FR3053123B1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR WARNING OF DRIVING VEHICLE DRIVER - Google Patents

Abstract

The warning device (100) comprises: a detector (105) for the presence of a vehicle in a predetermined zone; and a transmitter (110) for sound and / or light signals whose signal emission depends on the detection. presence of a vehicle by the presence detector. In embodiments, the vehicle presence detector (105) includes an ultrasonic signal transmitter or light signals, a reflected signal receiver, and a comparator configured to compare the intensity of the reflected signals with a predetermined limit value. . In embodiments, the presence detector (105) of a vehicle includes means for determining the intensity of the signals reflected during an initialization period of the device, the predetermined value being automatically determined as a function of the intensity of the signals reflected during the initialization period.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a misplaced vehicle driver warning device and method. It applies in particular to keep free access for emergency vehicles or places reserved for emergency vehicles, disabled or owners of these places.

STATE OF THE ART

It often happens that emergency vehicles, ambulances, firefighters, police officers, can not access a place of intervention because a vehicle is parked on this access.

Many parking spaces are reserved for their owners or specific categories of people (disabled, doctors, fund carriers, two-wheeled vehicles ...). Unfortunately, either voluntarily or for lack of attention, vehicles sometimes park on these places. This prevents authorized vehicles from parking and offenders can be verbalized.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these disadvantages. For this purpose, the present invention aims, in a first aspect, a warning device, which comprises: - a presence detector of a vehicle in a predetermined area and - a transmitter of sound and / or light signals whose signaling depends on the presence detection of a vehicle by the presence detector.

Thanks to these arrangements, when the device is placed in such a way that the predetermined zone covers an access or a parking space, if a vehicle stops there, sound and / or light signals are emitted, which attracts the attention the offender on the prohibition of parking in the predetermined area.

In embodiments, the presence detector of a vehicle includes an ultrasonic signal emitter, a reflected ultrasonic signal receiver, and a comparator configured to compare the intensity of the reflected ultrasonic signals with a predetermined limit value.

In embodiments, the presence detector of a vehicle includes a light signal transmitter, a reflected light signal receiver and a comparator configured to compare the intensity of the reflected signals with a predetermined limit value.

With each of these provisions, the presence detection of a vehicle is reliable.

In embodiments, the presence detector of a vehicle includes means for determining the intensity of the signals reflected during an initialization period of the device, the predetermined limit value being automatically determined according to the intensity of the signals reflected during the initialization period.

Thanks to these provisions, the installer of the device does not have to manually adjust the detection distance of presence of a vehicle during the installation of the vehicle. For example, the predetermined limit value is thus automatically a function of the distance of a fixed obstacle (wall, columns, ...) which constantly reflects the signals emitted by the detector.

In embodiments, the presence detector of a vehicle is configured to detect the presence of a vehicle only if it receives a predetermined signal for a predetermined duration.

For example, the predetermined signal is a reflected signal and the predetermined duration is several seconds, for example between three and seven seconds.

In embodiments, the presence detector of a vehicle transmits signals alternately.

In embodiments, the alternation times of the signals emitted by the presence detector or the frequencies alternately transmitted by the presence detector are random or pseudo-random.

With each of these arrangements, if two warning devices are face to face, it is avoided that one of the presence detectors, receiving signals from the other, triggers a false vehicle detection. The transmission alternation can be made according to time intervals or according to frequencies used. Preferably, this alternation is irregular, for example of pseudo-random duration, so that the signals emitted by two different detectors do not interfere during a predetermined duration of presence detection.

In embodiments, the device comprises a remote control and means for starting or stopping the operation of the detector and / or the emitter of sound and / or light signals.

With these provisions, a legitimate user of the access or the monitored parking space can deactivate the device and park a vehicle in the supervised area.

In embodiments, the emitter of sound and / or light signals includes an ambient light intensity sensor and is configured to emit sound and / or light signals of different intensity depending on the ambient light intensity sensed.

Thus, the device takes the time into account and, for example, emits low intensity sound signals at night or continuously emits a light signal at night and alternately when a vehicle is detected in the monitored area during the day.

The present invention aims, according to a second aspect, a warning method, which comprises: a step of detecting the presence of a vehicle in a predetermined zone and a step of emitting sound and / or light signals whose signaling depends on the presence detection of a vehicle by the presence detector.

The advantages, aims and secondary characteristics of this method being similar to those of the device object of the present invention, they are not recalled here.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the invention will emerge from the nonlimiting description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawing, in which: FIG. 1 represents, schematically and in perspective, a mode of FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a signal level and a limit value associated therewith, form of a logic diagram, steps of a particular embodiment of the method object of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present description is given in a non-limiting manner.

As of now, we note that the figures are not to scale.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the device 100 which is the subject of the present invention. This device 100 comprises three main parts: a detector 105 for the presence of a vehicle in a predetermined monitored zone; a transmitter 110 for sound and / or light signals whose signal emission depends on the detection of the presence of a vehicle by the presence detector and - a remote control 115.

The detector 105 of presence of a vehicle can use an active sensor, that is to say which emits a signal, generally ultrasonic or infrared, which is modulated by a possible vehicle and whose modulation is detected by the detector, or passive, that is to say which emits no signal that a vehicle modulates. A passive sensor is, for example, a microphone, a coil detecting a magnetic field variation by the electrically conductive masses, such as the metal or a camera.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the detector 105 comprises an active sensor. More specifically, the detector 105 comprises an ultrasonic signal transmitter 135 and a receiver of the ultrasonic signals reflected by a vehicle 140. By comparing the intensity of the reflected signals with a predetermined limit value, the detector determines whether a vehicle is present in front of the detector. in the monitored area 205 (Figure 2).

To avoid false detections due to the passage of a vehicle, without stopping in the monitored area, the detector 105 measures the continuous detection time and triggers the transmitter 110 only if this duration is greater than a predetermined duration, for example included between three and seven seconds, for example five seconds.

To avoid false detections due to the reflections of waves on fixed objects outside the monitored area, for example a wall 215 (FIG. 2) or a post (not shown), preferably, the detector 105 automatically determines the predetermined limit value intensity of the reflected signals above which a vehicle is detected. For this purpose, the detector 105 includes an initialization button 145 actuated by the installer during installation. When the initialization is triggered, the detector 105 stores, for a predetermined duration, for example five seconds, the intensity of the signals reflected. Figure 3 illustrates this reflected signal strength 315. The x-axis 305 represents the time and the y-axis 310 represents the measured intensity of the reflected signals. The predetermined duration is between the initial instant and the vertical discontinuous line.

Depending on the intensity measured during the predetermined time, the detector determines the predetermined limit value 320, which is implemented after the initialization time.

Thus, the detector 105 for the presence of a vehicle comprises means for determining the intensity of the signals reflected during an initialization period of the device, the predetermined value being automatically determined as a function of the intensity of the reflected signals. during the boot time.

For example, this predetermined limit value is the sum of the average value measured during the storage time of the reflected intensity to which two to four times the noise level measured during this storage period is added. For example, the noise level is determined to be equal to the mean square deviation or the mean difference between the measured intensity and the average intensity. The installer of the device does not have to manually adjust the distance of detection of presence of a vehicle during the installation of the vehicle. For example, the predetermined limit value is thus automatically a function of the distance of a fixed obstacle (wall, columns, ...) which constantly reflects the signals emitted by the detector. The emitter of sound and / or light signals 110 is triggered by the vehicle detector 105. The transmitter 110 comprises, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a sound signal emitter 120, for example a loudspeaker, an ambient light detector 125 and a backlit front face 130. The sound signal transmitter 120 is triggered only when a vehicle is detected by the detector 105. The sound intensity emitted, or the sound frequency emitted, may depend on the period of the day. This period is given either by a clock (not shown) or by the ambient light detector 125 (when sunlight can reach this detector). The ambient light detector is, for example, consisting of a photoresistor or a phototransistor. Preferably, at night, the sound intensity emitted is lower than the day and / or the sound frequency used is higher than the day. This disturbs the neighborhood less.

The backlit front face 130 preferably carries a parking prohibition indication. The illumination (not shown) of the front panel, which is integrated with the transmitter 110, can be switched on all night and / or day only when a vehicle is detected by the detector 105. When this lighting is on, it can be alternatively, flashing to attract attention, or continuously.

The detector 105 and the emitter 110 are preferably mounted on a wall 210 (FIG. 2) or on a post, facing the monitored area and at the sight of a motorist.

The remote control 115 allows a legitimate user of the monitored area, for example an emergency service agent or the owner or tenant of the parking space, to inhibit the operation of the device and to disinhibit it. Note that the remote control signals may be identical to inhibit the operation of the device and the uninhibit, or different.

In variants, the disinhibition is performed automatically when no vehicle is detected for a predetermined time, for example five minutes.

As can be understood from reading the foregoing description, when the device is placed in such a way that the predetermined zone covers an access or a parking space, if a vehicle stops there, sound and / or light signals are issued, which draws the offender's attention to the prohibition of parking in the predetermined area.

Preferably, the presence detector 105 of a vehicle transmits signals alternately, for example in a cycle of half a second every second. The transmission alternation can be made according to time intervals or according to frequencies used. For example, the detector uses three ultrasonic frequencies and switches from one to the other after each time interval, so that the emission continues continuously.

Preferably, the alternation times of the signals emitted by the presence detector or the frequencies alternately transmitted by the presence detector are random or pseudo-random.

Thus, if two detectors 105 of two warning devices 100 are face to face, for example opposite two parking spaces on either side of a path to these places, it is avoided that the one of the presence detectors 105, receiving signals from the other, triggers a false vehicle detection. Preferably, this alternation is irregular, for example of pseudo-random duration, so that the signals emitted by two different detectors do not interfere during a predetermined duration of presence detection.

FIG. 4 shows a particular embodiment of the warning method that is the subject of the present invention. This method comprises at least: a step 435 for detecting the presence of a vehicle in a predetermined zone and a step 440 for transmitting sound and / or light signals whose signal emission depends on the detection of the presence of a vehicle by the presence detector.

However, Figure 4 shows other process steps. During a step 405, an installer causes a button to be pressed to initialize the presence detector, no vehicle must be present in the monitored area. During a step 410, the presence detector transmits and receives signals, for example ultrasound. During a step 415, the presence detector determines the average intensity of the reflected ultrasonic signals and the average noise in the reflected signals. During a step 420, the detector determines a limit value which will be used to compare the instantaneous intensity of the signals reflected with this limit value.

During regular operation, during a step 425, the detector transmits signals and receives reflected signals, either continuously or in a cycle, as explained above. During a step 430, the detector determines whether a remote control signal has been received. If so, step 455 is performed. If not, during a step 435, the detector performs a presence detection, when the intensity of the reflected signals is greater than the limit value for a predetermined time, for example five seconds. In the absence of vehicle detection or remote control signal, steps 430 and 435 continue in parallel.

If a vehicle is detected in step 435, an audible and / or light alarm is emitted during a step 440.

During a step 445, the detector detects a vehicle absence when the intensity of the reflected signals is less than the predetermined limit value for a predetermined duration, for example two seconds. In this case, during a step 450, the detector causes the emission of the sound and / or light signals to be stopped and it returns to step 425.

In step 455, the detector determines whether a remote control signal has been received. If no, step 455 continues. If yes, return to step 425.

Claims (10)

1. Warning device (100), comprising: - a detector (105) for the presence of a vehicle in a predetermined zone (205) and - a transmitter (110) for sound and / or light signals whose transmission of signals depends on the presence detection of a vehicle by the presence detector characterized in that the presence detector (105) of a vehicle transmits signals alternately. 2. Device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the alternating durations of the signals emitted by the presence detector or the frequencies alternately transmitted by the presence detector are random or pseudo-random. 3. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the detector (105) of presence of a vehicle comprises an ultrasonic signal transmitter, a reflected ultrasonic signal receiver and a comparator configured to compare the intensity of the signals reflected at a predetermined limit value. 4. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the presence detector of a vehicle comprises a light signal transmitter, a reflected light signal receiver and a comparator configured to compare the intensity of the signals light reflected at a predetermined limit value (320). 5. Device (100) according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the detector (105) of presence of a vehicle comprises means for determining the intensity of the signals reflected during an initialization period. of the device, the predetermined limit value (320) being automatically determined as a function of the intensity of the signals reflected during the initialization period. 6. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the detector (105) of presence of a vehicle is configured to detect the presence of a vehicle if it receives a predetermined signal for a period of time predetermined. 7. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, which comprises a remote control (115) and means for starting or stopping the operation of the detector (105) and / or the transmitter (110). ) sound and / or light signals. 8. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the transmitter (110) of sound and / or light signals comprises a sensor (125) ambient light intensity and is configured to emit sound signals and / or light of different intensity depending on the ambient light intensity sensed. 9. Warning method, which comprises: a step (435) for detecting the presence of a vehicle in a predetermined zone; and a step (440) for emitting sound and / or light signals whose emission of signals depends on the detection of presence of a vehicle by the presence detector characterized in that, during the step of detecting the presence of a vehicle, signals are emitted alternately. The method of claim 9, wherein during the step of detecting the presence of a vehicle, the alternation durations of the transmitted signals or the alternately transmitted frequencies are random or pseudo-random.