Approach notification device of straddle type vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9802537-B2
Application number	US-201514831267-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2015
Priority date	Sep 26, 2014
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

An approach notification device of a straddle type vehicle which can effectively notify a rider of an approaching state of an obstacle, the device including an obstacle detection device for detecting an obstacle located around a motorcycle as an vehicle, an approach determination device for detecting an approaching state that the obstacle is located within a predetermined distance from the vehicle, and a winker operation resistance increasing device for increasing operation resistance of a winker manipulator of a winker device provided in the vehicle. When the obstacle is determined to be within the predetermined distance by the approach determination device and the operation of the winker manipulator in the direction of the obstacle is detected, the winker operation resistance increasing device is operated to increase the operation resistance of the winker manipulator and vibrators located in a steering handle and a fuel tank are operated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An approach notification device of a straddle type vehicle comprising:
an obstacle detection device that detects an obstacle located around the vehicle;
an approach determination device that detects an approaching state that the obstacle is located within a predetermined distance from the vehicle; and

a winker operation resistance increasing device for increasing operation resistance of a winker manipulator of a winker device, which is provided in the vehicle and configured to operate a direction indicator by being tilted leftward and rightward;
wherein when the approaching state that the obstacle is within the predetermined distance from the vehicle is determined by the approach determination device and the operation of the winker manipulator in the direction of a location of the obstacle is detected, the winker operation resistance increasing device is operated to increase the operation resistance of the winker manipulator,
wherein the winker manipulator is supported on a handle switch that is fixed on a steering handle of the vehicle, and the operation resistance increasing device is configured to increase the operation resistance by pressing force of a plunger of a solenoid,
wherein the plunger is operable with an elastic member which causes the operation resistance in the winker manipulator.

2. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the operation resistance of the winker manipulator is increased only for a predetermined period of time after the operation of the winker manipulator is detected.

3. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a first notification device that is configured to start operation under a condition that the approaching state is determined and the winker device is operated in the direction of the location of the obstacle by the operation of the winker manipulator.

4. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 2 , further comprising a first notification device that is configured to start operation under a condition that the approaching state is determined and the winker device is operated in the direction of the location of the obstacle by the operation of the winker manipulator.

5. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 1 further comprising:
a first notification device configured to start operation under a condition that the winker device is operated in the direction of the location of the obstacle in a condition where the approaching state is determined,
wherein the first notification device comprises a vibrator that vibrates a part corresponding to the location of the obstacle among a plurality of predetermined parts with which a rider of the vehicle makes contact,
wherein the vibrator is configured to vibrate a right hand part of the rider when the obstacle is located on a front right side of the vehicle, to vibrate a left hand part of the rider when the obstacle is located on a front left side of the vehicle, to vibrate a right foot part of the rider when the obstacle is located on a rear right side of the vehicle, and to vibrate a left foot part of the rider when the obstacle is located on a rear left side of the vehicle.

6. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the first notification device comprises a vibrator that vibrates a part corresponding to the location of the obstacle among a plurality of predetermined parts with which a rider of the vehicle makes contact.

7. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the vibrator is configured to vibrate a right hand part of the rider when the obstacle is located on a front right side of the vehicle, to vibrate a left hand part of the rider when the obstacle is located on a front left side of the vehicle, to vibrate a right foot part of the rider when the obstacle is located on a rear right side of the vehicle, and to vibrate a left foot part of the rider when the obstacle is located on a rear left side of the vehicle.

8. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising an indicator as a second notification device, wherein the indicator is operated in accordance with detection of the approaching state.

9. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 2 , further comprising an indicator as a second notification device, wherein the indicator is operated in accordance with detection of the approaching state.

10. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 3 , further comprising an indicator as a second notification device, wherein the indicator is operated in accordance with detection of the approaching state.

11. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 5 , further comprising an indicator as a second notification device, wherein the indicator is operated in accordance with detection of the approaching state.

12. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 6 , further comprising an indicator as a second notification device, wherein the indicator is operated in accordance with detection of the approaching state.

13. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 7 , further comprising an indicator as a second notification device, wherein the indicator is operated in accordance with detection of the approaching state.

14. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger is arranged in parallel with and in the vicinity of the elastic member.

15. The approach notification device of the straddle type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the winker manipulator is a winker switch supported on a handle switch that is fixed on a left side of a steering handle of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tetsuka Takashi
• Matsui Yasumasa
• Niimura Ryuta
• Miyagishi Syunichi
• Adachi Jun
• Kuroda Kosuke

Classifications

• B60W30/18163

  Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres · CPC title

• B60W50/16 Primary

  Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal · CPC title

• B60W2300/36

  Cycles; Motorcycles; Scooters · CPC title

• B60Q9/008 Primary

  for anti-collision purposes · CPC title