Collision avoidance display system for vehicles

• US 7,876,203 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Traylor, Steve, McCormick, Malcom B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US11/700,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/51 Display arrangements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

The system includes a detector display having visual indicators arranged in a pattern representing a monitored area near the vehicle desired to be monitored. The visual indicators represent physical locations within the monitored area. An indicator controller is operatively associated with the detector display for actuating the visual indicators to display an object location in the pattern that corresponds to the location of an object in the monitored area. A proximity sensor is included in communication with the indicator controller for detecting the physical location of objects within the monitored area. A detection signal is transmitted by the proximity sensor to the indicator controller in response to detecting an object, wherein the indicator controller is operable to actuate the visual indicators in response to the detection signal to display an object location in the pattern that corresponds to an object location in the monitored area.

Claims

1. A collision avoidance display system for a vehicle comprising:

a detector display having a plurality of visual indicators arranged in a pattern on said display representing a defined monitored area along a first side of the vehicle, wherein each of said visual indicators on said display represents a distinct physical location within said monitored area;

an indicator controller operatively associated with said detector display for actuating said visual indicators to display an object location in said pattern that corresponds to a physical location of an object within said monitored area;

a proximity sensor having a total physical area of sensor coverage defining the physical limit of said proximity sensor to detect an object, wherein said total physical area of sensor coverage defines said monitored area and said proximity sensor is in communication with said indicator controller for detecting said physical location of said object within said monitored area, wherein said pattern of said visual indicators in said display is arranged to render to a driver said total physical area of sensor coverage defining said monitored area in specific relation to said first side of the vehicle so that said display shows the physical limit of said proximity sensor to detect an object next to the vehicle;

a detection signal being transmitted by said proximity sensor to said indicator controller in response to detecting said object, wherein said indicator controller is operable to actuate said visual indicators in response to said detection signal to display said object location in said pattern that corresponds to said physical location of said object in said monitored area;

a beam emitter included in said proximity sensor for emitting light beams into said monitored area for detecting said object, and wherein said pattern of said visual indicators is correlated to represent the physical configuration of the monitored area covered by said beams;

a photodetector included in said proximity sensor for detecting light from said light beams being reflected by said object in said monitored area, and wherein said photodetector generates said detection signal for transmission to said indicator controller;

a beam controller operatively associated with said proximity sensor for actuating said beam emitter and said photodetector to detect said object location and relative movement of said object through said light beams in said monitored area, and wherein said beam controller is in communication with said indicator controller for receiving said detection signal from said photodetector and transmitting said detection signal to said indicator controller to actuate said visual indicators in response to said detection signal.

2. The display system of claim 1 wherein said pattern of said visual indicators on said display includes a plurality of monitoring zones each corresponding in physical configuration to one said monitored area adjacent the vehicle.

3. The display system of claim 2 wherein said plurality of monitoring zones on said display include a left side monitoring zone and a right side monitoring zone wherein a plurality of said visual indicators are arranged in each said monitoring zone representing the physical configuration of a left side monitored area and a right side monitored area on opposing sides of the vehicle, respectively.

4. The display system of claim 3 including a left proximity sensor covering said left side monitored area with an array of object detection beams for detecting the physical location of said object within said left side monitored area, wherein each of said visual indicators in said left side monitoring zone is correlated with at least one of said object detection beams so that detection of said object by one of said object detection beams signals said indicator controller to actuate a correlated one of said visual indicators;

and,

a right proximity sensor covering said right side monitored area with an array of object detection beams for detecting the physical location of said object within said right side monitored area, wherein each of said visual indicators in said right side monitoring zone is correlated with at least one of said object detection beams so that detection of said object by one of said object detection beams signals said indicator controller to actuate a correlated one of said visual indicators, whereby the location of said object in said left side and right side monitored areas can be displayed in said left and right side monitoring zones.

5. The display system of claim 4 wherein said plurality of monitoring zones on said display include a front monitoring zone and a back monitoring zone wherein a plurality of said visual indicators are arranged in each said monitoring zone representing the physical configuration of a front monitored area and a back monitored area on opposing ends of the vehicle, respectively.

6. The display system of claim 5 including a front proximity sensor covering said front monitored area with an array of object detection beams for detecting the physical location of said object within said front monitored area, wherein each of said visual indicators in said front monitoring zone is correlated with at least one of said object detection beams so that detection of said object by one of said object detection beams signals said indicator controller to actuate a correlated one of said visual indicators;

and,

a back proximity sensor covering said back monitored area with an array of object detection beams for detecting the physical location of said object within said back monitored area, wherein each of said visual indicators in said back monitoring zone is correlated with at least one of said object detection beams so that detection of said object by one of said object detection beams signals said indicator controller to actuate a correlated one of said visual indicators, whereby the location of said object in said front and back monitored areas can be displayed in said front and back monitoring zones.

7. The display system of claim 2 wherein said plurality of monitoring zones on said display include a front monitoring zone and a back monitoring zone representing the physical configuration of a front monitored area and a back monitored area, respectively.

8. The display system of claim 2 wherein said detector display includes a vehicle outline around which said plurality of monitoring zones are arranged for orienting the physical location represented by each of said monitoring zones in relation to the vehicle.

9. The display system of claim 2 wherein said visual indicators in said plurality of monitoring zones are shaped in the form of round dots.

10. The display system of claim 2 wherein said visual indicators in said plurality of monitoring zones are shaped in a form selected from one of triangular and rectangular block segments, and combinations thereof.

11. The display system of claim 1 wherein said visual indicators are operatively associated with at least one selected light beam so that detection of said object by one of said light beams signals said indicator controller to actuate at least one designated visual indicator corresponding to said light beam.

12. The display system of claim 1 wherein said indicator controller manipulates lighting characteristics of said visual indicators to display in said pattern said object location detected in said monitored area.

13. The display system of claim 12 wherein said lighting characteristics manipulated by said indicator controller includes a color of a light emitted by said indicators in response to detecting said object in said monitored area.

14. The display system of claim 12 wherein said lighting characteristics manipulated by said indicator controller includes an intensity of a light emitted by said indicators in response to detecting said object in said monitored area.

15. The display system of claim 12 wherein said lighting characteristics manipulated by said indicator controller includes a frequency of a blinking rate of a light emitted by said indicators in response to detecting said object in said monitored area.

16. The display system of claim 12 wherein said lighting characteristics manipulated by said indicator controller includes actuating at least one of said visual indicators in response to detecting said object in said monitored area.

17. The display system of claim 12 wherein said lighting characteristics manipulated by said indicator controller includes said pattern of said indicators actuated in response to detecting said object in said monitored area.

18. The display system of claim 1 wherein said visual indicators are light emitting diodes.

19. The display system of claim 1 wherein said visual indicators are liquid crystal displays.

20. The display system of claim 1 wherein said indicator controller actuates said visual indicators to display relative movement of at least one said object in said monitored area in response to said detection signal from said proximity sensor.