vehicle and the self-vehicle and a second estimated crossing time of the second another vehicle and the self-vehicle is less than or equal to a predetermined time.

Claims

1. An alarm device comprising:

a first detection unit configured to detect another vehicle approaching from the back right of a self-vehicle;

a second detection unit configured to detect another vehicle approaching from the back left of the self-vehicle;

an alarm unit configured to activate an alarm for notifying that another vehicle is approaching to a driver of the self-vehicle; and

a control unit configured to cause the alarm unit to activate the alarm when the first detection unit or the second detection unit detects another vehicle, wherein

the control unit suppresses the activation of the alarm for a second another vehicle when the self-vehicle is reversing from a parked state,

in a case where after one of the first detection unit or the second detection unit detects a first another vehicle, another one of the first detection unit or the second detection unit detects the second another vehicle,

in a case where a distance difference between a first distance between the first another vehicle and the self-vehicle and a second distance between the second another vehicle and the self-vehicle is less than or equal to a predetermined distance,

in a case where a speed difference between a first speed of the first another vehicle and a second speed of the second another vehicle is less than or equal to a predetermined speed, or

in a case where a time difference between a first estimated crossing time of the first another vehicle and the self-vehicle and a second estimated crossing time of the second another vehicle and the self-vehicle is less than or equal to a predetermined time.

2. The alarm device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit suppresses the activation of the alarm for the second another vehicle in a case where the second distance is longer than the first distance, and in a case where the distance difference between the first distance and the second distance is less than or equal to the predetermined distance.

3. The alarm device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit suppresses the activation of the alarm for the second another vehicle in a case where a signal level of a reflected wave from the first another vehicle is higher than a signal level of a reflected wave from the second another vehicle.

4. The alarm device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit suppresses the activation of the alarm for the second another vehicle in a case where the second estimated crossing time is longer than the first estimated crossing time, and in a case where the time difference between the first estimated crossing time and the second estimated crossing time is less than or equal to the predetermined time.

5. The alarm device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit further suppresses the activation of the alarm for the second another vehicle in a case where a first speed vector of the first another vehicle and a second speed vector of the second another vehicle are substantially axisymmetrical across a center axis of the self-vehicle.