An improved Center High Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL) harvests electrical power while providing additional features when the CHMSL is not powered during a brake application. Electronic circuitry determines if the different sources of electrical power have sufficient energy to activate the light-emitting device; senses a vehicle braking or emergency event to activate the light-emitting device upon sensing the event; and switches from one source of electrical power to a different source of electrical power if it is determined that a particular source of electrical power has become depleted or incapable of activating the light-emitting device. The different sources of electrical power may include a supercapacitor, a rechargeable battery, or a primary battery. The electronic circuitry operative to sense a braking or emergency event may include a brake signal input or an inertial measurement unit (IMU).

A vehicle may have vehicle controls that are used in steering, braking, and accelerating the vehicle. The vehicle may have sensors that gather information on vehicle speed, orientation, and position. The sensors may also gather information on relative speed between the vehicle and a following vehicle, information on risks of a collision between a vehicle and an external object, and other vehicle status information and vehicle operating environment information. Control circuitry may use light-based devices to display braking information, information on vehicle speed, the relative speed between a vehicle and a following vehicle, autonomous driving mode status information, custom brake light information or other user-selected information, or other information on vehicle status and the operating environment of a vehicle.

A vehicular vision system includes a side-viewing camera mounted within an exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system. The side-viewing camera has a field of view at least sideward of the side of the equipped vehicle at which the exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached. The side-viewing camera captures an image of a scene occurring exterior of the equipped vehicle. The captured image includes an image data set representative of the exterior scene. A control includes an image processor, and the image data set is provided to the control. The control processes a reduced image data set of the image data set provided to the control to detect edges present exterior of the equipped vehicle within an area of interest of the scene occurring exterior of the equipped vehicle that is within the field of view of the side-viewing camera.

Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed in which one or more light sources, a detector, a processor and a controller are configured such that light from the one or more light sources improves the ability of a human or automated motor vehicle driver to identify and avoid pedestrians. The one or more light sources may provide spot illumination to moving objects or pedestrians on a road surface, with the spot illumination following the moving object or pedestrians along the portion of the road surface. The one or more light sources may project images on the ground or on other surfaces. The light source may be carried by a pedestrian or on personal transport used by a pedestrian. The light sources may be stationary and provide lighting for a pedestrian street crossing.

A vehicle backseat child detection system for preventing children from being left in vehicle back seats includes a control box having a timer. The control box is coupled within a dashboard of a vehicle and is in operational communication with a fuse panel and a horn of the vehicle. At least one seat pressure switch each detects the weight of a child and is in operational communication with the control box. If one seat pressure switch detects the presence of a child and the control box detects the vehicle is turned off, a warning light is activated and the timer runs for a preset duration of time before activating the horn of the vehicle unless the child is removed or the vehicle is turned on.

A vehicle backseat child detection system for preventing children from being left in vehicle back seats includes a control box having a timer. The control box is coupled within a dashboard of a vehicle and is in operational communication with a fuse panel and a horn of the vehicle. At least one seat pressure switch each detects the weight of a child and is in operational communication with the control box. If one seat pressure switch detects the presence of a child and the control box detects the vehicle is turned off, a warning light is activated and the timer runs for a preset duration of time before activating the horn of the vehicle unless the child is removed or the vehicle is turned on.

A detection system for a vehicle in an environment has a reflective member positioned along an x-y plane for rotation around a rotational axis orthogonal to the x-y plane. The reflective member has a plurality of reflective sides, each of the reflective sides sloping towards the rotational axis at a slope angle different than the slope angle of at least one of the others of the reflective sides. At least one detector is positioned offset from the rotational axis and the x-y plane, an active side of the plurality of reflective sides positioned to provide a field of view between the detector and the environment. An actuator is configured to rotate the reflective member around the rotational axis to change the active reflective side to a different one of the plurality of reflective sides.

A detection system for a vehicle in an environment has a reflective member positioned along an x-y plane for rotation around a rotational axis orthogonal to the x-y plane. The reflective member has a plurality of reflective sides, each of the reflective sides sloping towards the rotational axis at a slope angle different than the slope angle of at least one of the others of the reflective sides. At least one detector is positioned offset from the rotational axis and the x-y plane, an active side of the plurality of reflective sides positioned to provide a field of view between the detector and the environment. An actuator is configured to rotate the reflective member around the rotational axis to change the active reflective side to a different one of the plurality of reflective sides.

A vehicle alert system and method are provided. The vehicle alert system and method provide for a non-audible alert upon actuation of an actuation area, such as a car horn. The non-audible alert may include operating or actuating one or more lights. A mobile application may be provided for providing an alert in response to the actuation of the actuation area.

A vehicle alert system and method are provided. The vehicle alert system and method provide for a non-audible alert upon actuation of an actuation area, such as a car horn. The non-audible alert may include operating or actuating one or more lights. A mobile application may be provided for providing an alert in response to the actuation of the actuation area.