Patent ID: 8310353

Claim:
A vehicle blind spot detection and warning system, the system comprising: a sensing system having (i) at least one sensor affixed to a vehicle and adapted to detect the presence and the proximity of an object in a detection area defined along a lateral region adjacent to the vehicle, wherein the detection area is defined into multiple zones including a first zone being closest to the object, a third zone being farthest from the object and a second zone being between the first and third zones, and (ii) a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicative of detection by said at least one sensor of the object in said detection area and proximity of said detected object from the vehicle; a single light emitting indicator located within the interior of the vehicle; and a controller in communication with the sensing system and the single light emitting indicator; and wherein upon detection of the presence and the proximity of an object in said detection area, the controller receives the transmitted signal and adjusts a brightness and a flashing frequency of the single light emitting indicator based at least upon the presence and the proximity of the object, the zone the object is detected in and an illumination status, where the adjustment of the brightness is one of linear and non-linear, and wherein the flashing frequency of the single light emitting indicator based on the zone is such that the flashing frequency for detection of an object in the second zone is greater than the flashing frequency for detection of an object in the third zone.