Control equipment for difficult to see or blind spot areas around vehicles, and related method

• US 5,963,127 A
• Filed: 09/17/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mekra Lang GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Mekra Lang GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Lang, Heinrich, Seiboth, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/932,040
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/903, 340/435, 340/522, 340/438, 340/441, 180/167, 180/169
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles

Abstract

A control device for vehicles includes a sensor mounted to the vehicle for detecting an object in a monitored zone adjacent the vehicle and providing a responsive output signal when an object is detected in the monitored zone; a signaling device mounted to the vehicle for providing a speed output signal indicative of a speed of travel of the vehicle; a control unit mounted to the vehicle for receiving sensor output signals and speed output signals; and a warning device mounted to the vehicle for providing a warning signal to a driver of the vehicle, the control unit controlling the warning device to provide the warning signal responsive to the sensor output signal and the speed output signal so that the warning device provides a warning signal only when the sensor detects an object in the monitored zone and the signaling device provides a speed output signal indicating that the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined value. A related vehicle and method are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A control device for vehicles comprising:

a sensor mounted to the vehicle for detecting an object in a monitored zone adjacent the vehicle and providing a responsive output signal when an object is detected in the monitored zone;

a signaling device mounted to the vehicle for providing a speed output signal indicative of a speed of travel of the vehicle;

a control unit mounted to the vehicle for receiving sensor output signals and speed output signals; and

a warning device mounted to the vehicle for providing a warning signal to a driver of the vehicle, the control unit controlling the warning device to provide the warning signal responsive to the sensor output signal and the speed output signal so that the warning device provides a warning signal only when the sensor detects an object in the monitored zone and the signaling device provides a speed output signal indicating that the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined value.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is from 15 km/h to 30 km/h.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is about 25 km/h.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is mounted to an external rearview mirror secured to a passenger'"'"'s side of the vehicle.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a radiation sensor.

6. The control device of claim 5, wherein the radiation sensor is an infrared motion sensor.

7. The control device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein the warning device is an optical signaler.

9. The control device of claim 8, wherein the optical signaler is mounted to at least one of a dashboard of the vehicle and an external rear-view mirror.

10. The control device of claim 1, wherein the warning device is an acoustic signaler.

11. The control device of claim 1, wherein the monitored zone is disposed in at least one of a side of the vehicle and a front of the vehicle.

12. A control device for vehicles comprising:

a vehicle;

a sensor mounted to the vehicle for detecting an object in a monitored zone adjacent the vehicle and providing a responsive output signal when an object is detected in the monitored zone;

a signaling device mounted to the vehicle for providing a speed output signal indicative of a speed of travel of the vehicle;

a control unit mounted to the vehicle for receiving sensor output signals and speed output signals; and

a warning device mounted to the vehicle for providing a warning signal to a driver of the vehicle, the control unit controlling the warning device to provide the warning signal responsive to the sensor output signal and the speed output signal so that the warning device provides a warning signal only when the sensor detects an object in the monitored zone and the signaling device provides a speed output signal indicating that the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined value.

13. The control device of claim 12, wherein the sensor is mounted to an external rearview mirror secured to a passenger'"'"'s side of the vehicle.

14. The control device of claim 12, wherein the sensor is mounted to a front of the vehicle.

15. The control device of claim 12, wherein the sensor is mounted to an external mirror secured to and extending from the front of the vehicle.

16. The control device of claim 12, further including a second sensor, the first sensor monitoring a monitored zone adjacent a side of the vehicle and the second sensor monitoring a second monitored zone in the front of the vehicle.

17. A method for monitoring zones adjacent a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting an object in a monitored zone adjacent the vehicle and providing a responsive sensor output signal when an object is detected in the monitored zone;

providing a speed output signal indicative of a speed of travel of the vehicle;

receiving sensor output signals and speed output signals; and

providing a warning signal to a driver of the vehicle responsive to the sensor output signal and the speed output signal so that the warning signal is provided only when an object is detected in the monitored zone and the speed output signal indicates that the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined value is from 15 km/h to 30 km/h.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined value is about 25 km/h.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the monitored zone is disposed in at least one of a side of the vehicle and a front of the vehicle.