Warning device for vehicles

• US 20060097857A1
• Filed: 10/19/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoshida, Kazushi, Osaka, Tadashi, Ichinose, Ryoko, Horii, Youichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/981 Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/006 using a distance sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3652 Guidance using non-audiovisual output, e.g. tactile, haptic or electric stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

The present invention ensures easy identification of an approaching object by the driver, and guides the driver to a destination by a car navigation system by allowing the driver to keep watching ahead. Wherein a warning is not issued if the driver has been aware of an approaching obstacle and that his vehicle is being guided to the destination. (Means of Solving the Problems) A vehicle warning system comprises: an obstacle sensor for detecting approach of an obstacle to a vehicle; tactile information-generating elements for notifying a driver of the obstacle information based on the information of the obstacle sensor; and a controller for controlling the actuation of the tactile information-generating elements. The tactile information-generating elements are installed in a cushion of a driver seat with a fore-and-aft arrangement and/or a left-right arrangement. The controller controls the tactile information-generating elements based on the information from the obstacle sensor and information as to any of a steering wheel-sensor, a winker-sensor, a brake-sensor, and a vehicle-speedometer.

Claims

1. A vehicle-warning system comprising:

an obstacle sensor for detecting approach of an obstacle to a vehicle;

tactile information-generating elements for providing tactile information as a cue to a driver based on information of said obstacle sensor; and

a controller for controlling said tactile information-generating elements,

wherein tactile information-generating elements are installed in a cushion of a driver seat with a fore-and-aft arrangement and/or a left-right arrangement,

said obstacle sensor is used for measuring a distance from said obstacle and a relative velocity of the obstacle as viewed from the vehicle, and

said controller controls said tactile information-generating elements based on the information from the obstacle sensor and information as to any of a steering wheel-sensor, a winker-sensor, a brake-sensor, and a vehicle-speedometer.

3. The vehicle warning system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said tactile information-generating elements are installed in a cushion like-device put on the driver seat.

4. The vehicle warning system according to claim 1 or 3, wherein said controller executes control for selecting some tactile information-generating elements to be actuated out of all the elements or for changing actuating timings of said tactile information-generating elements to notify the driver a direction of an approaching obstacle.

6. The vehicle warning system according to claim 1 or 3, wherein said controller determines whether or not the driver has recognized approach of said obstacle, according to an output of brake information of whether or not a brake pedal has been pressed and/or according to an output of information from said winker or steering wheel of whether or not the vehicle intends to travel in the direction where an obstacle is present;

wherein, if it has been determined that the approach of said obstacle has not yet been recognized, said tactile information-generating-elements are actuated to issue a warning by said controller;

whereas, if it has been determined that the approach of said obstacle has been recognized, said tactile information-generating-elements are not actuated.

9. The vehicle warning system according to claim 1 or 3, wherein, a determination of whether or not said tactile information-generating elements should issue the tactile information as a warning to notify the approach of said obstacle to the vehicle, is executed by comparing the obstacle-approach distance with a determination criterion distance;

and said determination criterion distance is adjusted in according to the traveling speed of the vehicle, in such a way that the determination criterion distance is reduced or increased as the traveling speed is reduced or increased, respectively.

10. The vehicle warning system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said tactile information-generating elements are controlled by said controller through radio.

2. A vehicle warning system comprising:

a car navigation system for guiding a vehicle along a route up to a destination;

tactile information-generating elements for providing tactile information as a cue to a driver based on information from said car navigation system, and

a controller for controlling tactile information-generating elements,

wherein said tactile information-generating elements are installed in a cushion of a driver seat with a fore-and-aft arrangement and/or a left-right arrangement,

said car navigation system outputs a route-direction information for guidance, and

said controller controls said tactile information-generating elements based on said route-direction information from said car navigation system and information from a winker for outputting right/left turn signal.

5. The vehicle warning system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said controller executes control for selecting some tactile information-generating elements to be actuated out of all the elements or for changing actuating timings of said tactile information-generating elements to notify the driver a vehicle guide-direction issued by said car navigation system.

7. The vehicle warning system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said controller determines whether or not the driver has recognized the guidance of said car navigation system from the right/left turn signal of said winker;

and, if it has been determined that the driver has not recognized the guidance of said car navigation system, said tactile information-generating elements are actuated to issue a warning by said controller;

whereas, if it has been determined that the driver has recognized the guidance of said car navigation system, said tactile information-generating elements are not actuated.

8. The vehicle warning system according to claim 7, wherein, if there is no agreement between the right/left turn signal in the direction information of said car navigation system and the right/left turn signal outputted from the winker, said tactile information-generating elements are actuated so as to issue the tactile information corresponding to the direction guided by said car navigation system;

whereas, if there is agreement between them, the operation of the tactile information-generating elements are not actuated.