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

• US 6,768,933 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Serezat, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/181,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/41, 701/49, 340/475, 340/476, 340/478, 340/463, 340/464, 340/465
• US Class Current: 701/1
• 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, in which a turning angle of wheels of the vehicle is detected for the purpose of automatically switching on lighting means for indicating a change in direction, said method comprising 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 lighting means for indicating a change in direction are switched on automatically.

2. Method according to claim 1, comprising a step of measuring a speed of the vehicle and a step of determining the threshold value of the turning angle as a function of the speed of the vehicle.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein, when the speed of the vehicle is less than or equal to a first specified speed, the threshold value of the turning angle of the wheels is approximately equal to a first specified constant value.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein, when the speed of the vehicle is between the first speed and a specified second speed greater than the first speed, the threshold value of the turning angle of the wheels decreases when the speed of the vehicle increases.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein, when the speed of the vehicle is between the second speed and a specified third speed greater than the second speed, the threshold value of the turning angle of the wheels is approximately equal to a specified constant second value.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein, when the speed of the vehicle is less than or equal to a first specified speed, the threshold value of the turning angle of the wheels is approximately equal to a first specified constant value.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein, when the speed of the vehicle is between the first speed and a specified second speed greater than the first speed, the threshold value of the turning angle of the wheels decreases when the speed of the vehicle increases.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein, when the speed of the vehicle is between the second speed and a specified third speed greater than the second speed, the threshold value of the turning angle of the wheels is approximately equal to a specified constant second value.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting step is a step of detecting the presence of another adjacent vehicle.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting step is a step of detecting the crossing of a marking line on the ground separating traffic lanes.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the detecting step is a step of detecting the crossing of a marking line on the ground separating traffic lanes.

12. Device for indicating a change in direction of a motor vehicle, comprising light signaling means, means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle, suitable for determining the turning of the vehicle wheels, and means for controlling the supply voltage of the light signaling means, wherein the means 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 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.

13. Device according to claim 12, wherein the means for collecting data are adapted to determine a speed of the vehicle, and the means for controlling the supply voltage determine the threshold value of the turning angle of the wheels as a function of the speed of the vehicle.

14. Device according to claim 13, wherein the means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle comprise detecting means of the radar type, in order to detect the possible presence of another adjacent vehicle.

15. Device according to claim 13, wherein the means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle comprise means 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.

16. Device according to claim 13, wherein the means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle comprise means for detecting a position of the vehicle relative to marking lines on the ground separating traffic lanes, in order to detect a possible crossing of these lines by the vehicle.

17. Device according to claim 12, wherein the means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle comprise detecting means of the radar type, in order to detect the possible presence of another adjacent vehicle.

18. Device according to claim 17, wherein the means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle comprise means 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.

19. Device according to claim 17, wherein the means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle comprise means for detecting a position of the vehicle relative to marking lines on the ground separating traffic lanes, in order to detect a possible crossing of these lines by the vehicle.

20. Device according to claim 12, wherein the means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle comprise means 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.

21. Device according to claim 20, wherein the means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle comprise means for detecting a position of the vehicle relative to marking lines on the ground separating traffic lanes, in order to detect a possible crossing of these lines by the vehicle.

22. Device according to claim 12, wherein the means for collecting data relating to the functioning conditions of the vehicle comprise means for detecting a position of the vehicle relative to marking lines on the ground separating traffic lanes, in order to detect a possible crossing of these lines by the vehicle.

23. Device according to claim 22, wherein the means for detecting a position of the vehicle comprise an infrared emitting and receiving means.

24. Device according to claim 12, wherein, when the speed of the vehicle is less than or equal to a first specified speed, the threshold value of the turning angle of the wheels is approximately equal to a first specified constant value.

25. Device according to claim 24, wherein, when the speed of the vehicle is between the first speed and a specified second speed greater than the first speed, the threshold value of the turning angle of the wheels decreases when the speed of the vehicle increases.

26. Device according to claim 25, wherein, when the speed of the vehicle is between the second speed and a specified third speed greater than the second speed, the threshold value of the turning angle of the wheels is approximately equal to a specified constant second value.

27. Device according to claim 12, wherein the data collecting means is adapted to detect the presence or not of another adjacent vehicle.

28. Device according to claim 12, wherein the data collecting means is adapted to detect the crossing of a marking line on the ground separating the traffic lanes.

29. Device according to claim 28, wherein the data collecting means is adapted to detect the crossing of a marking line on the ground separating the traffic lanes.