Lane Departure Warning Description and Operation: Notes
The lane departure warning system is a convenience feature that issues a warning when the system detects that the vehicle has unintentionally crossed a lane marking. The lane departure warning system is controlled by a camera located behind the windshield which looks out at the road ahead and detects any lane markings. When the vehicle unintentionally leaves a detected lane, a visual and audible alert is given to the driver.
The lane departure warning system is made up of the following components:
- Vehicle direction camera control module
- Lane departure warning switch
- Instrument cluster
- Radio
Vehicle Direction Camera Control Module
The camera detects visual queues such as lane markings and curbs. When it is determined that the vehicle has unintentionally moved outside of the lane, a visual and audible warning is given to the driver. The vehicle direction camera control module receives an input from the lane departure warning switch and controls the lane departure warning LED output. The vehicle direction camera control module also communicates via serial data with the instrument cluster and radio to request visual and audible alerts.
Lane Departure Warning Switch
The lane departure warning switch provides an input to the vehicle direction camera control module to turn the lane departure warning system ON and OFF. The lane departure warning switch is part of the multifunction switch at the instrument panel. The vehicle direction camera control module provides a signal voltage to the normally open momentary switch. When the switch is pressed, the signal circuit is pulled to ground, indicating to the vehicle direction camera control module that the system has been request to turn ON or OFF. The lane departure warning switch also contains the lane departure warning LED, which is controlled by the vehicle direction camera control module to indicate the ON and OFF status of the lane departure warning system. When the system is has been enabled by the lane departure warning switch, the vehicle direction camera control module applies ground to the switch indicator and illuminating the LED.
Instrument Cluster
The instrument cluster contains the green and amber lane departure warning indicators. These indicate to the driver the current status of the lane departure warning system and are controlled via serial data by the vehicle direction camera control module. When the system has detected the required lane markings and is ready to assist, the green indicator will be illuminated on the instrument cluster. If the vehicle has unintentionally left the lane, the amber indicator will flash.
Radio
The radio controls the audible alert for the lane departure indicator. If the vehicle has unintentionally left the lane, the radio will command 3 beeps as an audible alert to the driver.