×

Communication between vehicles of a platoon

  • US 10,204,519 B2
  • Filed: 12/25/2015
  • Issued: 02/12/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A communication system for enabling communication between vehicles in a platoon whether such vehicles are arranged consecutively or non-consecutively, the system comprising:

  • a first emitter and a first receiver, configured to be directed in a forward direction of a vehicle;

    a second emitter and a second receiver, configured to be directed in a backward direction of the vehicle; and

    a controller in communication with the emitters and the receivers, the controller configured to;

    during an initialization phase, determine a position of the vehicle within the platoon and the identity of each vehicle in the platoon, based on optical signals detected by the first and/or second receivers; and

    during a data transmission phase, participate in a token-based data transmission by evaluating an optical signal received by one of the first or second receivers and causing the emission of an optical signal either by the corresponding one of the first or second emitters that received the signal should the vehicle be the first or last vehicle in the platoon, or by the other one of the first or second emitters should the vehicle not be the first or last vehicle in the platoon;

    wherein the controller is further configured to, during the data transmission phase;

    if the vehicle is the first vehicle of the platoon, start the cyclical circulation of an optical control signal;

    if an optical control signal is received and no data transmission is required, forward the received control signal; and

    if an optical control signal is received and data transmission is required, generate and send a data-transmission signal including identification of a sender, a destination vehicle, payload data, and error correction data.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×