Vehicle alarm system and method

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle alarm system and method. A vehicle includes a camera system located on the vehicle and oriented to capture an image in an imaging area along a path of travel of the vehicle; a navigation system, the navigation system comprising map data; and an alarm located on the vehicle and configured to output different audible sounds in a plurality of alarm modes. A controller processes the image captured with the camera system and the map data, and identifies an event based on the processed image and classifies the event as one of a plurality of stored events. The controller selectively activates the alarm in one of the plurality of alarm modes based on the classified event.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to motor vehicle warning systems and, more particularly, to a siren system for an emergency service vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Emergency service vehicles, such as ambulances, fire and rescue vehicles, and police vehicles, typically include one or more sirens for alerting other nearby vehicles of the presence of the emergency service vehicle in certain circumstances. In some vehicles, the sirens are typically manually activated. It would be desirable to provide a vehicle siren system that can effectively adapt to different driving events. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes a camera system. The camera system is located on the vehicle and is oriented to capture images in an imaging area along a path of travel of the vehicle. A navigation system is included, the navigation system having map data. An alarm is located on the vehicle and is configured to output different audible sounds in multiple alarm modes. A controller processes the images captured using the camera system and the map data, and identifies an event based on the processed images and classifies the event as one of multiple stored events. The controller selectively activates the alarm in one of the multiple alarm modes based on the classified event.

[0004] Embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or a combination of the following features:

[0005] - the event is a driving event comprising another vehicle travelling in the travel path of the vehicle;

[0006] - the driving event comprises detection of an intersection on a road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode upon detection of the vehicle approaching the intersection;

[0007] - the driving event includes a traffic signal instructing the vehicle to stop;

[0008] - the driving event comprises detection of another vehicle approaching the road from a side of the road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode based on the detection of the other vehicle approaching the road;

[0009] - the driving event includes oncoming traffic;

[0010] - the driving event comprises approaching a traffic control on the road;

[0011] - a sensor that generates a sensor signal for sensing an object within the imaging area, wherein the controller further identifies the event based on the sensor signal;

[0012] - the vehicle comprises an emergency services vehicle; and

[0013] - The travel path comprises a road.

[0014] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle alarm system includes a camera system. The camera system is configured to be located on a vehicle and oriented to capture images in an imaging area along a path of travel of the vehicle. A navigation system is included, the navigation system having map data. An alarm is configured to be located on the vehicle and is configured to output different audible sounds in a plurality of alarm modes. A controller processes the images captured by the camera system and the map data, and identifies a driving event based on the processed images and classifies the driving event as one of a plurality of stored driving events, wherein the controller selectively activates the alarm in one of the plurality of alarm modes based on the classified driving event.

[0015] Embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or a combination of the following features:

[0016] - the driving event comprises another vehicle travelling in the travel path of the vehicle;

[0017] - the driving event comprises detection of an intersection on a road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode when the vehicle approaches the intersection;

[0018] - the driving event includes a traffic signal instructing the vehicle to stop; and

[0019] - the driving event comprises detection of another vehicle approaching the road from a side of the road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode based on the detection of another vehicle approaching the road.

[0020] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a method for controlling an alarm on a vehicle includes: capturing an image of a road in an imaging area along a path of the vehicle using a camera system; tracking the path of the vehicle and upcoming features using map data on a navigation system; determining when the vehicle is approaching a driving event based on the captured image and the map data; classifying the driving event as one of a plurality of known driving events; and controlling the alarm to operate in one of a plurality of alarm modes to generate a certain pattern of audible output based on the classified driving event.

[0021] Embodiments of the third aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or a combination of the following features:

[0022] - the driving event comprises another vehicle travelling in the travel path of the vehicle;

[0023] - the driving event comprises detection of an intersection on the road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode when the vehicle approaches the intersection;

[0024] - the driving event includes a traffic signal instructing the vehicle to stop; and

[0025] - the driving event comprises detection of another vehicle approaching the road from a side of the road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode based on the detection of another vehicle approaching the road.

[0026] These and other features, advantages and objectives of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by referring to the following description, claims and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In the attached picture:

[0028] Figure 1 is a side view of a motor vehicle on a road and having a siren controlled based on a detected driving event;

[0029] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an image captured by a camera and used to determine a driving event of another vehicle traveling on a forward path on a road;

[0030] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an image of a road captured in front of a vehicle, further illustrating a traffic light and a navigation map overlay at a road intersection;

[0031] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an image of a captured road showing a driving event with a road sign at an intersection;

[0032] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an image of a captured road showing a driving event with another vehicle approaching the road;

[0033] Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating a process control for controlling an alarm according to one embodiment; and

[0034] Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating a routine for controlling a siren according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts. In the drawings, the depicted structural elements are not drawn to scale, and certain parts are enlarged relative to other parts for the purpose of emphasis and understanding.

[0036] As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the present disclosure, which may be implemented in various alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily designed in detail; some schematic diagrams may be enlarged or minimized to show functional overviews. Therefore, the specific structural details and functional details disclosed herein should not be interpreted as limiting, but only as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art to adopt the present disclosure in different ways.

[0037] For the purpose of description herein, the terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "rear", "front", "vertical", "horizontal" and their derivatives shall refer to the following: Figure 1 The concepts of orientation in the drawings are presented in detail. However, it should be understood that the concepts can assume various alternative orientations unless expressly indicated to the contrary. It should also be understood that the specific devices and processes shown in the drawings and described in the following specification are merely exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Therefore, unless the claims expressly state otherwise, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein should not be considered limiting.

[0038] The presently illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components associated with vehicles and vehicle alarm systems. Accordingly, apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, and only those specific details relevant to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure are shown so as not to obscure the present disclosure with details that would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Additionally, like reference numerals in the specification and drawings represent like elements.

[0039] As used herein, the term "and / or" when used with a list of two or more items means that any one of the listed items may be employed alone, or any combination of two or more of the listed items may be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and / or C, the composition may contain: A only; B only; C only; a combination of A and B; a combination of A and C; a combination of B and C; or a combination of A, B, and C.

[0040] In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, etc. are used singly to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus comprising a list of elements may include not only those elements, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by "comprising ..." does not, in the absence of more constraints, preclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus comprising the element.

[0041] As used herein, the term "about" means that the amount, size, formula, parameter and other quantity and characteristics are not exact, nor need to be exact, but may be approximate and / or larger or smaller as needed to reflect tolerances, conversion factors, rounding, measurement errors, etc. and other factors known to those skilled in the art. When the term "about" is used to describe the endpoints of a value or range, the disclosure should be understood to include the specific value or endpoint mentioned. Regardless of whether the endpoints of a numerical value or range in this specification are described as "about", the endpoints of the numerical value or range are intended to include two embodiments: one modified by "about" and one not modified by "about". It should also be understood that the endpoints of each range in the range are significant in relation to the other endpoint and independently of the other endpoint.

[0042] As used herein, the terms "substantially," "substantially," and variations thereof are intended to indicate that the feature being described is equal to or approximately equal to a value or description. For example, a "substantially planar" surface is intended to indicate a planar or approximately planar surface. Additionally, "substantially" is intended to mean that two values ​​are equal or approximately equal. In some embodiments, "substantially" may indicate that values ​​are within about 10% of each other, such as within about 5% of each other, or within about 2% of each other.

[0043] Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, as used herein, the terms "the," "a," or "an" mean "at least one" and should not be limited to "only one." Thus, for example, reference to "a component" includes embodiments having two or more such components unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0044] refer to Figure 1, according to one example, a wheeled automobile or motor vehicle 10 is generally shown traveling on a road 26 and approaching a traffic light 28. The motor vehicle 10 has a vehicle body 12 that generally defines a cabin interior that generally has a plurality of driver and passenger seats and is configured to accommodate a driver and one or more passengers in the vehicle 10. The motor vehicle 10 includes a plurality of wheels 14 that contact the road 26. The vehicle body 12 has a roof 16 that has a roof-mounted light bar 22 on a top side and a grille / push-type light bar 18 on a front end.

[0045] Motor vehicle 10 is shown as an emergency services vehicle equipped with a siren 20 and a plurality of lights 24 for use with emergency services. Emergency services vehicles may be configured as any of a variety of vehicles, such as police vehicles, fire and rescue vehicles, ambulances, and other vehicles equipped with sirens for alerting people, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and occupants of other vehicles, of the presence of an emergency services vehicle.

[0046] In the example shown, the siren 20 is located on a grille / push-style light bar 18 at the front end of the motor vehicle 10. Additionally, the grille / push-style light bar 18 may be equipped with one or more lights operable in a plurality of selectable modes to flash or blink in a predetermined sequence, order, and brightness based on the location of the motor vehicle 10 and one or more detected driving events and inputs. Additionally, a roof-mounted light bar 22 is disposed on the roof 16 of the motor vehicle 10. The roof-mounted light bar 22 includes a plurality of lights that are also operable in a plurality of selectable modes to flash or blink in different colors and patterns, colors, and brightness based on the location of the motor vehicle 10 and one or more detected driving events (such as objects detected in the path of the motor vehicle 10) and inputs, as described herein.

[0047] It should be understood that the motor vehicle 10 may be equipped with one or more sirens, such as sirens 20, and the one or more sirens may be located at any of a number of locations on the vehicle, such as in the grille / push-style light bar 18 at the front of the motor vehicle 10, on the roof-mounted light bar 22, or elsewhere where audible tones may be output and heard by operators of other vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other persons or animals on the motor vehicle 10. Additionally, any of a number of sirens, with or without lights 24, may be located at various locations on the motor vehicle 10, such as on the light bar 22, the grille / push-style light bar 18, and may be integrated into other lighting devices on the motor vehicle 10, such as headlights, turn signals, taillights, and other lights that may provide illuminated visual indications.

[0048] The motor vehicle 10 includes a camera system located on the motor vehicle 10 and oriented to capture images of an imaging area along a path of travel of the motor vehicle 10. The camera system may include one or more cameras, such as an imaging camera 30, which is shown as being located generally at or below the roof 16 of the vehicle, near the top of the windshield, and oriented forward to capture images of the path of travel of the motor vehicle 10. The imaging camera 30 captures images of a road and surrounding area generally aligned along the path of travel of the motor vehicle 10. The captured images are processed by an image processor associated with the controller to identify events based on the processed signals.

[0049] In addition, the motor vehicle 10 is equipped with a navigation system that includes map data including roads, traffic lights, traffic signs, intersections, side walls, and other geographic features. The navigation system may include a global positioning system (GPS) receiver 32 that determines and transmits longitude and latitude position data of the motor vehicle 10. Given the determined location of the position data of the motor vehicle 10, the surrounding landscape may be determined based on map data of the local vicinity. For example, based on map data that knows the location of intersections, roads, street lights, road signs, or other objects, and the location and direction of travel of the motor vehicle 10 as determined by the GPS data, the motor vehicle 10 may be detected in a driving event close to these objects.

[0050] The motor vehicle 10 includes a controller for processing images captured by the camera system and map data, and identifying one or more driving events based on the processed images and map data, and classifying the driving event into one of a plurality of stored driving events. For example, the controller may determine that the motor vehicle 10 is experiencing a first driving event of following another vehicle on the road, or a second driving event of approaching another oncoming vehicle, or a third driving event of approaching a street light, or a fourth driving event of approaching a traffic sign (such as a stop sign), or a fifth driving event of approaching another vehicle determined to be entering the road in front of the motor vehicle 10, as several examples of driving events. The classified driving events may include these examples and other examples of driving events. In response to determining the driving event, the controller may activate the alarm in a selectable mode to output a mode with a series of audible tones and audible volumes based on the classified driving event. In addition, the controller may further activate one or more of the lights in a mode with light illumination based on the classified driving event.

[0051] The siren may be controlled to be activated in a siren mode with a mode having any of a plurality of tones or audible volume levels that can be ordered based on the classified driving events. For example, the siren may be activated in a howler mode, which has a low-frequency sound that can obtain the attention of other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, etc. in front of the emergency service vehicle by emitting low-frequency sound waves that other drivers and passengers can feel as vibrations and can hear audible sounds. Another example of a siren mode may be an air horn mode, which can emit audible sounds in repeated short sounds for a medium duration or even longer duration. For example, an air horn mode may have a muffled sound like that emitted by a tractor trailer. Siren modes may also include a priority mode, which may be a high-pitched, rapidly repeated shooting sound that can be performed at an intersection to warn nearby traffic. Additional siren modes may include a yelp mode, which may include a series of short, high-pitched shouts that convey a sense of urgency, thereby requiring other drivers or pedestrians to respond quickly to give way to the emergency service vehicle. Additional siren modes may include a wail mode that is more like a traditional original siren sound of repeated elongated, then fading high and low frequency sounds. Yet another siren mode may include a dual tone mode in which, for example, a high pitch EEEEEOOOOO, EEEEEOOOOO is produced, which is a sound often used by emergency service vehicles. Siren modes may also include a manual mode that is similar to the long wail mode but arbitrarily emphasizes the duration of the high and low pitch sounds. Finally, in another example, a siren mode may include a blipper / phaser / piercer mode that generates an intense and syncopated, short, riveted high pitch ray gun sound.

[0052] The siren 20 may be controlled according to the following examples. When the imaging camera 30, GPS navigation or radar does not detect a significant driving event, the siren 20 may generally be set to a chirping mode. When the imaging camera 30 detects another vehicle on a path or near the road in front of or ahead of the motor vehicle 10 indicating a driving event, the siren 20 may switch to a whistling mode. Similarly, when the GPS navigation data detects an upcoming intersection in the road as another driving event, the siren 20 may cycle to an air horn mode. According to one embodiment, changing one siren mode to another siren mode during different driving events may occur automatically by the controller processing image data, GPS data and radar data. In addition, the siren 20 may switch to a silent mode during a long period of no significant driving event (such as when the motor vehicle 10 is cruising on a highway without immediately approaching traffic, intersections or road signs). It should be understood that other selections of siren modes may be automatically controlled by the controller during different driving events, which does not require manual intervention by the driver of the motor vehicle 10.

[0053] In addition to controlling the siren 20 among multiple siren modes during different driving events, the motor vehicle 10 may also be equipped with emergency lights and configured to control the illumination mode from the emergency lights based on processed images captured using the imaging camera 30 and GPS navigation data used to detect driving events as determined by the controller. For example, the emergency lights may change light intensity, color, and / or frequency depending on the operating mode, and the frequency of the flashing effect of the illumination may be automatically changed using the controller during different driving events without user or manual intervention.

[0054] Figures 2 to 6 Examples of driving events that may be detected and used to control the alarm 20 are shown in FIG. Figure 2 , an emergency services type motor vehicle 10 captures an image 34 on a road 26 defined by a center line 36 and a road edge line 38. The image 34 is shown as another vehicle 40 captured in front of the motor vehicle 10 and identified as being located within a frame 42. In this scenario, the controller may process the captured image along with the map data and determine that the other vehicle 40 is experiencing a driving event in the path ahead of the motor vehicle 10, so that the siren 20 may be controlled to switch from one siren mode to another siren mode to alert the driver of the other vehicle 40 and others without manual intervention by the driver of the emergency services vehicle 10.

[0055] refer to Figure 3, the emergency services type motor vehicle 10 captures continuous images 34 of a path on the road 26 ahead of the motor vehicle 10, which may detect other vehicles in adjacent lanes and may utilize the captured images and / or GPS data to detect the presence of one or more traffic control signals, such as a streetlight 28 at an approaching intersection 48 that is determined to be another driving event. As the motor vehicle 10 approaches the intersection, the controller may activate the siren 20 to change the siren mode based on the presence of a traffic signal indicating a driving event and an indication on the traffic signal, such as whether the traffic signal indicates a green go or a red stop, and may further take into account the detected surrounding vehicle traffic.

[0056] refer to Figure 4 , the motor vehicle 10 captures an image 34 that is processed to identify another driving event with a road traffic control sign 44, such as a stop sign. It should also be understood that the road traffic control sign 44 may also be detected based on navigation data and other data such as radar sensing data or otherwise detected. When the motor vehicle 10 approaches the road traffic control sign 44 at the intersection 48, the controller may activate the siren 20 to change from one siren mode to another siren mode.

[0057] refer to Figure 5 , an image 34 is captured in the path of the motor vehicle 10, which detects another driving event with another vehicle approaching the road from one side of the road. In this scenario, when the motor vehicle 10 approaches the other vehicle 40, the controller can activate the alarm to change from the first mode to the second mode.

[0058] It should be appreciated that the motor vehicle 10 may be configured with a controller for changing between any of a plurality of audible siren modes based on driving events detected and classified based on data stored in the memory. The classified events stored in the memory may be programmed into the memory, downloaded from a service programmed into the memory, learned from driving history, or otherwise generated.

[0059] refer to Figure 6, the controller 50 is generally shown as a microcontroller unit (MCU) having a microprocessor 52 and a memory 54. It should be understood that the controller 50 can be configured with analog and / or digital circuits in other ways. The memory 54 is shown as storing a routine 100 for executing the method performed by the microprocessor 52. In addition, the memory 54 may include an image processing circuit 150, a GPS processing circuit 160, and a database 170, which can be used to store a plurality of selectable driving events and a plurality of siren modes. The controller 50 receives input from the front camera 30 and the GPS navigation receiver 32, and processes the image and GPS navigation data according to the routine 100 to generate an output for controlling the mode of the siren 20 and the mode of the light 24.

[0060] refer to Figure 7 , shows a routine 100 for executing a method for controlling a siren among multiple siren modes according to one example. Routine 100 begins at step 102 and proceeds to decision step 104 to determine whether the emergency siren is on or activated, and if not, ends at step 106. For example, the emergency siren may be turned on by the operator of the vehicle. In other examples, the emergency siren may be activated by an emergency service request such as input via an incoming emergency notification. If the emergency siren is on, routine 100 proceeds to step 108 to obtain GPS navigation data, which may include the location of the motor vehicle and, in particular, the surrounding location in front of the motor vehicle. Next, at step 110, routine 100 will obtain image data from the front camera 30. Next, routine 100 proceeds to step 112 to process the GPS navigation and image data, and then proceeds to decision step 114 to determine whether a significant driving event has been detected. For example, a significant driving event may include Figures 2 to 5 Any of the driving events shown. If no significant driving event is detected, the routine 100 returns to step 108. If a significant event has been detected, the routine 100 proceeds to step 116 to classify the significant driving event. The classification of the significant driving event may include identifying a driving event of any of a plurality of driving events, the plurality of driving events including an in-lane traffic driving event 118, an oncoming traffic driving event 120, an upcoming intersection driving event 122, a cross traffic driving event 124, a traffic signal driving event 126, and a traffic sign driving event 128. Given the classification of the significant driving event, the routine 100 then proceeds to step 130 to cycle the siren to a preset mode for the determined driving event, before returning to step 108.

[0061] Thus, the motor vehicle 10 advantageously employs a siren 20 that can be automatically controlled to alert drivers of other vehicles, passers-by, and other persons and animals of the presence of an emergency services-type motor vehicle by automatically changing the siren mode of the siren 20 based on the classified significant driving events, thereby minimizing manual control of the siren.

[0062] It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made to the foregoing constructions without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and it will be further understood that such concepts are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims unless the claims expressly state otherwise by their language.

[0063] According to the present invention, a vehicle is provided, the vehicle having: a camera system located on the vehicle and oriented to capture images in an imaging area along a path of travel of the vehicle; a navigation system including map data; an alarm located on the vehicle and configured to output different audible sounds in multiple alarm modes; and a controller that processes the images captured using the camera system and the map data, and identifies an event based on the processed image and classifies the event as one of multiple stored events, wherein the controller selectively activates the alarm in one of the multiple alarm modes based on the classified event.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the event is a driving event comprising another vehicle travelling in the travel path of the vehicle.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the event comprises detection of an intersection on a road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode upon detecting that the vehicle is approaching the intersection.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the event comprises a traffic control signal instructing the vehicle to stop.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the event comprises detection of another vehicle approaching the road from a side of the road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode based on the detection of another vehicle approaching the road.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the event comprises oncoming traffic.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the event comprises approaching a traffic control sign on the road.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the present invention is further characterized by a sensor that generates a sensor signal for sensing an object within the imaging area, wherein the controller further identifies the event based on the sensor signal.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the vehicle comprises an emergency services vehicle.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the travel path comprises a road.

[0073] According to the present invention, a vehicle alarm system is provided, the vehicle alarm system having: a camera system, the camera system being configured to be located on the vehicle and being oriented to capture images in an imaging area along a travel path of the vehicle; a navigation system, the navigation system including map data; an alarm, the alarm being configured to be located on the vehicle and being configured to output different audible sounds in a plurality of alarm modes; and a controller, the controller processing the images captured by the camera system and the map data, and identifying a driving event based on the processed images and classifying the driving event as one of a plurality of stored driving events, wherein the controller selectively activates the alarm in one of the plurality of alarm modes based on the classified driving event to generate a pattern having a tone and an audible volume.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the driving event comprises another vehicle travelling in the travel path of the vehicle.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the driving event comprises detecting an intersection on a road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode when the vehicle approaches the intersection.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the driving event comprises a traffic signal instructing the vehicle to stop.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the driving event comprises detection of another vehicle approaching the road from a side of the road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode based on the detection of another vehicle approaching the road.

[0078] According to the present invention, a method for controlling an alarm on a vehicle includes: capturing an image of a road in an imaging area along a path of the vehicle using a camera system; tracking the path of the vehicle and upcoming features using map data on a navigation system; determining when the vehicle is approaching a driving event based on the captured image and the map data; classifying the driving event as one of a plurality of known driving events; and controlling the alarm to operate in one of a plurality of alarm modes to generate a certain pattern of audible output based on the classified driving event.

[0079] In one aspect of the invention, the driving event includes another vehicle traveling in the travel path of the vehicle.

[0080] In one aspect of the invention, the driving event includes detecting an intersection on the road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode when the vehicle approaches the intersection.

[0081] In one aspect of the invention, the driving event includes a traffic signal instructing the vehicle to stop.

[0082] In one aspect of the invention, the driving event comprises detection of another vehicle approaching the road from a side of the road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode based on the detection of the other vehicle approaching the road.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising: a camera system located on the vehicle and oriented to capture images in an imaging area along a path of travel of the vehicle; a navigation system, the navigation system comprising map data; a siren located on the vehicle and configured to output different audible sounds in a plurality of siren modes; as well as A controller is provided to process the images captured by the camera system and the map data and to identify an event based on the processed images and to classify the event as one of a plurality of stored events, wherein the controller selectively activates the siren in one of the plurality of siren modes based on the classified event. 2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the event is a driving event that includes another vehicle traveling in the path of travel of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the event comprises detecting an intersection on a road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode upon detecting that the vehicle is approaching the intersection.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the event comprises a traffic control signal instructing the vehicle to stop.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the event comprises detection of another vehicle approaching the road from a side of the road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode based on the detection of another vehicle approaching the road.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the event comprises oncoming traffic.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the event comprises approaching a traffic control sign on the road.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: A sensor generates a sensor signal for sensing an object within the imaging area, wherein the controller further identifies the event based on the sensor signal.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vehicle comprises an emergency services vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the travel path comprises a road.

11. A method of controlling an alarm on a vehicle, the method comprising: capturing, with a camera system, an image of a road in an imaging area along a path of the vehicle; tracking said path of said vehicle and upcoming features using map data on a navigation system; determining when the vehicle is approaching a driving event based on the captured images and the map data; classifying the driving event as one of a plurality of known driving events; as well as The siren is controlled to operate in one of a plurality of siren modes to generate a pattern of audible outputs according to the classified driving event.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the driving event includes another vehicle traveling in the path of travel of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the driving event comprises detecting an intersection on the road, and wherein a controller changes the siren mode when the vehicle approaches the intersection.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the driving event comprises a traffic signal instructing the vehicle to stop.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the driving event comprises detecting another vehicle approaching the road from a side of the road, and wherein the controller changes the siren mode based on the detected another vehicle approaching the road.

Images