Motor vehicle with an optical display device for a distance sensor

• US 9,620,016 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2015
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Backman, Fredrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/636,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20150254984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 340435, 340436, 340903, 3409322
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/332 Light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/338 Light strips
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• 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: 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 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a distance sensor display for registering the distance of the motor vehicle from the surroundings of the motor vehicle, particularly when parking. The distance sensor display includes an optical display device with one or more light-emitting element and a control unit configured to optically display the distance registered by the distance sensor inside the motor vehicle fundamentally in the form of a notional line.

Claims

1. A distance display system for a motor vehicle having a body, a powertrain, and a passenger compartment enclosed by the body for accommodating at least one occupant, the display system comprising:

at least one distance sensor configured to register a distance of the motor vehicle from an object adjacent the body;

an optical display device arranged inside the motor vehicle in a roof liner, the optical display device having a plurality of lighting elements arranged in the form of a curved notional line, the optical display device configured to display the distance registered by the distance sensor in a first operating mode and a second operating mode;

a control unit configured to control the plurality of lighting elements individually in both the first and second operating modes;

wherein the control unit, in the first operating mode, is configured to illuminate at least one of the plurality of lighting elements such that the optical display device displays the distance registered by the distance sensor as a function of the illuminated length of the notional line; and

wherein the control unit, in the second operating mode, is configured to disable at least one of the plurality of lighting elements such that the optical display device displays the distance registered by the distance sensor as a function of the disabled length of the notional line.

2. The distance display system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of lighting elements are arranged in succession along the curved notional line, the plurality of lighting element mounted to a mounting bar, the mounting bar being elongate and having a curvature that corresponds to the curved notional line.

3. The distance display system according to claim 1, wherein the notional line has a radius of curvature in the range of 1 m-10 m.

4. The distance display system according to claim 1, wherein the notional line has a length in the range of 0.2 m-0.7 m.

5. The distance display system according to claim 1 wherein a straight-line distance measured between two ends of the notional line is in a range of 0.2 m-0.7 m.

6. The distance display system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of lighting elements are arranged in succession to form the notional line.

7. The distance display system according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of lighting elements comprise a plurality of punctiform lighting elements.

8. The distance display system according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of lighting elements comprise a plurality of LEDs.

9. The distance display system according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of lighting elements comprise at least five light emitters forming the notional line.

10. The distance display system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit, in the first operating mode, is configured to illuminate at least one of the plurality of lighting elements according to a constant of proportionality proportion to the distance so that the illuminated length of the notional line corresponds thereto, wherein the constant of proportionality is between 2 and 0.1.

11. The distance display system according to claim 10, wherein the constant of proportionality is between 1 and 0.2.

12. The distance display system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit, in the second operating mode, is configured to disable at least one of the plurality of lighting elements according to a constant of proportionality to the distance so that the disabled length of the notional line corresponds thereto, wherein the constant of proportionality is between 2 and 0.1.

13. The distance display system according to claim 12, wherein the constant of proportionality is between 1 and 0.2.

14. The distance display system according to claim 1 further comprising a transparent protective cover positioned over the plurality of lighting elements to prevent mechanical damage thereto.

15. The distance display system according to claim 1 wherein the control unit is configured to operate the optical display device in an optical warning mode when the distance falls below a predefined minimal distance, wherein the optical warning mode comprises at least one of a flashing light mode and an alternating color mode.

16. The distance display system according to claim 1 further comprising an acoustic signaling device operably coupled to the control unit and configured to emit an acoustic signal as a function of the distance.

17. The distance display system according to claim 16, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the acoustic signaling device in an acoustic warning mode when the distance falls below a predefined minimal distance, wherein the acoustic warning mode is an on-off beep tone.

18. A motor vehicle comprising a body, a powertrain, a passenger compartment enclosed by the body for accommodating at least one occupant and a distance display system according to claim 1.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 18 wherein the powertrain comprises at least one drive engine selected from the group including a combustion engine and an electrical engine.