GB2108444A

GB2108444A - Vehicle instrumentation

Info

Publication number: GB2108444A
Application number: GB08226989A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Sidney Bullen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-09-23
Filing date: 1982-09-22
Publication date: 1983-05-18
Also published as: GB2108444B

Abstract

A driving aid comprises a panel adapted to be mounted in a vehicle so as to be visible to the driver. Flowing arrows (11) are illuminated when the ignition is switched on to remind the driver to keep left in a left-hand drive country, as shown, or vice versa. A verbal command "keep left" may also sound for about one minute. When operating the direction indicator switch to signal right turn, a second crescent shaped set of flowing arrows (13) is illuminated to remind the driver to move to the centre of the road. The verbal command may be repeated. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in vehicle instrumentation The present invention relates to vehicle instrumentation and more particularly to an indicating instrument for aiding a vehicle driver.

With the large number of tourist and freight vehicles now travelling the length and breadth of Europe, increasingly we learn of tragic accidents on our highways, in which citizens of different nationalities are involved. Many such accidents have been the result of a foreign driver momentarily forgetting the left or right rule of the road in the country which is he visiting.

This happens when the driver loses his guide: when suddenly there are no longer vehicles ahead, which he can tail and whose manoeuvres he can follow and imitate.

Also, after respites from the wheel, when for example a foreign motorist recommences his journey after a break at a restaurant or service station, his earlier sequence of concentration on the strange routes has been broken and instinctively and poss ibly fatally to both himself and his own passengers and to numerous other road users he frequently accelerates away down the wrong side of the highway. Alcoholic refreshment at such times would intensify this risk, as too would the onset of nightdriving conditions orfalling rain.

The most vulnerable motorists are obvious: principally they would include British drivers and those from most of the old Empire, where left-hand traffic prevails, when journeying anywhere on the European Continent and in U.S.A. and Canada. Conversely all Continental and American vistors are in the same situation in the British Isles or in the abovementioned related territories.

An object of the invention is to provide an instrument to aid the drivers of vehicles, when moving and positioning in traffic and on highways in foreign countries. That is, in countries where the driver has to use the opposite side of a road - left or right - to that to which he is accustomed in his own land. A secondary use of the instrument could be that as a prompter and guide to the novice driver even in his own home location.

A driving aid according to the present invention comprises a housing containing electrical circuitry connected to a vehicle electrical system and adapted to generate a reminder to keep left in a left-hand drive country, or vice versa, when the vehicle ignition is switched on.

According to one feature of the present invention, a driving aid comprises a housing provided with a display screen and adapted to be mounted on or adjacent a vehicle dashboard or instrument panel so that the display screen is readily visible to the driver without impairing his view of the road or of other instruments of the vehicle, and electrical circuitry in the housing for creating on the display panel an illuminated display of arrows directed towards the appropriate side of the road, that is to say, arrows pointing to the left for use in a "left-hand drive" country or vice-versa.

The arrows are preferably "flowing" arrows, i.e. a series of arrows which are repeatedly illuminated in sequence in the direction in which they are pointing.

Conveniently the arrows are of a conspicuous colour, such as red, particularly if, as in preferred embodiments, the screen has a white centreline simulating the road centreline, the arrows being located to the left of the illuminated centreline for left-hand drive countries or vice versa. The sides of the screen can be illuminated green to simulate the road verges.

Advantageously, the driving aid is adapted to be connected to the direction indicator switch of the vehicle and its electrical circuitry is such as to illuminate a second display of arrows, preferably a flowing display, towards the centreline from the left-hand side when the direction indicator is operated to indicate a right turn for a left-hand drive country, or vice versa.

The driving aid according to the invention is preferably connected to the vehicle electrical system so as to be switched on when the ignition is switched on. Advantageously, the electrical circuitry incorporates a speech channel adapted to transmit repe atedlytheverbal command "keep left" or equivalent in another language, when the ignition is switched on for use in left-hand drive countries and vice versa.

This verbal command preferably ceases a short time after the ignition is switched on.

According to another feature of the present invention, a driving aid comprises electrical circuitry which is connectible to a vehicle electrical system so as to be switched on when the ignition is switched on, the electrical circuitry incorporating a speech channel adapted to transmit repeatedly the verbal command "keep left" or equivalent in another language, when the ignition is switched on for use in left-hand drive countries or vice versa.

The invention is further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure lisa view of the display screen of a driving aid according to one embodiment of the invention for use in left-hand drive countries, and Figure 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment.

In each embodiment, the driving aid comprises a housing which measures about 250 mm x 200 mm x 50 mm and is adapted to be mounted just below the vehicle dashboard and to one side of the steering wheel, yet within the driver's normal forward vision to ensure no distracting head or even extreme eye movement is required. Fixture is either two dashboard orto steering column housing. Substantially the whole of the front face of the housing is constituted by a display screen which is shown in the drawings for both embodiments.

The housing contains electrical circuitry which is adapted to be connected to the vehicle electrical system so as to receive electrical power therefrom and to the direction indicator switch for the purpose hereinafter described. The nature of the electrical circuitry will be apparent from the following description of the mode of operation ofthefirstembodi- ment of Figure 1.

The appearance of the display screen of the driving aid represents a driver's view of a normal road (not a motorway) with single, white centreline 10 dividing both traffic directions. (The layout of motorways avoids some of the difficulties of traditional two-way traffic streets).

With the switch-on of engine ignition a set 11 of red, illuminated arrows repeats a flowing motion from the white centreline 10 inward towards a left-hand green verge 12, which represents the roadside kerb. The flowing red arrow movement is accompanied by a constant, synchronised, subdued voice recording with a duration of approximately 1 minute. For example, when the instrument is set for use in the U.K. the voice will repeat "keep left, keep left, keep left.. ." or the appropriate equivalent in a foreign language.

After expiration of the verbal reminder the flowing arrows of set 11 alone will remain in constant movement, so long as the engine ignition is switched on. Apart from the foregoing all other prompting by the driving aid is activated solely by the direction indicator hand lever.

Again based on left-hand side of the road traffic: together with the direction indicators signalling a turn to the right, such as entry into a right-hand road junction, the first set 11 of wide, red, illuminated arrows, will disappear and a new set 13 of narrow, red, illuminated arrows commences a similar, repeating, flowing motion in a half-crescent pattern, leading from the present kerbside driving position out towards the white centreline, in order to position the vehicle correctly for crossing the opposing traffic lane.

At the same time the white, illuminated centreline will have increased in brightness and will have commenced a pulsing illumination to focus the flow of red arrows towards it and thus signify the required position of the vehicle for crossing the opposing traffic lane.

On completion of the turn, the automaticcancella- tion of the direction indicators will also cancel out the set 13 of illuminated arrows and immediately the instrument face will revert to the original, permanent set 11 flowing arrows for normal forward driving and steering. Provision is made for a repeat of the spoken instruction, when the vehicle resumes its normal forward travel after operation of the direction indicator.

On the approach to a traffic island - only if the driver intends to leave his existing route and to take an exit road after the second exit, which means he would more than half encircle the island in most cases, - the direction indicator would be used to position the vehicle away from the verge lane or line of traffic. The vehicle's exit direction would then be indicated at the appropriate point by use of the direction indicator, which would also simultaneously restore the basic set 11 of arrows with a resumption of the voice instruction for the correct side of the road to drive.

When the first or second exit from a traffic island is to be taken, it would not be necessary for the driver to vary his position and the driving aid would remain functioning as for normal straight driving.

It will be noted that, in instances of simple 'overtaking', when the vehicle pulls out to pass a vehicle ahead, the signal on the panel is the same as for positioning for a right-hand turn (Set 13 arrows), since this has been activated by the directionindicator switch. This same signal image, although not specific for the overtaking manoeuvre, is not regarded as inadequate for the situation, because the driver's already-formed intention plus the location of the overtaken traffic would be ultimate guiding and controlling factors on the driver's thinking and actions. On cancelling the directionindicators or switching to the opposite set, when pulling in once more, Set 13 arrows will disappear and the panel signal will revert to Set 11 arrows accompanied by the limited duration verbal instruction.

The whole of the display between the centreline 10 and a green right-hand verge 14 remains blank at all times, since it represents the part of the road 15 to be used by oncoming traffic.

The embodiment of Figure 2 is identical to that of Figure 1, except for the addition of two symbols on the simulated road.

With set 11 of arrows flowing, a red outline 16, which represents a vehicle, shows up in identical red illumination parallel to the green verge 12. This symbol at the end of the arrow flow pulsates prominently.

Similarly at the end of set 13 of arrows, when flowing, a red vehicle outline 17 appears parallel to the white centre-line and likewise, when appropriate is illuminated and pulsates.

For use in right-hand drive countries, the arrows appear in the simulated right-hand lane, and point in directions opposite to those illustrated and the voice repeats "keep right, keep right . . . " or equivalent.

The driving aid illuminated face with its symbols depicts a normal two-lane highway with white centreline separating both lanes of opposing traffic.

Each side is identical with separately working symbols. An on-off switch can be provided. The correct side of the road can be selected on the instrument and can be varied, according to country, by movement of a simple switch on the driving aid.

There may also be a language selector for the voice promptor. Each instrument will normally have one installation with a selection for at least the English, Dutch, German and French languages.

Other languages could be covered.

Avolume modulator may befitted.

The housing of the driving aid, including the display screen, is preferably made of plastics material. The parts of the display screen representing the road will usually be black or a dark colour. The white centreline 10 and the red arrows 11 and 13 may be formed by slightly raised tunnels of transparent or translucent plastics material illuminated by means of small electrical bulbs. Alternatively, light-emitting diodes can be used. The green verges 12 and 14 may be represented by luminous green paint or by illuminated green portions of the display screen.

The voice prompter can be adjusted in volume to a satisfactory pitch or alternatively can be diminished to inaudibility by regulating the volume modulator.

This would leave the illuminated visual display operating on its own.

Similarly, an electric rheostat within the instrument can be finely adjusted to achieve adequate illumination of the symbols on the display. When the illuminated display is fully extinguished by this adjustment, the semi-independent voice recording alone remains in operation.

Accordingly, a further embodiment of the invention (not illustrated) dispenses with the visual display and is confined to the voice prompter having the features mentioned above.

Claims

1. Adriving aid comprising a housing containing electrical circuitry connected to a vehicle electrical system and adapted to generate a reminderto keep left in a left-hand drive country, or vice versa, when the vehicle ignition is switched on.

2. A driving aid according to the present invention comprising a housing provided with a display screen and adapted to be mounted on or adjacent a vehicle dash-board or instrument panel so that the display screen is readily visible to the driver without impairing his view of the road or of other instruments of the vehicle, and electrical circuitry in the housing for creating on the display panel an illuminated display of arrows directed towards the appropriate side of the road, that is to say, arrows pointing to the left for use in a "left-hand drive" country or vice-versa.

3. A driving aid as claimed in claim 2, in which the arrows are "flowing" arrows.

4. A driving aid as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the arrows are of a conspicuous colour.

5. A driving aid as claimed in claim 4, in which the screen has a white centreline simulating the road centreline, the arrows being red in colour and being located to the left of the illuminated centreline for left-hand drive countries or vice versa.

6. A driving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sides of the screen are illuminated green to simulate the road verges.

7. A driving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, which is adapted to be connected to the direction indicator switch of the vehicle and its electrical circuitry is such as to illuminate a second display of arrows towards the centreline from the left-hand side when the direction indicator is operated to indicate a right turn for a left-hand drive country, or vice versa.

8. A driving aid as claimed in claim 7, in which the second display of arrows is a "flowing" display.

9. A driving aid as claimed in claim 7 or 8, in which the second display of arrows is in the form of a crescent.

10. A driving aid as claimed in claim 7,8 or 9, in which the first-mentioned display of arrows is extinguished when the second display is illuminated.

11. A driving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, which is connected to the vehicle electrical system so as to be switched on when the ignition is switched on.

12. A driving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the electrical circuitry incorporates a speech channel adapted to transmit repeatedly the verbal command "keep left" or equivalent in another language, when the device is switched on for use in left-hand drive countries or vice versa.

13. A driving aid as claimed in claim 12, in which the verbal command ceases a short time after the device is switched on.

14. A driving aid as claimed in claim 13, in which said short time is about one minute.

15. A driving aid as claimed in claim 13 or 14, in which the said verbal command is repeated after the cancellation of the direction indicator switch.

16. A driving aid as claimed in claim 12, 13, 14 or 15, in which a language selector is provided for the verbal command.

17. A driving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, which can be adapted for use in left-hand drive or right-hand drive countries and has a switch for selecting the appropriate display.

18. A driving aid comprising a housing containing electrical circuitry which is connectible to a vehicle electrical system so as to be switched on when the ignition is switched on, the electrical circuitry incorporating a speech channel adapted to transmit repeatedly the verbal command "keep left" or equivalent in another language, when the ignition is switched on for use in left-hand drive countries or vice versa.

19. A driving aid constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.