GB2426105A

GB2426105A - Warning system for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2426105A
Application number: GB0426371A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Russell Balthazor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-01
Filing date: 2004-12-01
Publication date: 2006-11-15
Also published as: GB0426371D0

Abstract

The warning system 10 reminds the driver of a vehicle which side of the road he should be driving in response to a sensed driving condition of the vehicle. The sensed condition may the speed of the vehicle, the angle of turn of the steering wheel or the operation of the turning indicators. The system includes an audible warning unit 14 which generates a warning in an appropriate language. A visual warning unit 16 is also provided which may be a LED display displaying textual or graphical information. The units 14, 16 are wired in parallel so that failure of one unit does not affect the other.

Description

Warning Systems The present invention relates to warning systems, and more

specifically to warning systems for motor vehicles.

Due to differing laws, drivers in different countries drive on different sides of the road. For example in the United Kingdom and Ireland, drivers drive on the left, while in continental Europe, they drive on the right. This can lead to confusion for drivers who are driving in foreign countries. This confusion can lead to accidents, potentially fatal. Driver error is particularly likely to occur when drivers are emerging from side roads, petrol filling stations and so on.

The present invention seeks to solve or at least mitigate the above problem, and from a first aspect provides a warning system for a motor vehicle, said system comprising means for identifying a driving condition of the vehicle, and warning means responsive to said identification means for issuing a warning reminding the vehicle driver of the side of the road on which he or she should be driving.

Thus in accordance with the invention, in circumstances where a driver needs to be reminded which side of the road he or she should be driving on (for example when driving abroad) the system produces a suitable warning in response to an input which is indicative of a driving state of the vehicle.

The means indicative of a driving state of the vehicle may take various forms. For example, it may be indicative of a speed of the vehicle, so that, for example, the warning is generated when the vehicle reaches a certain speed from rest, as might happen when a driver is pulling out of ajunction.

Alternatively the means indicative of a driving state of the vehicle may indicate a turning state of the vehicle. For example, the means may be responsive to the operation of turning indicators of the vehicle or to the angle of turn of the steering wheel. Thus for example, the warning may be generated when the vehicle's turning indicators are switched on, or when the steering wheel is turned more than a predetermined number of degrees.

The system may further comprise means for activating the system, The activation means may be manual, for example an on/off switch, which can be set to an on position when the driver wishes to use the system. Alternatively a simple power connector may be provided to activate the system when the driver connects it to the vehicle's power supply.

Alternatively, the system may be activated automatically in response to an appropriate input, for example a signal produced by appropriate means to indicate to the system automatically which country a vehicle is entering, so that, if appropriate, the system is activated automatically. Transmitters for such signals could be installed at border crossings, entry ports and so on.

The warning may take any suitable form. For example the warning may be a visual one, such as a graphic warning or a textual warning in an appropriate language. The system may be provided with a variety of warnings, in a choice of languages.

The visual display may be situated in any convenient location. For example, the warning may appear on a standard instrument panel of the vehicle, or any other item of equipment having a display, for example the vehicle's road traffic or route information system. Alternatively it may appear on a separate display unit. This display unit could be mounted in any suitable location, for example on the top of the dashboard of the vehicle.

Means may be provided for removably mounting the display unit in the desired position.

Such mounting means may comprise self-tapping screws, bolts, or hook and loop fastener, for

example.

The display may be provided on the vehicle's windscreen. For example a display may be provided which projects an image forwardly and/or upwardly onto the windscreen within

the drivers field of vision.

The display may be a simple printed or etched display, suitably illuminated.

Alternatively the display could be formed from an array of selectively illuminable elements such as LED's.

Alternatively, or in addition, the warning may be an audible one. A suitable warning would be generated and routed to a suitable speaker, either associated directly with the system or some other speaker within the vehicle. For example, the system may be suitably coupled to the vehicle's radio system or road traffic or route information system to give audible warnings therethrough.

The system may be programmed or configured to provide a variety of different warnings, for example in different languages. This will allow one system to be used in different countries, for example.

The invention may be fitted as original equipment in a vehicle or be supplied as after an after sales item. The invention also extends to such after sales systems, and from a further aspect provides a warning system for fitting to a motor vehicle, said system comprising means for activating the system and warning means, responsive to means for identifying a driving condition of the vehicle, for issuing a warning reminding the vehicle driver of the side of the road on which he or she should be driving when the system is activated.

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows, schematically, a vehicle incorporating a system in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 shows a front view of a display suitable for use in a system in accordance with the invention; and Figure 3 shows a top view of the display of Figure 2.

With reference to Figure 1, a vehicle comprises an electrical system comprising a battery or power source 2, a fuse box 4, a flasher unit 6, a turn signal switch 8 and a warning unit 10 comprising an activation switch 12, an audible warning device 14 and an visual warning device 16.

The warning unit 10 is connected into the wiring of the vehicle with one lead wired into the earth of the vehicle and the other connected in the circuit between the turn signal switch 8 and the flasher unit 6, so that when the turn signal switch 8 is operated and the activation switch 12 is closed, power will be supplied to the warning devices 14, 16 which then generate respective warnings. This will remind the driver which side of the road he or she should be driving on. The warning devices 14, 16 are wired in parallel so that at least one warning will be generated should one of the devices fail.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, this shows the unit 10 mounted on the top of the vehicle's dashboard 18, adjacent the vehicle's windscreen 20. The activation switch 12 is operated by a button 22 arranged on the side of the unit 10.

The visual warning device 16 may be a simple illuminated display or, for example, an LED array displaying a suitable message 24 when the visual warning device is activated.

This message can be graphic or textual as shown, in any suitable language. The audible warning device may generate a suitable warning in a desired language to be played through a loudspeaker (not shown) on the unit 10.

It will be understood that the drawings presented are merely schematic and do not represent a full wiring diagram. The skilled person will easily be able to devise suitable circuitry to achieve the desired effect.

A system in accordance with the invention can be supplied as original equipment where a buyer may specify the type of warning device or devices, their location, language, and so on. Alternatively it may be supplied as an after sales item. The embodiment of Figure 1 illustrates such an arrangement.

Claims

Claims I. A warning system for a motor vehicle, said system comprising

means for identifying a driving condition of the vehicle, and warning means responsive to said S identification means for issuing a warning reminding the vehicle driver of the side of the road on which he or she should be driving.
2. A warning system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means indicative of a driving state of the vehicle comprises means indicative of a speed of the vehicle.
3. A warning system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means indicative of a driving state of the vehicle comprises means indicative of a turning state of the vehicle.
4. A warning system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means indicative of a driving state of the vehicle comprises means responsive to the operation of turning indicators of the vehicle.
5. A warning system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means indicative of a driving state of the vehicle comprises means responsive to the angle of turn of the steering wheel of the vehicle.
6. A warning system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising means for activating the system,
7. A warning system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said activation means are manual.
8. A warning system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said activation means comprises an onloff switch.
9. A warning system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said activation means are automatic.
10. A warning system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the warning comprises a visual warning.
11. A warning system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the warning is a graphic warning or a textual warning in an appropriate language.
12. A warning system as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the warning is displayed on an appropriate display.
13. A warning system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the visual display is provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle, or any other item of vehicle equipment having a display.
14. A warning system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the display appears on a separate display unit mounted to the vehicle.
15. A warning system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the display unit is mounted to the dashboard of the vehicle.
16. A warning system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the warning is displayed on the windscreen of the vehicle.
17. A warning system as claimed in any of claims 12 to 16 wherein the display comprises an illuminated printed or etched display or an array of illuminable elements such as LED's.
18. A warning system as claimed in any of claims 12 to 17 wherein the system is programmed or configured to be able to display a variety of visual warnings.
19. A warning system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the warning comprises an audible warning.
20. A warning system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the warning is routed to a speaker associated directly with the system or some other speaker within the vehicle.
21. A warning system as claimed in claim 18, 19 or 20 wherein the system is programmed or configured to be able to display a variety of audible warnings.
22. A warning system for fitting to a motor vehicle, said system comprising means for activating the system and warning means, responsive to means for identifying a driving condition of the vehicle, for issuing a warning reminding the vehicle driver of the side of the road on which he or she should be driving when the system is activated.