U.S. patent application number 15/973725 was filed with the patent office on 2019-11-14 for vehicle function impairment detection.
The applicant listed for this patent is DENSO International America, Inc.. Invention is credited to Markos GERGES, Ting-Yu LAI, Miki SATO.
Application Number | 20190347937 15/973725 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68465243 |
Filed Date | 2019-11-14 |
![](/patent/app/20190347937/US20190347937A1-20191114-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20190347937/US20190347937A1-20191114-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190347937/US20190347937A1-20191114-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20190347937/US20190347937A1-20191114-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20190347937/US20190347937A1-20191114-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20190347937/US20190347937A1-20191114-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20190347937/US20190347937A1-20191114-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20190347937/US20190347937A1-20191114-D00007.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20190347937 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SATO; Miki ; et al. |
November 14, 2019 |
Vehicle Function Impairment Detection
Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided and include a
receiver module that is configured to receive at least one radar
signal. A control module includes a processor that is configured to
execute instruction stored in a nontransitory memory. The control
module is configured to generate a Fourier transformation based on
the at least one radar signal, and the control module is configured
to determine a presence of wave interference based on the Fourier
transformation. A primary indicator module is configured to, in
response to the control module determining the presence of wave
interference, generate an indication. The indication corresponds to
the presence of wave interference.
Inventors: |
SATO; Miki; (Novi, MI)
; LAI; Ting-Yu; (Southfield, MI) ; GERGES;
Markos; (Southfield, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DENSO International America, Inc. |
Southfield |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
68465243 |
Appl. No.: |
15/973725 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08G 1/04 20130101; G01S
7/021 20130101; G01S 13/931 20130101; G08G 1/164 20130101; G01S
2013/93275 20200101; G08G 1/161 20130101; G08G 1/166 20130101; G01S
2013/93273 20200101; G01S 7/023 20130101; B60Q 9/008 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G08G 1/16 20060101
G08G001/16; B60Q 9/00 20060101 B60Q009/00; G08G 1/04 20060101
G08G001/04; G01S 7/02 20060101 G01S007/02 |
Claims
1. A system comprising: a receiver module that is configured to
receive at least one radar signal; a control module that includes a
processor that is configured to execute instruction stored in a
nontransitory memory, wherein the control module is configured to:
generate a Fourier transformation based on the at least one radar
signal; and determine a presence of wave interference in response
to the Fourier transformation having a harmonic distortion value
that is greater than a threshold harmonic distortion value; and a
primary indicator module that is configured to, in response to the
control module determining the presence of wave interference,
generate an indication, wherein the indication corresponds to the
presence of wave interference; wherein: the primary indicator
module includes at least one of a vibration module, an LED module,
and an auditory alert module; the vibration module includes a
vibration motor, a switching element, and a filtering element; in
response to the control module determining the presence of wave
interference, the control module is configured to provide an
indication signal to the switching element; in response to the
switching element receiving the indication signal, the switching
element is configured to activate the vibration motor; in response
to the vibration motor being activated, the vibration motor is
configured to generate the indication; and the indication is a
haptic alert.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured
to determine the presence of wave interference in response to an
amplitude of a noise floor of the Fourier transformation being
greater than a threshold amplitude.
3-8. (canceled)
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a secondary indicator
module that is configured to broadcast a signal to at least one
remote system, wherein the signal is configured to cause the at
least one remote system to generate the indication.
10. (canceled)
11. A method comprising: receiving, using a receiver module, at
least one radar signal; generating, using a control module that
includes a processor that is configured to execute instruction
stored in a nontransitory memory, a Fourier transformation based on
the at least one radar signal; determining, using the control
module, a presence of wave interference based on the Fourier
transformation having a harmonic distortion value that is greater
than a threshold harmonic distortion value; and generating, using a
primary indicator module and in response to the control module
determining the presence of wave interference, an indication,
wherein the indication corresponds to the presence of wave
interference; wherein: the primary indicator module includes at
least one of a vibration module, an LED module, and an auditory
alert module; the vibration module includes a vibration motor, a
switching element, and a filtering element, the method further
comprises: in response to the control module determining the
presence of wave interference, providing, using the control module,
an indication signal to the switching element; in response to the
switching element receiving the indication signal, activating,
using the switching element, the vibration motor; and in response
to the vibration motor being activated, generating, using the
vibration motor, the indication, wherein the indication is a haptic
alert.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the presence of
wave interference is based on an amplitude of a noise floor of the
Fourier transformation being greater than a threshold
amplitude.
13-18. (canceled)
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising broadcasting, using
a secondary indicator module, a signal to at least one remote
system, wherein the signal is configured to cause the at least one
remote system to generate the indication.
20. An apparatus comprising: a receiver module that is configured
to receive, at a first location associated with at least one of (i)
a user of the apparatus and (ii) a first road, at least one radar
signal transmitted by at least one vehicle; a control module that
includes a processor that is configured to execute instruction
stored in a nontransitory memory, wherein the control module is
configured to: generate a Fourier transformation based on the at
least one radar signal; and determine a presence of wave
interference at the first location in response to the Fourier
transformation having a harmonic distortion value that is greater
than a threshold harmonic distortion value; and a primary indicator
module that is configured to, in response to the control module
determining the presence of wave interference, generate an
indication, wherein the indication corresponds to the presence of
wave interference; wherein: the primary indicator module includes
at least one of a vibration module, an LED module, and an auditory
alert module; the vibration module includes a vibration motor, a
switching element, and a filtering element; in response to the
control module determining the presence of wave interference, the
control module is configured to provide an indication signal to the
switching element; in response to the switching element receiving
the indication signal, the switching element is configured to
activate the vibration motor; in response to the vibration motor
being activated, the vibration motor is configured to generate the
indication; and the indication is a haptic alert.
21. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is further
configured to determine the presence of wave interference in
response to the Fourier transformation having an unstable noise
floor.
22. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the presence of
wave interference is based on the Fourier transformation having an
unstable noise floor.
23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the control module is
configured to determine the presence of wave interference in
response to the Fourier transformation having an unstable noise
floor.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for
vehicle function impairment detection.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This section provides background information related to the
present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art.
[0003] Autonomous vehicles, which are vehicles that can operate
without human input, can support human operations, such as a
pre-accident warning system and an emergency braking system, and
are capable of sensing and determining characteristics of the
surrounding environment, may include a variety of sensor systems to
detect the surrounding environment, such as a radar system.
However, when multiple autonomous vehicles are located at, for
example, a roadway intersection, the radio waves transmitted and
received by the radar systems of the multiple autonomous vehicles
may be subjected to radio wave interference. As an example, radio
wave interference may occur when a first autonomous vehicle
transmits a first radar signal and a second autonomous vehicle near
the first vehicle transmits a second radar signal that either
constructively or destructively interferes with the first radar
signal. Accordingly, certain functions of the autonomous vehicle
that are dependent on signals received from the radar system, such
as alert and warning functions of an accident notification system,
may be impaired by the wave interference. As such, the impairment
of the accident notification system may decrease the effectiveness
of certain functions of the autonomous vehicle, such as alert and
warning functions of the accident notification system, that are
dependent on such signals.
SUMMARY
[0004] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure,
and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of
its features.
[0005] The present disclosure provides a system a receiver module
that is configured to receive at least one radar signal. The system
comprises a control module that includes a processor that is
configured to execute instruction stored in a nontransitory memory.
The control module is configured to generate a Fourier
transformation based on the at least one radar signal, and the
control module is configured to determine a presence of wave
interference based on the Fourier transformation. The system
includes a primary indicator module that is configured to, in
response to the control module determining the presence of wave
interference, generate an indication. The indication corresponds to
the presence of wave interference.
[0006] In some configurations, the control module is configured to
determine the presence of wave interference in response to an
amplitude of a noise floor of the Fourier transformation being
greater than a threshold amplitude.
[0007] In some configurations, the control module is configured to
determine the presence of wave interference in response to the
Fourier transformation having a harmonic distortion value that is
greater than a threshold harmonic distortion value.
[0008] In some configurations, the control module is configured to
determine the presence of wave interference in response to the
Fourier transformation having an unstable noise floor.
[0009] In some configurations, the primary indicator module
includes at least one of a vibration module, an LED module, and an
auditory alert module.
[0010] In some configurations, the vibration module includes a
vibration motor, a switching element, and a filtering element. In
response to the control module determining the presence of wave
interference, the control module is configured to provide an
indication signal to the switching element. In response to the
switching element receiving the indication signal, the switching
element is configured to activate the vibration motor. In response
to the vibration motor being activated, the vibration motor is
configured to generate the indication, and the indication is a
haptic alert.
[0011] In some configurations, the LED module includes an array of
light-emitting diodes. In response to the control module
determining the presence of wave interference, the control module
is configured to provide an indication signal that activates the
array of light-emitting diodes. In response to the array of
light-emitting diodes being activated, the array of light-emitting
diodes is configured to generate the indication, and the indication
is a visual alert.
[0012] In some configurations, the auditory alert module includes
an electroacoustic transducer. In response to the control module
determining the presence of wave interference, the control module
is configured to provide an indication signal to the
electroacoustic transducer. In response to the electroacoustic
transducer receiving the indication signal, the electroacoustic
transducer is configured to generate the indication, and the
indication is a sound.
[0013] In some configurations, a secondary indicator module is
configured to broadcast a signal to at least one remote system, and
the signal is configured to cause the at least one remote system to
generate the indication.
[0014] Additionally, the present disclosure provides a method
receiving, using a receiver module, at least one radar signal. The
method includes generating, using a control module that includes a
processor that is configured to execute instruction stored in a
nontransitory memory, a Fourier transformation based on the at
least one radar signal. The method includes determining, using the
control module, a presence of wave interference based on the
Fourier transformation. The method includes generating, using a
primary indicator module and in response to the control module
determining the presence of wave interference, an indication,
wherein the indication corresponds to the presence of wave
interference.
[0015] In some configurations, determining the presence of wave
interference is based on an amplitude of a noise floor of the
Fourier transformation being greater than a threshold
amplitude.
[0016] In some configurations, determining the presence of wave
interference is based on the Fourier transformation having a
harmonic distortion value that is greater than a threshold harmonic
distortion value.
[0017] In some configurations, determining the presence of wave
interference is based on the Fourier transformation having an
unstable noise floor.
[0018] In some configurations, the primary indicator module
includes at least one of a vibration module, an LED module, and an
auditory alert module.
[0019] In some configurations, the vibration module includes a
vibration motor, a switching element, and a filtering element, and
the method further comprises, in response to the control module
determining the presence of wave interference, providing, using the
control module, an indication signal to the switching element. The
method further includes, in response to the switching element
receiving the indication signal, activating, using the switching
element, the vibration motor. The method further includes, in
response to the vibration motor being activated, generating, using
the vibration motor, the indication, wherein the indication is a
haptic alert.
[0020] In some configurations, the LED module includes an array of
light-emitting diodes, and the method further comprises, in
response to the control module determining the presence of wave
interference, providing, using the control module, an indication
signal to the array of light-emitting diodes, wherein the
indication signal is configured to activate the array of
light-emitting diodes. The method further includes, in response to
the array of light-emitting diodes being activated, generating,
using the array of light-emitting diodes, the indication, wherein
the indication is a visual alert.
[0021] In some configurations, the auditory alert module includes
an electroacoustic transducer, and the method further comprises, in
response to the control module determining the presence of wave
interference, providing, using the control module, an indication
signal to the electroacoustic transducer. The method further
comprises, in response to the electroacoustic transducer receiving
the indication signal, generating, using the electroacoustic
transducer, the indication, wherein the indication is a sound.
[0022] In some configurations, the method further comprises
broadcasting, using a secondary indicator module, a signal to at
least one remote system, wherein the signal is configured to cause
the at least one remote system to generate the indication.
[0023] Additionally, the present disclosure provides an apparatus
comprising a receiver module that is configured to receive, at a
first location associated with at least one of (i) a user of the
apparatus and (ii) a first road, at least one radar signal
transmitted by at least one vehicle. The apparatus includes a
control module that includes a processor that is configured to
execute instruction stored in a nontransitory memory, wherein the
control module is configured to generate a Fourier transformation
based on the at least one radar signal and determine a presence of
wave interference at the first location based on the Fourier
transformation. The apparatus includes a primary indicator module
that is configured to, in response to the control module
determining the presence of wave interference, generate an
indication, wherein the indication corresponds to the presence of
wave interference.
[0024] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the
description provided herein. The description and specific examples
in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and
are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
DRAWINGS
[0025] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes
only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations,
and are not intended to limit the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0026] FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate example vehicle and roadway systems
according to the present disclosure.
[0027] FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate example interference detection
systems in a roadway system according to the present
disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates an example block diagram of an
interference detection system according to the present
disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates an example control algorithm according to
the present disclosure.
[0030] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0032] With reference to FIG. 1A, an example vehicle system 1 is
shown. The vehicle system 1 includes, for example, a vehicle 10, a
vehicle control module 20, and radar transceivers 30-1, 30-2
(collectively referred to as radar transceivers 30). As an example,
the vehicle 10 may be an autonomous vehicle, semiautonomous
vehicle, or a vehicle that does not include any automated functions
and/or features.
[0033] The vehicle control module 20 may be configured to, for
example, communicate with the radar transceivers 30 to receive
signals transmitted by remote vehicles or systems, such as
vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure systems, and
transmit signals to remote vehicles or vehicle-to-infrastructure
systems. Additionally or alternatively, the vehicle control module
20 may be configured to receive or transmit the signals using sonar
systems, ultrasonic systems, Lidar systems, dedicated short range
communication (DSRC) systems, and camera systems.
[0034] In response to the vehicle control module 20 receiving
signals from remote vehicles or systems, the vehicle control module
20 may be configured to execute various algorithms. As an example,
the vehicle control module 20 may be configured to perform a
pre-accident notification function, which predicts future accidents
and driving hazards based on communication with remote vehicles
and/or systems that are configured to communicate with the vehicle
10, such as vehicle-to-infrastructure systems. Additionally, the
vehicle control module 20 may be configured to perform an accident
notification function, which generates early warnings of accidents
and driving hazards to/from remote vehicles and/or systems.
Furthermore, the vehicle control module 20 may be configured to
execute various ubiquitous functions implemented by autonomous and
semiautonomous vehicles, such as cooperative adaptive cruise
control functions, vehicle platooning functions, traffic object
detection/identification functions, emergency vehicle detection
functions, navigation functions, etc.
[0035] In order to execute the functions described above, the
vehicle control module 20 may include one or more processors that
are configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory
medium, such as a random-access memory (RAM) and/or a read-only
memory (ROM).
[0036] The radar transceivers 30 may be configured to transmit
radar signals, as indicated by the dotted arcs in FIG. 1A, and the
radar transceivers 30 may also be configured to receive various
signals. As an example, the radar transceivers 30 may each include
a receiver system (not shown) that includes a first antenna of an
antenna system, a radio-frequency (RF) filter, a low-noise
amplifier, a local oscillator, an intermediate frequency (IF)
mixer, an IF filter, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC).
Furthermore, the radar transceivers 30 may each include a
transmitter system (not shown) that includes a second antenna of
the antenna system, a signal generator, and a power amplifier.
[0037] The receiver system (not shown) may be configured to receive
various signals via each of the first antennas, and the RF filters
and the low-noise amplifiers may suppress image frequencies and
prevent the radar transceivers 30 from becoming saturated. The
local oscillator then provides a mixing frequency to the frequency
mixer in order to change the received frequency into a new,
intermediate frequency. The IF filter and the IF amplifier then
amplify the signal and limit the intermediate frequencies to a
certain bandwidth. Subsequently, the ADC converts the analog signal
to a digital signal that can be processed by the vehicle control
module 20. The transmitter system (not shown) may be configured to
generate signals using the signal generators at a desired frequency
(e.g., 24 GHz, 77 GHz, 79 GHz, etc.). The power amplifiers may then
increase the range of the signals and then output the signals via
the second antenna of each of the corresponding antenna
systems.
[0038] The components of the radar transceivers 30 may be located
at one or multiple locations on a hood, a bumper, and/or a roof of
the vehicle 10. Additionally or alternatively, some or all of the
components of the radar transceivers 30 may be located on the
exterior and/or interior of the vehicle 10.
[0039] With reference to FIG. 1B, an example roadway system 2 is
shown. The example roadway system 2 includes a first vehicle 10-1,
a second vehicle 10-2, a third vehicle 10-3, a cyclist 40, and a
pedestrian 50. While not shown in FIG. 1B, each of the first,
second, and third vehicles 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 includes a respective
vehicle control module 20 and radar transceivers 30. In this
example embodiment, the first vehicle 10-1 and the third vehicle
10-3 are attempting to make a left-hand turn through an
intersection of the roadway system 2, and the second vehicle 10-2
is attempting to make a right turn through the intersection of the
roadway system 2, as indicated by the arrows associated with the
first, second, and third vehicles 10-1, 10-2, 10-3. Furthermore,
the cyclist 40 and the pedestrian 50 are attempting to cross a
street of the roadway system 2 via a crosswalk of the roadway
system 2, as indicated by the arrows associated with the cyclist 40
and the pedestrian 50.
[0040] Each of the first, second, and third vehicles 10-1, 10-2,
10-3 transmits radar signals using the respective radar
transceivers 30, as indicated by the dotted arcs associated with
each of the first, second, and third vehicles 10-1, 10-2, 10-3.
However, the radar signals transmitted by the first vehicle 10-1
and third vehicle 10-3 may interfere with radar signals of the
second vehicle 10-2, as indicated by the intersection of the dotted
arcs associated with each of the first, second, and third vehicles
10-1, 10-2, 10-3. Accordingly, the pre-accident notification
systems of each of the vehicles 10 may be impaired by the wave
interference, thereby posing a risk of collision between one or
more of the first, second, and/or third vehicles 10-1, 10-2, 10-3,
the cyclist 40, and/or the pedestrian 50.
[0041] With reference to FIG. 1C, another example roadway system 3
is shown. In this example embodiment, the first, second, and third
vehicles 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 are traveling in the same direction, as
indicated by the arrows associated with the first, second, and
third vehicles 10-1, 10-2, 10-3. Additionally, the cyclist 40 is
traveling in the same direction as the first, second, and third
vehicles 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 using, for example, a bicycle lane of the
roadway system 3, as indicated by the arrow associated with the
cyclist 40. Further, the pedestrian 50 is attempting to, for
example, improperly cross the street of the roadway system 3, as
indicated by the arrow associated with the pedestrian 50.
[0042] Similar to the embodiment described above, each of the
first, second, and third vehicles 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 transmit radar
signals using the respective radar transceivers 30, as indicated by
the dotted arcs associated with each of the first, second, and
third vehicles 10-1, 10-2, 10-3. However, the radar signals
transmitted by the first vehicle 10-1 and third vehicle 10-3 may
interfere with radar signals of the second vehicle 10-2, as
indicated by the intersection of the dotted arcs associated with
each of the first, second, and third vehicles 10-1, 10-2, 10-3.
Accordingly, the pre-accident notification systems of each of the
vehicles 10 may be impaired by the wave interference, thereby
posing a significant threat of severe injury and/or death to the
operators of the first, second, and third vehicles 10-1, 10-2,
10-3, the cyclist 40, and the pedestrian 50.
[0043] With reference to FIG. 2A, an interference detection system
60 within the roadway system 2 is shown. In this embodiment, the
interference detection system 60 is implemented at a fixed
location, such as an intersection of the roadway system 2. While
this embodiment illustrates a single interference detection system
60, in other embodiments, the roadway system 2 may include a
plurality of interference detection systems 60. As described below
in further detail, the interference detection system 60 is
configured to determine a presence of wave interference and
generate an indication in response to determining the presence of
wave interference.
[0044] With reference to FIG. 2B, interference detection systems
60-1, 60-2 within the roadway system 3 are shown. In this
embodiment, interference detection system 60-1 is a portable device
associated with the pedestrian 50, and interference detection
system 60-2 is a portable device associated with the cyclist 40. As
described below in further detail, the interference detection
systems 60-1, 60-2 are configured to determine a presence of wave
interference and generate an indication in response to determining
the presence of wave interference.
[0045] With reference to FIG. 3, an example block diagram of the
interference detection system 60 is shown. In one embodiment, the
interference detection system 60 includes an antenna system 62, a
receiver module 64, a control module 80, a primary indicator module
86, a display module 94, and a secondary indicator module 96.
[0046] In one embodiment, the receiver module 64 is configured to
receive signals via the antenna system 62. The receiver module 64
may include an RF filter 66 and an RF amplifier 68 to suppress
image frequencies and to prevent the system from becoming
saturated. A local oscillator 72 of the receiver module 64 may be
configured to provide a mixing frequency to a frequency mixer 70 in
order to change the received frequency into a new, intermediate
frequency. An intermediate frequency (IF) filter 74 and an IF
amplifier 76 may be configured to amplify the signal and limit the
intermediate frequencies to a certain bandwidth. Subsequently, a
demodulator 78 may extract the desired modulation from the filtered
intermediate frequency and provide the extracted signal to the
control module 80.
[0047] The control module 80 is configured to determine whether the
extracted signal indicates whether wave interference exists at a
location near the interference detection system 60. As an example,
the control module 80 may be configured to perform a Fourier
transformation algorithm on the extracted signal. Moreover, the
control module 80 may generate a plot and/or table of various
frequencies and detected powers at the corresponding frequencies.
Based on the plot and/or table, the control module 80 may determine
whether wave interference exists at a location near the
interference detection system 60. Determining the presence of wave
interference based on the Fourier transformation algorithm is
described below in further detail with reference to FIG. 4.
[0048] In order to execute the Fourier transformation algorithm and
to generate the indication signal, which is described below in
further detail, the control module 80 may include a processor 82
that is configured to execute instructions in a memory 84, which
may be a nontransitory memory component, such as a random-access
memory (RAM) and/or a read-only memory (ROM).
[0049] In response to detecting the presence of wave interference,
the control module 80 is configured to generate an indication
signal that activates the primary indicator module 86. As an
example, the indication signal may be configured to activate a
vibration module 88 of the primary indicator module 86. In one
embodiment, the vibration module 88 includes a vibration motor, a
switching element (e.g., a bipolar junction transistor, a
metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, an
insulated-gate bipolar transistor, etc.), and filtering elements
that absorb voltage spikes (e.g., a capacitor). Specifically, in
response to the indication signal activating the switching element
of the vibration module 88, the vibration motor is activated and
subsequently generates a haptic alert (i.e., a vibration) that
indicates the presence of wave interference.
[0050] Additionally or alternatively, the indication signal may be
configured to activate an LED module 90 of the primary indicator
module 86. In one embodiment, the LED module 90 includes an array
of light-emitting diodes that are configured to emit light in
response to receiving the indication signal from the control module
80.
[0051] Additionally or alternatively, the indication signal may be
configured to activate an auditory alert module 92 of the primary
indicator module 86. In one embodiment, the auditory alert module
92 includes an electroacoustic transducer that is configured to
convert the indication signal received into a sound (e.g., beeping
noise, voice instructions, etc.). Accordingly, the sound generated
by the auditory alert module 92 may correspond to the presence of
wave interference.
[0052] Additionally or alternatively, the control module 80 may be
configured to provide the indication signal to the display module
94, which may be configured to, in response to receiving the
indication signal, display an object on a user interface of the
display module 94 indicating the presence of wave interference. In
one embodiment, the object may be a graphic and/or text
corresponding to the presence of wave interference.
[0053] Additionally or alternatively, in response to detecting the
presence of wave interference, the control module 80 is configured
to generate and provide the indication signal to the secondary
indicator module 96. As an example, the indication signal may be
provided to a radio module 98, which is configured to generate
various telemetric signals based on the indication signal. As a
more specific example, the radio module 98 may generate DSRC
signals, LTE or other cellular signals, Bluetooth or Bluetooth low
energy (BLE) signals, Wi-Fi signals, and/or other telemetric
signals suitable for wireless communication. The telemetric signals
are then broadcasted to at least one of a remote system 102 and a
remote server 104 via power amplifier 100 and the antenna system
62. The remote system 102 may be implemented by a radar system and
control module of a remote vehicle and/or vehicle-to-infrastructure
system, a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone), a portable device
that is configured to receive signals from the secondary indicator
module 96, a computer, and other similar devices.
[0054] In one example embodiment, if the remote system 102 is a
remote vehicle, the secondary indicator module 96 may transmit a
DSRC signal to the remote vehicle that is displayed on a
corresponding dashboard. Specifically, in response to receiving the
signal from the secondary indicator module 96, the control module
of the remote vehicle may generate the following message for
display on the corresponding dashboard: [0055] "WARNING: Various
vehicle functions may be impaired as a result of wave interference.
Please proceed with caution."
[0056] In one example embodiment, if the remote system 102 is a
mobile device, the secondary indicator module 96 may transmit an
LTE signal to the mobile device. Specifically, in response to
receiving the signal from the secondary indicator module 96, the
mobile device may display the following message on a corresponding
user interface: [0057] "WARNING: Various vehicle functions of
nearby vehicles may be impaired as a result of wave interference.
Please use sidewalks, crosswalks, and bicycle lanes with
caution."
[0058] In one example embodiment, the remote server 104 may be
configured to, in response to receiving a signal from the secondary
indicator module 96 and using a processor that is configured to
execute instructions stored in a nontransitory memory (e.g., RAM
and/or ROM) of the remote server 104, generate an entry in a
database of the remote server 104. Moreover, the database of the
remote server 104 may include a plurality of entries associated
with indications of wave interference received from a plurality of
wave interference detection systems 60. Based on the plurality of
entries, the remote server 104 may be configured to generate a
table and/or graphic representation of the presence of wave
interference at various locations of a roadway infrastructure. As a
more specific example, the remote server 104 may be configured to
generate a map that is displayed on a user interface of or in
communication with the remote server 104. Moreover, the map may
include visual indicators at various locations that represent the
presence of wave interference. Furthermore, the visual indicators
of the map may be dynamic, or in other words, the map may represent
locations that are currently detecting wave interference.
Alternatively, the visual indicators of the map may be static, or
in other words, the map may represent locations that detect wave
interference at selected time instances.
[0059] With reference to FIG. 4, a flowchart for a control
algorithm 400 for operating the interference detection system 60 is
shown. The control algorithm 400 begins at 404 when, for example,
the interference detection system 60 is turned on. At 408, the
control algorithm 400 performs, using the control module 80, a
Fourier transformation function on the signals received by the
receiver module 64. At 412, the control algorithm 400 determines,
using the control module 80, whether only a low noise floor is
generated by the Fourier transformation function. As an example, if
the Fourier transformation function generates a plot and/or table
that only indicates the presence of a low noise floor, the receiver
module 64 may be receiving a noise signal having a constant
amplitude (e.g., white noise). If the control algorithm 400
determines the presence of only a low noise floor, the control
algorithm 400 proceeds to 416; otherwise, the control algorithm 400
proceeds to 420. At 416, the control algorithm 400 indicates, using
at least one of the primary indicator module 86, the display module
94, and/or the secondary indicator module 96, that no radio waves
(e.g., radar signals) are detected and proceeds to 408.
[0060] At 420, the control algorithm 400 determines, using the
control module 80, whether an amplitude of the noise floor is
greater than a threshold noise floor value. If so, the control
algorithm 400 proceeds to 424; otherwise, the control algorithm 400
proceeds to 432. At 424, the control algorithm 400 determines,
using the control module 80, the presence of excessive noise and
then proceeds to 428. At 428, the control algorithm 400 indicates,
using at least one of the primary indicator module 86, the display
module 94, and/or the secondary indicator module 96, the presence
of wave interference caused by the excessive noise and proceeds to
456.
[0061] At 432, the control algorithm 400 determines, using the
control module 80, whether the noise floor value is unstable. In
other words, the control algorithm 400 determines whether other
variable noise signals are being received by the receiver module
64. If the control algorithm 400 determines that the noise floor is
unstable, the control algorithm 400 proceeds to 424; otherwise, the
control algorithm 400 proceeds to 436. At 436, the control
algorithm 400 determines, using the control module 80, whether a
harmonic distortion of the resulting plot and/or table is greater
than a threshold distortion value. The harmonic distortion may be
defined as a ratio of a sum of the powers of all harmonic
components with respect to the power of the fundamental frequency
of the Fourier transformation function. As an example, a higher
harmonic distortion may indicate the presence of wave interference,
and a lower harmonic distortion may indicate the absence of wave
interference. If the harmonic distortion is greater than the
threshold harmonic distortion value, the control algorithm 400
proceeds to 440; otherwise, the control algorithm 400 proceeds to
448.
[0062] At 440, the control algorithm 400 determines, using the
control module 80, the presence of multiple waves and proceeds to
444. At 444, the control algorithm 400 indicates, using at least
one of the primary indicator module 86, the display module 94,
and/or the secondary indicator module 96, the presence of wave
interference caused by the multiple radio waves (e.g., radio
signals) and proceeds to 456. At 448, the control algorithm 400
determines and indicates the absence of wave interference and
proceeds to 456. At 456, the control algorithm 400 ends.
[0063] The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature
and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application,
or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented
in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes
particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be
so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a
study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims.
It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may
be executed in different order (or concurrently) without altering
the principles of the present disclosure. Further, although each of
the embodiments is described above as having certain features, any
one or more of those features described with respect to any
embodiment of the disclosure can be implemented in and/or combined
with features of any of the other embodiments, even if that
combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the
described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations
of one or more embodiments with one another remain within the scope
of this disclosure.
[0064] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for
example, between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers,
etc.) are described using various terms, including "connected,"
"engaged," "coupled," "adjacent," "next to," "on top of," "above,"
"below," and "disposed." Unless explicitly described as being
"direct," when a relationship between first and second elements is
described in the above disclosure, that relationship can be a
direct relationship where no other intervening elements are present
between the first and second elements, but can also be an indirect
relationship where one or more intervening elements are present
(either spatially or functionally) between the first and second
elements. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C
should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a
non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean "at
least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C."
[0065] In the figures, the direction of an arrow, as indicated by
the arrowhead, generally demonstrates the flow of information (such
as data or instructions) that is of interest to the illustration.
For example, when element A and element B exchange a variety of
information but information transmitted from element A to element B
is relevant to the illustration, the arrow may point from element A
to element B. This unidirectional arrow does not imply that no
other information is transmitted from element B to element A.
Further, for information sent from element A to element B, element
B may send requests for, or receipt acknowledgements of, the
information to element A.
[0066] In this application, including the definitions below, the
term "module" or the term "controller" may be replaced with the
term "circuit." The term "module" may refer to, be part of, or
include: an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); a
digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital discrete circuit; a
digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital integrated circuit; a
combinational logic circuit; a field programmable gate array
(FPGA); a processor circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that
executes code; a memory circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that
stores code executed by the processor circuit; other suitable
hardware components that provide the described functionality; or a
combination of some or all of the above, such as in a
system-on-chip.
[0067] The module may include one or more interface circuits. In
some examples, the interface circuits may include wired or wireless
interfaces that are connected to a local area network (LAN), the
Internet, a wide area network (WAN), or combinations thereof. The
functionality of any given module of the present disclosure may be
distributed among multiple modules that are connected via interface
circuits. For example, multiple modules may allow load balancing.
In a further example, a server (also known as remote, or cloud)
module may accomplish some functionality on behalf of a client
module.
[0068] The term code, as used above, may include software,
firmware, and/or microcode, and may refer to programs, routines,
functions, classes, data structures, and/or objects. The term
shared processor circuit encompasses a single processor circuit
that executes some or all code from multiple modules. The term
group processor circuit encompasses a processor circuit that, in
combination with additional processor circuits, executes some or
all code from one or more modules. References to multiple processor
circuits encompass multiple processor circuits on discrete dies,
multiple processor circuits on a single die, multiple cores of a
single processor circuit, multiple threads of a single processor
circuit, or a combination of the above. The term shared memory
circuit encompasses a single memory circuit that stores some or all
code from multiple modules. The term group memory circuit
encompasses a memory circuit that, in combination with additional
memories, stores some or all code from one or more modules.
[0069] The term memory circuit is a subset of the term
computer-readable medium. The term computer-readable medium, as
used herein, does not encompass transitory electrical or
electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium (such as on a
carrier wave); the term computer-readable medium may therefore be
considered tangible and non-transitory. Non-limiting examples of a
non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium are nonvolatile
memory circuits (such as a flash memory circuit, an erasable
programmable read-only memory circuit, or a mask read-only memory
circuit), volatile memory circuits (such as a static random access
memory circuit or a dynamic random access memory circuit), magnetic
storage media (such as an analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard
disk drive), and optical storage media (such as a CD, a DVD, or a
Blu-ray Disc).
[0070] The apparatuses and methods described in this application
may be partially or fully implemented by a special purpose computer
created by configuring a general purpose computer to execute one or
more particular functions embodied in computer programs. The
functional blocks and flowchart elements described above serve as
software specifications, which can be translated into the computer
programs by the routine work of a skilled technician or
programmer.
[0071] The computer programs include processor-executable
instructions that are stored on at least one non-transitory,
tangible computer-readable medium. The computer programs may also
include or rely on stored data. The computer programs may encompass
a basic input/output system (BIOS) that interacts with hardware of
the special purpose computer, device drivers that interact with
particular devices of the special purpose computer, one or more
operating systems, user applications, background services,
background applications, etc.
[0072] The computer programs may include: (i) descriptive text to
be parsed, such as HTML (hypertext markup language) or XML
(extensible markup language), (ii) assembly code, (iii) object code
generated from source code by a compiler, (iv) source code for
execution by an interpreter, (v) source code for compilation and
execution by a just-in-time compiler, etc. As examples only, source
code may be written using syntax from languages including C, C++,
C#, Objective-C, Swift, Haskell, Go, SQL, R, Lisp, Java.RTM.,
Fortran, Perl, Pascal, Curl, OCaml, Javascript.RTM., HTML5
(Hypertext Markup Language 5th revision), Ada, ASP (Active Server
Pages), PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor), Scala, Eiffel,
Smalltalk, Erlang, Ruby, Flash.RTM., Visual Basic.RTM., Lua,
MATLAB, SIMULINK, and Python.RTM..
[0073] None of the elements recited in the claims are intended to
be a means-plus-function element within the meaning of 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 112(f) unless an element is expressly recited using the
phrase "means for," or in the case of a method claim using the
phrases "operation for" or "step for."
[0074] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been
provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual
elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not
limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are
interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if
not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in
many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure
from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be
included within the scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *