Visual signalling device adaptable to a vehicle

• US 6,733,134 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Astron Group Technologies SA
• Original Assignee: Astron Group Technologies SA
• Inventors: Bleiner, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowling, William C.
• Application Number:
  US10/416,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 353/11, 353/12, 353/13, 353/14, 340/345, 340/903, 340/904, 116/28.R, 116/47, 116/48, 116/37
• US Class Current: 353/13
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body

Abstract

A visual singnalling device adaptable to a running vehicle (1), comprises a rear emitter (3) for emitting a laser beam (9) towards the rear of the vehicle (1). The rear emitter (3) comprises elements generating designs for projection, by the laser beam, of a singnaling design (11) at the rear of the vehicle. The invention applicable to equipment for motor vehicle, bus, boat.

Claims

1. Vehicle (1) provided with a device for visual signaling under conditions of poor visibility, said device comprising an emitter (3) directed to the rear for the emission of a laser beam (9) rearwardly of the vehicle (1), characterized by the fact that

the rear emitter (3) comprises means for generating designs for projection, by the laser beam, of signaling designs (11) to the rear of the vehicle.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by the fact

that the visual signaling device comprises control means for the actuation of the rear emitter (3) for its conditional operation.

3. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by the fact

that the visual signaling device comprises a front emitter (2) for emitting a laser beam (8) forwardly of the vehicle (1), said front emitter (2) comprises means for generating designs for the projection, by the laser beam, of signaling designs forwardly of the vehicle.

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized by the fact

that the visual signaling device comprises control means for the actuation of the front emitter (2) for its conditional operation.

5. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized by the fact

that the control means are connected to one or several detectors, for actuation upon detection of a change of condition of the vehicle or of weather conditions.

6. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized by the fact

that the control means are connected to a receiver (14) of an external control signal, for actuation upon reception of the external control signal.

7. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized by the fact

that the means for generating designs are adapted to form a design from among several choices and that the control means are adapted to address different controls to the emitter according to the nature of the design to be projected.

8. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that

the visual signaling device comprises:

at least one camera (16) observing a region to the front of the vehicle (1) in which are located marking strips (15) on the ground either centrally or laterally in the normal position of driving of the vehicle,

video processing means for computing the position of the marking strips (15) on the ground relative to the vehicle (1)

motorized means for rotating the front emitter (2) controlled to position the impact point of the laser beam toward the marking strips (15) on the ground.

9. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized by the fact

that the rotation means are actuated such that the point of impact of the beam sweeps the surface of the targeted marking strip (15) on the ground.

11. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized by the fact

that the visual signaling device comprises a front emitter (2) for emitting a laser beam (8) forwardly of the vehicle (1), said front emitter (2) comprises means for generating designs for the projection, by the laser beam, of signaling designs forwardly of the vehicle.

12. Vehicle according to claim 11 characterized by the fact

that the visual signaling device comprises control means for the actuation of the front emitter (2) for its conditional operation.

13. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterized by the fact

that the control means are connected to one or several detectors, for actuation upon detection of a change of condition of the vehicle or of weather conditions.

14. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterized by the fact

that the control means are connected to a receiver (14) of an external control signal, for actuation upon reception of the external control signal.

15. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized by the fact

that the control means are connected to a receiver (14) of an external control signal, for actuation upon reception of the external control signal.

16. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterized by the fact

that the means for generating designs are adapted to form a design from among several choices and that the control means are adapted to address different controls to the emitter according to the nature of the design to be projected.

17. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized by the fact

that the means for generating designs are adapted to form a design from among several choices and that the control means are adapted to address different controls to the emitter according to the nature of the design to be projected.

18. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized by the fact

that the means for generating designs are adapted to form a design from among several choices and that the control means are adapted to address different controls to the emitter according to the nature of the design to be projected.

19. Vehicle according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that

the visual signaling device comprises:

at least one camera (16) observing a region to the front of the vehicle (1) in which are located marking strips (15) on the ground either centrally or laterally in the normal position of driving of the vehicle,

video processing means for computing the position of the marking strips (15) on the ground relative to the vehicle (1)

motorized means for rotating the front emitter (2) contrtolled to position the impact point of the laser beam toward the marking strips (15) on the ground.

10. Method for visual signaling rearwardly of a vehicle moving under conditions of poor visibility, comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle with a device comprising an emitter directed for emission of a laser beam rearwardly of the vehicle, the emitter comprising means for generating designs for projection, by the laser beam, of signaling designs to the rear of the vehicle; and

activating the emitter to project the signaling designs.