GB2224475A

GB2224475A - Speed distance head-up display

Info

Publication number: GB2224475A
Application number: GB8825934A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Lister
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-11-05
Filing date: 1988-11-05
Publication date: 1990-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-05
Also published as: GB2224475B; GB8825934D0

Abstract

A head-up display comprising a small box 1 with a sliding lid 2 affixed to the upper horizontal surface of the instrument panel of a motor vehicle. The sliding lid 2 is graduated 3 in such a manner that when correctly fitted, the graduations 3 are reflected onto the inner surface of the wind-screen immediately in front of the driver's line of vision. These reflected images present constant visual zones equivalent to the safe braking distances in front of the vehicle for the relevant road speed of the vehicle. The sliding lid 2 will allow adjustment of the image position to suit the height of the driver, and to increase or decrease the braking zone to compensate for hazardous road conditions. The graduations may be formed by lenses illuminated by lamps within the box or by LED's selectively illuminated in correspondence to speed to indicate the safe stopping distance at the speed being travelled. <IMAGE>

Description

SPEED/DISTANCE DRIVING SIGHT.

THIS invention relates to a motor vehicle accessory designed to achieve greater road safety.

A large number of road accidents are of the type where one vehicle collides with the rear of the preceding vehicle. Such accidents are usually the result of travelling t'too close-too fast. The highway code lays down minimum safe stopping distan- ces for specified speeds.

The problem is, drivers either do not know what these distrcs are, or cannot remember them, or just ignore them. Constant awareness of these circumstances should greatly reduce sucr accidents and the resulting injuries and damage.

The object of this invention is to constantly alert drivers to the safe stopping distances of their own vehicle, fro any preceding vehicle, for any given speed.

The essential principle of this invention is to create a refle- cted image onto the inside of a vehicle windscreen directly in front of the drivers line of vision.

The invention comprises of a box approximately 130mm x 80mm 20mm deep with a sliding lid. The lid is suitably marked to indicate the stopping distances required for road speeds of 30; 50; and 70 miles per hour, as recommended in the highway code.

When correctly fixed onto the upper horizontal surface of the instrument panel of the car, the graduations on the box reflected onto the inner surface of the windscreen in front of the driver. These reflected graduations show as zones of space against the background of the road. If these zones ar clear any vehicle then sufficient stopping distance S available, when travelling at the speed relevant to the zone.

The principle of the image being a reflected one ens'res them while presenting the information on the windsere@@ immedi@@ -in front of the driver, the reflected image causes no obstrant- ion to the drivers vision, being totally transparant.

The design of the invention allows it to be positioned on dash or fixed directly to the base of the windscreen allowing adjustment to suit the physical characteristics of individuAl drivers. Moving the device forward or backward raises or lowers the position of the reflected image on the windscreen, thus allowing correct sight alignment for drivers of any physical height.

Positioning of the device is finalised with the driver sat In his or her normal driving position. The device is locate such a position thatthe reflected image of the 30mph grad@ ion coincides with the sight-line from the drivers te C point on the road surface 23 metres in front of the Thus when travelling at 30mph. no vehicles should be apprached close enough for them to appear below the 30mph. graduation, (that is within the graduation zone between the reflected ark and the front of the car.)-the safe stopping distance. ren set up as described the 50 & 70mph. graduations will @@@@@de with road distances of 53 metres and 96 metres respectively (i.e. the safe braking distances for those speeds respectively) The invention fulfills a dual purpose. Not only does it warn a driver he is too close to a preceding vehicle, but also servec to warn him/her, that the speed being travelled at is. too as for the clear stopping space available. (Or alternat-'velJr the speed has not been adjusted to correspond with any sp@@ reduction of the preceding vehicle).

The device provides reliable,driver control of the options;- a) Keep sufficient space in front of own vehicle to suit speed being travelled at.

b)Reduce speed to ensure stopping can be C achiec within. @@ clear space remaining between own vehicle and @@ r vehicle.

The sliding lid provides a constant adjustment feature to all the driver to increase the reflected "safe stopping zone11 thereby providing an increased distance when driving in cr or hazardous conditions e.g. fog; heavy rain; or ice.

Sliding the lid partly out of the device, raises the position of the reflected image on the windscreen thereby elevating the sight-line of the driver and effectively extend ing the safe stopping distance to whatever the driver wishes.

The action of sliding out the lid, also exposes an area of nigh visibility which appears reflected on the windscreen as a risk zone, below the 30mph. zone. This zone shoul - We tort @clear' at all costs, partcularly in the haxardous driv@ conditions which caused the zone to be exposed.

A spcific embodiment of the invention will now be descri by way of example with reference to the accompany in raw & in which: Fig.1, shows in perspective, the basic version with the 1 withdrawn.

Fig.2, Shows the illuminated model with the lid withdrawn.

Fig. 3, Shows the L.E.D. version with the lid closed.

Pig.4, Illustrates the positioning of the driving-sight on instrument panel and the sight lines through that reflected image.

Fig.5, Illustrates the projected sight lines onto the road surface, and the visual safe stopfing area.

ig. 6, Shows the location of the driving-sight on the in panel and the drivers view of the refleuted inage the windscreen.

Referring to the drawings, the driving sight comprises of c box with a sliding lid 2, The box and the lid have a matt black finish, thus being non-reflective and will not be visible reflected image on the windscreen. The sliding lid 2, In is accurately graduated with three pairs of lines 3, using hig visibility strips which will be easily seen when reflected te the inside surface of the windscreen. These lines are position on the lid 2, so as to create 30mph; 50mph; and 70mph; zones when the reflected images are observed on the windscreen.

When the lid 2, is in the closed position. only the three airs of lines will be visible as a reflected image on the windscreen.

If the lid 2, is partly opened, the area 4, which has a high visibility surface will be seen as an additional zone ref 0 ted on the windscreen, and will serve as a hazard warning and automatically increase the visual stopping distances reflected onto the windscreen.

Pig. 2, shows the driving sight with a built-ir, illuminating system 6, assembled inside the box 1. The power source for the illumination can be either battery or direct from the vehicle accessory terminals 7, The three pairs of graduate lines are lenses 5, set in the lid 2, to allow the illuminated lIght to pass through and onto the windscreen, thereby increasing r- visibility of the reflected image by day and night.

Fig. 3, shows the L.E.D. version of the driving sight. The lid 2, has the graduations replaced with Light-emitting-diodes ^, position to co-incide with graduations representing the stop- ping distances for speeds of 30; 40; 50; 60; 70;and 80mph.

The L.E.Ds, are coupled 7, to the corresponding graduavions on the speedometer. This automatically reflects the sefe stopp- ing zone onto the windscreen for the speed being registere: on the speedometer dial.

Fig. 4, shows the driving sight 1, positioned on the upper surface of the instrument panel of the vehicle. The rellec image appears on the windscreen 10, and the sight-lines from the drivers eye, through the reflected image are shown 9, represen- ting the 30; 50; and 70mph stopping zones.

Fig. 5, shows the extended sight-lines 9, \ere the lowest of these coincides with the road surface 11, the distance will 23 metres in front of the vehicle. This is the safe stopping distance when travelling at 30mph. The other sight-lines il converge with the road surface at 73 and 96 metres respectIeThv.

These are the recommended safe stopping distances when travelli- ng at 50mph. and 70mph.

Fig. 6, shows the drivers view of the driving sight when in use.

The driving sight box 1, is properly located on the horizontal surface of the instrtument panel, directly in front of the drive The graduations as described are reflected onto the windscrden 40, The driver should ensure he/she never anproaches close enough to any preceding vehicle for the reflected zone to encroach onto that vehicle relevent to the speed being travelled at.

Claims

1 A driving-sight comprising a small box with a sliding lid, which can be affixed to the upper horizontal surface of the instrument panel of a moter vehicle. The sliding-lid is gradu- ated to project a reflected image of the graduations onto the inside surface of the windscreen immediately in front of the rivers line of vision.When the sight is properly positioned, the reflected image will provide a reference datum for the driver which clearly indicates the safe braking distance in front of the moter vehicle,for the relevent speed of travel,

2 A driving-sight as claimed in Claim 1, wherebye the gradus- ted lid can be partially slid out, toward the driver, ther-D-e adjusting the position of the reflected image to increase true indicated safe braking distance in front of the driven or any relevant speed and/or to compensate for hazardous road cen ions.

3 A driving-sight as claimed in claim 1 or claIm 2 wherln no exposed internal panel of the box, as a result of sliding @@ lid partly out, is a high-visibility surface colour, i is reflected onto the windscreen as a braking ares to be kept free from encroachment by preceding vehicles at all costs, In ha-ar- dous conditions, for example ice, snow, fo.

4 A driving-sight as claimed in claim 1, claim 2, wherein the graduations on the lid comprise inset transparent prisms with an electric light unit inserted beneath the li to increase une itwel ol visibility and improve night t irre of the driving-sight.

5 A driving-sight as claimed in any preceding claim wherel the graduations to the lid are provided by means ol a series of "light emitting diodes" positioned to represent t @@@@ distances required at speeds of 30;40;50;60;70;80 mile hour, and synchronised to the relevent graduetions on the speedometer. Thus at a given speed an illuminated reflect@- image appsers in front of the driver. This indi CLAIMS (cont.) -zone is automatically extended as the vehicle speed increases.

6 A driving-sight substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-6 of the accompanying drawings.