Alarm apparatus for alarming driver of vehicle and method of alarming the same

• US 6,091,323 A
• Filed: 04/13/1998
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kawai, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/058,850
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/460, 340/461, 340/903, 340/438, 340/459, 342/70, 701/301, 364/461, 367/909
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons

Abstract

An alarm apparatus for alarming a driver of a vehicle is provided. The alarm apparatus includes a first indicator disposed on a front center console inside the vehicle, a second indicator located in a windshield of the vehicle, a radar unit, a vehicle speed sensor and a controller. In operation, when a distance between the vehicle and the one ahead is less than a first alarm distance, the first indicator is activated to display the alarm. Further, when the distance is less than a second alarm distance smaller than the first alarm distance, the second indicator is activated to display the alarm. Even if the driver does not gaze ahead but the instruments, it is possible for the driver to look at the first indicator activated more frequency than the second indicator, thereafter shift his eyes ahead and finally brake the vehicle after confirming the preceding vehicle with composure.

Claims

1. An alarm apparatus for alarming a driver of a vehicle, the alarm apparatus comprising:

a first visual indicator disposed inside the vehicle, calling attention of the driver through a driver'"'"'s sight;

a second visual indicator located inside the vehicle, calling attention of the driver through a driver'"'"'s sight, the second visual indicator separated and spaced from the first visual indicator, the second visual indicator being placed closer to the driver'"'"'s sight than the first visual indicator under condition that the driver is facing ahead of the vehicle;

a detector detecting a condition to call attention of the driver; and

a controller activating the first visual indicator more frequently than the second visual indicator when the condition is detected by the detector.

2. The alarm apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller activates the first visual indicator before the controller activates the second visual indicator.

3. The alarm apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector detects a distance between the vehicle and another vehicle in front of the vehicle;

and

the controller activates the first visual indicator when the distance from the other vehicle is smaller than a predetermined distance.

4. The alarm apparatus of claim 3, wherein the detector detects that the distance from the other vehicle is smaller than a first distance, detecting that the distance from the other vehicle is smaller than a second distance which is smaller than the first distance;

and

the controller activates the first visual indicator when the distance is smaller than the first distance and activates the second visual indicator when the distance is smaller than the second distance.

5. The alarm apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first visual indicator and the second visual indicator inform the driver that the vehicle is to close to the other vehicle in front of the vehicle.

6. The alarm apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first visual indicator is arranged within an area of a front center console inside the vehicle.

7. The alarm apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first visual indicator is disposed on a device which is arranged within an area of a front center console of the vehicle.

8. The alarm apparatus of claim 7, wherein the device includes an operation device to operate the device;

and

the controller activates the first visual indicator when the operation device is operated and the condition to alarm is detected by the detector.

9. The alarm apparatus of claim 8, wherein

the device includes a car audio.

10. The alarm apparatus of claim 8, wherein

the device includes a navigation system.

11. The alarm apparatus of claim 8, wherein

the device includes a controller of an air conditioner.

12. The alarm apparatus of claim 8, wherein

the device includes a clock.

13. The alarm apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second visual indicator includes a part of a windshield of the vehicle, the part being located in front of the driver.

14. The alarm apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second visual indicator is placed on a meter cluster.

15. The alarm apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a buzzer connected to the controller;

wherein the controller activates the buzzer when the controller activates the first visual indicator.

16. The alarm apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a buzzer connected to the controller;

wherein

the controller activates the buzzer when the controller activates the second visual indicator.

17. A method of alarming a driver of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting a condition where to call attention of the driver;

calling attention of the driver by a first visual indicator which is disposed in the vehicle at first; and

calling attention of the driver by a second visual indicator, the second visual indicator being located inside the vehicle and separated from the first indicator and placed closer to the driver'"'"'s sight than the first visual indicator under condition that the driver is facing ahead of the vehicle.