GB2232518A

GB2232518A - Vehicle deviation warning system

Info

Publication number: GB2232518A
Application number: GB8911571A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Christopher Parish
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-05-19
Filing date: 1989-05-19
Publication date: 1990-12-12
Also published as: GB8911571D0

Abstract

In order to provide a warning to a road vehicle driver that his vehicle is straying from a lane, the vehicle cab is provided with a pair of inductive metal detectors (8a, 8b) connected in parallel to a warning device (9) to provide an audible warning to the driver when either detector comes close to metallic elements (1) marking the lane. The metallic elements may be metallic studs (1) or paint containing strips of copper or aluminium. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLE DEVIATION WARNING SYSTEM This invention relates to a vehicle deviation warning system and in particular to a system for warning a vehicle driver that his vehicle has strayed inadvertently from the lane he is intending to follow, possibly because the driver is falling asleep.

It is believed that many accidents are caused by people nodding off as they are driving along a monotonous motorway or other high grade road.

According to my invention a vehicle is provided with at least one sensor means for sensing the transverse position of the vehicle relative to a warning boundary line, which may be continuous or discontinuous, provided on, under or alongside the road surface, and a warning device responsive to a signal from the sensor means indicating that the vehicle is beginning to stray from a lane or lanes to provide a warning to the driver which is sufficient to wake the driver.

Preferably the vehicle is provided with a pair of the sensor means to enable straying of the vehicle in either direction from the road to be detected and signalled.

Whilst the sensor means may perhaps rely on electro-magnetic radiation it is preferred to use an electro-magnetic sensor means.

The electro-magnetic sensor means is preferably arranged to detect the proximity of the vehicle to metallic members which define the boundary line.

The metallic members may be discrete members, such a studs along the edge of the carriageway. Exposed studs, however, may tend to become displaced or worn away.

When studs are employed they may simply be metallic cat's eye bodies.

Preferably metallic elements are incorporated into the 'paint' which is used as normal to mark lines along the edges of the road or lane.

The metallic elements may be, for example, strips of copper or aluminium in which relatively large eddy currents would be induced by an inductive sensor.

In a preferred embodiment the vehicle is provided with a pair of inductive sensors which are mounted at the front of the vehicle, one at each side. Commercially available metal detectors may be employed and mounted, for example, under the front bumper of a car, or lorry cab, pointing downwards. Such metal detectors are generally arranged to be shielded against disturbances from above, and will not be affected by the presence of the vehicle body.

The warning device preferably emits an audible warning when the vehicle strays such that a detector becomes positioned above the road boundary line.

Preferably the warning device can be de-activated by suitable means, such as a manual switch, to enable the driver to use the device only in situations where he considers that he is in some danger of falling asleep.

One embodiment of the invention is schematically shown in the accompanying drawing, which is a plan view of a lorry proceeding along a road.

Metallic studs or 'cat's eyes' 1 are spaced apart along both a painted line 2 at the edge of the carriageway and bounding the hard shoulder 3, and a painted line 4 separating the slow lane 5 from the adjacent lane 6. The lorry cab 7 is provided with a pair of inductive metal detectors 8a, 8b connected in parallel to a warning device 9 mounted in the cab and arranged to provide an audible warning to the driver when either the detector 8a closely approaches line 2, or detector 8b closely approaches line 4.

Claims

1. A road vehicle fitted with at least one sensor means so arranged as to sense the transverse position of the vehicle relative to a warning boundary line provided on, under or alongside the road surface, and a warning device responsive to a signal from the sensor means indicating that the vehicle is beginning to stray from a lane or lanes to provide a warning to the driver which is sufficient to wake the driver.

2. A road vehicle as claimed in claim 1 provided with a pair of the sensor means to enable straying of the vehicle in either direction from the lane or lanes to be detected and signalled to the driver.

3. A road vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the sensor means is an electro-magnetic sensor means.

4. A road vehicle as claimed in claim 3 in which the electro-magnetic sensor means is arranged to detect the proximity of the vehicle to metallic members which define the boundary line.

5. A road vehicle as claimed in claim 4 in which the sensor means is an inductive sensor.

6. A road vehicle in which the sensor means is mounted under the vehicle front bumper.

7. A road vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding claims comprising de-activation means to enable the driver to de-activate the warning device.

8. A road vehicle fitted with a sensor means and warning device arranged to operate substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

9. A road vehicle sensor means and warning device system adapted to be fitted to a road vehicle to provide the fitted road vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

10. A road vehicle driver warning system comprising paint markers bounding a lane of a road, the paint of the paint markers containing conductive metal elements, and a road vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. Paint suitable and intended for marking a road, the paint containing conductive metal elements.