Patent Application
20080012697
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
The light warning system 20 employs a lighting device 22 mounted in the dash 12 and oriented to generate and focus a light beam 50 onto the windshield 14 in a region viewable to the driver 18 of the vehicle 10. The light beam 50 is projected generally forward of the driver looking forward toward the roadway in front of the vehicle 10, according to the disclosed embodiment, so as to draw the driver's attention to the driving area of interest. More specifically, the light beam 50 is illuminated on the windshield 14 viewable on or near the horizon forward of the driver 18 and centered laterally. The light warning system 20 provides an exogenous visual warning displayed on the windshield for a short duration in an attempt to notify the driver of a determined warning condition.
The lighting device 22 includes one or more light beam generators and may include a lens 24 for projecting the generated light onto the windshield 50. In the embodiment shown, the lighting device 22 is angled just slightly toward the driver 18 so that when the light beam 50 is reflected off of the windshield 14, the light beam reflects approximately parallel to the ground. However, it should be appreciated that the lighting device 22 may be located elsewhere in the vehicle 10 to provide a light beam 50 that is visible to the driver 18 of the vehicle 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
In the embodiment shown, the lighting device 22 generates a single flashed light beam 50 responsive to a warning condition. The flashed light beam 50 is reflected from the windshield 14 and in a region that is viewable directly in front of the driver 18 of the vehicle 10. The warning light beam 50 may be a spot beam according to one embodiment. According to another embodiment, the light beam 50 may be a ring or circular beam such as a halo. According to other embodiments, the light beam 50 may be provided in various shapes, sizes, colors and brightness.
Referring to
The amber and red colored LEDs 26 and 28 are controlled via respective voltages VA and VR, respectively provided by controller 30. The controller 30 receives a power voltage, such as a battery voltage VB and generates the LED voltages VA and VR. The controller 30 includes a microprocessor 32 and memory 34. The microprocessor 32 may include any known processing capability for processing one or more routines to determine a warning threat condition and control the lighting device 22 to provide the appropriate light warning. Memory 34 may include any known memory and is shown programmed with a warning light control routine 60 and a light brightness control routine 80. The controller 30 may be a dedicated controller dedicated to providing light warnings, or may be shared with any of a number of other systems. The controller 30 may be implemented in analog or digital circuitry.
The light warning system 20 is shown having a number of detecting or detection warning devices including a forward collision warning (FCW) detector 40, a head pose monitor (HPM) 42, a lane departure warning (LDW) 44, and a curve over speed (COS) 46. Additionally, the light warning system 20 includes an ambient light sensor 48 for sensing ambient lighting conditions. The ambient light sensor 48 may also be located in the dash 12 near the bottom of the windshield 14, as is conventionally provided on a vehicle 10. The various detecting devices may include conventional vehicle condition detection and warning devices and systems. The forward collision warning system 20 provides a warning signal indicative of a potential collision forward of the vehicle 10 and generates a warning signal that is input to the controller 30 via the CAN bus 36. Similarly, the head pose monitor 42 monitors the driver head pose directivity and provides a warning signal indicative of a potential distractive condition of the driver 18 that is input to the controller 30 via the CAN bus 36. The head pose monitor 42 may also provide head pose directivity of the driver 18 to the controller 30 such that the orientation of the driver's head is available. The lane departure warning system 44 detects a departure of the vehicle 10 from its current lane and provides a warning signal to the controller 30 via the CAN bus 36. The curve over speed system 46 detects presence of an excessive speed as the vehicle 10 is approaching a curve in the roadway forward of the vehicle 10 and provides a warning system to the controller 30 via the CAN bus 36. These and other detection systems may be employed as inputs to the controller 30 with or without the CAN bus 36, any of which may require a light warning signal to be provided according to the present invention.
Referring to
If a warning has been requested, routine 60 proceeds to decision step 68 to determine if the warning is for a high level threat. If the warning is for a high level threat (e.g., more urgent threat), routine 60 flashes the red LED three times at a frequency of about 10 Hz in step 70. Otherwise, the requested warning is assumed to be a low level threat (e.g., less urgent threat), and routine 60 flashes the amber LED three times at about 10 Hz in step 72. Thereafter, routine 60 returns to step 64 to repeat sensing warning signals. The routine 60 may further employ a time delay, such as one second or longer between successive flashing cycles of the warning light beam in steps 70 and 72 so that the LED is not continuously flashed.
Accordingly, the warning light control routine 60 generates a flashing light beam of either a red or amber color on the windshield of the vehicle in a region that is viewable to the driver of the vehicle. The flashing light beam is flashed only briefly, such as like a strobe, for display in the region where the driver's attention is typically required. The generated light beam is only required to flash on rapidly for a limited time period of less than one-half second so as to get the driver's attention without distracting the driver from the driving operation. More particularly, the light beam is flashed at about one-quarter a second or less according to another embodiment. In one specific embodiment, the light beam is turned on and off cyclically three times at a frequency of about 10 Hz so as to capture the driver's attention so that the driver is directed to a location where attention needs to focused.
Referring to
Accordingly, the light brightness control routine selects one of four brightness levels for each of the LEDs dependent upon the ambient lighting conditions and detected driver head pose directivity. It should be appreciated that other numbers of levels of brightness may be employed based on ambient light, head pose directivity, and any other desired conditions.
The light warning system 20 and method 60 of the present invention advantageously provides a light warning beam for a fraction of a second in a manner that does not distract the driver's attention away from the relative optic flow looking forward for a normal driving condition. The flashing light beam 50 is sufficient to get the driver's attention, without causing undue distraction. It should be appreciated that the driver's peripheral vision will generally be receptive of a flash and is usually sensitive to abrupt changes in illumination such the natural biologically wired response for the human is to orient attention toward the source of change in the peripheral visual field. Because the light beam 50 flashes only briefly for a fraction of a second, there is generally no undue source of distraction to capture the driver's attention. Additionally, it should be appreciated that the flashing light beam 50 may flash so as to simulate the lead vehicle braking lights, according to one example. Various light warnings may be provided in different color light beams of various sizes, brightness, flashing rates, etc., to distinguish one type of warning condition from another warning condition.
It will be understood by those who practice the invention and those skilled in the art, that various modifications and improvements may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit of the disclosed concept. The scope of protection afforded is to be determined by the claims and by the breadth of interpretation allowed by law.
