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EP-4486636-B1 - MOTORCYCLE WITH RADAR DEVICE

EP4486636B1EP 4486636 B1EP4486636 B1EP 4486636B1EP-4486636-B1

Inventors

  • FERRARO, VINCENZO

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230303

Claims (10)

  1. A saddle-ride type motorcycle (1) comprising: - a dashboard (12) provided with a monitor (13); - a radar device (16) configured to detect, for each side of said motorcycle (1), the presence of a vehicle (2) near or approaching in at least a first zone (BSD, BSD') characteristic of its blind spot and in at least a second zone (LCA, LCA') adjacent to and rear to said first zone (BSD, BSD') with respect to the advance direction of said motorcycle (1), wherein said radar device (16) comprises at least one sensor (161) and at least one controller (162) that determines the presence of said vehicle (2) in one of said zones (BSD, BSD, LCA, LCA') based on a signal sent by said sensor element (161), wherein said controller (162) is connected, directly or indirectly, to said monitor (13) and determines the illumination of at least one predetermined portion (131, 131', 132, 132') of said monitor (13) when it detects the presence of said vehicle (2) in one of said zones (BSD, BSD', LCA, LCA'), wherein said controller (162) estimates the potential presence of said vehicle (2) in a third zone (SIDE) adjacent to and in front of said first zone (BSD, BSD') with respect to the direction of travel of said motorcycle (1), wherein said controller (162), based on the speed (V) of said vehicle (2), determines, directly or indirectly, the illumination of said predetermined portion (131, 131', 132, 132') or of a further predetermined portion of said monitor (13) with respect to said predetermined portion (131, 131', 132, 132').
  2. Motorcycle (1) according to claim 1, wherein said speed of said vehicle (2) is detected at the entry thereof into said third zone (SIDE).
  3. Motorcycle (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said controller (162) is directly connected to said monitor (13) and directly determines the illumination of said at least one predetermined portion (131, 131', 132, 132') of said monitor (13) as a result of the presence of said vehicle (2) in one of said zones (BSD, LCA, SIDE).
  4. Motorcycle (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said motorcycle (1) comprises a control unit (50) of said monitor (13) and a communication bus (18) connecting said controller (162) to said control unit (50), said communication bus (18) transferring to said control unit (50) an alarm signal generated by said controller (162) and characteristic of the presence of said vehicle (2) in one of said zones (BSD, LCA), wherein said control unit (50) controls the illumination of said at least one portion of said monitor (13) based on said alarm signal (S).
  5. Motorcycle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: - at least one left portion (131, 131') of said monitor (13) is illuminated when the presence of said vehicle (2) is detected in said first zone (BSD) or in said second zone (LCA), wherein said zones (BSD, LCA) are considered to be on a left side (20) of said motorcycle (1), and wherein - at least one right portion (132, 132') of said monitor (13) is illuminated when the presence of said vehicle (2) is detected in said first zone (BSD') or in said second zone (LCA'), wherein said zones (BSD', LCA') are considered to be on a right side (20) of said motorcycle (1).
  6. Motorcycle (1) according to claim 5, wherein the illumination of said at least one predetermined portion (131, 131', 132, 132') of said monitor (13) is fixed or is intermittent.
  7. Motorcycle (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said at least one predetermined portion (131, 131', 132, 132') of said monitor (13) is illuminated with a first color when said radar device (16) detects the presence of said vehicle (2) in said first zone (BSD, BSD') and with a second color, different from the first color, when said radar device (16) detects the presence of said vehicle (2) in said second zone (LCA, LCA').
  8. Motorcycle (1) according to claim 7, wherein depending on the distance of said vehicle (2) from said motorcycle (1), said controller (162) varies the illuminating surface, the color and/or the intermittence of said at least one predetermined portion (131, 131', 132, 132') of said monitor (13).
  9. Motorcycle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sensor element (161) is positioned on a centerline plane (M) of the motorcycle (1) and at the rear end thereof, preferably near a taillight.
  10. Motorcycle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said predetermined portion (131, 131', 132, 132') of said monitor (13) is arranged adjacent to the edge of said monitor (13).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention falls within the production of two- or three-wheeled motorcycles. In particular, the invention relates to a motorcycle provided with a radar device that generates an alarm displayed directly on a monitor installed on the dashboard of the motorcycle. STATE OF THE ART Two- and three-wheeled motorcycles are known to use radar devices to detect the presence of vehicles in the vicinity and thus to limit the risk of possible collisions. In most cases, two devices are used, one for each longitudinal side of the motorcycle. Specifically, each device is installed at a rear-view mirror and is typically configured to detect the presence of a vehicle in a zone corresponding to the blind spot, i.e., in a zone adjacent to the motorcycle that is not within the field of vision permitted by the rear-view mirror. Each of these devices is typically connected to warning lights that are also installed at the rear-view mirror. For each mirror, these lights are activated/illuminated when the radar device detects the presence of a vehicle in the blind spot corresponding to the mirror. These lights therefore provide a visual warning to the driver, who becomes aware that any lateral movement of the motorcycle, e.g. a lane change, could lead to a collision with the vehicle being signaled. The Applicant has found that the visual alarm offered by the warning lights required the driver to turn their eyes towards the rear-view mirrors, thus diverting their attention, even if for brief moments, from the road. This condition could be dangerous, especially when riding on a busy road. In the case of a motorcycle, i.e., a vehicle without a protective frame around the driver, any distraction, however slight, can be fatal. The document US 2020/407001 discloses a relevant state of the art motorcycle comprising: a dashboard provided with a monitor; a sonar device configured to detect, for each side of said motorcycle), the presence of a vehicle near or approaching in at least a first zone characteristic of its blind spot; wherein said sonar device comprises at least one sensor and at least one controller that determines the presence of said vehicle in one of said zones based on a signal sent by said sensor element, wherein said controller is connected, directly or indirectly, to said monitor and determines the illumination of at least one predetermined portion of said monitor when it detects the presence of said vehicle in one of said zones. SUMMARY The primary aim of the present invention is to provide a motorcycle which solves or at least mitigates the above-mentioned drawbacks. Within this aim, a first object of the present invention is to provide a saddle-ride motorcycle which warns the driver about the presence of vehicles near or approaching the motorcycle, without diverting their attention from driving. Another object is to provide a motorcycle that is reliable and easy to manufacture at a competitive cost. The Applicant has found that the above aim and objects can be achieved by the use of a radar device which, following the detection of a vehicle in the vicinity of the motorcycle, directly or indirectly illuminates a portion of a monitor installed on the dashboard of the motorcycle. The central position of the dashboard, and thus of the monitor, thus provides a visual alarm which can be seen by the driver without turning their eyes towards the mirrors, i.e., turning their eyes away from the roadway. In particular, the aim and the intended objects are achieved by means of a motorcycle comprising a dashboard provided with a monitor and a radar device configured to detect, for each side of the motorcycle, the presence of a vehicle nearby or approaching in at least a first zone characteristic of its blind spot and in at least a second zone adjacent to and rear to the first zone with respect to the advance direction of the motorcycle. Said radar device comprises at least one sensor and at least one controller that determines the presence of the vehicle in one of said zones based on a signal sent by the sensor element. According to the invention, the controller is connected, directly or indirectly, to the monitor and determines the illumination of at least one predetermined portion of the monitor when it detects the presence of the vehicle in one of the controlled zones. Further, the controller estimates the potential presence of a vehicle in a third zone adjacent to and in front of the first zone with respect to the advance direction of the motorcycle, wherein the controller, based on the speed of the vehicle, determines, directly or indirectly, the illumination of said predetermined portion or of a further predetermined portion of said monitor with respect to said predetermined portion. Preferably, the speed of the vehicle is measured at the limit closest to the motorcycle in the first zone. According to one possible embodiment, the controller is connected directly to the monitor and directly determines