ES1299051U - EXTERNAL WARNING LIGHT FOR VEHICLES TO PREVENT VIOLATIONS (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

External warning device (1) for vehicles (2) to prevent collisions that can be implemented in vehicles of the type that comprise one or more sensors (3) for detecting pedestrians (4), with a detection field (30) oriented in front of the front of the vehicle (2); characterized in that it comprises: - a visual signaling element (5) for the presence of pedestrians (4) crossing fixed to the vehicle (2) and oriented towards the side area of the vehicle (2) against the direction of movement in said side area, associated to the sensors (3) for detecting pedestrians (4) in the detection field (30). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

EXTERNAL WARNING LIGHT FOR VEHICLES TO PREVENT VIOLATIONS

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to an external warning device for vehicles to prevent collisions, to warn other vehicles of the existence of pedestrians in the dead zones generated by the obstruction of vision generated by large vehicles.

More particularly, it refers to an optical and/or acoustic warning device, installed and attached to the exterior side area of buses, trucks or large vehicles in general, capable of automatically warning and with/without human intervention, to vehicles that circulate parallel to them, that a pedestrian is crossing from the front, thus avoiding the possible run over conditioned by the lack of visibility of the pedestrian on the vehicle that is circulating, and that of the latter on the pedestrian that crosses in front of the large vehicle (such as a bus or truck).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The dangerous situations of urban buses, stopped, unloading or receiving passengers at their stops, (or delivery trucks and vans loading/unloading goods), while other vehicles circulate on the same road, passing the bus or heavy vehicle by a few centimeters, are well known. along the parallel lane, normally the left one, without them having any visibility of what is happening right in front of the bus before passing it, or if a pedestrian is about to cross at that moment, given that the volume of the bus itself hides from the vehicle everything that happens in the front area of the vehicle.

It is relatively common for a traveler who gets off the bus, or another pedestrian who is nearby (in many cases children coming from a school bus), to try to cross the road passing in front of the bus, without any vision of possible vehicles. passing that may be passing the bus at that moment. This gives rise to Accidents, usually serious hit-and-runs, due to the lack of visibility of the vehicle over the pedestrian, and the pedestrian over the vehicle; which can lead to fatal outcome.

It is equally and sadly common that some bus stops are incorrectly located, such as those that are immediately before a zebra crossing or a pedestrian crossing, so that while the bus is parked at its stop, Pedestrians who intend to use the zebra or pedestrian crossing have almost zero visibility of whether a vehicle is about to pass the bus, since said visibility is blocked by the volume of the bus itself.

Although some trucks and buses already incorporate proximity detectors as standard, to warn the driver of dangerous proximity to other vehicles or pedestrians, even causing the automatic braking of the vehicle in the event of an imminent possible collision or reach, they cannot solve the problem exposed because they are other potentially hit vehicles.

The problem is well known, and to date no solution similar to the one proposed in the present invention has been found. We attach a text taken from the Road Safety publication "Circular Seguro" (https://www.circulaseguro.com/las-paradas-de-autobus-yel-riesgo-de-atropello/):

“A particularly conflictive case is that of the space that surrounds the buses, particularly in the vicinity of the stops they make on their routes. The risk is generated in a simple way. On one side, the passenger who gets off the bus looks for the most convenient place to cross the street and go to his destination. On the other hand, the driver of the car that approaches the bus perceives this vehicle as a hindrance on his way and tries to get rid of it in any way”;

Or this other one taken from an article by Cadena Ser:

(https://cadenaser.com/ser/2021Z11/15/sociedad/1636959702_423484.html):

“Lack of visibility caused the incident. Since the bus stopped in the middle of the road, it considerably reduced the visibility of both the boys and girls from the school and the rest of the vehicles driving on the track. For the same reason, and since he did not see any kind of danger, the boy tried to cross the road quickly to get home before anyone else. What I didn't know is that there was a truck in the opposite lane that He advanced without knowing the position of the infant.”

In the previous line, according to the European regulation GSR UNECE R159-MOIS (Information system at the beginning of the march), and the American counterpart (among others) require in the near future that all heavy vehicles of more than a certain tonnage, incorporate 180° pedestrian detectors, but always aimed at warning the driver of the heavy vehicle itself about imminent danger, not those of other vehicles.

However, there is no known device aimed at warning of the danger of being run over, neither to the pedestrian who crosses nor to the vehicle that passes the bus or large, stopped vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The external warning device for vehicles to prevent collisions of the invention is installed in vehicles that have one or more pedestrian detection sensors, with a detection field oriented in front of the front of the vehicle (range from 0 to 5 meters). , and according to the invention it comprises, in its simplest embodiment (it can include more elements):

-a visual signaling element (a light beacon, fixed or flashing, with iconography or text or not) of the presence of pedestrians crossing fixed to the vehicle, and oriented towards the side area of the vehicle against the direction of traffic in said side area, associated to the pedestrian detection sensors in the detection field, to connect in the event of the presence of pedestrians in said area and warn other second vehicles that are overtaking the vehicle in question and avoid running over it due to lack of vision.

The sensors include, for example, those belonging to certified vision systems that already carry out this pedestrian detection mission. Compatibility with these existing sensors will be implemented. Ultimately, the invention is connected to existing sensors in the vehicle.

In this way it is possible to avoid being run over by pedestrians who cross the road from the front of a stopped bus or truck, without prior visibility of a possible vehicle that runs parallel to said bus or truck, and without prior visibility of said vehicle on the road. pedestrian crossing the road, since pedestrians will be detected by the sensors and the signaling element, which is visible to the drivers on that side, will warn of this circumstance, allowing you to stop.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1.- Shows a view of the warning device of the invention arranged on the side of a vehicle.

Figure 2.- Shows a front view of the vehicle where the warning device of the invention can be seen, having a visual signaling element on both sides.

Figure 3.- Shows a plan view of the operation of the warning device of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The external warning device (1) for vehicles (2) to prevent collisions of the invention is applied to vehicles that comprise one or more sensors (3) for detecting pedestrians (4), with a detection field (30) facing forward from the front of the vehicle, and according to the invention comprises:

- A visual signaling element (5) for the presence of pedestrians (4) crossing fixed to the vehicle (2) and oriented towards the side area of the vehicle (2) against the direction of movement in said side area, associated with the sensors (3 ) for pedestrian detection (4) in the detection field (30) to connect in the event of the presence of pedestrians in said area, so that the existence of pedestrians (4) can be noticed by other second vehicles (20).

The invention has provided that, additionally, an acoustic warning element (7) can be arranged, also associated with the sensors (3) for detecting pedestrians (4) in the detection field (30), to be connected in the event of the presence of pedestrians in said area, also giving an acoustic warning.

In addition, it is preferred that the warning device comprise a resistant and watertight casing (8), which covers some or all of the sensors (3) and signaling and warning elements, or some or all of the sensors, or some or all of the elements. signalers and annunciators.

A visual signaling element (5) and/or an acoustic warning element (7) can be arranged on one or both sides of the vehicle (2), to offer protection on both sides of the vehicle (2).

Indicate that the pedestrian detection sensors (3) can be ultrasonic sensors, artificial vision, laser, microwave radar, or in general any sensor capable of autonomously detecting and distinguishing a pedestrian at a distance between 0.8 and at least 5 meters away from the bus.

Finally, indicate that the visual signaling element (5) can comprise one or more luminaires, direct or backlit.

As can be seen in figure 3 when a pedestrian passes through the detection zone (30), the visual and/or acoustic signaling elements warn of this circumstance to the vehicles that circulate by their side and that cannot directly see the pedestrians through Position yourself in the blind spot, covered by the vehicle (2).

Additionally, the warning device (1) can comprise a control or button, not shown, accessible to the driver of the vehicle so that he can activate it manually, if he himself notices the existence of a pedestrian crossing in front of him and associated with the visual signaling element and/or or acoustic, to activate them in this case.

Once the nature of the invention has been sufficiently described, it is indicated that the description of the same and its preferred embodiment must be interpreted in a non-limiting manner, and that it covers all the possible variants of embodiment that may be deduced from the content of this report. and the claims.

Claims (7)

1. - Exterior warning device (1) for vehicles (2) to prevent collisions that can be implemented in vehicles of the type that comprise one or more sensors (3) for detecting pedestrians (4), with a detection field (30) oriented in front from the front of the vehicle (2); characterized by comprising: - A visual signaling element (5) for the presence of pedestrians (4) crossing fixed to the vehicle (2) and oriented towards the side area of the vehicle (2) against the direction of movement in said side area, associated with the sensors (3 ) for pedestrian detection (4) in the detection field (30). 2. - Exterior warning device (1) for vehicles (2) to prevent collisions according to claim 1, comprising an acoustic warning element (7) associated with the sensors (3) for detecting pedestrians (4) in the detection field ( 30). 3. - Exterior warning device (1) for vehicles (2) for the prevention of run overs according to any of claims 1 or 2 , comprising a resistant and waterproof casing (8) that covers the sensors (3) and signaling and warning elements , or to the sensors or to some or all of the signaling and warning elements. 4. - Exterior warning device (1) for vehicles (2) to prevent run overs according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a visual signaling element (5) on one or both sides of the vehicle (2). 5. - Exterior warning device (1) for vehicles (2) to prevent run overs according to any of claims 2 to 4, comprising an acoustic signaling element (7) on one or both sides of the vehicle (2). 6. - Exterior warning device (1) for vehicles (2) to prevent run overs according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the visual signaling element (5) comprises one or more luminaires, direct or backlit. 7. - Exterior warning device (1) for vehicles (2) to prevent collisions according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a control, accessible to the driver of the vehicle itself, associated with the signaller.