Patent Publication Number: US-8537031-B2

Title: Audible blind spot indicator

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to a blind spot detection system for a motor vehicle, and in particular, to the testing of a blind spot detection system using an audible blind spot indicator. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Blind spot detection systems for motor vehicles that can alert a driver that another motor vehicle is within his or her blind spot are known. Such blind spot detection systems typically provide a visual signal, e.g. signal lights on left and right rear view minors, to a driver of the motor vehicle when the driver activates a left or right turn signal and an object is detected within a blind spot on the left hand side or right hand side, respectively, of the vehicle. 
     In order to develop improved blind spot detection systems for motor vehicles, motor vehicle manufacturers typically test the blind spot detection system by driving the vehicle through traffic and noting when the blind spot detection system accurately detects a motor vehicle within a given blind spot, when a false detection occurs and when a missed detection occurs. In order for such testing to be performed, a driver typically drives the vehicle through various traffic patterns while one or two additional individuals seated in the motor vehicle attempt to determine and keep note of accurate and false blind spot detections. 
     Heretofore testing systems have relied on the one or two additional individuals to observe when: (1) a blind spot indicator light is activated and whether or not a motor vehicle is actually within a blind spot; and (2) a motor vehicle is within a blind spot and a blind spot indicator light fails to be activated. 
     When one individual is attempting to keep track of the accurate and false blind spot detections, the individual must continually look back and forth between left hand side and right hand side visual blind spot detection signals and also look to see if a motor vehicle is actually within a given blind spot as predicted by the visual alert. And if two individuals are attempting to determine accurate and false blind spot detections, each individual must still look between a given visual alert and whether or not a vehicle is present within the respective blind spot of the motor vehicle. Such procedures can lead to errors in detecting whether or not accurate and/or false blind spot detections have occurred. Therefore, an improved apparatus and/or process for testing a blind spot detection system for a motor vehicle would be desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses an audible blind spot indicator for a motor vehicle. The audible blind spot indicator can include a blind spot detection system for the motor vehicle that is operable to detect an object within a right hand side blind spot and/or within a left hand side blind spot of the motor vehicle. The indicator can also include an audible module that has a first tone generator operable to generate a first tone frequency and a second tone generator operable to generate a second tone frequency. The first tone frequency can be different than the second tone frequency. 
     A processor can also be included and be in electronic communication with the blind spot detection system and the audible module. The processor can activate the first tone generator when the blind spot detection system detects an object within the right hand side blind spot and activate the second tone generator when the blind spot detection system detects an object within the left hand side blind spot. In this manner, a different tone frequency is produced by the audible module depending upon which side of the vehicle an object is detected. As such, an individual that is participating in the testing of the blind spot detection system does not have to continually look back and forth between a visual blind spot detection signal and a given blind spot. 
     The blind spot detection system can have an outlet electrical plug and the audible module can have an inlet electrical plug. It is appreciated that the outlet electrical plug can be electrically connected or plugged into to the inlet electrical plug. In addition, the audible module can have a power source such as the motor vehicle itself or a battery attached to the audible module. If the motor vehicle is the power source, the audible module can have a cigarette lighter power adapter cable that can be plugged into a cigarette lighter socket of the motor vehicle. 
     The audible module can also have a volume control for the first tone generator and the second tone generator and/or a testing switch for testing the first and second tone generators. 
     A process for testing the blind spot detection system can include providing the motor vehicle with the blind spot detection system, the system operable to detect an object within the right hand side blind spot and an object within a left hand side blind spot of the motor vehicle. The audible module as described above is also provided as described above and electronically connected to the blind spot detection system of the motor vehicle. Thereafter, the motor vehicle is operated or driven such that objects enter the right hand side and left hand side blind spots. A first signal from the blind spot detection system is generated and relayed to the audible module when the system detects an object within the right hand side blind spot, and the audible module energizes the first tone generator upon receiving the first signal. In addition, a second signal is generated and relayed from the blind spot detection system to the audible module when the system detects an object within the left hand side blind spot of the motor vehicle, and the audible module energizes the second tone generator upon receiving the second signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle with a blind spot detection system and a separate motor vehicle within a right hand side blind spot of the motor vehicle; 
         FIG. 2  is an electrical schematic diagram of an audible module according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a panel for an embodiment of an audible module according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses an audible blind spot indicator that can be used for testing a motor vehicle blind spot detection system. In addition, a process for testing the blind spot detection system is also provided. As such, the present invention has utility as a testing apparatus and/or as a process for testing a motor vehicle safety device. 
     The audible blind spot indicator can include a motor vehicle blind spot detection system (BSDS) that is operable to detect an object within a right hand side (RHS) blind spot and an object within a left hand side (LHS) blind spot of the motor vehicle. Such blind spot detection systems are known to those skilled in the art and may or may not include light indicators attached to a left rearview minor and a right rearview mirror of the motor vehicle. The BSDS can activate a light indicator on a given side of the motor vehicle when the system detects an object within the particular blind side thereof. 
     The audible blind spot indicator can also include an audible module that has a first tone generator operable to generate a first tone frequency and a second tone generator operable to generate a second tone frequency. The first tone frequency can be different than the second tone frequency such that an individual can easily determine whether the first tone frequency or the second tone frequency has been produced by the audible module. 
     A processor can further be included and be in electronic communication with the blind spot detection system of the motor vehicle and with the audible module. The processor can activate the first tone generator when the BSDS detects an object within the RHS blind spot and activate the second tone generator when the BSDS detects an object within the LHS blind spot. In this manner, the audible blind spot indicator provides a first tone when the blind spot detection system indicates that a motor vehicle is within the RHS blind spot of the motor vehicle and a second tone when a motor vehicle is within the LHS blind spot. It is appreciated that the first tone, which is noticeably different than the second tone, can aid an individual testing the BSDS whether or not an actual vehicle is within the RHS and/or the LHS blind spots of the vehicle. 
     The audible module can be in electronic communication with the blind spot detection system through a wireless communication, or in the alternative, through a wired communication. For example and for illustrative purposes only, the blind spot detection system can have an outlet electrical plug and the audible module can have an inlet electrical plug. It is appreciated that the outlet electrical plug can be electrically connected to the inlet electrical plug as is known to those skilled in the art. In addition, the audible module can have a power source such as a battery, or in the alternative the power source can be the motor vehicle. In the event that the power source is the motor vehicle, the audible module can have a cigarette lighter power adapter cable that can be plugged into a cigarette lighter socket of the motor vehicle. 
     The audible module can also have a volume control for the first tone generator and/or the second tone generator, such that the first tone and/or the second tone can be adjusted to a desired level by an individual testing the blind spot detection system of the motor vehicle. A testing switch for testing the first tone generator and/or the second tone generator can also be included in order to ensure that the volume and/or operation of the first tone generator and/or second tone generator is sufficient. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle  100  with an object OBJ within a RHS blind spot is shown. The motor vehicle  100  can have a right rearview minor  110 , a left rearview minor  120  and a BSDS  130 . The BSDS  130  can include an indicator light  131  for the RHS of the vehicle  100  and an indicator light  134  for the LHS. As known to those skilled in the art, the BSDS  130  can include a radar-based system having sensors  136 , and possibly sensors located proximate to the indicator lights  132  and  134 . The sensors afford for detection of an object within the RHS and/or LHS blind spots. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the object OBJ in the form of a motor vehicle has been detected by the BSDS  130  and the indicator light  132  has been illuminated. 
     In order to improve and/or develop the BSDS  130 , the system can be tested with a driver D driving the vehicle  100  through various traffic patterns while an individual I observes the RHS and LHS of the vehicle. In order to aid the individual I in determining accurate and false motor vehicle detections within the RHS and LHS blind spots, an audible module  200  in electronic communication with the BSDS  130  is included. For example, the BSDS  130  can have an electrical outlet line  132  with an outlet plug  133  and the audible module  200  can have an electrical inlet line  202  with an inlet plug  203 . It is appreciated that the outlet plug  133  and inlet plug  203  are complimentary and afford for an electrical connection between the outlet line  132  and inlet line  202  as is known to those skilled in the art. 
     An embodiment of the audible module  200  is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  with  FIG. 2  providing an electronic circuit diagram and  FIG. 3  providing an illustration of a front or top panel for the module  200 . The electrical circuit can include any number of LED lights  212 ,  222 , resistors  230 , transistors  240 , and the like as shown in  FIG. 2 . In addition, the electronic circuit can include a first tone generator  210  and a second tone generator  220 . For example and for illustrative purposes only, the first tone generator  210  and the second tone generator  220  can be in the form of speakers. 
     A top or front panel  250  of the audible module  200  can include a location for the first tone generator  210  and the second tone generator  220  to provide sound for an individual. In addition, the panel  250  can have a left testing switch  260  and a right testing switch  262 . The left testing switch  260  may or may not have an associated light emitting diode (LED)  261 , and likewise, the right testing switch  262  may or may not have an associated LED  263 . It is appreciated that the left and right testing switches  260 ,  262  can be used to test whether or not the first tone generator  210  and the second tone generator  220  are operational, and if the volume of each tone generator is sufficient. 
     Regarding the volume of the tone generators  210 ,  220 , a volume control  252  affords for their volume control. In addition, the first and second tone generators  210 ,  220  can be enabled or disabled using an enablement switch  254  and/or muted using a mute switch  256 . A power switch  258  with an associated LED  259  can also be provided in order to power up or power down the audible module  200 . 
     Left output jacks  264  and right output jacks  266  can can afford for electronic communication between the audible module  200  and a separate indicating device such as an LED, candescent light, and the like. In the alternative, the left and right output jacks  264 ,  266  can provide object detection signals to a separate recording device. 
     In operation, the driver D operates and drives the motor vehicle  100  through various traffic patterns such as city driving, neighborhood driving, rural driving, and the like. The blind spot detection system  130  is activated and in operation while the driver D operates the motor vehicle  100 . The individual I sitting within the motor vehicle notes when the blind spot detection system  130  detects an object within the RHS blind spot and/or LHS blind spot of the motor vehicle using the audible module  200  which provides a first tone when the BSDS  130  detects an object within the RHS blind spot and a second tone when the system detects an object within the LHS blind spot. The individual can further determine whether or not a vehicle is within the RHS or LHS blind spot upon hearing a given tone, i.e. whether or not a false detection or missed detection of a motor vehicle has occurred. In this manner, the individual I does not have to continuously look back and forth between the first indicator light  132 , the second indicator light  134  and the RHS blind spot and/or the LHS blind spot. 
     The invention is not restricted to the illustrative examples and embodiments described above. The examples and embodiments are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Processes, apparatus, and the like described herein are exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes herein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the claims.