Patent ID: 8106751
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
1. A visual ability improvement supporting device for a vehicle, comprising: a visual noise device including a lighting device provided in a passenger compartment of the vehicle for outputting light, the visual noise device generating a visual noise and delivering the visual noise to a driver of the vehicle so that the visual noise has a subthreshold noise strength which is close to and smaller than a threshold strength, wherein above the threshold strength a light can be recognized and below the threshold strength a light cannot be recognized, and wherein the visual noise is determined to induce stochastic resonance in visual recognition of the driver and is superimposed on the visible light outputted from the lighting device; a surrounding situation detector for detecting a situation surrounding the vehicle; and a controller for controlling a characteristic of delivering of the visual noise based on the detected situation, wherein the visual noise is random noise, wherein the lighting device is configured to provide the visual noise in one of a plurality of directions; wherein the surrounding situation detector detects a position of an object around the vehicle and determines in which of the plurality of directions the position of the object is with respect to the driver; and wherein the controller causes the visual noise device to deliver the visual noise to the driver along the determined direction of the object with respect to the driver.