VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEM

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle information system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a set of compartment closing members adapted to close an interior compartment of the vehicle to the environment ambient of the vehicle and further comprises a set of operating lights, arranged outwardly of the vehicle, and intended to be used during driving of the vehicle. The information system is adapted to receive a compartment closing member signal indicative of a compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members being unclosed and/or unlocked, and upon receipt of the compartment closing member signal, issue an information signal to the vehicle such that one or more of the lights in the set of outwardly arranged operating lights is activated to thereby indicate which compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members is unclosed and/or unlocked.

Claims

1. A vehicle information system for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a set of compartment closing members adapted to close an interior compartment of the vehicle to environment ambient of the vehicle, the vehicle further comprising a set of operating lights, arranged outwardly of the vehicle, and intended to be used during driving of the vehicle, the vehicle information system being configured to: receive a compartment closing member signal indicative of a compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members being unclosed and/or unlocked; and upon receipt of the compartment closing member signal, issue an information signal to the vehicle such that one or more of the lights in the set of outwardly arranged operating lights is activated to thereby indicate which compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members is unclosed and/or unlocked, each compartment closing member being assigned an individual activation of the set of outwardly arranged operating lights.

2. The vehicle information system according to claim 1 wherein the set of compartment closing members comprises at least one of a front door, a rear door, a luggage boot and a bonnet of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle information system according to claim 1 wherein the set of outwardly arranged operating lights comprises at least one of a left direction indicator, a right direction indicator, a headlight, a tail light and a brake light.

4. The vehicle information system according to claim 1 wherein each compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members is assigned an individual sub-set of the set of operating lights.

5. The vehicle information system according to claim 1 wherein each compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members is assigned an individual flashing frequency or pattern of one or more of the operating lights of the set of operating lights.

6. The vehicle information system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle further comprises audio signaling means, and the vehicle information system is further configured to issue an audio warning signal to the vehicle such that the audio signaling means is activated to thereby indicate that at least one compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members is unclosed and/or unlocked.

7. The vehicle information system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle information system is configured to receive a locking signal indicative of that at least a subset of the set of compartment closing members is to be locked.

8. The vehicle information system according to claim 7 wherein the vehicle information system is configured to receive the compartment closing member signal and issue the information signal upon receipt of the locking signal.

9. A vehicle comprising the vehicle information system according to claim 1.

10. A method for indicating an unclosed and/or unlocked compartment closing member of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a set of compartment closing members adapted to close an interior compartment of the vehicle to environment ambient of the vehicle, the vehicle further comprising a set of operating lights, arranged outwardly of the vehicle, and intended to be used during driving of the vehicle, the method comprising: upon detection that a compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members is unclosed and/or unlocked, activating one or more of the lights of the set of outwardly arranged operating lights to thereby indicate which compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members is unclosed and/or unlocked, each compartment closing member being assigned an individual activation of the set of outwardly arranged operating lights.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the set of compartment closing members comprises at least one of a front door, a rear door, a luggage boot and bonnet of the vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein the set of outwardly arranged operating lights comprises at least one of a left direction indicator, a right direction indicator, a headlight, a tail light and a brake light.

13. The method according to claim 10 wherein each compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members is assigned an individual sub-set of the set of operating lights.

14. The method according to claim 10 wherein each compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members is assigned an individual flashing frequency or pattern of one or more of the operating lights of the set of operating lights.

15. The method according to claim 10 wherein the method further comprises: detecting that at least a subset of the set of compartment closing members is to be locked; and upon detection that the at least a subset of compartment closing members is to be locked, performing the method according to claim 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The present disclosure will hereinafter be further explained by means of non-limiting examples with reference to the attached drawings.

[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle comprising a vehicle information system;

[0047] FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment of a method for indicating an unclosed and/or unlocked compartment closing member of a vehicle, and

[0048] FIG. 2B illustrates another embodiment of a method for indicating an unclosed and/or unlocked compartment closing member of a vehicle.

[0049] It should be noted that the appended drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that the dimensions of some features of the present disclosure may have been exaggerated for the sake of clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The disclosure will, in the following, be exemplified by embodiments. It should however be realized that the embodiments are included in order to explain principles of the disclosure and not to limit the scope of the disclosure, defined by the appended claims. Details from two or more of the embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle 10 comprising a vehicle information system 12 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Moreover, the vehicle 10 comprises a set of compartment closing members 14. A compartment closing member is adapted to close an interior compartment of the vehicle to the environment ambient of the vehicle. As such, a compartment closing member may be a front left door 16, a front right door 18, a rear left door 20, a rear right door 22, a luggage boot 24 or a bonnet 26. The luggage boot 24 may also be referred to as a tailgate. Further, the bonnet 26 may be referred to as a hood.

[0052] As a non-limiting example, the vehicle 10 may comprise a passenger compartment and an engine compartment. Moreover, though purely by way of example, each one of the doors 16, 18, 20, 22and possibly also the luggage boot 24 if the vehicle 10 is an estate car or a station wagonmay be adapted to close the passenger compartment to the environment ambient of the vehicle 10. Moreover, as a non-limiting example, the bonnet 26 may be adapted to close the engine compartment to the environment ambient of the vehicle 10.

[0053] The vehicle 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 has six compartment closing members depicted, two front doors, two rear doors, a luggage boot and a bonnet. Purely by way of example the set of compartment closing members 14 of the vehicle 10 may comprise at least one of the front door 16, 18, the rear door 20, 22, the luggage boot 24 and the bonnet 26.

[0054] The FIG. 1 vehicle 10 further comprises a set of operating lights 28, arranged outwardly of the vehicle 10, and intended to be used during driving or parking of said vehicle 10. As set out herein, operating lights refers to the lighting system of the vehicle which comprises lighting and signaling lights or lamps. Thus, the operating lights are responsible for lighting the roadway for the driver and/or increasing the conspicuity of the vehicle, allowing other drivers and pedestrians to see the vehicle's presence, position, size, direction of travel, and the driver's intentions regarding direction and speed of travel.

[0055] To this end, operating lights may thus comprise a front left direction indicator 30, a front right direction indicator 32, a rear left direction indicator 34, a rear right direction indicator 36, head (front) lights 38, tail lights 40 and brake lights 42. A direction indicator may also be referred to as a blinker.

[0056] The vehicle 10 in FIG. 1 is illustrated having front left and right direction indicators 30, 32, rear left and right direction indicators 34, 36, head lights 38, tail lights 40 and/or brake lights 42. However, it is also envisaged that embodiments of the vehicle 10 may comprise one or more of a left direction indicator, a right direction indicator, a headlight, a tail light and a brake light.

[0057] The vehicle information system 12 according to the present disclosure is adapted to receive a compartment closing member signal indicative of a compartment closing member 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 of the set of compartment closing members 14 being unclosed and/or unlocked.

[0058] Purely by way of example, one or more, preferably each compartment closing member of a vehicle may be associated with a locking mechanism (not shown). Moreover, though again purely by way of example, the locking mechanism may be adapted to determine whether or not the locking mechanism has successfully locked its associated compartment closing member 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26. As a non-limiting example, upon detection that the locking mechanism has not successfully locked its associated compartment closing member 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, the locking mechanism may be adapted to issue the sealing member signal, e.g., via wires (not shown) or via wireless communication means, to the vehicle information system 12 indicative of that the associated compartment closing member 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 is unclosed and/or unlocked.

[0059] The system 12 is further adapted to, upon receipt of the compartment closing member signal, issue an information signal to the vehicle 10, e.g., via wires (not shown) or via wireless communication means, such that one or more of the lights in the set of outwardly arranged operating lights 28 is activated to thereby indicate which compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members 14 that is unclosed and/or unlocked. Each compartment closing member 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 is assigned an individual activation of the set of outwardly arranged operating lights.

[0060] The individual activation of the set of outwardly arranged operating lights 28 may be achieved in a plurality of different ways. As a non-limiting example, each compartment closing member 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 of the set of compartment closing members 14 may be assigned an individual sub-set of the set of operating lights 28.

[0061] For example, the vehicle information system 12 may be adapted to: [0062] issue a warning signal for activating the left front direction indicator 30 upon receipt of a signal indicating that the left front door 16 is unclosed and/or unlocked, and/or [0063] issue a warning signal for activating the right front direction indicator 32 upon receipt of a signal indicating that the right front door 18 is unclosed and/or unlocked, and/or [0064] issue a warning signal for activating the left rear direction indicator 34 upon receipt of a signal indicating that the left rear door 20 is unclosed and/or unlocked, and/or [0065] issue a warning signal for activating the right rear direction indicator 36 upon receipt of a signal indicating that the right rear door 22 is unclosed and/or unlocked, and/or [0066] issue a warning signal for activating the tail lights 40 and/or the brake lights 42 upon receipt of a signal indicating that the luggage boot 24 is unclosed and/or unlocked, and/or [0067] issue a warning signal for activating the head lights 38 upon receipt of a signal indicating that the bonnet 26 is unclosed and/or unlocked.

[0068] The activation of each one of the above lights may be such that a fixed light or a flashing light is issued.

[0069] The non-limiting examples above illustrate how the assignment of an individual subset of the set of operating lights 28 to each compartment closing member 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 implies an intuitive display of the information of which compartment sealing member 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 is unclosed and/or unlocked to the driver outside the vehicle 10. However, other combinations than the example above are also envisaged.

[0070] Instead of, or in addition to, assigning an individual subset of the set of operating lights 28 to each compartment closing member 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, each compartment closing member 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 of the set of compartment closing members 14 may be assigned an individual flashing frequency or pattern of one or more of the operating lights of said set of operating lights 28.

[0071] As a result thereof, for example, the same set of operating lights may be used for the compartment closing members of the set of compartment closing members 14, but with individual flashing frequency or pattern depending on which compartment closing member is unclosed and/or unlocked. In this context, a flashing frequency or pattern for one or more operating lights means activation, e.g., the lights are turned on and off, in an individual pattern. The driver will quickly be able to learn which compart sealing member is assigned a specific individual frequency.

[0072] By way of another example, one or more of the operating lights of the set of operating lights may be arranged to be activated in a sequence to lead the driver of the vehicle 10 to the unclosed door. As a non-limiting example, if the driver is standing at the front left vehicle door 16 and attempts to lock the vehicle 10 and the rear right vehicle door 22 is unclosed/unlocked, operating lights on the left side of the vehicle may be activated in sequence to thereby guide the driver to the rear vehicle door 22. Purely by way of example, such a sequence may comprise firstly activating the left front direction indicator 30, followed by the left rear direction indicator 34, thereafter followed by the rear right direction indicator 36.

[0073] In case the vehicle 10 further comprises audio signaling means 44, such as a horn or loudspeaker, the vehicle information system 12 according to embodiments herein may further be adapted to issue an audio warning signal to the vehicle 10 such that the audio signaling means 44 is activated to thereby indicate that at least one compartment closing member of the set of compartments sealing members 14 is unclosed and/or unlocked. In this way, the driver is alerted through sound that the vehicle 10 is unlocked in case the driver walks away from the vehicle 10 without noticing the activation one or more operating lights.

[0074] The vehicle information system may further be adapted to receive a locking signal indicative of that the at least a subset of the set of compartment closing members is to be locked. Purely by way of example, a wireless communication device such as a key (not shown), a smartphone (not shown) may be controlled by an operator so as to issue the locking signal to the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 may in turn comprise means (not shown) for receiving such a signal. As another non-limiting example, an operator may initiate the issuance of a locking signal by manually locking one of the compartment closing member 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, for instance using a physical key (not shown).

[0075] Furthermore, the vehicle information system may be adapted to receive the compartment closing member signal and issue said information signal upon receipt of the locking signal. Thus, the vehicle information system in this case is set into action only when an indication is received, for example from the driver, that an actual attempt to lock to vehicle 10 is initiated. To this end, it should be noted that there are numerous situations in which a compartment closing member 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 is intentionally left open and/or unlocked. Purely by way of example, such situations could occur during loading or unloading, maintenance or repair of the engine, or just leaving a front or rear door open for a prolonged time to ventilate or clean the interior of the vehicle are. Taking such circumstances into account, it is advantageous that the vehicle information system 12 may be set to be activated upon receipt of an indication that an attempt to lock the vehicle 10 has been initiated, for instance by an operator such as a driver of the vehicle 10.

[0076] FIG. 2A illustrates a method for indicating an unclosed and/or unlocked compartment closing member of a vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 comprises a set of compartment closing members 14 adapted to close an interior compartment of the vehicle to the environment ambient of the vehicle. The vehicle further comprises a set of operating lights 28, arranged outwardly of the vehicle, and intended to be used during driving of the vehicle 10.

[0077] The method comprises: [0078] upon detection 200 that a compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members is unclosed and/or unlocked, activating 300 one or more of the lights in the set of outwardly arranged operating lights 28 to thereby indicate which compartment closing member of the set of compartment closing members 14 is unclosed and/or unlocked, each compartment closing member being assigned an individual activation of the set of outwardly arranged operating lights.

[0079] A compartment closing member is adapted to close an interior compartment of the vehicle to the environment ambient of the vehicle. As such, a compartment closing member may be a front left or right door 16, 18, a rear left or right door 20, 22, a luggage boot 24 or a bonnet 26. Optionally, in some embodiments herein, the set of compartment closing members 14 of the vehicle 10 may comprise at least one of a front door, a rear door, a luggage boot and a bonnet.

[0080] As a non-limiting example, and as indicated hereinabove, the set of outwardly arranged operating lights 28 may comprise at least one of a left direction indicator 30, 34, a right direction indicator 32, 36, a headlight 38, a tail light 40 and a brake light 42.

[0081] As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the method may further comprise: [0082] detecting 100 that at least a subset of the set of compartment closing members 14 is to be locked, and [0083] upon detection that the at least a subset of compartment closing members 14 is to be locked, performing the method procedure 200, 300 as described above.

[0084] It should be noted that the vehicle information system 12 and any other system, subsystem, mechanism, device or module described herein may individually, collectively, or in any combination comprise appropriate circuitry, such as one or more appropriately programmed processors (e.g., one or more microprocessors including central processing units (CPU)) and associated memory, which may include stored operating system software and/or application software executable by the processor(s) for controlling operation thereof and for performing the particular algorithms represented by the various functions and/or operations described herein, including interaction between and/or cooperation with each other. One or more of such processors, as well as other circuitry and/or hardware, may be included in a single ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuitry), or several processors and various circuitry and/or hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a SoC (System-on-a-Chip).