Buick Regal: Lane Departure Warning Description and Operation

The lane departure warning system is a convenience feature that utilizes the frontview camera module to determine if the vehicle has unintentionally crossed a lane marking and issue a warning. The frontview camera module is located behind the windshield, looking out at the road ahead and detecting any lane markings. When the vehicle unintentionally leaves a detected lane, visual and audible or haptic (if equipped) alerts are given to the driver. The visual alert cannot be changed, but the driver can select between audible or haptic alerts (if equipped) in the vehicle personalization menus. Refer to the vehicle owner's manual for vehicle personalization options.

The lane departure warning system utilizes the following components:

• Frontview camera module
• Lane departure warning switch
• Instrument cluster
• Infotainment system
• Safety alert seat, if equipped

Frontview Camera Module

The frontview camera module detects visual queues such as lane markings. When it is determined that the vehicle has unintentionally moved outside of the lane, visual and audible or haptic (if equipped) warning is given to the driver. The frontview camera module receives an input from the lane departure warning switch and controls the lane departure warning switch indicator output. The frontview camera module also communicates via serial data with the instrument cluster, infotainment system, and memory seat module to request visual, audible, and/or haptic alerts.

Lane Departure Warning Switch

The lane departure warning switch provides an input to the frontview camera module to turn the lane departure warning system on and off. The frontview camera module applies voltage and monitors the parking assist switch signal circuit. The lane departure warning switch is a normally open switch. With the switch open, voltage seen at the frontview camera module is high. When the lane departure warning switch is pressed, the switch is closed and the signal circuit is pulled to ground. With the switch closed, voltage seen at the frontview camera module is low. The frontview camera module will respond to this by activating or deactivating the lane departure warning system.

The lane departure warning switch also utilizes the lane departure warning indicator, which is part of the lane departure warning switch and is controlled by the frontview camera module to indicate the operational status of the lane departure warning system. When the lane departure warning is enabled, the frontview camera module will illuminate the indicator on the switch. The indicator receives voltage through a high control circuit from the body control module (BCM) and is controlled through a low control circuit by the frontview camera module.

Instrument Cluster

The instrument cluster contains green and amber lane departure warning indicators. These indicators inform the driver of the current status of the lane departure warning system and are controlled via serial data by the frontview camera module. When the vehicle speed is above 56 km/h (35 MPH) and the system has detected the required lane markings and is ready to assist, the green indicator will be illuminated. If the vehicle has unintentionally left the lane, the amber indicator will flash.

Infotainment System

The infotainment system controls the audible alert for the lane departure warning. If the vehicle has unintentionally left the lane, the frontview camera module will request via serial data an audible alert to the driver through the infotainment system.

Safety Alert Seat

The memory seat module controls the haptic alert provided by the seats. If the vehicle has unintentionally left the lane, the memory seat module will command pulses to the left or right side of the seat, depending on the lane departure direction.

Lane Departure Warning Operation

System Operational Modes

• Off State: The system has been turned off by the driver using the lane departure warning switch.

  The lane departure warning indicator located on the lane departure warning switch will not be illuminated.

• Not Ready To Assist: The system is enabled and the lane departure warning indicator located on the lane departure warning switch is illuminated, but the system is not ready to assist because one of the following conditions is true:
  • Vehicle speed is less than 56 km/h (35 MPH). The system is designed to function at speeds greater than 56 km/h (35 MPH).
  • The system cannot detect lane markings. This may be because there are no lane markings or the lane markings cannot be determined due to snow, rain, or other driving conditions.
  • The windshield area in front of the camera or the camera lens is blocked by fog, dirt, damage to the windshield, or other elements that may prevent the camera from detecting lane markings.
• Ready To Assist: The system is enabled and ready to warn of the unintentional lane crossing. The system is ready to assist when the green lane departure warning indicator is illuminated on the instrument cluster.

Lane Crossing Alerts

• A lane crossing alert consists of the following:
  • The amber lane departure warning indicator located on instrument cluster will flash.
  • Three chimes are activated through the infotainment system or three pulses to the left or right side of the seat, if equipped with safety alert seat
• When any of the following conditions occurs, the system will not give alerts:
  • The appropriate turn signal is activated. An activated turn signal is interpreted as an intentional lane crossing.
  • The operator makes an intentional steering maneuver.
  • The operator makes an intentional accelerating maneuver.
  • The operator makes an intentional braking maneuver.

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