External audio alert system and method for vehicular use

• US 10,000,152 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2017
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Sonic Alert Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Sonic Alert Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Scalea, Robert S., Rubenstein, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Application Number:
  US15/789,221
• Time in Patent Office: 242 Days
• Field of Search: 340436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0833 using audio means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/00 Acoustics not otherwise provided for

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention, an Alert Controller coupled to an Internal Digital Communication System (“IDCS”) of a vehicle monitors vehicle states based on messages received over the IDCS and generates audio alerts projected external to the vehicle based on the vehicle states. Multiple vehicle states may be defined, with each vehicle state associated with receipt of one or more types of messages in a particular sequence and/or within a particular timeframe. Different audio alerts may be assigned to different vehicle states. The audio alerts may be customizable such as by the vehicle manufacturer and/or vehicle owner/operator. An alert selection interface may be provided in the vehicle for user-selection of audio alerts.

Claims

1. A method of producing an external audio alert for use in the course of operation of a motor vehicle having an internal digital communication system used to control or monitor at least a motor of the vehicle via a stream of messages, the method implemented by computer processes comprising:

processing of the stream of messages, by an alert processor coupled to the internal digital communication system and configured to snoop on the stream of messages on the internal digital communication system, to characterize a current state of the vehicle based on the stream of messages;

processing by the alert processor of the current vehicle state to determine whether the current vehicle state corresponds to an alert condition, the alert condition being a member of a stored set of pre-defined vehicle states; and

in the event that the current vehicle state does correspond to the alert condition, causing by the alert processor generation of an external audio alert corresponding to the alert condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each pre-defined vehicle state comprises a set of internal digital communication system messages.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert condition is based on at least one of:

a predetermined set of messages being received by the alert processor within a predetermined period of time;

or

a predetermined set of messages being received by the alert processor in a predetermined order.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the set is in an entry list.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the external audio alert is selected from the group consisting of being user-programmable, being user-selectable, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining by the alert processor at least one direction for the external audio alert; and

causing generation of the external audio alert in the at least one direction.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of audio transducers, and wherein causing generation of the external audio alert in at least one direction comprises at least one of:

causing generation of the external audio alert by a set of audio transducers corresponding to the at least one direction;

or

causing generation of the external audio alert by a set of audio transducers with different delay and/or phase.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes an alert selection interface coupled to the internal digital communication system to cause generation of an operator-initiated alert message over the internal digital communication system, and pursuant to which the alert processor causes generation of the external audio alert corresponding to the operator-initiated alert message.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the alert selection interface comprises a plurality of buttons and wherein the operator-initiated alert message corresponds to operation of at least one of the plurality of buttons.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the alert selection interface is on the steering wheel of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert condition is ineffective brakes and wherein the computer processes further comprise:

processing by the alert processor to cause generation of the external audio alert corresponding to “

WATCH OUT—

INEFFECTIVE BRAKES.”

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert condition is VEHICLE HAS BEEN IMPACTED FROM BEHIND and wherein the computer processes further comprise:

processing by the alert processor to cause generation of the external audio alert corresponding to “

WATCH OUT”

in order to warn others in front of the impacted vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert condition is POTENTIAL IMPACT WITH PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER OBSTACLE and wherein the computer processes further comprise:

processing by the alert processor to cause generation of the external audio alert corresponding to “

WATCH OUT.”

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer processes further comprise at least one of:

processing by the alert processor to cause generation of the external audio alert at a volume level appropriate to the particular alert message and the state of the vehicle;

or

processing by the alert processor to cause generation of the external audio alert for a duration of time appropriate to the particular alert message and the state of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein causing generation of an external audio alert corresponding to the alert condition comprises:

processing by the alert processor to cause creation of a digitally encoded message, corresponding to the alert condition, intended to be transmitted to and received by one or more other vehicles in the vicinity;

processing by the alert processor to modulate an audio signal, within an audible or non-audible frequency spectrum, with the digitally encoded message; and

processing by the alert processor to cause generation of the external audio alert including the modulated audio signal.

16. An alert controller for producing an external audio alert for use in the course of operation of a motor vehicle, the alert controller comprising:

an alert processor; and

a bus node interface for connecting the alert processor to an internal digital communication system used to control or monitor at least a motor of the vehicle via a stream of messages, the alert processor configured to snoop on the stream of messages on the internal digital communication system and to perform computer processes comprising;

processing of the stream of messages on the internal digital communication system to characterize a current state of the vehicle based on the stream of messages;

processing of the current vehicle state to determine whether the current vehicle state corresponds to an alert condition, the alert condition being a member of a stored set of pre-defined vehicle states; and

in the event that the current vehicle state does correspond to the alert condition, causing generation of an external audio alert corresponding to the alert condition.

17. The alert controller of claim 16, wherein at least one of:

the alert condition is based on a predetermined set of messages being received by the alert processor within a predetermined period of time;

or

the alert condition is based on a predetermined set of messages being received by the alert processor in a predetermined order.

18. The alert controller of claim 16, wherein at least one of:

the external audio alert is user-selectable;

or

the external audio alert is user-programmable.

19. The alert controller of claim 16, further comprising:

determining by the alert processor at least one direction for the external audio alert; and

causing generation of the external audio alert in the at least one direction.

20. The alert controller of claim 16, wherein causing generation of the external audio alert comprises at least one of:

causing generation of the external audio alert at a volume level appropriate to the particular alert message and the state of the vehicle;

or

causing generation of the external audio alert for a duration of time appropriate to the particular alert message and the state of the vehicle.

21. The alert controller of claim 16, wherein each pre-defined vehicle state comprises a set of internal digital communication system messages.

22. The alert controller of claim 21, wherein the set is in an entry list.

23. The alert controller of claim 19, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of audio transducers, and wherein causing generation of the external audio alert in at least one direction comprises at least one of:

causing generation of the external audio alert by a set of audio transducers corresponding to the at least one direction;

or

causing generation of the external audio alert by a set of audio transducers with different delay and/or phase.

24. The alert controller of claim 16, wherein the vehicle includes an alert selection interface coupled to the internal digital communication system to cause generation of an operator-initiated alert message over the internal digital communication system, and pursuant to which the alert processor causes generation of the external audio alert corresponding to the operator-initiated alert message.

25. The alert controller of claim 24, wherein the alert selection interface comprises a plurality of buttons and wherein the operator-initiated alert message corresponds to operation of at least one of the plurality of buttons.

26. The alert controller of claim 24, wherein the alert selection interface is on the steering wheel of the vehicle.

27. The alert controller of claim 16, wherein the alert condition is ineffective brakes and wherein the computer processes further comprise:

processing by the alert processor to cause generation of the external audio alert corresponding to “

WATCH OUT—

INEFFECTIVE BRAKES.”

28. The alert controller of claim 16, wherein the alert condition is VEHICLE HAS BEEN IMPACTED FROM BEHIND and wherein the computer processes further comprise:

processing by the alert processor to cause generation of the external audio alert corresponding to “

WATCH OUT”

in order to warn others in front of the impacted vehicle.

29. The alert controller of claim 16, wherein the alert condition is POTENTIAL IMPACT WITH PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER OBSTACLE and wherein the computer processes further comprise:

processing by the alert processor to cause generation of the external audio alert corresponding to “

WATCH OUT.”

30. The alert controller of claim 16, wherein causing generation of an external audio alert corresponding to the alert condition comprises:

processing by the alert processor to cause creation of a digitally encoded message, corresponding to the alert condition, intended to be transmitted to and received by one or more other vehicles in the vicinity;

processing by the alert processor to modulate an audio signal, within an audible or non-audible frequency spectrum, with the digitally encoded message; and

processing by the alert processor to cause generation of the external audio alert including the modulated audio signal.