Patent ID: 7369042

Claim:
A vehicle-warning system comprising: an obstacle sensor for detecting approach of an obstacle to a vehicle; tactile information-generating elements for providing tactile information as a cue to a driver based on information of said obstacle sensor; and a controller for controlling said tactile information-generating elements; wherein, said tactile information-generating elements are installed in a cushion of a driver seat with at least one of a fore-and-aft arrangement and a left-right arrangement; said obstacle sensor measures a distance from said obstacle and a relative velocity of the obstacle as viewed from the vehicle; said controller controls said tactile information-generating elements based on information from the obstacle sensor and information received from any of a steering wheel-sensor, a winker sensor, a brake sensor, and a vehicle speedometer; said controller determines whether or not the driver has recognized approach of said obstacle, according to at least one of an output of brake information regarding whether or not a brake pedal has been pressed, and an output of information from said winker or steering wheel of whether or not the vehicle intends to travel in the direction where an obstacle is present; if it has been determined that the approach of said obstacle has not yet been recognized, said tactile information-generating-elements are actuated to issue a warning by said controller; and if it has been determined that the approach of said obstacle has been recognized, said tactile information-generating-elements are not actuated.