Vehicle warning device

• US 8,169,305 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2006
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Katsunari, Ishida, Takeshi, Ishigaki, Hirosato
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US11/792,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20070257783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,297 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/384.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/30 Parking brake position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/42 Means to improve acoustic vehicle detection by humans
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0015 Prevention of collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/506 specific to silent vehicles, e.g. for warning that a hybrid or electric vehicle is approaching
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/008 for signaling silent vehicles, e.g. for warning that a hybrid or electric vehicle is approaching
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A warning device (610) includes a horn A (630) for generating a first horn sound having a volume level satisfying the legal standard and a horn B (632) for generating a second horn sound satisfying at least one of a condition that it has a volume level equal to or lower than that of the first horn sound and a condition that it is of a type different from that of the first horn sound.

Claims

1. A vehicle warning device, the warning device being for a vehicle mounted with a driving electric motor and an internal combustion engine, the device comprising:

a first horn portion for generating a first horn sound having a volume level satisfying the legal standard;

a second horn portion for generating a second horn sound satisfying at least one of a condition that it has a volume level equal to or lower than that of said first horn sound and a condition that it is of a different type from said first horn sound;

a control portion for controlling said second horn portion, wherein

said control portion controls said second horn portion to generate said second horn sound during traveling by a driving force of said driving electric motor or at a start time, and

an illuminance detecting portion for detecting illuminance around said vehicle, wherein

said control portion suppresses generation of said second horn sound according to said detected illuminance.

2. A vehicle warning device, the warning device being for a vehicle mounted with a driving electric motor and an internal combustion engine, the device comprising:

a first horn portion for generating a first horn sound having a volume level satisfying the legal standard;

a second horn portion for generating a second horn sound satisfying at least one of a condition that it has a volume level equal to or lower than that of said first horn sound and a condition that it is of a different type from said first horn sound;

a state detecting portion for detecting a state of the vehicle related to noise generated from said vehicle; and

a control portion for controlling said second horn portion, wherein

said control portion controls said second horn portion to generate said second horn sound according to said state during traveling of said vehicle.

3. The vehicle warning device according to claim 2, wherein

said state detecting portion includes one or both of a vehicle speed detecting portion for detecting a vehicle speed of said vehicle and a speed detecting portion for detecting a speed of said internal combustion engine.

4. A vehicle warning device, the warning device being for a vehicle mounted with a driving electric motor and an internal combustion engine, the device comprising:

a first horn portion for generating a first horn sound having a volume level satisfying the legal standard;

a second horn portion for generating a second horn sound satisfying at least one of a condition that it has a volume level equal to or lower than that of said first horn sound and a condition that it is of a different type from said first horn sound; and

an operating portion for operating said first horn portion and said second horn portion, wherein

said operating portion includes a generating portion for generating at least one of said first horn sound and said second horn sound according to an operating force.

5. The vehicle warning device according to claim 4, wherein

said first horn portion includes a first horn sound generating portion for generating said first horn sound when it is electrically connected to a power supply mounted in said vehicle,

said second horn portion includes a second horn sound generating portion for generating said second horn sound when it is electrically connected to said power supply, and

said operating portion includes:

a first conducting portion for electrically connecting said first horn portion and said power supply when a predetermined or greater operating force is applied to the portion; and

a second conducting portion for electrically connecting said second horn portion and said power supply if said operating force is smaller than said predetermined operating force.

6. A vehicle warning device, the warning device being for a vehicle mounted with a driving electric motor and an internal combustion engine, the device comprising:

a first horn portion for generating a first horn sound having a volume level satisfying the legal standard; and

a second horn portion for generating a second horn sound satisfying at least one of a condition that it has a volume level equal to or lower than that of said first horn sound and a condition that it is of a different type from said first horn sound;

said vehicle is mounted with a communication device that can communicate with a base station outside said vehicle, and

said warning device further comprises;

a receiving portion for receiving data corresponding to a type of said sound via said communication device; and

a type setting portion for setting said type based on said received data.

7. A vehicle warning device, the warning device being for a vehicle mounted with a driving electric motor and an internal combustion engine, the device comprising:

a first horn portion for generating a first horn sound having a volume level satisfying the legal standard;

a second horn portion for generating a second horn sound satisfying at least one of a condition that it has a volume level equal to or lower than that of said first horn sound and a condition that it is of a different type from said first horn sound;

a warning portion for generating a warning to surroundings of said vehicle;

a detecting portion for detecting a present location of said vehicle;

a state detecting portion for detecting a state of the vehicle related to noise generated from said vehicle; and

a control portion for controlling said warning portion to generate said warning, wherein

said control portion includes a warning control portion for controlling said warning portion to generate said warning according to said state if the location of said vehicle satisfies a predetermined condition during traveling of said vehicle,

said vehicle is mounted with a horn device for generating the first horn sound, and

said warning portion generates the second horn sound satisfying at least one of a condition that it has a volume level equal to or lower than that of said first horn sound and a condition that it is of a different type from said first horn sound.

8. The vehicle warning device according to claim 7, wherein

said state detecting portion further includes a traveling state detecting portion for detecting that said vehicle is traveling by a driving force of said driving electric motor.

9. The vehicle warning device according to claim 7, wherein

the plurality of warning portions are provided in said vehicle, and

said control portion selects at least one of said warning portions to control it to generate said warning if said predetermined condition is satisfied.

10. The vehicle warning device according to claim 7, said warning device further comprising:

an operating portion for operating said horn device and said warning portion, wherein

said operating portion includes a generating portion for generating at least one of said first horn sound and said second horn sound according to an operating force.

11. The vehicle warning device according to claim 7, said warning device further comprising:

a warning operating portion provided at a periphery of a passenger'"'"'s seat of said vehicle for operating said warning portion.

12. A vehicle warning device, the warning device being for a vehicle mounted with a driving electric motor and an internal combustion engine, the device comprising:

a first horn portion for generating a first horn sound having a volume level satisfying the legal standard;

a second horn portion for generating a second horn sound satisfying at least one of a condition that it has a volume level equal to or lower than that of said first horn sound and a condition that it is of a different type from said first horn sound;

a warning portion for generating a warning to surroundings of said vehicle;

a person detecting portion for detecting a person around said vehicle; and

a control portion for controlling said warning portion to generate said warning, wherein

said control portion includes a warning control portion for controlling said warning portion to generate said warning according to a traveling state of said vehicle if said person is detected,

said vehicle is mounted with a horn device for generating the first horn sound, and

said warning portion generates the second horn sound satisfying at least one of a condition that it has a volume level equal to or lower than that of said first horn sound and a condition that it is of a different type from said first horn sound; and

a state detecting portion for detecting a state of the vehicle related to noise generated from said vehicle, wherein

said control portion controls said warning portion to generate said warning according to said state if said person is detected during traveling of said vehicle.

13. A vehicle warning device, the warning device being for a vehicle mounted with a driving electric motor and an internal combustion engine, the device comprising:

a first horn portion for generating a first horn sound having a volume level satisfying the legal standard;

a second horn portion for generating a second horn sound satisfying at least one of a condition that it has a volume level equal to or lower than that of said first horn sound and a condition that it is of a different type from said first horn sound;

a situation determination portion for determining that generation of the warning for making existence of the vehicle recognized by surrounding people is necessary when traveling noise of said vehicle is at a predetermined or lower level;

a warning output portion for outputting the warning to the surroundings of said vehicle when it is determined by said situation determination portion that output of said warning is necessary;

another vehicle sensing portion for sensing another vehicle around or in a vicinity of the vehicle;

a control portion for controlling generation of the warning from said warning output portion according to a relationship between the vehicle and said another vehicle when said another vehicle is sensed by said another vehicle sensing portion; and

a warning generating portion for generating the first horn sound, wherein

said warning output portion outputs said warning as the second horn sound satisfying at least one of a condition that it has a volume level equal to or lower than that of said first horn sound and a condition that it is of a different type from said first horn sound.

14. The vehicle warning device according to claim 13, wherein

said control portion includes:

a warning setting portion for setting the warning output from said warning output portion at a reference level when a distance between the vehicle and said another vehicle is longer than a reference distance; and

a warning restricting portion for stopping the warning output from said warning output portion or reducing a level of the warning to a level lower than said reference level when the distance between the vehicle and said another vehicle is a reference or shorter distance.

15. The vehicle warning device according to claim 14, wherein

said control portion further includes a restriction prohibiting portion for prohibiting the stop or reduction of said warning by the warning restricting portion even if the distance between the vehicle and said another vehicle is the reference or shorter distance when a start of the vehicle is detected.

16. The vehicle warning device according to claim 14, further comprising:

a state detecting portion for detecting a situation of said vehicle, wherein

said control portion further includes a reference distance setting portion for setting said reference distance based on at least one of an environment related to recognition of the vehicle by a pedestrian detected by said state detecting portion and a speed of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle warning device according to claim 13, wherein

said control portion further includes a warning regulating portion for regulating generation of the warning from the warning output portion according to a relationship between a warning generated from said another vehicle and the warning generated from said warning output portion of the vehicle when a distance between the vehicle and said another vehicle is said reference or shorter distance.

18. The vehicle warning device according to claim 17, wherein

said warning regulating portion produces a command for outputting a warning from said warning output portion, the warning related to the warning generated from said another vehicle.

19. The vehicle warning device according to claim 17, wherein

said warning regulating portion controls generation of the warning from said warning output portion when another vehicle sensed by said another vehicle sensing portion is outputting said warning similar to that of the vehicle.

20. The vehicle warning device according to claim 13, wherein

said vehicle is mounted with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as driving power sources, and

said situation determination portion determines necessity for outputting the warning based on at least one of a speed of said internal combustion engine and a speed of said electric motor.

21. The vehicle warning device according to claim 13, wherein

the warning generating portion generates the first horn sound in response to operation of a first operating portion.

22. The vehicle warning device according to claim 21, wherein

said warning device further comprises a second operating portion for generating said second horn sound and outputs said warning as said second horn sound in response to input to said second operating portion.

23. The vehicle warning device according to claim 21, wherein

said warning device outputs said warning as said second horn sound in response to input to said first operating portion.