Method for indicating a motor vehicle change of direction and device therefor

• US 20030004643A1
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Serezat, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 6,768,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/40 having mechanical, electric or electronic automatic return to inoperative position

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for indicating a change in direction of a motor vehicle, which consists in detecting the vehicle steering angle so as to automatically switch on lighting means indicating change of direction, and comprises a step of detecting the presence of another adjacent vehicle and/or the crossing of a marking line on the ground separating traffic lanes, and, when the turning angle of the wheels is greater than a specified threshold value and the presence of an adjacent vehicle and/or the crossing of a line separating traffic lanes is detected, the corresponding lighting means for indicating the change of direction are switched on automatically.

Claims

1. Method for indicating a change in direction of a motor vehicle, consisting in detecting the turning angle of the wheels of the vehicle (1) for the purpose of automatically switching on lighting means (2, 12) for indicating a change in direction, characterized in that it comprises a step of detecting the presence of another adjacent vehicle and/or the crossing of a marking line on the ground separating traffic lanes, and in that, when the turning angle of the wheels is greater than a specified threshold value (E1) and the presence of an adjacent vehicle and/or the crossing of a line separating traffic lanes is detected, the lighting means (2, 12) for indicating a change in direction are switched on automatically.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a step of measuring the speed of the vehicle and a step of determining the threshold value (E1) of the turning angle as a function of the speed (V) of the vehicle.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, when the speed (V) of the vehicle is less than or equal to a first specified speed (V1), the threshold value (E1) of the turning angle of the wheels is approximately equal to a first specified constant value (α

2).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that, when the speed of the vehicle is between the first speed (V1) and a specified second speed (V2) greater than the first speed, the threshold value (E1) of the turning angle of the wheels decreases when the speed (V) of the vehicle increases.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that, when the speed (V) of the vehicle is between the second speed (V2) and a specified third speed (V3) greater than the second speed, the threshold value (E1) of the turning angle of the wheels is approximately equal to a specified constant second value (α

1).

6. Device for indicating a change in direction of a motor vehicle, in order to implement the method according to any one of the previous claims, comprising light signaling means (2, 12), means (5, 6, 7, 8, 10) for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle, suitable for determining the turning of the vehicle wheels, means (3, 4) for controlling the supply voltage of the light signaling means (2, 12), characterized in that the means (5, 6, 7, 8, 10) for collecting data are adapted to detect the presence or not of another adjacent vehicle and/or the crossing of a marking line on the ground separating the traffic lanes, in order to ensure the automatic switching on of the light signaling means (2, 12) when the turning angle of the wheels is greater than a specified threshold value (E1) and the presence of an adjacent vehicle and/or the crossing of a line separating traffic lanes is detected.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the means (5, 6, 7, 8, 10) for collecting data are adapted to determine the speed (V) of the vehicle, and the means (3, 4) for controlling the supply voltage determine the threshold value (E1) of the turning angle of the wheels as a function of the speed (V) of the vehicle.

8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle comprise detecting means (6) of the radar type, in order to detect the possible presence of another adjacent vehicle.

9. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle comprise means (7) for receiving information relating to the state of road traffic emitted by the emitting means of the satellite type, in order to detect the possible presence of another adjacent vehicle.

10. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle comprise means (8) for detecting the position of the vehicle relative to marking lines on the ground separating traffic lanes, such as infrared emitting and receiving means, in order to detect the possible crossing of these lines by the vehicle.