Vehicle recognition allowing device

• US 20060192664A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Katayama, Mutsumi, Kushida, Kazumitsu
• Granted Patent: US 7,933,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/463
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/01 Electric circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/26 warning or informing other road users, e.g. police flash lights

Abstract

A vehicle recognition allowing device is provided which allows the recognition of a traveling state of a vehicle, including a two-wheeled vehicle to be recognized and does not require a sophisticated image processing function. When a change in the speed, traveling state or both of the vehicle is detected by a traveling state detecting part, flickering frequencies of respective infrared ray markers are increased or decreased to a frequency corresponding to the change in speed, traveling state or both. Alternatively, flickering duty ratios of the respective infrared ray markers can be changed to a duty ratio corresponding to the new speed, traveling state or both.

Claims

1. A vehicle recognition allowing device operating in an environment to recognize the presence or the non-presence of a vehicle, the vehicle recognition allowing device comprising:

an infrared ray marker;

a detecting routine which detects a traveling state of the vehicle; and

a drive circuit which allows the infrared ray marker to emit light with a pattern in response to a detection result of the detecting routine.

2. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 1,

wherein the detecting routine detects at least one selected from a group consisting of a vehicle speed, a handle steering angle, an acceleration/deceleration, a yaw rate, a bank angle, and a turning direction.

3. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 1,

wherein the drive circuit changes a flickering cycle of the infrared ray marker in response to the detection result of the detecting routine.

4. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 1,

wherein the drive circuit changes a flickering duty ratio in response to the detection result of the detecting routine.

5. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 1,

wherein a plurality of infrared ray markers is arranged in a distributed manner, and the drive circuit changes flickering phases of respective infrared ray markers in response to the detection result of the detecting routine.

6. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 1,

wherein the vehicle recognition allowing device includes three infrared ray markers, and the respective infrared ray markers are arranged in a distributed manner at respective apex positions of an imaginary triangle as viewed in at least one of a front view, a back view, and both side views of the vehicle.

7. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 5,

wherein when the traveling state of the vehicle is one of left steering and right steering, one of acceleration and deceleration, one of a left bank and a right bank, or one of left turn and right turn, the drive circuit allows an angle of the flickering phase of one infrared ray marker to advance with respect to an angle of the flickering phase of another infrared ray marker, while when the traveling state of the vehicle is another of the left steering and the right steering, another of the acceleration and the deceleration, another of the left bank and the right bank, or another of the left turn or the right turn, the drive circuit allows the angle of the flickering phase of said another infrared ray marker to advance relative to the angle of the flickering phase of said one infrared ray marker.

8. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 5,

wherein when the traveling state of the vehicle is one of left steering and right steering, one of acceleration and deceleration, one of a left bank and a right bank, or one of left turn and right turn, the drive circuit sets a flickering duty ratio of one infrared ray marker larger than a flickering duty ratio of another infrared ray marker, while when the traveling state of the vehicle is another of the left steering and the right steering, another of the acceleration and the deceleration, another of the left bank and the right bank, or another of the left turn and the right turn, the drive circuit sets the flickering duty ratio of said another infrared ray marker larger than the flickering duty ratio of said one infrared ray marker.

9. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 7,

wherein. an advancing angle amount is a function of an amount of any one of a steering angle, an acceleration/deceleration, a bank angle and a turning angle.

10. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 8,

wherein the flickering duty ratio is a function of an amount of any one of a steering angle, an acceleration/deceleration, a bank angle and a turning angle.

11. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 2,

wherein the drive circuit changes a flickering cycle of the infrared ray marker in response to the detection result of the detecting routine.

12. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 2,

wherein the drive circuit changes a flickering duty ratio in response to the detection result of the detecting routine.

13. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 3,

wherein the drive circuit changes a flickering duty ratio in response to the detection result of the detecting routine.

14. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 2,

wherein a plurality of infrared ray markers is arranged in a distributed manner, and the drive circuit changes flickering phases of respective infrared ray markers in response to the detection result of the detecting routine.

15. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 3,

wherein a plurality of infrared ray markers is arranged in a distributed manner, and the drive circuit changes flickering phases of respective infrared ray markers in response to the detection result of the detecting routine.

16. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 4,

wherein a plurality of infrared ray markers is arranged in a distributed manner, and the drive circuit changes flickering phases of respective infrared ray markers in response to the detection result of the detecting routine.

17. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 2,

wherein the vehicle recognition allowing device includes three infrared ray markers, and the respective infrared ray markers are arranged in a distributed manner at respective apex positions of an imaginary triangle as viewed in at least one of a front view, a back view, and both side views of the vehicle.

18. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 3,

wherein the vehicle recognition allowing device includes three infrared ray markers, and the respective infrared ray markers are arranged in a distributed manner at respective apex positions of an imaginary triangle as viewed in at least one of a front view, a back view, and both side views of the vehicle.

19. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 4,

wherein the vehicle recognition allowing device includes three infrared ray markers, and the respective infrared ray markers are arranged in a distributed manner at respective apex positions of an imaginary triangle as viewed in at least one of a front view, a back view, and both side views of the vehicle.

20. A vehicle recognition allowing device according to claim 5,

wherein the vehicle recognition allowing device includes three infrared ray markers, and the respective infrared ray markers are arranged in a distributed manner at respective apex positions of an imaginary triangle as viewed in at least one of a front view, a back view, and both side views of the vehicle.