Function operation warning device

• US 7,477,138 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Taki, Naoki, Matsumura, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope; Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US11/406,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20060255922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/426.13, 340/426.16, 340/426.17, 340/426.22, 340/426.23, 340/438
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/41 Detection by monitoring transmitted force or torque E05F15/48 takes precedence; Safety couplings with activation dependent upon torque or force, e.g. slip couplings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/59 Travel display
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/814 Sound emitters, e.g. speakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/542 Roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

A function operation warning device according to the invention includes a receiving portion that receives a control signal transmitted from an external remote transmitter; a definition portion that stores information that is used to determine whether an audible warning is generated in response to the control signal; an audible warning setting portion that stores settings concerning at least one of enable/disable of generation of the audible warning and a sound volume; a warning determination portion that determines, using the definition portion, whether the audible warning is generated, when the control signal is received; and a warning generation portion that generates the audible warning at a predetermined sound volume regardless of the settings stored in the audible warning setting portion, when the audible warning is generated as a result of determination made by the warning determination portion.

Claims

1. A function operation warning device, comprising:

a receiving portion that receives a control signal transmitted from a remote transmitter;

a definition portion that stores information that is used to determine whether an audible warning is generated in response to the control signal;

an audible warning setting portion that stores settings concerning at least one of enable/disable of generation of the audible warning and a sound volume;

a warning determination portion that determines, using the definition portion, whether the audible warning is generated, when the control signal is received; and

a warning generation portion that generates the audible warning at a predetermined sound volume regardless of the settings stored in the audible warning setting portion, when the audible warning is generated as a result of determination made by the warning determination portion,

wherein the settings concerning at least one of enable/disable of generation of the audible warning and the sound volume are able to be set by a user.

2. The function operation warning device according to claim 1, wherein,

when a vehicle function is executed, the audible warning is generated depending on a type of the vehicle function executed.

3. The function operation warning device according to claim 2, further comprising:

an obstacle determination portion that determines whether an obstacle is near a vehicle, wherein,

when the obstacle determination portion determines that the obstacle is near the vehicle, the audible warning generation portion generates the audible warning.

4. The function operation warning device according to claim 3, wherein

the obstacle determination portion is provided with an image capturing device that captures an image of an area around the vehicle, and

when a captured image matches at least one of image patterns of obstacles, the obstacle determination portion determines that the obstacle is near the vehicle.

5. The function operation warning device according to claim 3, wherein

the obstacle determination portion is provided with radar, and determines whether the obstacle is near the vehicle by receiving a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave or an electric wave emitted from the radar.

6. The function operation warning device according to claim 3, wherein

the obstacle determination portion is provided with a temperature sensor, and determines whether the obstacle is near the vehicle by detecting a temperature of at least one of the vehicle and an area around the vehicle using the temperature sensor.

7. The function operation warning device according to claim 3, wherein

the obstacle determination portion is provided with at least one of a vehicle height sensor and a stroke sensor, and determines whether the obstacle is near the vehicle by detecting an amount of change in a value indicated by at least one of the vehicle height sensor and the stroke sensor.

8. The function operation warning device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a user determination portion that determines whether a user of a vehicle is near the vehicle, wherein,

when the user determination portion determines that the user is near the vehicle, the warning generation portion generates the audible warning based on the settings stored in the audible warning setting portion.

9. The function operation warning device according to claim 8, wherein

the user determination portion determines whether the user is near the vehicle by detecting a distance between the vehicle and the remote transmitter based on a position of the vehicle detected by a GPS, and a position of the remote transmitter detected using at least one of the GPS and a radio field strength between the remote transmitter and a base station.

10. The function operation warning device according to claim 2, wherein

the remote transmitter is a cellular-phone.

11. The function operation warning device according to claim 2, wherein

the control signal is a signal for controlling at least one of an operation of a window of a vehicle and an operation of a sliding-roof of the vehicle.

12. The function operation warning device according to claim 2, wherein

the predetermined sound volume is a maximum sound volume that can be set by the audible warning setting portion.

13. The function operation warning device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a user determination portion that determines whether a user is near a vehicle, and that determines whether the user is facing the vehicle, wherein,

when the user determination portion determines that the user is near the vehicle and the user is facing the vehicle, the warning generation portion generates the audible warning based on the settings stored in the audible warning setting portion.

14. A function operation warning device, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a control signal transmitted from a remote transmitter;

definition means for storing information that is used to determine whether an audible warning is generated in response to the control signal;

audible warning setting means for storing settings concerning at least one of enable/disable of generation of the audible warning and a sound volume;

warning determination means for determining, using the definition portion, whether the audible warning is generated, when the control signal is received; and

warning generation means for generating the audible warning at a predetermined volume regardless of the settings stored in the audible warning setting portion, when the audible warning is generated as a result of determination made by the warning determination portion,

wherein the settings concerning at least one of enable/disable of generation of the audible warning and the sound volume are able to be set by a user.

15. A function operation warning method, comprising:

receiving a control signal transmitted from a remote transmitter;

determining whether control instructed by the control signal may cause contact with an obstacle;

determining whether an obstacle is near a vehicle, when it is determined that the control instructed by the control signal may cause contact with the obstacle; and

generating a predetermined audible warning, when it is determined that the obstacle is near the vehicle.

16. An audible warning generation device, comprising:

an audible warning setting portion that stores settings concerning at least one of enable/disable of generation of an audible warning and a sound volume;

an obstacle determination portion that receives a control signal, and that determines whether an obstacle is near a vehicle when control instructed by the received control signal may cause contact with the obstacle; and

a warning generation portion that generates the audible warning at a predetermined sound volume regardless of the settings stored in the audible warning setting portion, when it is determined that an obstacle is near the vehicle,

wherein the settings concerning at least one of enable/disable of generation of the audible warning and the sound volume are able to be set by a user.

17. A remote control system, comprising:

a remote transmitter by which a vehicle function is executed through a remote operation;

a receiving portion that receives a control signal transmitted from the remote transmitter;

a definition portion that stores information that is used to determine whether an audible warning is generated in response to the control signal;

an audible warning setting portion that stores settings concerning at least one of enable/disable of generation of the audible warning and a sound volume;

a warning determination portion that determines, using the definition portion, whether the audible warning is generated, when the control signal is received; and

a warning generation portion that generates the audible warning at a predetermined sound volume regardless of the settings stored in the audible warning setting portion, when the audible warning is generated as a result of determination made by the warning determination portion,

wherein the settings concerning at least one of enable/disable of generation of the audible warning and the sound volume are able to be set by a user.

18. The remote control system according to claim 17, wherein

the remote transmitter is used to operate the vehicle functions via a base station.