Alarm apparatus for motor vehicle

• US 6,853,311 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Taniguchi, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walk, Samuel J.
• Application Number:
  US10/461,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20040145460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/435, 340/436, 340/426.1, 340/426.18, 340/539.23
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

Alarm apparatus for a motor vehicle includes sensor (101) for detecting an object distance (Do) rearward of the vehicle, means (103) for detecting a vehicle speed (V), means (104) for detecting a traveling direction sideward of the vehicle, a control means (102) for generating an alarm signal (E) on the basis of object distance (Do), vehicle speed (V) and traveling direction (P), alarm (105) driven in response to the alarm signal (E), means (102a) for measuring a time lapse (T) since detection of the traveling direction (P), and means (102b) for setting an alarm distance serving as a comparison reference for the object distance (Do). The alarm (105) is driven when vehicle speed (V) lies within a predetermined range with the time lapse (T) falling within a predetermined time (T1) and when object distance (Do) laterally rearward of the vehicle lies within the alarm distance.

Claims

1. An alarm apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising:

distance sensor means for detecting an object distance existing rearward of said motor vehicle;

vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed of said motor vehicle;

traveling direction detecting means for detecting a traveling direction sideward of said motor vehicle;

control means for generating an alarm signal on the basis of said object distance, said vehicle speed and said traveling direction; and

alarm means driven in response to said alarm signal,

wherein said control means includes;

time measuring means for measuring a time lapse since a time point of detection of said traveling direction; and

alarm range setting means for setting an alarm distance serving as a comparison reference for said object distance,

wherein said alarm means is driven when said vehicle speed lies within a predetermined vehicle speed range with said time lapse falling within a predetermined time and when said object distance to an object existing laterally rearward of said motor vehicle as viewed in said traveling direction lies within said alarm distance.

2. An alarm apparatus for a motor vehicle according to claim 1,

said alarm range setting means including first alarm distance varying means for setting variably said alarm distance in dependence on said time lapse,

wherein said first alarm distance varying means decreases said alarm distance as said time lapse increases.

3. An alarm apparatus for a motor vehicle according to claim 1,

said alarm range setting means including second alarm distance varying means for setting variably said alarm distance in dependence on said vehicle speed,

wherein said second alarm distance varying means increases said alarm distance as said vehicle speed increases.

4. An alarm apparatus for a motor vehicle according to claim 3,

wherein said second alarm distance varying means sets said alarm distance fixedly to a predetermined upper-limit value when said vehicle speed is higher than a first predetermined vehicle speed inclusive.

5. An alarm apparatus for a motor vehicle according to claim 1,

said control means including predetermined time varying means for setting variably said predetermined time in dependence on said vehicle speed,

wherein said predetermined time varying means decreases said predetermined time as said vehicle speed increases.

6. An alarm apparatus for a motor vehicle according to claim 5,

wherein said predetermined time varying means sets said predetermined time fixedly to zero when said vehicle speed is higher than a second predetermined vehicle speed inclusive.