U.S. patent number RE44,331 [Application Number 12/827,346] was granted by the patent office on 2013-07-02 for vehicle collision detector.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Livy SRVCS, Limited Liability Company. The grantee listed for this patent is Goran Sjonell. Invention is credited to Goran Sjonell.
United States Patent |
RE44,331 |
Sjonell |
July 2, 2013 |
Vehicle collision detector
Abstract
A collision prevention detector (22), and a method therefor, to
be mounted on a vehicle (10), transmits a sequence of transmissions
of IR signals. The signals are transmitted in sequences alternating
between at least one at the right and to the left positioned LED
(24, 26, 34, 36), when both signals provide a return/reflected
signal to IR-receiver an object (12) is determined as present
within the area/zone from the point where the transmitted signals
intersect/cross. Sequencing of signals makes it possible to
position a return signal from an object (12), as one of the signals
has to confirm the other signal to provide a warning signal.
Moreover, a first set of LED's detects objects in a near-field zone
(40) of the vehicle, and a second set detects objects beyond the
first field in a far-field zone (42), whereby at least two sets of
the LED's are positioned to the right and to the left.
Inventors: |
Sjonell; Goran (Lidingo,
SE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sjonell; Goran |
Lidingo |
N/A |
SE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Livy SRVCS, Limited Liability
Company (Dover, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
34826251 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/827,346 |
Filed: |
February 2, 2005 |
PCT
Filed: |
February 02, 2005 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/SE2005/000135 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
November 03, 2006 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2005/073754 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
August 11, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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60541412 |
Feb 2, 2004 |
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Reissue of: |
10588242 |
Nov 3, 2006 |
7394355 |
Jul 1, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
340/435; 348/148;
340/438; 180/271; 348/118; 342/70; 250/339.01; 250/338.1;
340/436 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S
17/931 (20200101); G01V 8/20 (20130101); G01S
17/87 (20130101); G01S 7/4811 (20130101); G01S
2013/9315 (20200101); G01S 7/4814 (20130101); G01S
7/4813 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60Q
1/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;340/435,524,425.5,436,438,445,506,555,556,557,600,903,928,942
;250/221,222.1,224,338.1,339.01 ;342/70,71,180 ;180/271,272,273,274
;348/73,81,118,148 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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21 43 406 |
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Apr 1972 |
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DE |
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24 55 733 |
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May 1976 |
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DE |
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2455733 |
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May 1976 |
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DE |
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0 370 965 |
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May 1990 |
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EP |
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0370965 |
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May 1990 |
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EP |
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2591351 |
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Jun 1987 |
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FR |
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2613080 |
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Sep 1988 |
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FR |
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2 265 744 |
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Oct 1993 |
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GB |
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2 283 874 |
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May 1995 |
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GB |
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2283874 |
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May 1995 |
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GB |
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09-132094 |
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May 1997 |
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JP |
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9132094 |
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May 1997 |
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JP |
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WO-90/13103 |
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Nov 1970 |
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WO |
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90/13103 |
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Nov 1990 |
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WO |
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WO-95/25322 |
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Sep 1995 |
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WO |
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98/34131 |
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Aug 1998 |
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WO |
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WO-98/34131 |
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Aug 1998 |
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WO |
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WO-01/45067 |
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Jun 2001 |
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WO |
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Other References
Communication from the European Patent Office on European Patent
Application 05704795.3, dated Nov. 16, 2007. cited by applicant
.
Communication from the European Patent Office on European Patent
Application 05704795.3, dated Nov. 26, 2009. cited by applicant
.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for
PCT/SE2005/000135, issued Aug. 7, 2006. cited by applicant .
International Search Report and Written Opinion for
PCT/SE2005/000135, mailed May 12, 2005. cited by applicant .
Communication from the European Patent Office issued on 05704795.3,
mailed Mar. 5, 2012. cited by applicant .
JP 9132094 A (Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.), May 20, 1997 (abstract).
cited by applicant .
JP 9132094 A (Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.), Sep. 30, 1997 (abstract).
cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Bugg; George
Assistant Examiner: Yacob; Sisay
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
.[.This application.]. .Iadd.The present application is a
broadening Reissue of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/588,242,
filed Nov. 3, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,394,355), which is a
national phase application of PCT/SE2005/000135 filed on Feb. 2,
2005, which .Iaddend.claims the benefit of priority from
provisional U.S. Application Ser. No. 60/541,412 filed on Feb. 2,
2004.Iadd., all of which are incorporated herein by reference in
their entirety.Iaddend..
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A collision prevention detector .[.to be mounted on a vehicle,
transmitting a sequence of transmissions of IR signals, whereby the
signals are transmitted in sequences alternating between at least
one at the right and to the left positioned LED, when both signals
provide a return/reflected signal to an IR-receiver an object is
determined as present within an area from the point where the
transmitted signals intersect/cross, whereby the sequencing of
signals makes it possible to position a return signal from the
object, as one of the signals has to confirm the other signal to
provide a warning signal, said detector further.]. comprising: at
least two sets of .[.said LED's.]. .Iadd.LEDs .Iaddend.positioned
to the right and to the left, whereby a first set detects objects
in a near-field zone of the vehicle, and a second set beyond said
first field in a far-field zone.Iadd., wherein the at least two
sets of LEDs are configured to transmit a sequence of transmissions
of IR signals alternating between at least one LED to the right and
at least one LED to the left; at least one IR receiver configured
to receive the sequence of transmissions of IR signals such that
receiving both of the alternating IR signals indicates the presence
of an object within an area where the transmitted signals
cross.Iaddend.; a processor connected to .[.said first and second
sets for detection of.]. .Iadd.the at least one IR receiver
configured to detect the object in the .Iaddend.near-.Iadd.field
.Iaddend.and far-field zones .[.and being provided the vehicle
speed.].; and a comparator .[.connected to or comprised in said.].
.Iadd.associated with the .Iaddend.processor.[., which compares the
vehicle speed with.]. .Iadd.configured to compare a vehicle speed
with .Iaddend.a pre-determined loss of measured distance by
measuring how fast the vehicle approaches .[.said.]. .Iadd.the
.Iaddend.object .[.by.]. closing in from the far-field zone to the
near-field zone, whereby an alarm is .[.given through.]. .Iadd.by
.Iaddend.an indicator device .[.mounted on said vehicle alerting a
vehicle driver to pay attention to the closing in of an approaching
object.]..
.[.2. A detector according to claim 1, wherein the detector can be
a rear mirror mounted blind spot detector, a vehicle front mounted
detector, a vehicle rear mounted detector, a vehicle side mounted
detector, and a vehicle roof mounted detector..].
.[.3. A detector according to claim 2, wherein the detector is
mounted within at least one of a headlight and a rear light of said
vehicle..].
.[.4. A detector according claim 1, further comprising further sets
of far-zone LED's detecting beyond said second far-zone
LED's..].
.[.5. A detector according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle is
automatically braked controlled by said processor if an object is
closing in at a calculated breaking distance for the speed of the
vehicle regarding detectors which are vehicle front mounted
detectors, or vehicle rear mounted when reversing, thus detecting
objects when the vehicle closes in on objects in front of it and
when it reverses..].
.[.6. A detector according to claim 5, wherein said processor is
connected to a vehicle road computer providing road
temperatures..].
.[.7. A detector according to claim 5, wherein said processor is
connected to a rain sensor, antiskid system, anti-spin system and
other like systems providing road condition information utilized to
calculate when to brake said vehicle..].
.[.8. A detector according to claim 1, wherein the width of a
search field zone is determined by the optics of the LED's
utilized, through the sector angle within a beam of light and the
angle between beams of light, and through the power of transmission
of a transmitted IR signal..].
.[.9. A detector according to claim 1, wherein search field zones
can be arranged so that warning signals are provided when a vehicle
is entering a blind spot area, is within the area, and is leaving
the area..].
.[.10. A detector according to claim 1, further comprising a
receiver adapted to adjust the signal strength to the external
light conditions and dirt on said LED's whereby a stroger signal is
used during daylight conditions and a weaker signal is used during
darkness..].
11. A method for a collision prevention .[.detector to be mounted
on a vehicle,.]. .Iadd.comprising: .Iaddend.transmitting a sequence
of transmissions of IR signals, whereby the signals are transmitted
in sequences alternating between at least one at the right and to
the left positioned LED, when both signals provide are .[.turn.].
.Iadd.return.Iaddend./reflected signal to IR-receiver an object is
determined as present within an area from the point where the
transmitted signals intersect/cross, whereby the sequencing of
signals makes it possible to position a return signal from the
object, as one of the signals has to confirm the other signal to
provide a warning signal, said detector performing the steps of:
detecting objects in a near-field zone of the vehicle with a first
set of .[.LED's.]. .Iadd.LEDs.Iaddend., and detecting objects
beyond said first field in a far-field zone with a second set of
.[.LED's.]. .Iadd.LEDs.Iaddend., whereby the two sets of said
.[.LED's.]. .Iadd.LEDs .Iaddend.are positioned to the right and to
the left; providing a processor with the vehicle speed and
connected to said first and second sets for detection of near- and
far-field zones; and using a comparator connected to or comprised
in said processor for comparing the vehicle speed with a
pre-determined loss of measured distance by measuring how fast said
vehicle approaches said object by closing in from the far-field
zone to the near-field zone, whereby an alarm is given through an
indicator device mounted on said vehicle alerting a vehicle driver
to pay attention to the closing in of an approaching object.
.[.12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the detector can be
a rear mirror mounted blind spot detector, a vehicle front mounted
detector, a vehicle rear mounted detector, a vehicle side mounted
detector, and a vehicle roof mounted detector..].
.[.13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the detector is
mounted within at least one of a headlight and a rear light of said
vehicle..].
.[.14. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step
of providing further sets of far-zone LED's detecting beyond said
second far-zone LED's..].
.[.15. A method according to claim 11, wherein said vehicle is
automatically braked controlled by said processor if an object is
closing in at a calculated breaking distance for the speed of the
vehicle regarding detectors which are vehicle front mounted
detector, or vehicle rear mounted when reversing, thus detecting
objects when the vehicle closes in on objects in front of it and
when it reverses..].
.[.16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said processor is
connected to the vehicle road computer providing road
temperatures..].
.[.17. A method according to claim 15, wherein said processor is
connected to a rain sensor, antiskid system, anti-spin system and
other like systems providing road condition information utilized to
calculate when to brake said vehicle..].
.[.18. A method according to claim 11, wherein the width of a
search field zone is determined by the optics of the LED's
utilized, through the sector angle within a beam of light and the
angle between beams of light, and through the power of transmission
of a transmitted IR signal..].
.[.19. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step
of arranging search field zones so that warning signals are
provided when a vehicle is entering a blind spot area, is within
the area, and is leaving the area..].
.[.20. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step
of adapting the signal strength to the external light conditions
and dirt on said LED's whereby a stronger signal is used by
daylight conditions and a weaker signal is used during
darkness..].
.Iadd.21. A collision prevention detector comprising: a receiver
electrically coupled to a processor; a first emitter electrically
coupled to the processor and configured to emit a first beam; a
second emitter electrically coupled to the processor and configured
to emit a second beam, wherein the first beam and the second beam
are configured to intersect at a first zone; wherein the processor
is configured to sequentially transmit a first message in the first
beam and a second message in the second beam and generate a warning
signal if the receiver receives the first message and the second
message, and wherein the first message and the second message each
comprise bits; a third emitter electrically coupled to the
processor and configured to emit a third beam; and a fourth emitter
electrically coupled to the processor and configured to emit a
fourth beam, wherein the third beam and the fourth beam are
configured to intersect at a second zone; wherein the processor is
further configured to sequentially transmit a third message in the
third beam and a fourth message in the fourth beam and generate a
second warning signal if the receiver receives the third message
and the fourth message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The detector of claim 21, wherein the first emitter is
located to a left of the receiver and the second emitter is located
to a right of the receiver..Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The detector of claim 21, further comprising: a fifth
emitter electrically coupled to the processor and configured to
emit a fifth beam; a sixth emitter electrically coupled to the
processor and configured to emit a sixth beam, wherein the fifth
beam and the sixth beam are configured to intersect at a third
zone; wherein the processor is further configured to sequentially
transmit a fifth message in the fifth beam and a sixth message in
the sixth beam and generate a third warning signal if the receiver
receives the fifth message and the sixth message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. The detector of claim 21, wherein the receiver comprises
an infrared receiver, the first emitter comprises a light emitting
diode, and the second emitter comprises a light emitting
diode..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. The detector of claim 21, wherein the receiver, the first
emitter and the second emitter are located at at least one of: a
rear mirror of a vehicle, a front of the vehicle, a rear of the
vehicle, a side of the vehicle, a headlight of the vehicle, a rear
light of the vehicle, or a roof of the vehicle..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. The detector of claim 21, wherein the processor is
configured to: determine a speed of an object based on a detection
in the first zone and a detection in the second zone..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. The detector of claim 26, wherein the processor is
configured to: compare a speed of a vehicle to the speed of the
object; and automatically brake the vehicle based on the
comparison..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The detector of claim 21, wherein a size of the first
zone is based on first emitter optics, second emitter optics, and
an angle between the first beam and the second beam..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. The detector of claim 21, wherein at least one of the
first zone and the second zone comprise a blind spot
area..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. The detector of claim 21, further comprising a detector
configured to adjust a power of the first beam and a power of the
second beam..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. The detector of claim 21, wherein each bit comprises a
series of pulses..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. The detector of claim 21, wherein the first message
comprises a random sequence..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. A method of collision detection comprising: transmitting
a first message in a first beam; transmitting a second message in a
second beam, wherein the first beam and the second beam are
configured to intersect at a first zone, and wherein the first
message and the second message each comprise bits; generating a
warning signal if the first message and the second message are
received; transmitting a third message in a third beam;
transmitting a fourth message in a fourth beam, wherein the third
beam and the fourth beam are configured to intersect at a second
zone; receiving the third message and the fourth message; and
generating a second warning signal if the third message and the
fourth message are received..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. The method of claim 33, further comprising: transmitting
a fifth message in a fifth beam; transmitting a sixth message in a
sixth beam, wherein the fifth beam and the sixth beam are
configured to intersect at a third zone; receiving the fifth
message and the sixth message; and generating a third warning
signal if the fifth message and the sixth message are
received..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. The method of claim 33, wherein the first beam comprises
infrared light and the second beam comprises infrared
light..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. The method of claim 33, wherein the first beam and second
beam are transmitted from at least one of: a rear mirror of a
vehicle, a front of the vehicle, a rear of the vehicle, a side of
the vehicle, a headlight of the vehicle, a rear light of the
vehicle, or a roof of the vehicle..Iaddend.
.Iadd.37. The method of claim 33, further comprising: determining a
speed of an object based on a detection in the first zone and a
detection in the second zone..Iaddend.
.Iadd.38. The method of claim 37, further comprising: comparing a
speed of a vehicle to the speed of the object; and automatically
braking the vehicle based on the comparison..Iaddend.
.Iadd.39. The method of claim 33, wherein a size of the first zone
is based on first emitter optics associated with the first beam,
second emitter optics associated with the second beam, and an angle
between the first beam and the second beam..Iaddend.
.Iadd.40. The method of claim 33, wherein at least one of the first
zone and the second zone comprise a blind spot area..Iaddend.
.Iadd.41. The method of claim 33, further comprising adjusting a
power of the first beam and a power of the second beam based on
environmental conditions..Iaddend.
.Iadd.42. The method of claim 33, wherein each bit comprises a
series of pulses..Iaddend.
.Iadd.43. The method of claim 33, wherein the first message
comprises a random sequence..Iaddend.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention pertains to a collision prevention detector
and a method therefore, to be mounted on a vehicle, transmitting a
sequence of transmissions of IR signals. The signals are
transmitted in sequences alternating between at least one at the
right and to the left positioned LED, when both signals provide a
return/reflected signal to an IR receiver an object is determined
as present within the area/zone from the point where the
transmitted signals intersect/cross. A sequencing of signals makes
it possible to position a return signal from an object or vehicle,
as one of the signals has to confirm the other signal to provide a
warning signal.
BACKGROUND ART
Statistics show that approximately 20% of all accidents are related
to lack of vision in the "Dead Angle" or "Blind Spot" of a vehicle.
This means that approximately 800.000 accidents in the western
world are related to this cause every year. Impacts of this
category, diagonally from behind and by surprise cause serious
damage to vehicle passengers traveling in the cars involved in
accidents.
A lack of vision in the dead angle or blind spot is a serious
traffic and security problem, which up to date has not been
presented a technically satisfactory solution. The course of
events, when a vehicle is impacted from behind, laterally or
diagonally is often causing serious damage to passengers. These
types of impacts conventionally cause a rotation movement which in
its turn often dislocates the driver and passengers from their
normal position in the seats and hence diminish effects from
seat-belts and airbags. This leads to risks for severe damage and
high risks for disabilities and paralysis.
Much has been accomplished over the years to improve the range of
vision for the driver of a vehicle. Although, the blind spot or the
dead angle still constitutes a problem. Solutions introduced up to
now have not achieved a clear cut aid for specific detection of
other vehicles in for instance the blind spot. Some of the
solutions are technically too complicated and hence too expensive
to be attached as a feature on standard vehicles.
Spherical mirrors or divided mirrors have not provided the desired
results either. When addressing the issue of blind spot detection
it is very important to take into consideration the human capacity
of perception and interpretation of an image in a question of
instants. The image or traffic scenario perceived with a glimpse in
the rear mirrors must be clear and not exposed to second thoughts,
doubts or interpretation problems. A warning should hence only
comprise what is not seen or perceived at longer distances in the
mirror. An overlapping, interfering or unclear information will
only confuse, cause doubts and eventually an erratic maneuver by
the driver, e.g., two images of the same vehicle. A device that
provides warning signals for vehicles clearly seen in the rear
mirror, will eventually on one hand create false positives. The
driver believes that the vehicle(s) seen in the mirror are causing
the alarm, while an unseen vehicle is located in the blind spot. On
the other hand there is a risk that a device with longer detection
area will diminish the frequency of looking in the mirrors, since
drivers eventually will rely on the warning device. A warning
device should not replace frequent looks in the mirror. This will
increase risks and deteriorate traffic security rather than improve
security.
By cross analyzing available statistics it is although fair to
assume that approximately 20% of accidents involving personal
injury are related to the blind spot problem. This means that
approximately 250.000 accidents per annum in the EU are related to
blind spot situations. This figure extrapolated to the rest of the
western world and Japan would give an approximate of 800.000
accidents pro year.
Systems utilized for preventing collision, include those using
video camera detection, which suffer .[.sever.]. .Iadd.severe
.Iaddend.drawbacks by not being able to measure distances.
The applicant of the present invention holds the Swedish Patent
with the publication No. 520 360, which concerns blind spot
detection combined with wheel angle detection compared to vehicle
speed, and vehicle direction indications for .[.trigging.].
.Iadd.triggering .Iaddend.an alarm. This patent corresponds to the
international application PCT/SE00/02564 with publication No. WO
01/45067.
It is appreciated that the detector of the present invention is not
restricted to a blind spot detector, but also covers detectors for
sensing objects in front of a vehicle and when reversing it.
Furthermore, the detector can be mounted on the side of a vehicle
or at any suitable place on a vehicle in order to perform as an
object detector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The collision prevention detector also encompassing a blind spot
detector (BSD) presents a solution that provides a secure and
precise warning device to a vehicle driver for perception of other
vehicles in front of the vehicle, when reversing the vehicle and in
the blind spot area so that accidents can be avoided.
The present invention thus sets forth a collision prevention
detector to be mounted on a vehicle, transmitting a sequence of
transmissions of IR signals. The signals are transmitted in
sequences alternating between at least one at the right and to the
left positioned LED, when both signals provide a return/reflected
signal to IR-receiver an object is determined as present within the
area from the point where the transmitted signals intersect/cross.
Sequencing of signals makes it possible to position a return signal
from an object or vehicle, as one of the signals has to confirm the
other signal to provide a warning signal. The detector of the
present invention further comprises:
at least two sets of the LED's positioned to the right and to the
left, whereby a first set detects objects in a near-field zone of
the vehicle, and a second set beyond the first field in a far-field
zone;
a processor/.mu.C connected to the detection of near-and far-fields
and being provided the vehicle speed; and
a comparator connected to or comprised in the processor, which
compares the vehicle speed with a pre-determined loss of measured
distance by measuring how fast the vehicle approaches the object by
closing in from a far-field zone to a near-field zone, whereby an
alarm is given through an indicator device mounted on the vehicle
alerting a vehicle driver to pay attention to the closing in of an
approaching object.
One embodiment of the present invention comprises that it can be
used as a rear mirror mounted blind spot detector, a vehicle front
mounted detector, a vehicle rear mounted detector, a vehicle side
mounted detector, and a vehicle roof mounted detector.
Another embodiment comprises that the detector is mounted within at
least one of a headlight and a rear light of the vehicle.
A further embodiment comprises that there are further sets of
far-zone LED's detecting beyond the second far-zone LED's.
A still further embodiment comprises that the vehicle is
automatically braked controlled by the processor if an object is
closing in at a calculated breaking distance for the speed of the
vehicle regarding detectors which are vehicle front mounted
detector, or vehicle rear mounted when reversing, thus detecting
objects when the vehicle closes in on objects in front of it and
when it reverses.
Yet another embodiment comprises that the processor is connected to
the vehicle trip computer providing for instance road temperatures.
Furthermore, the processor can be connected to a GPS (Global
Positioning System) and take the vehicle 10 position into account
when calculating distances and other parameters received from an
approaching object.
A yet further embodiment comprises that the processor is connected
to a rain sensor, antiskid system, anti-spin system and other like
systems providing road condition information utilized to calculate
when a vehicle should brake.
The present invention also sets forth a method for a collision
prevention detector to be mounted on a vehicle, transmitting a
sequence of transmissions of IR signals. The signals are
transmitted in sequences alternating between at least one at the
right and to the left positioned LED, when both signals provide a
return/reflected signal to IR-receiver an object is determined as
present within the area from the point where the transmitted
signals intersect/cross. Sequencing of signals makes it possible to
position a return signal from an object or vehicle, as one of the
signals has to confirm the other signal to provide a warning
signal. The detector of the present invention thus performs the
steps of:
a first set detecting objects in a near-field zone of the vehicle,
and a second set detecting objects beyond the first field in a
far-field zone, whereby at least two sets of the LED's are
positioned to the right and to the left;
a processor being provided the vehicle speed and connected to the
detection of near- and far-fields; and
a comparator connected to or comprised in the processor comparing
the vehicle speed with a pre-determined loss of measured distance
by measuring how fast the vehicle approaches the object by closing
in from a far-field zone to a near-field zone, whereby an alarm is
given through an indicator device mounted on the vehicle alerting a
vehicle driver to pay attention to the closing in of an approaching
object.
Further embodiments of the present inventions method are set forth
through the attached set of dependent method claims, which in part
reassemble the above provided detector embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Henceforth the present invention is described through embodiments
and examples, whereby reference is had to the accompanying drawings
for a better understanding of the present invention, wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates how the blind spot area is defined by example of
a subject vehicle and a target vehicle;
FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of how a detector in accordance
with the present invention can be mounted on a vehicle rear view
mirror;
FIG. 3 illustrates how IR beam radiating LED's are mounted to
create two detection zones for objects in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of how a first and a second zone
in accordance with the present invention are created;
FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a modulated pulse emitted by
the LED's of the present invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates how a digital "1" and "0" is transmitted in a
pulse train in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates three zones for detection of objects when a
subject vehicle is moving forward approaching a target vehicle in
front of it, and zones for detection when reversing a vehicle;
and
FIG. 8 illustrates a circuit diagram of one embodiment of a
detector in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
During development of the present invention the conclusion has been
established that a blind spot warning device should be strictly
limited to the blind spot and its nearest surrounding in order to
fulfill the requirement of a safety device. An uncomplicated
technology with low risk of failure, easy to adapt in different
mirror housings, headlights, rear lights, or any other suitable
position on a vehicle with a low cost would be appreciated as
provided by the present invention. Moreover, it provides clear cut
detection in the blind spot overcoming false positives, doubtful
images, and providing an instant warning through a simple function
with a clear message: WARNING! There is something in the Blind
Spot, DO NOT TURN!
Prototypes of the present invention have been tested with excellent
results. But there is a lack of specific statistics on blind spot
related accidents, and it does not exist in official statistics.
The detector of the present invention is supplementary, and does
not interfer with other security systems. It can easily be attached
to vehicles such as cars, trucks and buses. The present invention
detector provides a preventive safety approach to vehicle safety in
order to avoid accidents; while most safety features on cars are
approaching safety in case of an accident. Moreover, the detector
system of the present invention is based on human behavior science
and a health care vision adapted to vehicle technology.
FIG. 1 illustrates how the blind spot area 16 is defined by example
of a subject vehicle 10 and a target vehicle 12, whereby the
subject vehicle will be provided with a blind spot detector in
accordance with the present invention to avoid dangerous collision
situations. The actual sight of the driver through the rear view
mirror in subject vehicle 10 is defined by the area 14 in
accordance with UE directive 71/127, and the driver side view is
defined by the area 18. Target vehicle 12 is thus in the blind spot
area 16, which will be covered by IR radiation from sequenced LED's
in accordance with the present invention (not shown).
FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of how a detector 22 in
accordance with the present invention in its basic construction can
be mounted on a vehicle rear view mirror 20. The detector is
equipped with a left LED 24 and a right LED 26, which are fired in
sequence and detect objects by receiving reflected IR radiation
through the receiver 28. A detection of an object is accomplished
when the object is hit where both emitted rays from LED's 24 and 26
intersect or cross each other. This will be elucidated further with
reference to FIGS. 4-6.
FIG. 3 illustrates how IR beam radiating LED's are mounted, view
from above, to create two detection zones for objects in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention. The detector 22 LED
24 constitutes one to the left near field radiating IR emitter,
radiating pulsed beams 27, and the LED 26 constitutes the right
near field radiating IR emitter, radiating pulsed beams 27. The
LED's 24, 26 radiate pulses in sequence. In a like manner LED's 34
and 36 constitute the far field radiating emitters, emitting pulsed
beams 29. Moreover, a receiver 39 for reception of reflected
radiation against an object is depicted, and an alarm indicator 38
indicating a visual or sounding alarm to the driver of a subject
vehicle 10. Receivers 30 and 32 in FIGS. 3 and 4 are measuring the
reception of light in order to adjust the radiation power in
different weather conditions such as greater power in bright
sunshine and when the lenses of the LED's are covered with
dirt.
FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of how a first and a second zone
40, 42 in accordance with the present invention are created by a
detector 22 as in FIG. 3.
When beams from the LED's intersect they make up an area 40 or a
first zone for the near field LED's 24, 26 radiation, and an area
or second zone 42 with radiation from the far field LED's 34, 36.
When an object is within a zone 40, 42 it is detected as the beams
27 and 29 respectively, intersect themselves, thus being reflected
from an object within the zones 40, 42.
In one embodiment of the invention it comprises that the LED's 24,
26, 30, 32 can be mounted on stands, and thus adjusting the LED's
and their stands by for instance stepper motors or the like for
ranging the zones 40, 42 between near and far zones.
The radiation making up the zones is of course adjusted to hit a
target at different distances suitable for object detection
depending on the type of vehicle, and also directed in such a
manner that they cover the blind spot area 16 when the detector is
utilized as a BSD.
Different alarm and/or warning indications and/or signals could be
provided to the driver of subject vehicle in zones 1 and 2, with
for instance a much more powerful indication when an object moves
from zone 2 to zone 1, i.e., closer to the subject vehicle 10. It
is appreciated that the present invention includes embodiments with
more than two zones, for example, with multiple far field zones as
depicted in FIG. 7.
In the following description, the functioning of one embodiment of
a signaling scheme for a blind spot detector of the present
invention is described. It is appreciated that the present
description concerns one possible embodiment of the invention out
of many.
The detector system has two microprocessors in one embodiment of
the present invention, one for the emission part (PIC 16C54), and
the other one for the detection part, to check the messages/pulsed
signals, signals enables, and alarms activation (PIC16C63) that it
will be the master. An adequate logic communication is acquired
between the two microprocessors, so the protocol to accomplish the
communication must be defined. The communication between the
.mu.C's will be in parallel and the sequence to emit has 4 bits and
they will be transmitted through the PortB in the main .mu.C.
Every time the emitter emits a message, the emission .mu.C will
send to the main .mu.C one signal to indicate the end of the
emission. Then the main .mu.C will give the order to change to the
other emitter and will send a new sequence to emit. With this all
the orders are centralized in the main .mu.C, whereby it is always
in control of what is taking place.
The main .mu.C will be operating until it detects an interrupt
generated by a capture module, which implicates that there is a
detection, and thus the .mu.C performs its detection routine,
checking if there are any objects in the detection area/zone and
enabling corresponding alarms.
The protocol has been defined in accordance with the behavior and
response of the IR receiver U2538 from Temic.RTM., whereby every
emission is defined as follows and depicted in FIG. 5. It has to
provide combinations of the signal in FIG. 5, to define the high
state signal "1" and the low state signal "0". Following this. the
low state signal is defined like one emission plus zeros during the
same time as one emission, and the high state signal like one
emission followed by another emission. Hence, the signals of every
level (high or low) are as depicted in FIG. 6, where a low state
"0" is depicted as the upper signal in FIG. 6 and a high state "1"
as the lower signal in FIG. 6.
It can be seen in FIG. 5 that every emission has a duration of 460
.mu.s, but every bit has a duration of 920 .mu.s because every bit
is composed by two emissions. Every message emitted by one emitter
has 4 bits 920 .mu.s=3,68 ms. Every message is sent one time by one
emitter and after this, the .mu.C will generate another random
sequence to send a further message by the second emitter. When the
two emitters each have sent a message a scanning of the detection
area/zone or blind spot area is accomplished. Hence, the total
duration of one complete scan involves two messages 3,68 ms=7,36
ms.
A correct emission and detection of the first emitter and the
second emitter simultaneously form one complete message. One
complete message has a duration of 10 ms, following this time the
.mu.C emits a new message/scan. The scanning frequency in one
embodiment is 100 scans in one second.
According to one embodiment of the present invention it is possible
to display a brief picture on for instance a screen, LCD display or
the like, shown to the driver of a vehicle of an object scanned
within a zone.
Henceforth, the time periods are defined which have to be met
before alarms are activated when the detection
messages/signals/scans are correctly received. A warning will be
activated after reception of one complete correct message. Once the
warning is activated and the corresponding enable signals are
detected, the corresponding level of the danger signals will be
activated, for example, after 3 continuous warnings in one
embodiment. All provided alarms are kept activated during a time of
2 s when they have been activated, and afterwards, if there is not
any other correct detection of an object, they will be
disabled.
FIG. 7 illustrates three zones 70, 72, 74 for detection of objects
when a subject vehicle 10 is moving forward approaching a target
vehicle 12 in front of it, and two zones 76, 78 for detection when
reversing a vehicle 10. The arrow in FIG. 7 depicts a reversing
vehicle 10. It probably makes more sense to equip a truck or lorry
with detectors for reversing to be utilized when for instance
approaching a loading bridge. It is appreciated that detectors 22,
which cover forward and rear detection of objects in approaching a
vehicle 10 or the vehicle 10 approaching them, can have multiple
detectors 22 attached in a stack and adjusted to cover multiple
near-field and/or far-field zones 40,42. Otherwise, it is possible
to attach detectors 22 in a manner that is most suitable to the
type of vehicle, which should be obvious for a skilled person.
In an embodiment of the present invention the vehicle 10 could be
equipped with for example a wild animal anti collision button,
"moose" button. Pushing the button disengages for instances the
zones 70 and 72 keeping zone 74 far enough in front of the vehicle
10 to warn when animals are detected.
The circuit drawing of FIG. 8 comprises blocks 1-5. In FIG. 8,
blocks 1-5, within broken lines, are depicting one possible
embodiment of a detector in accordance with the present invention.
Henceforth the blocks of FIG. 8 are explained.
Block 1 (Power Supply)
The comprised voltage, in this case 12 V, but vehicle voltages
systems such as 6 V, 24V and other possible can be utilized in
further embodiments of the present invention, is converted to 5 V,
whereby a number of filters provide a constant voltage of 5 V. It
is necessary in this embodiment that an IR-system is provided a
constant voltage of 5 V so that the functionality is not
jeopardized by variations in voltage.
Block 2 (unit.sub.13 regulating IR-transmission)
Block 2 depicts a unit utilized to regulate (control) the emission
from IR-LED's depending on external light conditions. In blazing
sunshine, a strong signal is utilized and during darkness a weaker
signal. This unit provides that the signal strength is adapted to
the external light conditions. This also means that if the LED's
become dirty the blind spot detector can regulate/adapt the signal
strength to such conditions in one embodiment of the present
invention.
Block 3 (Transmitting Unit; Note that there are Two Block 3 in the
FIG. 8)
Multiple pairs of LED's could be utilized depending on the number
of search fields in the blind spot area. For example, one search
field can have a distance for searching of 2-4 meters, another, a
distance of 4-8 meters and so on.
Additionally, in one embodiment, these search fields can be
arranged so that warning signals are provided when a vehicle is
entering the blind spot area, is within the area, and is leaving
the area.
The width of the search field is determined by the optics of the
LED's utilized, through the sector angle within a beam of light and
the angle between beams of light, and through the power of
transmission of a transmitted IR signal.
Block 4 (Microprocessor)
The microprocessor controls the transmission and reception of
light, and the following functioning.
A sequence of transmissions of IR signals. The signals are
transmitted in sequences alternating between a right and to the
left positioned LED. If both signals provide a return/reflected
signal to the receiver an object such as a vehicle is determined as
present behind the point where the transmitted signals
intersect/cross, i.e., for instance the blind spot area. The
sequencing of signals makes it possible to position a return signal
from an object or vehicle, as one of the signals has to confirm the
other signal to provide a warning signal.
The microprocessor determines whether or not a received signal
should trigger a warning. In order to trigger a warning signal,
both the confirming signals/light beams must be reflected by the
same object. Hence, the microprocessor is sorting out all
fake/false positive signals/beams, i.e., return signals to the
receiver, which signals are not confirmed by an intersecting or
crossing signal.
The functioning of the microprocessor can be multiplied to a number
of pairs of LED's and by programming the microprocessor the
sequencing of the multiple search fields can be determined.
Also provided in the microprocessor, in an embodiment, there are
functions such as an interface/connection to direction indicators,
speed of the vehicle, wheel angle of the vehicle and other
functions to optimize the functionality of the blind spot detector
warning device of the present invention.
Some advantages of the present invention concern that it provides a
reduced number of fake/false positive warnings of blind spot
objects and other front end objects. The components utilized in the
detector have a life span that widely exceeds the life span of a
vehicle. For example a LED conventionally has a life span of
100.000 hours. A car that is driven 30.000 km on a yearly basis
with a mean speed value of 70 km/h has to reach 70 years of age
before vital components of the detector fail. There is little risk
for hazardous behavior when utilizing the present invention and it
is built up of standard components, thus being very economic in
manufacturing.
Furthermore, the present invention has small dimensions and is
simple to attach, for example, in the housing of a vehicle rear
view mirror. A basic technique is the same for any kind of vehicle.
Only the optics are to be adjusted/adapted to the vehicle outer
dimensions and its dead spots, respectively, for different models
of vehicles.
Although, IR emission is utilized to describe the present
invention, it is not restricted to this use. Other electromagnetic
radiation could be considered such as laser semi conductor
radiation.
The present invention is not limited to given examples and
embodiments, but to the attached set of claims that define further
embodiments to a person skilled in the art.
* * * * *