# US 7,411,485 B2 · Apparatus and method for altering a driver when a vehicle departs from a predefined driving area in a lane > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,411,485 B2 - Document ID: US7411485B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/163,005 - Filed: 2005-09-30 - Published: 2006-10-05 - Granted: 2008-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2003-03-31 - Assignees: Volvo Lastvagnar AB - Inventors: Johan Jarlengrip - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7411485B2 ## CPC - B62D 15/029: {Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system} - B60T 2201/08: Lane monitoring; Lane Keeping Systems - B60T 2201/082: using alarm actuation - B60W 2050/143: {Alarm means} - B60W 2050/146: {Display means} - G08G 1/0962: having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) ## Abstract Method and apparatus (2) of a vehicle for alerting a driver of a vehicle when the vehicle deviates from a predefined driving area in a lane. The apparatus includes an image display unit (6) and a control unit (5) connected to each other to enable the apparatus to provide a visual warning via the image display unit when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area and where the visual warning is displayed in the form of a solid or broken line on the side of the image display unit (6) that corresponds to the side of the vehicle where the deviation occurs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for a vehicle for alerting a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle deviates from a predefined driving area in a lane, the apparatus comprising: an image display unit (6) connected to a control unit (5) that together provide a visual warning (7) on the image display unit (6) when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area, the visual warning (7) taking the form of one of (i) a solid and (ii) a broken line at the side of the image display unit (6) that corresponds to the side of the vehicle toward which the deviation is occurring; wherein the visual warning (7) is moved sideways in proportion to the size of the deviation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual warning (7) is in proportion to the size of the deviation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual warning (7) is moved longitudinally in proportion to the speed of the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein one of (i) an acoustic signal and (ii) a vibration signal alerts the driver when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area (10). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is deactivated when an intentional lane change is carried out. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is deactivated when the vehicle's direction indicator is activated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the driving area (10) of the apparatus is modified to suit the type of road upon which the vehicle is being driven. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising a GPS receiver and a map database that enables the driving area (10) to be modified to suit the type of road upon which the vehicle is being driven. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is activated when there is risk that the driver may lose concentration or when the driver has actually lost concentration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the parameters of the apparatus are modified when there is risk that the driver may lose concentration or when the driver has actually lost concentration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is deactivated in the event of an external occurrence, when the vehicle is being driven below a predefined speed and/or when the vehicle is within a predefined geographical area. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus acts upon the vehicle's steering mechanism when the vehicle is driven on or close to a lane line. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is installed upon a vehicle. ### Claim 14 A method for alerting a driver of a vehicle when the vehicle deviates from a predefined driving area in a driving lane, said method comprising: detecting the limits of the driving lane and identifying the position of the vehicle in the driving lane; comparing the position of the vehicle with the detected driving area; and giving a visual warning to the driver when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area, via an image display unit, by means of a warning mark in the form of a solid or broken line on the side of the image display unit that corresponds to the side of the vehicle where the deviation occurs; wherein the position of the warning mark is proportional to the distance of the vehicle from the edge of the driving lane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the warning mark moves along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in proportion to the vehicle's speed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the visual warning is deactivated when the vehicle's indicators are active. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the visual warning is deactivated when the vehicle's speed is less than a predefined speed and/or the vehicle is within a predefined geographical area. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein an audible signal alerts the driver when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein a vibration signal alerts the driver when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the apparatus is activated in the event of a predefined occurrence. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the parameters of the apparatus are modified in the event of a predefined occurrence. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the driving area of the apparatus is modified to suit the type of road on which the vehicle is being driven. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) A computer program product comprising program code, stored on a medium that can be read by computer, for carrying out the recited steps of claim 14 when said program is executed by a computer.