US Patent 7362241 Vehicle proximity warning apparatus, method and program

A vehicle proximity warning apparatus includes a current location detector for detecting a current location of the user's vehicle, point information acquisition processor for acquiring map data, and a light emission processor for driving a light generator, in accordance with the map data and the current location of the user's vehicle, to emit a light beam toward a point to be illuminated in an intersection. The light generator is driven in accordance with the location of the user's vehicle and map data so as to direct the light beam toward the point to be illuminated in the intersection, thereby reliably informing other vehicles and pedestrians of the proximity of the user's vehicle.