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Information providing device for vehicleInformation providing device for vehicle description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060087416, Information providing device for vehicle. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is based on and incorporates herein by reference Japanese patent application No. 2004-312849 filed on Oct. 27, 2004. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an information providing device for a vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVEHTION [0003] In JP-H06-255399-A, a conventional device is described which warns a vehicle's driver of an dangerous object by illuminating the dangerous object using a spotlight or by projecting a warning sign to a position which is on the windshield of the vehicle and corresponds to a position of the dangerous object. [0004] When the warning sign is shown on the windshield, the driver moves his/her sight line to the warning sign and adjusts his/her focus to the warning sign on the windshield to notice presence of the dangerous object. Subsequently, the driver adjusts his/her focus from the windshield to the dangerous object itself to estimate its distance from the vehicle. Thus, in a case where a warning sign is shown on the windshield, the driver needs to adjust his/her focus from the windshield to an actual position of a dangerous object in the process of noticing the dangerous object. [0005] In addition, the device projects the spotlight only when it detects a dangerous object. Therefore, the driver possibly has difficulty in immediately reacting to the spotlight which comes up at an unexpected position. Moreover, a sight line of the driver and a heading direction of the vehicle are almost the same; therefore, the driver possibly fails to recognize the spotlight if the spotlight deviates from the heading direction. [0006] Thus, using the conventional device, the driver sometimes has difficulty in recognizing a dangerous object even in a case where the driver needs to react against the dangerous object as quickly as possible. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an information providing device which enables a driver to quickly react to a dangerous object. [0008] To achieve the above object, an information providing device in a vehicle is provided with the following. An object detecting unit is included for detecting an object outside the vehicle. A providing unit is included for providing, outside the vehicle, visual information which is visually perceptible. Furthermore, a controlling unit is included for controlling the providing unit. Here, the providing unit is usually caused to provide the visual information to indicate a heading direction of the vehicle. In contrast, when the detected object is determined to include a danger to advancement of the vehicle or an indication of stopping the vehicle, the providing unit is caused to move the visual information to indicate a direction towards the detected object. [0009] Under the above structure, the information providing device can usually lead a driver's sight line to the heading direction of the vehicle. Thus, driver's eyes can focus on the heading direction, which is proper for usual driving operation. In addition, when the detected object is determined to be requiring driver's attention, the visual information is moved while continuing to be perceptible so that the detected object can be indicated by the moved visual information. [0010] Thus, the driver watching the heading direction notices the movement of the visual information and the sight line of the driver is led to the detected object by following the movement. Consequently, this helps prevent a delay in movement of the sight line or an oversight of the dangerous object. [0011] Furthermore, when the visual information moves from the heading direction to the direction towards the detected dangerous object, the focus of the driver changes also from the heading direction to the direction towards the detected object, within scenery outside of the vehicle. Therefore, an amount of adjustment of the focus in this case using the device of the present invention is small compared to that in a case using the conventional device where the focus moves from the windshield of the vehicle to the dangerous object outside the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: [0013] FIG. 1 shows a structure of an information providing device for a vehicle; [0014] FIG. 2 shows a diagram of units included in a controller in the information providing device; [0015] FIG. 3 shows a situation where the information providing device projects visual information of an estimated path for a subject vehicle; [0016] FIG. 4 shows a situation where the information providing device projects visual information of danger information towards a dangerous object; and [0017] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a process which the controller executes. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0018] As shown in FIG. 1, an information providing device 100 mounted in a subject vehicle includes surrounding information detectors 10, driving operation state detectors 20, vehicle running state detectors 30, a controller 40, and a laser projection device 50. Continue reading about Information providing device for vehicle... Full patent description for Information providing device for vehicle Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Information providing device for vehicle patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Information providing device for vehicle or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Alarm for a livestock trailer and method of use thereof Next Patent Application: Obstacle detection method and system, particularly for systems for assisting the parking of vehicles Industry Class: Communications: electrical ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Information providing device for vehicle patent info. 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