Notification device for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9975475-B1
Application number	US-201615359710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 23, 2016
Priority date	Nov 23, 2016
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle lighting device is disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of light sources configured to selectively emit a first light color and a second light color and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a driver assist signal and a brake signal. In response to the brake signal, the controller is configured to activate the first light color constantly. In response to a combination of the brake signal and the driver assist signal, the controller is configured to activate the first light color constantly and the second light color periodically.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle lighting device comprising:
a plurality of exterior light sources configured to selectively emit a first light color and a second light color; and
a controller configured to receive a driver assist signal indicating an automated vehicle control operation, a brake signal, and configured to:
activate the first light color in response to the brake signal;
activate the first light color constantly and the second light color periodically at a first frequency in response to a combination of the brake signal and the driver assist signal; and
activate the second light color at a second frequency in response to a vehicle failure signal.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources correspond to a first light source and a second light source.

3. The lighting device according to claim 2 , wherein the second light source comprises two segments extending along opposing sides of the first light source.

4. The lighting device according to claim 3 , wherein a first segment of the second light source extends laterally from a first side of the first light source and a second segment of the second light source extends laterally from a second side of the first light source.

5. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle failure signal comprises a failure signal from a vehicle ignition sensor.

6. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle failure signal is in response to a notification of a rapid tire pressure change from a tire pressure sensor.

7. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the driver assist signal is received from a driver assistance system in response to an activation of an automated driver assistance function of the vehicle.

8. The lighting device according to claim 7 , wherein the automated driver assistance function comprises an automatic braking operation.

9. The lighting device according to claim 7 , wherein the automated driver assistance function comprises an automatic steering operation.

10. A method for controlling an exterior vehicle lighting device comprising:
receiving a driver assist signal indicating an automated vehicle control operation;
receiving a brake signal;
emitting a first light color in response to the brake signal;
emitting the first light color constantly and a second light color periodically at a first frequency in response to a combination of the brake signal and the driver assist signal; and
emitting the first light color at a second frequency and the second light color at a third frequency in response to a vehicle failure signal.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the vehicle failure signal indicates at least one of a critical tire pressure change and an engine failure.

12. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising detecting a rain signal, a parked gear selection, and a vehicle ignition signal.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising emitting the first light color at a fourth frequency and the second light color at a fifth frequency in response to receiving the rain signal, the parked gear selection, and the vehicle ignition signal being active.

14. An exterior vehicle lighting device comprising:
a plurality of light sources configured to selectively emit a first light color and a second light color; and
a controller configured to receive a driver assist signal from an automated driver assistance system indicating an automated vehicle control operation and a brake signal from a brake sensor, the controller configured to:
activate the first light color constantly in response to the brake signal;
activate the first light color constantly and the second light color at a first frequency in response to the brake signal and the driver assist signal; and
activate the first light color at a second frequency and the second light color at a first frequency in response to the driver assist signal without the brake signal.

15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the driver assist signal is received in response to an automated braking or steering function of a driver assistance system of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Johnson Aaron Bradley
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Helwig Stephen Kenneth

Classifications

• B60T2201/022

  Collision avoidance systems · CPC title

• B60T7/12

  for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger {(limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00)} · CPC title

• B62D15/02

  Steering position indicators {; Steering position determination; Steering aids} · CPC title

• B60Q1/26 Primary

  the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic · CPC title

• B60T7/22

  initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle {, or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle} · CPC title