8572results about "Signalling/lighting devices" patented technology

An alert system for a vehicle includes a video display, an interior visual alert device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly, a driver side visual alert device disposed at a driver side exterior rearview mirror assembly and a passenger side visual alert device disposed at a passenger side exterior rearview mirror assembly. A control is operable to activate at least one of the alert devices in response to a detection of an object rearward of the vehicle. The alert devices are viewable by the driver of the vehicle when activated and are operable to guide or prompt the driver to check the images captured by a rearward facing camera and displayed in the vehicle cabin by the video display so that the driver can verify the nature and type of a potential hazard rearward of the vehicle.

The embodiments disclosed herein show how such LED methods and systems, especially intelligent LED systems, can be used for photographic and cinematography applications and provide many benefits. Controlled LED illumination allows easy customization of these features to create a particular mood and can be used to create light of desired saturation and hue.

Methods and systems are described for generating a vehicle-to-vehicle traffic alert. Various aspects may include detecting that an abnormal traffic condition exists in an operating environment of a vehicle and generating a related electronic message. The electronic message may be transmitted via the vehicle's transceiver using a wireless communication to a nearby vehicle to alert the nearby vehicle of the abnormal traffic condition and to allow the nearby vehicle to avoid the abnormal traffic condition.

An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The image array sensor comprises a plurality of photo-sensing pixels and is positioned at the vehicle with a field of view exteriorly of the vehicle. The imaging array sensor is operable to capture an image of a scene occurring exteriorly of the vehicle. The captured image comprises an image data set representative of the exterior scene. The control algorithmically processes the image data set to a reduced image data set of the image data set. The control processes the reduced image data set to extract information from the reduced image data set. The control selects the reduced image data set based on a steering angle of the vehicle.

A high intensity light source employs a plurality of light emitting diodes associated with a unitary reflector subassembly. The reflector subassembly defines an array of frustoconical reflectors arranged in rows and columns with the adjacent reflectors of each row being connected by a diverging slot with reflective wall surfaces. The light emitting diodes are mounted on a printed circuit board which forms a component of heat sink subassembly.

A method of estimating a time to collision (TTC) of a vehicle with an object comprising: acquiring a plurality of images of the object; and determining a TTC from the images that is responsive to a relative velocity and relative acceleration between the vehicle and the object.

A system and method to avoid collisions on highways, and to minimize the fatalities, injury, and damage when a collision is unavoidable. The system includes sensors to detect other vehicles, and computing environments programmed to evaluate when a collision is imminent and to determine whether the collision is avoidable. If the collision is avoidable by a sequence of controlled accelerations and decelerations and steering, the system implements that sequence of actions automatically. If the collision is unavoidable, a different sequence is implemented to minimize the overall harm of the unavoidable collision. The system further includes indirect mitigation steps such as flashing the brake lights automatically. An optional post-collision strategy is implemented to prevent secondary collisions, particularly if the driver is incapacitated. Adjustment devices are provided to enable the driver to set the type and timing of automatic interventions.

Methods and systems are described for providing vehicular alerts. In various aspects, a vehicle environment may be monitored using one or more sensors associated with a vehicle located in the vehicle environment. One or more pedestrians or cyclists within the vehicle environment may be identified based upon sensor data obtained from the one or more sensors. At least one of the pedestrians or cyclists may be determined to meet predetermined alert criteria based upon the sensor data. An alert indicating a presence of the pedestrians or cyclists may be generated and presented to an output device associated with the vehicle.

The present invention provides a travel direction device in which a user can listen to voice directions or warning voice direction about a traveling route. The travel direction device according to the present invention sets a direction about the traveling route, and if the user drives the same traveling route a plurality of times, the direction is given less frequently than a number of times the user drives the traveling route. Accordingly, the voice direction is not given all the time, thus not annoying for the user who uses the same route repeatedly. Consequently, the user would not turn off the voice direction function itself, and thus, the voice direction function can be used effectively.

An image enhancing system for a vehicle comprises a display unit for displaying modified images and an imaging device for receiving captured images—enhanced by the image enhancing system. The system further includes an image enhancing module in communication with the display unit and the imaging device—such that pixels located in the captured images are enhanced by repositioning the pixels from a first position to a second position via a transfer operation.

A system and method for calculating a horizontal camera to target distance is provided. A camera on board a vehicle is configured to image a target on a trailer that is aligned with the vehicle. A controller is in communication with the camera and is supplied a user-obtained measurement. The controller is configured to calculate a first horizontal distance and a second horizontal distance, and to sum the first and second horizontal distances to calculate a horizontal camera to target distance.

Methods and systems are provided for LED modules that include an LED die integrated in an LED package with a submount that includes an electronic component for controlling the light emitted by the LED die. The electronic component integrated in the s submount may include drive hardware, a network interface, memory, a processor, a switch-mode power supply, a power facility, or another type of electronic component.

A system for calibrating a backup assist system for a trailer attached to a vehicle is provided which includes a hitch sensor continuously measuring a hitch angle for determining an angle rate, a yaw sensor continuously sensing a yaw rate of the vehicle, and a controller configured to determine an offset of the measured hitch angle when vehicle is driving forward and / or rearward.

A traffic light detection system for a vehicle is provided. The system may include at least one processing device programmed to receive, from at least one image capture device, a plurality of images representative of an area forward of the vehicle, the area including a traffic light fixture having at least one traffic light. The at least one processing device may also be programmed to analyze at least one of the plurality of images to determine a status of the at least one traffic light, and determine an estimated amount of time until the vehicle will reach an intersection associated with the traffic light fixture. The at least one processing device may further be programmed to cause a system response based on the status of at least one traffic light and the estimated amount of time until the vehicle will reach the intersection.

A method of using a directional sensor for the purposes of detecting the presence of a vehicle or an object within a zone of interest on a roadway or in a parking space. The method comprises the following steps: transmitting a microwave transmit pulse of less than 5 feet; radiating the transmitted pulse by a directional antenna system; receiving received pulses by an adjustable receive window; integrating or combining signals from multiple received pulses; amplifying and filtering the integrated receive signal; digitizing the combined signal; comparing the digitized signal to at least one preset or dynamically computed threshold values to determine the presence or absence of an object in the field of view of the sensor; and providing at least one pulse generator with rise and fall times of less than 3 ns each and capable of generating pulses less than 10 ns in duration.

Personnel and vehicle collision avoidance devices configured to be used in collision avoidance systems are disclosed. The collision avoidance devices are configured to be aware of the context (e.g. position, location, state, status, etc.) in which the person or vehicle is. This awareness allows the devices to avoid transmitting non-hazardous proximity warnings when the context does not warrant the transmission of proximity warnings, and to transmit special critical proximity warnings when the context warrants the transmission of such proximity warnings. To detect the context, the devices comprise one or more context-awareness mechanisms (e.g. user input interfaces, sensors, infra-red receivers, etc.), each of which being capable of detecting one or more particular contexts. A collision avoidance system comprising these personnel and vehicle collision avoidance devices is also presented.

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for integrating head-worn computing into an automotive environment. A method for providing displayed content to a user of a head-mounted display while operating a vehicle with improved safety may include determining if the user is looking through a windshield of the vehicle or at an adjacent portion of the vehicle interior. If the user is looking through the windshield, the displayed content is prevented from being provided for viewing by the user within a display field of view of the head mounted display. If the user is looking at an adjacent portion of the vehicle interior, displayed content is provided for viewing by the user within the display field of view.

A driving support apparatus for a first vehicle in which a driving support system carries out, when a second vehicle exists in a communication area of the first vehicle, transmission and reception of position information between the first vehicle and the second vehicle and provides driving support information of traveling relating to a risk of the first vehicle with regard to the second vehicle based on the position information, the driving support apparatus for a first vehicle including a display unit for displaying the driving support information; and a display controller for controlling a display mode of the display unit based on a positional relationship between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; the display unit includes: a first display for displaying the driving support information when the second vehicle exists at a position ahead of the first vehicle.

The invention relates to an on-board intelligent alarming method and a device, wherein, the method combines a longitudinal anti-collision pre-warning method based on the single-eye vision and an accident automatic help-calling method, realizes preventing the rear-end accidents, strives for helping time, reduces injuries and deaths, effectively prevents the collision accidents and personnel deaths caused by the collision, and improves the running safety of the automobile; the device mainly comprises three parts: an on-board terminal, a monitoring center and a user end; the method and the device use the machine vision technique to differentiate the moving vehicles in the front, have high precision and wide visible range, can effectively probe the obstacles, reduce the error reporting possibility and prevent the collision accidents. The method and the device can improve the safety of the vehicle, thus having extremely large application value and prospect.

According to one aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, a safety control system for vehicles, includes, a communication device having at least one of an input accessible from within the vehicle and an output communicated within the vehicle, at least one sensor operable to sense at least one condition related to vehicle operation, and a controller communicated with the sensor and the communication device to selectively suppress at least one of said input and said output in response to a sensed parameter of said at least one condition being outside of a threshold. When an input is suppressed, the driver is prevented from accessing or inputting information into the communication device. When an output is suppressed, communication between the device and the driver of a vehicle is suppressed to, among other things, avoid distracting the driver during certain driving situations or conditions relating to the driver, vehicle and / or environment.

An alert system for a vehicle includes a video display, an interior visual alert device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly, a driver side visual alert device disposed at a driver side exterior rearview mirror assembly and a passenger side visual alert device disposed at a passenger side exterior rearview mirror assembly. A control is operable to activate at least one of the alert devices in response to a detection of an object rearward of the vehicle. The alert devices are viewable by the driver of the vehicle when activated and are operable to guide or prompt the driver to check the images captured by a rearward facing camera and displayed in the vehicle cabin by the video display so that the driver can verify the nature and type of a potential hazard rearward of the vehicle.

Method and system are disclosed for compensating for color variations due to thermal differences in LED based lighting systems. The method and system involves characterizing the LEDs to determine what PWM (pulse-width modulation) is needed at various operating temperatures to achieve a desired resultant color. The characterization data is then stored in the microprocessor either in the form of a correction factor or as actual data. When an operating temperature that is different from a calibration temperature is detected, the characterization data is used to adjust the PWM of the LEDs to restore the LEDs to the desired resultant color.

Disclosed herein are a variety of different electrical system topologies intended to mitigate the impact of large intermittent loads on a 12 volt vehicle power distribution system. In some embodiments the intermittent load is disconnected from the remainder of the system and the voltage supplied to this load is allowed to fluctuate. In other embodiments, the voltage to critical loads is regulated independently of the voltage supplied to the remainder of the system. The different topologies described can be grouped into three categories, each corresponding to a different solution technique. One approach is to regulate the voltage to the critical loads. A second approach is to isolate the intermittent load that causes the drop in system voltage. The third approach is to use a different type of alternator that has a faster response than the conventional Lundell wound field machine.

A target monitoring system and method are provided herein. An imager is configured to image a scene rearward of a vehicle and containing a target disposed on a trailer attached to the vehicle. A controller is configured to receive images from the imager, modify each image to increase the size of the imaged target, and analyze the modified images to determine at least one trailer related information.

A system and method for providing assisted safety to an operator of a vehicle using a head-mounted display that provides displayed content and a see-through view of a surrounding environment, includes determining whether the operator is looking through the windshield of the vehicle or is not looking through the windshield, if the user is looking through the windshield, preventing displayed content from being provided within a display field of view of the head-mounted display, thereby providing an unencumbered see-through view of the surrounding environment, if the user is not looking through the windshield, providing displayed content for viewing by the user within the display field of view, and if important information relating to the safety of the vehicle is detected by a system associated with the vehicle while the user is looking not looking through the windshield, interrupting the displayed content and providing an alert to the operator.

A system and a method are provided for estimating an actual hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer. A hitch sensor on the vehicle continuously senses a measured hitch angle and a steering sensor continuously senses a steering angle of steered wheels of the vehicle. A controller determines an offset between the measured hitch angle and the actual hitch angle when the measured hitch angle and the steering angle are substantially constant while the vehicle and trailer are reversing.

Safety systems and methods for driver operated motor vehicles. The systems and methods respond to adverse weather to regulate traffic flow of vehicles, and to change the performance of vehicles in more than two different modes of operation. The systems and methods further locate other vehicles ahead and at the sides of said vehicle, and communicate such locations and proximity of the other vehicles, as well as warning the driver of the danger of collision. The information provided by such systems and methods is communicated to the vehicle driver in such manner that the driver's vision and attention are not diverted away from other traffic conditions ahead of the vehicle.