EP0549909A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Warning apparatus for a vehicle
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1992-12-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A warning apparatus for a vehicle generates a warning for a driver of the vehicle when the separation between the vehicle (1) and an obstacle (20) located in front of the vehicle falls below a prescribed value. The prescribed value is varied in accordance with changes in the physical or mental state of the driver of the vehicle, environmental conditions, or the driving characteristics of the driver and thereby adjust to changes in the driver's reaction time and the stopping distance of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuya c/o Mitsubishi Denki K.K. Kajiwata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:43
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q9/00; B60Q9/008; G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S2013/932; G01S2013/9322; G01S2013/9323; G01S2013/9324; G01S2013/9325; G01S2013/9327; G01S2013/93271; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A warning apparatus for a vehicle comprising: obstacle sensing means for sensing the separation between a vehicle and an obstacle located in front of the vehicle; driver condition sensing means for sensing a condition of a driver of the vehicle; an alarm; and a controller comprising condition setting means responsive to the driver condition sensing means for setting a value for vehicle separation which varies in accordance with the sensed condition of the driver, and warning generating means for controlling the alarm to generate a warning for the driver when the separation sensed by the obstacle sensing means is below the set value for vehicle separation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
A warning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the driver condition sensing means comprises means for sensing when the driver is manipulating an accessory of the vehicle, and the condition setting means increases the set value for vehicle separation when the driver condition sensing means senses that the driver is manipulating an accessory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A warning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising environment sensing means for sensing an environmental condition of an environment containing the vehicle, wherein the condition setting means comprises means for varying the set value for vehicle separation in accordance with changes in the sensed environmental condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A warning apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the environment sensing means comprises means for sensing rain, and the condition sensing means increases the set value for vehicle separation when the environment sensor senses rain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A warning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for determining a driving characteristic of the driver, wherein the condition setting means varies the value for vehicle separation in accordance with the determined driving characteristic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
A warning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including speed sensing means for sensing the speed of the vehicle V₀, wherein: the controller includes means for sensing the relative speed (V₀ - V F ) of the vehicle and the obstacle based on the separation sensed by the obstacle sensor, wherein V F is the speed of the obstacle; the condition setting means sets the value for vehicle separation to kV₀, wherein k is a value which is varied by the condition setting means in accordance with changes in the sensed condition of the driver; and the warning generating means controls the alarm to generate a warning when the relative speed is decreasing and the vehicle separation is less than kV₀.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
135 words
A warning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the controller includes means for sensing the relative speed (V₀ - V F ) of the vehicle and the obstacle based on the separation sensed by the obstacle sensor, wherein V₀ is the speed of the vehicle and V F is the speed of the obstacle; and the condition setting means sets the value for vehicle separation to and varies the value of at least one of t₀ and R₀ in accordance with changes in the sensed condition of the driver, wherein t₀ is an assumed reaction time of the driver between a warning being generated by the alarm and initiation of braking of the vehicle by the driver, R₀ is a safety factor, and α is an assumed deceleration of the vehicle produced by braking.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A warning apparatus for a vehicle comprising: obstacle sensing means for sensing the separation between a vehicle and an obstacle located in front of the vehicle; environment sensing means for sensing an environmental condition of an environment containing the vehicle; an alarm; and a controller comprising condition setting means responsive to the environment sensing means for setting a value for vehicle separation which varies in accordance with the sensed environmental condition, and warning generating means for controlling the alarm to generate a warning for the driver when the separation sensed by the obstacle sensing means is below the set value for vehicle separation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A warning apparatus for a vehicle comprising: obstacle sensing means for sensing the separation between a vehicle and an obstacle; driving characteristic determining means for determining a driving characteristic of the driver of the vehicle; an alarm; and a controller comprising condition setting means for setting a value for vehicle separation which varies in accordance with changes in the determined driving characteristic, and warning generating means for controlling the alarm to generate a warning for the driver when the separation sensed by the obstacle sensing means is below the set value for vehicle separation.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of generating a warning for a driver of a vehicle comprising: sensing a separation between a vehicle and an obstacle located in front of the vehicle; sensing a condition of a driver of the vehicle; setting a value for vehicle separation between the vehicle and the obstacle in accordance with the sensed driver condition; and generating a warning for the driver when the sensed separation is below the set value for vehicle separation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of generating a warning for a driver of a vehicle comprising: sensing a separation between a vehicle and an obstacle located in front of the vehicle; sensing an environmental condition of an environment containing the vehicle; setting a value for vehicle separation between the vehicle and the obstacle in accordance with the sensed environmental condition; and generating a warning for the driver when the sensed separation is below the set value for vehicle separation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of generating a warning for a driver of a vehicle comprising: sensing a separation between a vehicle and an obstacle located in front of the vehicle; determining a driving characteristic of a driver of the vehicle; setting a value for vehicle separation between the vehicle and the obstacle in accordance with the determined driving characteristic; and generating a warning for the driver when the sensed separation is below the set value for vehicle separation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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