Patent ID: 8461975

Claim:
An obstacle position indicating apparatus mounted to a vehicle, comprising: an obstacle position specifying component that specifies position of an obstacle based on a detection result of a sensor detecting the obstacle existing around the vehicle, wherein the specified position of the obstacle includes information on at least a direction to the obstacle relative to the vehicle, wherein the position of the obstacle specified by the obstacle position specifying component is indicated to an occupant of the vehicle; a plurality of actuators each configured to perform reciprocating motion; a conduction plate that has a plate shape, is mounted to equipment of the vehicle so that the conduction plate is in contact with the occupant when the equipment is being operated by the occupant, and conducts vibration generated by an external force, wherein the external force is applied by the reciprocating motions of the plurality of actuators; and a drive control component that controls at least amplitude of the reciprocating motion of each of the plurality of actuators, wherein: the plurality of actuators is spaced apart from each other and arranged in a periphery of the conduction plate so that the reciprocating motions of the plurality of actuators give the external force to an end of the conduction plate in a planer direction of the conduction plate; the periphery of the conduction plate and the end of the conduction plate are, respectively, the periphery and the end in the planer direction of the conduction plate; the drive control component determines an amplitude ratio of designated two actuators of the plurality of actuators in accordance with the information on the direction to the obstacle specified by the obstacle position specifying component, wherein a direction of the reciprocating motion of one of the designated two actuators and a direction of the reciprocating motion of the other of the designated two actuators are a same direction or crossing directions, and causes the designated two actuators to perform the reciprocating motions according to the determined amplitude ratio; and the conduction plate conducts the vibration, which results from the reciprocating motions of the designated two actuators, to a hand of the occupant touching the conduction plate to provide the occupant with the information on the direction to the obstacle.