Warning apparatus for a motor vehicle

• US 8,022,818 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mueller, Holger, la Tendresse, Ingo
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/138,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/641, 340/660, 340/657, 340/661, 340/552, 340/541, 340/555, 340/556, 340/565, 340/566, 340/426.1, 340/426.24, 340/425.5, 340/426.13, 340/426.17
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

Warning apparatus (2) for a motor vehicle (1) having an indicator system (6) for indicating a change of lane comprising at least one signal display (7) arranged in the field of view of the driver and having a sensor system for detecting obstacles in the blind spot (4), wherein the sensor system generates a warning signal in the event of detection of an obstacle, wherein the signal display (7) of the indicator system (6) is connected to the sensor system such that the warning signal is reproduced in visual form via the signal display (7).

Claims

1. A warning apparatus for a motor vehicle, the vehicle having an indicator system for indicating a turn indicator is activated and comprising at least one signal display located in a central instrument panel of the vehicle, and the vehicle further having a sensor system for detecting obstacles in a blind spot of the vehicle and generating a warning signal in response thereto, wherein the signal display provides a first visual indication that the turn indicator is activated in the absence of the warning signal, and the signal display produces a second visual indication that the warning signal has been generated.

2. A warning apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a sensor system detecting obstacles in a blind spot of the vehicle and generating a warning signal when an obstacle is detected; and

a signal display located in a central instrument panel of the vehicle and producing a visual indication that a turn indicator has been activated in the absence of the warning signal, the signal display connected to the sensor system and producing a visual warning indication in response to the warning signal.

3. The warning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal display comprises separate areas for displaying a left and right lane change and the separate areas produce visual indications corresponding to the direction of the detected obstacle.

4. The warning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal display produces the warning signal in a first color and the visual indication of turn signal activation in a second color.

5. The warning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal display produces the visual warning signal in intervals.

6. The warning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal display produces the visual warning signal in different interval sequences, as a function of the position of and/or the distance to the obstacle.

7. The warning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal display produces the visual warning signal in different light intensities, as a function of the position of and/or the distance to the obstacle.

8. The warning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a sound generation apparatus generating an audible signal in addition to the visual warning signal.

9. The warning apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the visual warning signal and audible signal are generated in the same interval or with the same light intensity and volume or audio frequency.

10. The warning apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the visual warning signal and audible signal are generated with different intervals or with a different light intensity and volume or pitch.

11. The warning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal display illuminates at a first brightness level to produce the warning signal and illuminates at a second brightness lever to produce the visual indication of turn signal activation.

12. The warning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal display a first area of illumination for producing the visual indication of turn indicator activation and a second area of illumination at least partially surrounding the first area for producing the visual warning signal.