Method and apparatus for vulnerable road user alert

• US 10,229,598 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2018
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Doig, Ian Christopher Drummond, Lepp, James Randolph Winter
• Primary Examiner(s): Blount, Eric
• Application Number:
  US15/892,707
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 340944, 340933, 340935, 340936, 340943
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/10 using Doppler effect
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A method at a portable sensor apparatus for detecting an approaching vehicle, the method including detecting, using at least one detector at the sensor apparatus, signal energy of a signal from the approaching vehicle; analyzing the signal energy using a processor at the sensor apparatus to determine that an alarm should be triggered; and based on the analyzing, causing the alarm from an alert mechanism on the sensor apparatus.

Claims

1. A method at a portable sensor apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting, using at least one detector at the sensor apparatus, signal energy of a signal from an approaching vehicle;

analyzing the signal energy using a processor at the sensor apparatus to determine that an alarm should be triggered; and

based on the analyzing, causing the alarm from an alert mechanism on the sensor apparatus;

wherein the sensor apparatus comprises a plurality of detectors, the analyzing comprising determining that the approaching vehicle bis on a collision course with the sensor apparatus when the signal energy is received by one of the plurality of detectors for greater than a threshold time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises triggering the alarm upon detection of the signal energy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises determining the approaching vehicle speed based on a doppler shift in the signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the alarm varies based on the approaching vehicle speed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises determining a distance for the approaching vehicle based on power or intensity of the signal energy.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the alarm varies based on the approaching vehicle distance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is a LIDAR signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is an Intelligent Transportation Signal from a vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm is one or more of a visual alarm, audible alarm, or a haptic alarm.

10. A portable sensor apparatus, the portable sensor apparatus comprising:

at least one detector;

a processor; and

an alert mechanism,

wherein the portable sensor apparatus is configured to;

detect, using the at least one detector, signal energy of a signal from an approaching vehicle;

analyze the signal energy using the processor to determine that an alarm should be triggered; and

based on the analyzing, causing the alarm from the alert mechanism;

wherein the sensor apparatus comprises a plurality of detectors, and wherein the portable sensor apparatus is configured to analyze by determining that the approaching vehicle is on a collision course with the sensor apparatus when the signal energy is received by one of the plurality of detectors for greater than a threshold time period.

11. The portable sensor apparatus of claim 10, wherein the portable sensor apparatus is configured to analyze by triggering the alarm upon detection of the signal energy.

12. The portable sensor apparatus of claim 10, wherein the portable sensor apparatus is configured to analyze by determining the approaching vehicle speed based on a doppler shift in the signal.

13. The portable sensor apparatus of claim 12, wherein the alarm varies based on the approaching vehicle speed.

14. The portable sensor apparatus of claim 10, wherein the portable sensor apparatus is configured to analyze by determining a distance for the approaching vehicle based on power or intensity of the signal energy.

15. The portable sensor apparatus of claim 14, wherein the alarm varies based on the approaching vehicle distance.

16. The portable sensor apparatus of claim 10, wherein the signal is a LIDAR signal.

17. The portable sensor apparatus of claim 10, wherein the signal is an Intelligent Transportation Signal from a vehicle.

18. The portable sensor apparatus of claim 10, wherein the alarm is one or more of a visual alarm, audible alarm, or a haptic alarm.

19. A computer readable medium for storing instruction code, which when executed by a processor on a portable sensor apparatus configured for detecting an approaching vehicle cause the portable sensor apparatus to:

detect, using the at least one detector, signal energy of a signal from the approaching vehicle;

analyze the signal energy using the processor to determine that an alarm should be triggered; and

based on the analyzing, causing the alarm from the alert mechanism;

wherein the sensor apparatus comprises a plurality of detectors, and wherein the portable sensor apparatus is configured to analyze by determining that the approaching vehicle is on a collision course with the sensor apparatus when the signal energy is received by one of the plurality of detectors for greater than a threshold time period.