Visual recognition support system

• US 7,317,380 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakatani, Hiroto, Makiguchi, Minoru, Ozaki, Noriyuki, Kimura, Teiyuu
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/183,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20060017548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/465, 340/469, 362/464, 362/465
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/142 Turn signal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/23 Driver's line of sight
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers

Abstract

A visual recognition support system includes a noise area determination function for determining a noise area where a visual noise is output to improve sensitivity of visual recognition of an object in need of attention of an operator of a vehicle. The intensity of the visual noise is determined based on a threshold of the visual perception.

Claims

1. A visibility support apparatus having a noise generation function for delivering a visual noise to a vision of an operator of a vehicle in an intensity, the apparatus comprising:

a noise positioning means for positioning the visual noise in the vision of the operator watching an object in the vision of the operator,

wherein the visual noise is output to the position determined by the noise positioning means, and

the intensity of the visual noise is determined so that the visual noise facilitates visual recognition of the object,

wherein the noise positioning means further comprising;

an object detection means for detecting the object; and

an eye position detection means for detecting a position of an eye of the operator,

wherein the noise positioning means determines the position of the visual noise on a straight line that is defined by the respective positions of the eye and the object.

2. A visibility support apparatus having a noise generation function for delivering a visual noise to a vision of an operator of a vehicle in an intensity, the apparatus comprising:

a vehicle condition detection means for detecting a condition of the vehicle;

a noise positioning means for positioning the visual noise in a vision of the operator watching an object based on the condition of the vehicle detected by the vehicle condition detection means; and

an eye position detection means for detecting a position of an eye of the operator,

wherein the visual noise is output to the position determined by the noise positioning means,

wherein the noise positioning means determines the position of the visual noise based on the position of the eye and a position of the object, and

the intensity of the visual noise is determined so that the visual noise facilitates visual recognition of the object.

3. The visibility support apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the noise positioning means changes the position of the visual noise when the position of the eye has changed.

4. The visibility support apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a noise generation means for generating the visual noise,

wherein the noise generation means uses a light emitted from a headlight for generating the visual noise.

5. The visibility support apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the noise generation means controls a direction of an axis of the light emitted from the headlight and a luminous intensity of the light emitted from the headlight.

6. The visibility support apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the noise generation means emits the visual noise in an arbitrarily determined pattern.

7. The visibility support apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the light from the headlight is emitted through a window on a periphery of a light shade to form a beam, and

the noise generation means uses the light shade to intermittently obstruct the light according to the arbitrarily determined pattern.

8. The visibility support apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the light from the headlight is obstructed in a front space of the light shade.

9. The visibility support apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising:

a covering shade disposed in a front space of the light shade for covering a window in the periphery of the light shade,

wherein the covering shade is slidably moved along the axis of the light to obscure the light from the headlight through the window.

10. The visibility support apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the covering shade has a plurality of arbitrarily placed openings in an area corresponding to the window on the periphery of the light shade, and

the covering shade rotates around the axis of the light to obstruct the light.

11. A method for improving visual recognition of an object by an operator of a vehicle through adding a visual noise to a vision of the operator comprising the steps of:

detecting a position of the object in a space ahead of the vehicle;

detecting a position of an eye of the operator;

determining a noise area in the vision of the operator based on the position of the object and the position of the eye;

generating the visual noise in an intensity; and

outputting the visual noise in the vision of the operator,

wherein the intensity of the visual noise is determined based on a threshold of the visual noise for facilitating visual recognition of the object.

12. A method for improving visual recognition of an object by an operator of a vehicle through adding a visual noise to a vision of the operator comprising the steps of:

detecting a condition of the vehicle;

detecting a position of the object in a space ahead of the vehicle;

detecting a position of an eye of the operator;

determining a noise area in the vision of the operator based on the condition of the vehicle, the position of the object and the position of the eye;

generating the visual noise in an intensity; and

outputting the visual noise in the vision of the operator,

wherein the intensity of the visual noise is determined based on a threshold of the visual noise for facilitating visual recognition of the object.

13. The method according to claim 12,

wherein the visual noise is generated by a light emitted from a headlight of the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 13,

wherein the visual noise is generated by controlling a direction of an axis of the light and luminous intensity of the light.

15. The method according to claim 13,

wherein the visual noise is generated in an arbitrarily determined pattern of interval.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising a step of providing a light shade disposed in a space in front of the headlight,

wherein the light is emitted through a window on a periphery of the light shade to form a beam, and

the light is intermittently obstructed by the light shade according to an arbitrarily determined pattern.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising a step of providing a covering shade in a space in front of the light shade,

wherein the light is emitted by controlling a relative position of the covering shade to the light shade.

18. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the covering shade has arbitrarily spaced light emission windows on a periphery.

19. The method according to claim 12 further comprising a step of providing a display area on a windshield of the vehicle for displaying an image in the vision of the operator,

wherein the visual noise is outputted in the display area.