Mobile unit detection system

• US 6,150,931 A
• Filed: 05/24/1999
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tabata, Hajime, Yamagata, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/317,192
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/425.5, 340/436, 340/903, 340/902, 340/935, 340/465, 340/475, 340/901, 340/933
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A mobile unit detection system or information system in which the existence of a car or other mobile unit which must be paid attention to can be detected only upon receiving a necessary signal. The mobile unit detection system or information system detects a mobile unit through communication between the car and the mobile unit. The car includes a device for judging the operating condition of the car and transmitting a detection signal based on the result. The mobile unit may transmit a response signal upon receiving the detection signal so that the car is able to detect the existence of the mobile unit.

Claims

1. An information system for vehicles located on opposite lanes from each other for exchanging information between a first vehicle intending to make a turn crossing over the opposite lane and a second vehicle proceeding straight ahead on the opposite lane, comprising:

means mountable to the first vehicle for transmitting a detection signal upon commencing preparation for the turn;

means mountable to the second vehicle for transmitting a response signal upon receiving said detection signal;

means mountable to the first vehicle for judging whether said response signal is received and notifying a driver of the first vehicle of the existence of the second vehicle;

means mountable to the first vehicle for transmitting an information execution signal to the second vehicle based on the judgment of the means for judging; and

means mountable to the second vehicle for informing a driver of the second vehicle of the existence of the first vehicle upon receipt of said information execution signal from the first vehicle.

2. The information system according to claim 1, wherein said detection signal transmitted when commencing preparation for the turn is identified by a blinker switch being turned ON in the first vehicle.

3. The information system according to claim 2, further comprising means mountable to the first vehicle for measuring the distance between the first and second vehicles and said means for judging judges whether the means for transmitting an information execution signal should transmit an information execution signal based on the distance measured by the means for measuring.

4. The information system according to claim 2, wherein the means for notifying the driver of the first vehicle and the means for informing the driver of the second vehicle include at least one of a visual expression or an acoustic expression.

5. The information system according to claim 1, further comprising means mountable to the first vehicle for measuring the distance between the first and second vehicles, and said means for judging judges whether the means for transmitting an information execution signal should transmit an information execution signal based on the distance measured by means for measuring.

6. The information system according to claim 5, wherein the means for notifying the driver of the first vehicle and the means for informing the driver of the second vehicle include at least one of a visual expression or an acoustic expression.

7. The information system according to claim 1, wherein the means for notifying the driver of the first vehicle and the means for informing the driver of the second vehicle include at least one of a visual expression or an acoustic expression.

8. A mobile unit detection system by which a vehicle can detect the existence of a mobile unit through communication between the vehicle and the mobile unit, comprising:

judgment means mountable to the vehicle for judging an operating condition of the vehicle;

means mountable to the vehicle for issuing a detection signal based on said operating condition judged by said judgment-means;

means for issuing a response signal mountable to the mobile unit upon receiving said detection signal; and

means mounted on the vehicle for detecting the existence of the mobile unit upon the receipt of said response signal.

9. The mobile unit detection system according to claim 8, wherein said judgment means judges whether the vehicle is making a left-turn or a right-turn.

10. The mobile unit detection system according to claim 9, wherein said judgment means judges whether the vehicle is making a left-turn or a right-turn upon detecting operation of a blinker of the vehicle for a predetermined period of time.

11. The mobile unit detection system according to claim 10, further comprising means mountable to the vehicle for judging the distance to the mobile unit upon receipt of said response signal from the mobile unit.

12. The mobile unit detection system according to claim 9, wherein said judgment means judges whether a vehicle is making a left-turn or a right-turn upon detecting deceleration of the vehicle before or after operation of a blinker of the vehicle.

13. The mobile unit detection system according to claim 12, further comprising means mountable to the vehicle for judging the distance to the mobile unit upon receipt of said response signal from the mobile unit.

14. The mobile unit detection system according to claim 9, wherein said detection signal is issued within a predetermined range and toward the left of the vehicle when the judgment means judges that a left-turn is being made and toward the right side of the vehicle when the judgment means judges that a right turn is being made.

15. The mobile unit detection system according to claim 14, further comprising means mountable to the vehicle for judging the distance to the mobile unit upon receipt of said response signal from the mobile unit.

16. The mobile unit detection system according to claim 9, further comprising means mountable to the vehicle for judging the distance to the mobile unit upon receipt of said response signal from the mobile unit.

17. The mobile unit detection system according to claim 8, further comprising means mountable to the vehicle for judging the distance to the mobile unit upon receipt of said response signal from the mobile unit.