Composite device for vehicle

• US 6,522,245 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Sasaki, Takanobu, Kondo, Shinji, Kurokawa, Keiichi, Miyagawa, Tomoyuki, Seto, Tatsuya, Kuwamura, Shingo, Yamada, Yasuhiro, Aoki, Naoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/805,783
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/901, 340/903, 340/437, 340/435, 701/301
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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: B60Q 1/48 for parking purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/007 providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9317 Driving backwards

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a composite apparatus in which a meter for a vehicle and an obstacle alarm device for a vehicle share a constituting means common to the meter and the obstacle alarm device. The meter and the obstacle alarm device share a buzzer-driving circuit (40) of and a buzzer (50).

Claims

1. A composite apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a meter (10, 10a, 60, 70, 80, 90) and an obstacle alarm device (20, 21, 30, 30a, 240, 240a) combined with said meter in such a way that said obstacle alarm device and said meter share a power source means (220, 220a), an interface means (230 through 230b), a control means (10, 20, 20A), and an informing means, further comprising;

a vehicle speed detection means (130) for detecting a speed of said vehicle and inputting data of a detected vehicle speed to said interface means; and

a reverse range detection means (142) for detecting a reverse range of a speed-change gear mounted on said vehicle and inputting data of a detected reverse range to said interface means;

said obstacle alarm device comprising an obstacle detection means (30) for detecting an approach of a rear part of said vehicle to an obstacle present rearward from said rear part of said vehicle,

wherein said informing means is a sounding means (40, 50) provided on said meter; and

upon receipt of electric power from said power source means, said control means sounds said sounding means, according to an output of said detected reverse range sent thereto from said interface means and according to one of an output of said detected vehicle speed sent thereto from said interface means and an output of said detected result sent thereto from said obstacle detection means.

2. The composite apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said sounding means includes a buzzer (50) and a buzzer-driving circuit (40), both of which are shared by said meter and said obstacle alarm device.

3. A composite apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a meter (10, 10a, 60, 70, 80, 90) and an obstacle alarm device (20, 21, 30, 30a, 240, 240a) combined with said meter in such a way that said meter and said obstacle alarm device share a power source means (220, 220a), an interface means (230 through 230b), a control means (10, 20, 20A), and an informing means, further comprising;

a vehicle speed detection means (130) detecting a speed of said vehicle and inputting data of a detected vehicle speed to said interface means; and

a travel range detection means (142, 144, 145, 146) for detecting a travel range of a speed-change gear mounted on said vehicle and inputting data of a detected travel range to said interface means,

said obstacle alarm device comprising an obstacle detection means (30, 30a) for detecting an approach of said vehicle to an obstacle,

wherein said informing means is a travel distance display means (90) provided on said meter; and

upon receipt of electric power from said power source means, said control means issues an instruction of displaying a travel distance of said vehicle to said travel distance display means, according to an output of said vehicle speed sent thereto from said interface means, and issues an instruction of displaying an approach of said vehicle to said obstacle to said travel distance display means, according to an output of said vehicle speed sent thereto from said interface means and an output sent thereto from said obstacle detection means.

4. The composite apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said travel distance display means includes a liquid crystalline panel (91) and a liquid crystalline panel-driving circuit (92), both of which are shared by said meter and said obstacle alarm device.

5. A composite apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a meter (10, 10a, 60, 70, 80, 90) and an obstacle alarm device (20, 21, 30, 30a, 240, 240a) combined with said meter in such a way that said meter and said obstacle alarm device share a power source means (220, 220a), an interface means (230 through 230b), a control means (10, 20, 20A), and an informing means, further comprising;

a vehicle speed detection means (130) for detecting a speed of said vehicle and inputting data of a detected vehicle speed to said interface means; and

a travel range detection means (142, 144, 145, 146) for detecting a travel range including a reverse range of a speed-change gear mounted on said vehicle and inputting data of a detected travel range to said interface means,

said obstacle alarm device comprising an obstacle detection means (30) for detecting an approach of a rear part of said vehicle to an obstacle present rearward from said rear part of said vehicle,

wherein said informing means is a sounding means (40, 50) provided on said meter and a travel distance display means (90) provided thereon; and

upon receipt of electric power from said power source means, said control means sounds said sounding means, according to an output of said detected reverse range sent thereto from said interface means and according to one of an output of said detected vehicle speed sent thereto from said interface means and an output of said detected result sent thereto from said obstacle detection means, and issues an instruction of displaying a travel distance of said vehicle to said travel distance display means, according to an output of said vehicle speed sent thereto from said interface means, and issues an instruction of displaying an approach of said vehicle to said obstacle to said travel distance display means, according to an output of said vehicle speed sent thereto from said interface means and an output sent thereto from said obstacle detection means.

6. The composite apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said sounding means includes a buzzer (50) and a buzzer-driving circuit (40), both of which are shared by said meter and said obstacle alarm device.

7. The composite apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said travel distance display means includes a liquid crystalline panel (91) and a liquid crystalline panel-driving circuit (92), both of which are shared by said meter and said obstacle alarm device.

8. A composite apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a meter (10, 10a, 60, 70, 80, 90);

an obstacle alarm device (20, 21, 30, 30a, 240, 240a) combined with said meter in such a way that said obstacle alarm device and said meter share a power source (220, 220a), an interface (230 through 230b), a controller (10, 20, 20A), and a sound generator provided on said meter, said obstacle alarm device comprising an obstacle detector (30) for detecting an approach of a rear part of said vehicle to an obstacle present rearward from said rear part of said vehicle;

a vehicle speed detector (130) for detecting a speed of said vehicle and inputting data of a detected vehicle speed to said interface; and

a reverse range detector (142) for detecting a reverse range of a speed-change gear mounted on said vehicle and inputting data of a detected reverse range to said interface, wherein

upon receipt of electric power from said power source, said controller drives said sound generator according to an output of said detected reverse range sent thereto from said interface and according to one of an output of said detected vehicle speed sent thereto from said interface and an output of said detected result sent thereto from said obstacle detector.