VEHICLE-MOUNTED APPARATUS

• US 20150258928A1
• Filed: 02/20/2015
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: NISHII, Katsuyoshi, NAKAYAMA, Toshiaki, NAGATOMI, Yasutsugu, GOTO, Hirotaka, TANAKA, Hiroaki, MORIKAWA, Shohei
• Granted Patent: US 9,744,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/249 for illuminating the field of view of a sensor or camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5035 electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/525 automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/547 for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers

Abstract

An apparatus mountable on a vehicle includes a movable device, a sensor, and a drive controller. The movable device is mountable on the vehicle so that a person around the vehicle sees the movable device. The movable device has at least one light emitter and is capable of rotating around an imaginary line extending in a height direction of the vehicle. The sensor detects a positional relationship between the vehicle and the person. The drive controller rotates the movable device toward the person based on the positional relationship detected by the sensor. The number of the light emitters shining steadily is increased after the drive controller rotates the movable device toward the person.

Claims

1. An apparatus mountable on a vehicle comprising:

at least one movable device mountable on the vehicle so that a person around the vehicle sees the movable device, the movable device having at least one light emitter and being capable of rotating around an imaginary line extending in a height direction of the vehicle;

a sensor configured to detect a positional relationship between the vehicle and the person, and

a drive controller configured to rotate the movable device toward the person based on the positional relationship detected by the sensor, wherein

the number of the light emitters shining steadily is increased after the drive controller rotates the movable device toward the person.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the movable device has a plurality of light emitters including the at least one light emitter,

the drive controller rotates the movable device toward the person with at least one of the light emitters shining steadily, and

the number of the light emitters shining steadily is increased after the drive controller rotates the movable device toward the person.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

two movable devices including the at least one movable device, wherein

the movable devices are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance in a lateral direction of the vehicle.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the drive controller rotates the movable device toward the person by directing an optical axis of the light emitter toward the person.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light controller configured to drive the light emitter so that the light emitter shines differently between when the movable device rotates and when the movable device stops rotating.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a notification device configured to notify the person of information, wherein

the notification device starts notifying the person of the information when the movable device stops rotating or when a predetermined period of time elapses after the movable device stops rotating.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the movable device is capable of rotating around an imaginary line extending in a lateral direction of the vehicle.

8. An apparatus mountable on a vehicle comprising:

at least one indicator mountable on the vehicle so that a person around the vehicle sees the indicator, the indicator configured to display a specific light emitter shining in a predetermined manner so that the person sees the specific light emitter moving in a lateral direction of the vehicle;

a sensor configured to detect a positional relationship between the vehicle and the person, and

a controller configured to control the indicator so that the specific light emitter stops moving at a position on a near side to the person.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising

two indicators including the at least one indicator, wherein

the indicators are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance in the lateral direction of the vehicle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the controller controls the indicator so that the specific light emitter shines differently between when the specific light emitter moves and when the specific light emitter stops moving.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a notification device configured to notify the person of information, wherein

the notification device starts notifying the person of the information when the specific light emitter stops moving or when a predetermined period of time elapses after the specific light emitter stops moving.