VEHICLE WARNING DEVICE

• US 20170084176A1
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Published: 03/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakamura, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 10,229,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/177 Augmented reality
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/178 Warnings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/107 using stereoscopic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/308 by overlaying the real scene, e.g. through a head-up display on the windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• 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: H04N 13/204 : using stereoscopic image cameras stereoscopic photography G03B35/00

Abstract

The present invention suppresses movement of the line of sight of a user, reports the degree of potential risk, and contributes to the safe operation of a vehicle. A vicinity-monitoring unit detects a specific object in the vicinity of the vehicle. A display unit displays a mark image, which is visible to the user and is disposed continuously or intermittently on a trajectory, in a manner so as to surround the specific object at least partially. A control unit calculates the risk potential in relation to the specific object and alters, in accordance with the calculated risk potential, the line density of the mark image disposed on the trajectory.

Claims

1. A vehicle warning device, comprising a periphery monitoring unit that detects a specific object in proximity to a vehicle, a display unit that displays a mark image, which is visible to a user and is disposed continuously or intermittently on a trajectory so as to surround at least a part of the specific object, and a control unit that controls the display unit,

wherein the control unit calculates a risk potential relative to the specific object, and alters a line density of the mark image disposed on the trajectory in accordance with the calculated risk potential.

2. The vehicle warning device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit disposes a plurality of the mark images, which line density alters in accordance with the risk potential, on the trajectory.

3. The vehicle warning device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the number of the mark images in accordance with the risk potential.

4. The vehicle warning device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit provides a region, which does not change in accordance with the risk potential, in a part of the mark image.

5. The vehicle warning device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes a rate of change of the line density relative to the risk potential at a time of increase of the risk potential and at a time of decrease of the risk potential.

6. The vehicle warning device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays an expansible image, which alters in length in a linear direction in accordance with the risk potential, in proximity to the mark image.

7. The vehicle warning device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays the mark image to move on the trajectory when the risk potential reaches a predetermined value.