Vehicle warning system

Abstract

A vehicle warning system includes an image sensor, a signal processing unit, a control unit, and a message transmitting unit. The image sensor captures an image, including an image of one of the vehicle's doors. The signal processing unit is electrically connected to the image sensor, receives and determines whether there are any abnormal features of an object abnormally lodging at the door, and generates an analysis result. The control unit is electrically connected to the signal processing unit, receives the analysis result, and when the signal processing unit determines that there are abnormal features of an object abnormally lodging at the door, the control unit generates a command. The message transmitting unit is electrically connected to the control unit, and after receiving the command, the message transmitting unit issues an alarm message to remind the driver to react immediately and provide assistance to passengers, thereby improving driving safety and the passenger's riding experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to vehicle warning detection technology; in particular, it refers to a warning system designed for large vehicles. Prior Technology

[0002] With the development of transportation, vehicle safety has become increasingly important. This is especially true for large vehicles such as buses, trucks, and construction vehicles, whose large size and limited visibility make monitoring of their surroundings even more crucial. To improve driving safety, many vehicle manufacturers are integrating various advanced detection technologies into their products to help drivers better understand the surrounding traffic conditions.

[0003] Most vehicles are equipped with radar or ultrasonic detection systems to monitor for foreign objects in the surrounding environment. When the vehicle gets too close to these objects, the system issues a warning to alert the driver. However, in the warning systems of larger vehicles, these detection technologies still have shortcomings in certain subtle situations.

[0004] Therefore, improving the detection capabilities of large vehicle warning systems to more accurately identify these subtle situations and thus ensure the safety of passengers and road users has become an important issue that relevant operators urgently need to address. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a vehicle warning system with image recognition function, which can effectively identify objects abnormally parked at the vehicle door so that the driver can provide further assistance in a timely manner.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a vehicle warning system comprising an image sensor, a signal processing unit, a control unit, and a message transmitting unit. The image sensor is installed in a vehicle and is used to capture an image, which includes an image of one of the vehicle's doors. The signal processing unit is electrically connected to the image sensor. The signal processing unit receives and determines whether the image shows an object abnormally loitering at the door, and generates an analysis result. The control unit is electrically connected to the signal processing unit. The control unit receives the analysis result. When the signal processing unit determines that the image shows an object abnormally loitering at the door, the control unit generates a command based on the analysis result. The message transmitting unit is electrically connected to the control unit. After receiving the command, the message transmitting unit issues an alarm message.

[0007] The advantage of this invention lies in the fact that after the image sensor of the vehicle warning system captures the image, the signal processing unit performs image recognition to identify whether there is an abnormal object lingering at the vehicle door and generates an analysis result. The control unit receives the analysis result, and when the signal processing unit detects that an object is abnormally lingering at the vehicle door in the image, the control unit immediately generates a corresponding command and sends it to the message transmitting unit. The message transmitting unit uses this command to remind the driver to react immediately and to provide further assistance to the passengers. This not only improves driving safety but also enhances the passenger experience. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0008] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle warning system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a vehicle side view of the vehicle warning system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a front view of the vehicle warning system of the above-mentioned preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing that there is an object abnormally staying at the door. Figure 4 is a front view of the vehicle warning system of the above-described preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the presence of mobility aids at the vehicle door. Figure 5 is a front view of a vehicle warning system according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the position of the image sensor on the inner door frame of the vehicle door. Figure 6 is a front view of a vehicle warning system according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the position of the image sensor on the roof of the vehicle. Figure 7 is a front view of a vehicle warning system according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the position of the image sensor on the second side of the vehicle. Implementation

[0009] To more clearly illustrate the present invention, preferred embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a vehicle warning system 100 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an image sensor 20, a signal processing unit 30, a control unit 40, and a message transmitting unit 50. The signal processing unit 30 is electrically connected to the image sensor 20 and the control unit 40, and the control unit 40 is electrically connected to the message transmitting unit 50. Furthermore, the vehicle warning system 100 is used in conjunction with a vehicle 10. The vehicle warning system 100 can be flexibly installed on various types of vehicles, such as minibuses, cars, vans, trucks, etc. The diverse applicability allows the vehicle warning system 100 to meet the needs of different modes of transportation and improve the safety and convenience of various vehicles. In this preferred embodiment, the vehicle 10 is a bus. The vehicle 10 includes a roof 12, a first side 14, a second side 16, and a floor 18. The roof 12 and the floor 18 are arranged opposite to each other. The first side 14 is provided with a door 142. The first side 14 and the second side 16 are located on the left and right sides of the vehicle 10, respectively, and are connected to the roof 12 and the floor 18.

[0010] The viewing angle θ of the image sensor 20 is in the range of 90 to 120 degrees. The image sensor 20 is located above the outer door frame of the door 142, that is, the image sensor 20 is located on the outer side of the first side 14. The image sensor 20 faces the door 142 to capture an image. The image includes an image near the door 142, a partial image of the interior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142, and a partial image of the exterior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142.

[0011] When the door 142 changes from an open state to a closed state, and when the door 142 changes from a closed state to an open state, the image sensor 20 will capture the image. After receiving the image captured by the image sensor 20, the signal processing unit 30 will perform image recognition on the image, determine whether there is any abnormal object stopping at the door 142 in the image captured by the image sensor 20, and generate an analysis result. The control unit 40 will receive the analysis result from the signal processing unit 30. When the signal processing unit 30 determines that there is an abnormal object stopping at the door 142 in the image captured by the image sensor 20, the control unit 40 will generate a command to the message transmission unit 50 based on the analysis result from the signal processing unit 30. The command is a warning command or a prompt command. After receiving the command, the message transmission unit 50 will issue a warning message to the driver. The warning message includes a light signal message and / or a voice message.

[0012] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the time interval for the image sensor 20 to capture the image is illustrated by the time interval during which the door 142 changes from an open state to a closed state and the time interval during which the door 142 changes from a closed state to an open state. In other embodiments, the time interval for the image sensor 20 to capture the image can also be the time interval during which the door 142 changes from an open state to a closed state and the time interval during which the door 142 changes from a closed state to an open state. In addition, in this embodiment, the signal processing unit 30 performs image recognition using algorithms such as edge detection, difference contrast detection, or object recognition. However, in other preferred embodiments, infrared detection or other algorithms can also be used for image recognition.

[0013] To further explain, when the image sensor 20 changes the door 142 from the open state to the closed state, the image sensor 20 captures the image towards the door 142. The image includes the image near the door 142, a portion of the interior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142, and a portion of the exterior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142, as shown in Figure 3. During the process of recognizing the image, the signal processing unit 30 determines that an object A is abnormally stationary at the door 142, such as when a passenger's clothing appears at the door 142. After receiving the analysis result, the control unit 40 immediately generates a warning command to the message transmission unit 50. The message transmission unit 50 reminds the driver to check or open the door 142 through the light signal message and / or the voice message of the warning message. For example, the warning light is displayed as a flashing red warning light, accompanied by the voice message "Attention! There is a foreign object near the door. Please check before closing the door." This warning message attracts the driver's attention, thereby improving vehicle safety while driving.

[0014] Furthermore, when the image sensor 20 changes from the closed state to the open state of the door 142, the image sensor 20 captures the image towards the door 142. The image includes the image near the door 142, a portion of the interior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142, and a portion of the exterior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142, as shown in Figure 4. During the process of recognizing the image, the signal processing unit 30 determines that a mobility aid B, such as a manual wheelchair, electric wheelchair, or walker, appears near the door 142 on the exterior of the vehicle 10. After receiving the analysis result, the control unit 40 immediately generates the prompt command to the message transmission unit 50. The message transmission unit 50 reminds the driver to manually or automatically activate a lifting device of the vehicle 10 through the light signal message and / or the voice message of the alarm message, and checks whether the passenger needs further assistance. For example, the warning light is displayed as a flashing yellow warning light, accompanied by the voice message "Attention! Mobility aid detected outside the door. Please check if any passengers need assistance." This warning message alerts the driver that a passenger using mobility aids needs assistance outside the door. The driver can then manually set the lift or automatically activate the vehicle's lift to allow the passenger to board smoothly and provide immediate assistance. This not only enhances the passenger's riding experience but also effectively reduces the time spent boarding.

[0015] In this preferred embodiment, the control unit 40 and the message transmitting unit 50 can be integrated with the vehicle control system of the vehicle 10. In this way, the message transmitting unit 50 can display the light signal message and / or the voice message on the instrument panel and horn of the vehicle 10. In addition, after receiving the warning instruction or the prompt instruction, the driver can also take corresponding measures directly through the vehicle control system, thereby improving the flexibility of the vehicle warning system 100.

[0016] Please refer to Figure 5, which shows a vehicle warning system 200 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. This vehicle warning system 200 has a substantially the same configuration as the vehicle warning system 100 in the first preferred embodiment, except that:

[0017] In this preferred embodiment, the image sensor 20 is disposed above the inner door frame of the door 142 and captures images of the area adjacent to the door 142, a portion of the interior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142, and a portion of the exterior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142. This reduces the impact of the external environment of the vehicle 10, such as changes in light or weather conditions, thereby ensuring the quality of the images captured by the image sensor 20.

[0018] Please refer to Figure 6, which shows a vehicle warning system 300 according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. This vehicle warning system 300 has a substantially the same configuration as the vehicle warning system 100 in the first preferred embodiment, except that:

[0019] In this preferred embodiment, the image sensor 20 is disposed on the roof 12 of the vehicle 10 and captures images of the area adjacent to the door 142, a portion of the interior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142, and a portion of the exterior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142. This provides the image sensor 20 with a wider field of view, and the images are less likely to be obstructed by passengers or the interior of the vehicle 10, thus ensuring more comprehensive monitoring.

[0020] Please refer to Figure 7, which shows a vehicle warning system 400 according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. This vehicle warning system 400 has a substantially the same configuration as the vehicle warning system 100 in the first preferred embodiment, except that:

[0021] In this preferred embodiment, the image sensor 20 is disposed on the second side 16 of the vehicle 10 and captures images of the area adjacent to the door 142, a portion of the interior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142, and a portion of the exterior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142. In this way, the image sensor 20 can more comprehensively monitor the situation in the passenger area near the door. When passengers using mobility aids need to get on or off the vehicle, the driver can immediately understand the level of congestion in the passenger area near the door and quickly guide the passengers to ensure their safety and convenience.

[0022] In summary, the image sensors 20 of the vehicle warning systems 100, 200, 300, and 400 capture images of the area near the door 142, a portion of the interior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142, and a portion of the exterior of the vehicle 10 near the door 142. The signal processing unit 30 then performs image recognition to effectively identify situations where an object A is abnormally stationary at the door 142 or where a mobility aid B requires assistance. The control unit 40 generates corresponding commands and transmits them to the message transmission unit 50. The message transmission unit 50 then uses light signals and / or voice messages to remind the driver to react immediately and provide further assistance to the passengers. This not only improves driving safety but also enhances the passenger experience.

[0023] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Any equivalent changes made by applying the present invention specification and the claims should be included within the patent scope of the present invention.

[0024] 100, 200, 300, 400: Vehicle warning system 10: Vehicles 12: Roof 14: First side 142: Car door 16: Second side 18: Under the car 20: Image Sensor 30: Signal Processing Unit 40: Control Unit 50: Message Transmission Unit θ: perspective A: Object B: Assistive devices

Claims

1. A vehicle warning system, comprising: an image sensor disposed in a vehicle, the image sensor being used to capture an image including an image of one of the vehicle's doors; a signal processing unit electrically connected to the image sensor, the signal processing unit receiving and determining whether the image shows an object abnormally loitering at the door, and generating an analysis result; a control unit electrically connected to the signal processing unit, the control unit receiving the analysis result, and when the signal processing unit determines that the image shows an object abnormally loitering at the door, the control unit generating an instruction based on the analysis result; and a message transmitting unit electrically connected to the control unit, the message transmitting unit receiving the instruction and issuing an alarm message; wherein the instruction of the control unit includes a prompt instruction, when the signal processing unit determines that the image captured by the image sensor shows a mobility aid at the door, the control unit generating the prompt instruction based on the analysis result, and the message transmitting unit receiving the prompt instruction and issuing the alarm message to notify the driver.

2. The vehicle warning system as described in claim 1, wherein the time interval for the image sensor to capture the image is when the door changes from a closed state to an open state.

3. The vehicle warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image sensor is disposed above the outer door frame of the vehicle door.

4. The vehicle warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image sensor is disposed above the inner door frame of the vehicle door.

5. The vehicle warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a first side and a second side disposed opposite to each other, the vehicle door is disposed on the first side, and the image sensor is disposed on the second side.

6. The vehicle warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image sensor is disposed on the roof of one of the interiors of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle warning system as described in claim 1, wherein the instruction of the control unit includes a warning instruction, and when the signal processing unit determines that the image contains the feature of an object abnormally staying at the door, the control unit generates the warning instruction based on the analysis result, and after receiving the warning instruction, the message transmitting unit issues the alarm message to notify the driver to open the door.

8. The vehicle warning system as described in claim 1, wherein the viewing angle of the image sensor is 90 to 120 degrees.

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