3478results about "Acoustic signal devices" patented technology

A navigation system for a vehicle includes a vehicle-based telematics system, a vehicle-based global positioning system and a control. The telematics system is operable to receive a user input from a driver of the vehicle and to download directional information from an external service provider to the control in response to the user input and an initial geographic position of the vehicle. The directional information comprises at least two instructions with each of the instructions being coded or associated with or linked to a respective geographic location. The control is operable to provide an output corresponding to each of the instructions in response to a current actual geographic position of the vehicle. The control is operable to provide each instruction only when the then current actual geographic position of the vehicle at least generally corresponds to the particular geographic location associated with the instruction.

A system for alerting a user includes a first device for vehicle-to-pedestrian communication. The first device is operable by a pedestrian. The system further includes a vehicle operable by a driver including a second device for vehicle-to-pedestrian communication. The system is configured to provide an alert via at least one of the first device and second device to at least one of the driver and the pedestrian.

Geographic location data and telematics data may be collected in real-time by a mobile device within a vehicle, or the vehicle itself. The telematics data may indicate vehicle direction, speed, motion, etc., as well as traffic hazards in the surrounding environment. A remote server may receive the location and telematics data from two vehicles. If an anomalous or hazardous condition exists in the vicinity of the first vehicle, a geographic relationship with the second vehicle is determined, and if within a predetermined distance, an alert or alternate route for the second vehicle is determined and transmitted to the second vehicle. As a result, a negative impact or risk of collision caused by the anomalous condition on the second vehicle is alleviated. The amount of the insured's usage of the telematics data-based risk mitigation or prevision functionality may be used to calculate or adjust insurance premiums, rates, or discounts.

A pedestrian warning or alert system and method are disclosed. The warning system is mounted on an electric vehicle. The warning system includes a front speaker system, a rear speaker system, a front pedestrian detector, a rear pedestrian detector, and an electronic control unit (ECU) electronically coupled to the front speaker system, the rear speaker system, the front pedestrian detector, and the rear pedestrian detector. The ECU commands the front speaker system to emit a warning sound based on the front pedestrian detector detecting a pedestrian-shaped object and commands the rear speaker system to emit a warning sound based on the rear pedestrian detector detecting a pedestrian-shaped object. The ECU is coupled to a microphone, the signal of which is used to estimate an ambient noise level. The intensity and frequency of the warning sound commanded from the front and / or rear speaker system is based on the ambient noise level.

A method is provided for enhancing safety and traffic efficiency for vehicles transmitting information on an expected behavior of a driver of an ego vehicle in response to a stimulus including the steps of (i) sensing a parameter of the stimulus in order to generate a stimulus signal function of the sensed parameter, (ii) monitoring the stimulus signal function of the sensed parameter, (iii) calculating an expected future driver's behavior in response to the stimulus using said stimulus signal, (iv) comparing the expected future driver behavior with a standard driver behavior, and (v) emitting a warning signal to the surrounding of the ego vehicle in case the expected future driving behavior is not a standard behavior. Additionally, a system operating according to said method is disclosed.

A pedestrian warning system includes a sensing device that is provided on the vehicle for detecting a pedestrian within a predetermined zone around the vehicle. A warning device on the vehicle generates a warning signal perceived by the pedestrian outside the vehicle indicating a presence of the vehicle. A speed sensor senses a speed of the vehicle. A controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensing device indicating the detection of the pedestrian within the predetermined zone. The controller determines whether the speed of the vehicle is within a predetermine speed range. The controller actuates the warning device for warning the pedestrian of the close proximity to the vehicle in response to determining the vehicle traveling at a respective speed is within the predetermined speed range and detecting the presence of the pedestrian within the predetermined zone.

Autonomous data machines and systems may be provided, which may be deployed in an environment. The machines may roam within the environment and collect data with aid of one or more sensors. The data may be sent to a control center, which may optionally receive information from additional data sources, such as other on-site sensors, existing static data, or real-time social data. The control center may send instructions to the machines to perform one or more reaction based on the received information. The autonomous data machines may be capable of reacting autonomously to one or more detected condition. In some instances, the autonomous data machines may be employed for security or surveillance.

Devices, systems, and methods for responding to emergency situations of infants, children and pets left unattended in a vehicle. The device comprises a control module for short range RF transmission housed in a lightweight, portable unit plugged into a vehicle accessory power outlet. The system may additionally comprise sensors in communication with the module to detect and trigger alarms, including: when a vehicle has been in a collision; whether a child has climbed out of a car seat while the vehicle is in motion; when the temperature within the vehicle is unsafe; whether an infant has been left unattended in a vehicle; and whether children are playing in a parked vehicle (e.g. trunk) in unsafe temperatures. The portable device may also be configured with an “SOS” button housed within a key fob, wristband, or necklace, to transmit GPS coordinates of the wearer in emergency situations (such as kidnappings).

A directional alert system within a vehicle is configured to transmit an alert signal towards a specifically targeted area without substantially affecting the acoustic environment in a broader surrounding area. The directional alert system determines the target area by processing sensor data reflects a direction that a driver of the vehicle is looking or facing. The directional alert system then positions an acoustic transducer to generate an acoustic signal towards the direction of interest. The directional alert system may also wirelessly pair with computing devices residing in a target region associated with the direction of interest, and transmit wireless notifications to those computing devices to alert the users of those devices.

A maneuvering aid for a vehicle is provided which has a detector and an information provider in wireless communication with each other. The detector and the information provider are synchronized upon the start of the vehicle, a reversing operation or the like to monitor the area about the vehicle and alert a driver of the vehicle of an obstacle near the vehicle. The detector is portable for use with multiple trailers that are attachable to the vehicle such that the information provider and detector remain in wireless communication.

The present disclosure relates to enabling an autonomous vehicle operating in a self-driving mode to communicate information about what the vehicle is about to do or is currently doing. For example, one or more processors may maneuver a vehicle in an autonomous or self-driving mode. While maneuvering the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode, a time when the vehicle will begin to accelerate may be determined. A first audible signal may be played through a speaker at a time t seconds before the time when the vehicle will begin to accelerate. While maneuvering the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode, a time when the vehicle will begin to decelerate may also be determined. A second audible signal, different from the first audible signal, may be played through the speaker at the time when the vehicle begins decelerating.

A vehicle-borne camera-based observation system for monitoring areas adjacent a vehicle or passenger vehicle, such as a bus or schoolbus, is disclosed, to provide safer operation for passersby, including for children, and driver convenience. The system includes several cameras, and several monitors in a driver's area displaying all of the fields of view from the cameras, such that each monitor may be controllable to show either the field of view of a first camera or a the field of view of a second camera, according to a driver selection or according to an automatic selection. Night vision, automatic tracking, and illumination systems are also provided.

A pedestrian notification apparatus, which is configured to be used in a vehicle, includes an ambient object detector, a notification target detector and a notifier. The ambient object detector is configured to detect ambient objects present around the vehicle. The notification target detector is configured to detect a notification target pedestrian based on the detection results of the ambient object detector. The notifier is configured to notify the notification target pedestrian that the notification target pedestrian has been detected by the notification target detector.

Systems, apparatus and methods may be configured to implement actively-controlled light emission from a robotic vehicle. A light emitter(s) of the robotic vehicle may be configurable to indicate a direction of travel of the robotic vehicle and / or display information (e.g., a greeting, a notice, a message, a graphic, passenger / customer / client content, vehicle livery, customized livery) using one or more colors of emitted light (e.g., orange for a first direction and purple for a second direction), one or more sequences of emitted light (e.g., a moving image / graphic), or positions of light emitter(s) on the robotic vehicle (e.g., symmetrically positioned light emitters). The robotic vehicle may not have a front or a back (e.g., a trunk / a hood) and may be configured to travel bi-directionally, in a first direction or a second direction (e.g., opposite the first direction), with the direction of travel being indicated by one or more of the light emitters.

Although self-driving vehicles excel under “normal” driving conditions, they sometimes struggle with new situations that often would not be overly difficult for a person. Several embodiments described herein enable a hybrid approach that leverages the exceptional abilities of self-driving vehicles while soliciting human interaction in select situations. The resulting combination of machine intelligence and human intelligence significantly enlarges the potential of self-driving vehicles in a manner that will enable self-driving vehicles to become widespread much faster than would otherwise be the case.

An audio system for an electrically powered vehicle includes a data storage unit, a processor for accessing the data storage unit and retrieving one of pre-recorded engine sounds, pre-recorded exhaust sounds, or one or more algorithms for reproducing engine sounds and exhaust sounds, an amplifier operably connected to the processor for amplifying one of an engine sound or exhaust sound, at least one outwardly directed speaker for generating one of an engine or exhaust sound, an interface between the processor and the one or more vehicle performance sensors for sensing a vehicle performance parameter, the interface configured to receive an input from the one or more vehicle performance sensors and transmit it to the processor, wherein the processor receives the input from at least one vehicle performance sensor and varies a sound parameter of an engine sound or exhaust sound projected by the speaker based on the performance parameter.

An electrode structure having at least two oxide layers that more reliably switch and operate without the use of additional devices and a non-volatile memory device having the same are provided. The electrode structure may include a lower electrode, a first oxide layer formed on the lower electrode, a second oxide layer formed on the first oxide layer and an upper electrode formed on the second oxide layer wherein at least one of the first and second oxide layers may be formed of a resistance-varying material. The first oxide layer may be formed of an oxide having a variable oxidation state.

A method of operating an audio system in an automobile includes identifying a user of the audio system. An audio recording playing on the audio system is identified. An audio setting entered into the audio system by the identified user while the audio recording is being played by the audio system is sensed. The sensed audio setting is stored in memory in association with the identified user and the identified audio recording. The audio recording is retrieved from memory with the sensed audio setting being embedded in the retrieved audio recording as a watermark signal. The retrieved audio recording is played on the audio system with the embedded sensed audio setting being automatically implemented by the audio system during the playing.

A method for delivering a criteria-based message to a vehicle occupant includes establishing a wireless communication session between a mobile device integral with a vehicle and a data center remote from the vehicle. Next, identifier of the vehicle and at least one criteria from the mobile device is communicated to the remote data center. The at least one criteria includes a statistic of the vehicle and / or a statistic of a user of the mobile device. Based on the at least one criteria, an advertisement message for communication to the mobile device is determined. Then, the determined advertisement message is communicated from the remote data center to the mobile device. In a further step, the advertisement message is output with a speaker fixed within the vehicle carrying the mobile device.

The invention discloses a back sight image cognition based on-vehicle blind area early warning system and a method, wherein the system is composed of cameras (1 and 2) mounted on a rearview mirror to monitor the blind area, a digital signal processor (DSP), a sound prompting device, a power source and a plurality of data cables. The system reads the automobile travelling signal through the data cables, acquires the road surface image of the blind area (4 and 5) by adopting the rearview cameras, the processor processes the image, detects the automobile (3) in the blind area, analyzes the travelling state of the automobile, and realizes the multi-stage tracking for the automobile, when the driver intends to switch lanes, if another automobile in the blind area is not far from the automobile, then the driver is warned by the sound prompting device, so that the danger of collision during switching lanes is avoided. The back sight image cognition based on-vehicle blind area early warning system and the method are applied to the active safety driving, and has the advantages of simple system configuration, low cost, high safety performance, good real-time performance and complex environment adaptability.

An apparatus for aligning a trailer hitch and receiver includes an elongated channel or tube defining an angle, such that when the trailer is tilted back for hitching, the upper tube is substantially vertically aligned. A rubber tipped rod extends from the lower tube and contacts the vehicle when the vehicle draws near the trailer. As the rod is pushed into the lower tube, a connecting rod drives an actuator or indicating rod upwards. A calibration tube is slid over the upper tube, and is aligned along the upper tube to expose a brightly colored painted region on the indicating rod at the point where the receiver and hitch are aligned one above the other. Alternatively, the calibration tube moves a series of switches up or down, whereby the actuator is pushed by the rod to contact the switches successively to indicate the approach to and arrival at a hitching position, by the illumination of electric lights, and or by activation of an audible signal. The calibration rod may alternatively slide on the lower tube, wherein the contact rod creates or activates electrical connections within the calibration tube. The apparatus may further be incorporated into the trailer frame, before or after manufacturing. One or more of the apparatus may be placed near the rear of the trailer to aid lateral alignment, or to gauge the distance of the trailer to an object behind the trailer, either before or after hitching.

A vehicle sound generator system is configured to generate a signal configured to drive one or more speakers produce sound waves simulating sounds associated with a desired engine type. The signal is based on one or more operating conditions of a vehicle. The vehicle sound generator system is configured to select sounds from a plurality of sounds based on the operating conditions of the vehicle. Each sound corresponds to a simulated sound of an engine operating in a respective gear. The vehicle sound generator system may generate the signal to drive the speakers to produce selected sounds to simulate shifting between the respective gears.

An artificial engine sound control unit which controls an artificial engine sound which is emitted from a sounding body which is provided at an electric vehicle whose at least a part of drive power is generated by an electric motor, to outside; comprising a speed region determination part which determines a speed region of the electric vehicle and an artificial engine sound generating part, when the speed region determination part determines such that the electric motor of the electric vehicle can be energized and the electric vehicle is stopped, the artificial engine sound generating part controls so as for the sounding body to emit an artificial engine sound, and the artificial engine sound generating part detects such that the electric vehicle comes close to a start running mode, then the artificial engine sound generating part controls the artificial engine sound which is emitted from the sounding body.

An automobile warning method and an automobile warning system are provided. The automobile warning method is disclosed, implemented by an automobile warning system on a vehicle, wherein the automobile warning system includes a microwave reflective detection device and a control device, including: emitting, by the microwave reflective detection device, a microwave signal for detecting whether a mobile object is present in a blind spot of the vehicle; and when the presence of the mobile object is detected, changing, by the control device, a state of a controlled device of the vehicle.

A navigational mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror having a reflective element. A display, optionally a video display, is disposed to the rear of the reflective element and emits light when actuated that passes through the reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing a front portion of the reflective mirror element. A user input comprising a destination address is provided from a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is at an initial geographic location. The display displays driving instructions that provide instructions to the destination address. The driving instructions are viewable by a person viewing the front portion of the reflective element. A particular instruction of the driving instructions is preferably displayed when it is appropriate to display the particular instruction to the driver of the vehicle.

The present invention relates to a lane departure warning system and method, which use a virtual lane-dividing line generated using lane width information that is calculated using previously detected lane-dividing lines even when it is difficult to detect a lane-dividing line according to the weather, illuminance, road surface conditions, etc. present during travel of a vehicle, thus allowing a lane departure warning to be provided to a driver on the basis of the virtual lane-dividing line.