Method and system for positively identifying an object

• US 20020169533A1
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Altan, Osman D., Wood, Francis D., Browne, Alan Lampe
• Granted Patent: US 6,658,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0051 Knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems

Abstract

Identifying an object includes the steps of using a sensor onboard a subject vehicle to identify an imminent impact between the subject vehicle and an object, directing and transmitting an elicitation signal to the object from the subject vehicle, receiving onboard the subject vehicle a response signal from the object providing information that positively identifies the object, using the positive identification information to predict a severity level of the imminent collision, and selectively deploying at least one responsive device onboard the subject vehicle according to the predicted severity level. Also, a system for implementing the method is provided. The system includes a sensor, attachable to a subject vehicle, for identifying an imminent collision between the subject vehicle and an object; a first computer for processing dynamics data for the subject vehicle; a second computer for predicting a severity level of the imminent collision; an antenna; a transmitter for transmitting an elicitation signal via the antenna to the object; a reflector or transponder for sending a response signal from the object to the subject vehicle wherein the response signal provides information positively identifying the object; and a receiver for receiving the response signal via the antenna from the object.

Claims

1. A method of deploying responsive devices in a vehicle in anticipation of a collision with an object, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) using a sensor onboard a subject vehicle to identify an imminent collision between said subject vehicle and an object;

(b) directing and transmitting an elicitation signal to said object from said subject vehicle;

(c) receiving onboard said subject vehicle a response signal from said object providing information positively identifying said object;

(d) using said positive identification information to predict a severity level of said imminent collision; and

(e) selectively deploying at least one responsive device onboard said subject vehicle according to said predicted severity level.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is one of an electromagnetic radar type sensor, a laser radar type sensor, and a pulsed infrared laser type sensor.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said subject vehicle is an automobile.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said object is one of a tree, a mailbox, a sign, a fire hydrant, a post, a pole, a fence, a guardrail, a building structure, and another vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step (a) includes the steps of:

(a1) obtaining real time subject vehicle dynamics data from a first dedicated computer onboard said subject vehicle;

(a2) using said sensor to obtain real time object position data regarding the real time position of said object with respect to said subject vehicle; and

(a3) using said real time subject vehicle dynamics data and said real time object position data to predict a time until collision impact and thereby identify said imminent collision.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said real time subject vehicle dynamics data comprises at least one of speed level, acceleration rate, yaw rate, steering wheel position, brake position, throttle position, and transmission gear position of said subject vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step (a3) is accomplished with a second dedicated computer onboard said subject vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said elicitation signal is an electromagnetic, modulated radio-frequency type signal having a wide frequency bandwidth.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step (b) is accomplished with a transmitter and an antenna situated onboard said subject vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said transmitter is a wideband radio-frequency type transmitter.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said response signal is an electromagnetic radio-frequency type signal having at least one narrow frequency bandwidth.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the step of:

using at least one reflector situated on said object to reflect at least one narrow predetermined frequency band of said elicitation signal as said response signal back toward said subject vehicle, wherein said at least one narrow predetermined frequency band provides said information positively identifying said object.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the step of:

using a transponder situated on said object to receive said elicitation signal and transmit a predetermined signal as said response signal to said subject vehicle, wherein said predetermined signal provides said information positively identifying said object.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step (c) is accomplished with an antenna and a receiver situated onboard said subject vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step (c) includes the step of:

using at least one filter in said receiver to obtain said positive identification information from said response signal in the form of a predetermined digital code.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step (d) includes the steps of:

obtaining real time subject vehicle dynamics data from a first dedicated computer onboard said subject vehicle;

using said sensor to obtain real time object position data regarding the real time position of said object with respect to said subject vehicle;

communicating said real time subject vehicle dynamics data, said real time object position data, and said predetermined digital code to a second dedicated computer onboard said subject vehicle;

using said predetermined digital code to look up and access object-specific object size data pre-stored in a memory associated with said second dedicated computer; and

using said real time subject vehicle dynamics data, subject vehicle size data, said real time object position data, and said object size data to predict said severity level of said imminent collision.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said subject vehicle size data comprises at least one of width, height, depth, and mass of said subject vehicle, and wherein said object size data comprises at least one of width, height, depth, and mass of said object.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step (e) includes the step of:

selectively communicating a deploy signal from said second dedicated computer to said at least one responsive device according to said predicted severity level, wherein said deploy signal serves as an activation signal for any of said at least one responsive device which is resettable, and wherein said deploy signal serves as an enabling signal for any of said at least one responsive device which is non-resettable.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step (e) includes the step of:

selectively communicating a deploy signal to said at least one responsive device according to said predicted severity level, wherein said deploy signal serves as an activation signal for any of said at least one responsive device which is resettable, and wherein said deploy signal serves as an enabling signal for any of said at least one responsive device which is non-resettable.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein at least one said resettable responsive device comprises one of a pre-tensionable seat belt, an extendable/retractable bumper, and an extendable/retractable knee bolster device, and wherein at least one said non-resettable responsive device comprises an inflatable airbag.

21. The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of:

establishing electromagnetic radio-frequency communication linkage between at least one global positioning system satellite and a global positioning system device having digital map data situated onboard said subject vehicle to obtain real time subject vehicle position data from said satellite for use onboard said subject vehicle;

using said sensor to obtain real time object position data regarding the real time position of said object with respect to said subject vehicle;

using said real time subject vehicle position data and said real time object position data to determine whether said digital map data provides information positively identifying said object; and

cross-checking for validation any said positive identification information successfully obtained from said digital map data with said positive identification information obtained from said object.

22. The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of:

establishing electromagnetic radio-frequency communication linkage between at least one global positioning system satellite and a global positioning system device having digital map data situated onboard said subject vehicle to obtain real time subject vehicle position data from said satellite for use onboard said subject vehicle;

using said sensor to obtain real time object position data regarding the real time position of said object with respect to said subject vehicle;

using said real time subject vehicle position data and said real time object position data to determine whether said digital map data provides information positively identifying said object; and

performing the method steps (b) and (c) only when said positive identification information is unsuccessfully obtained from said digital map data.

23. The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of:

using onboard said subject vehicle a communications device comprising a transmitter and a receiver to transmit an electromagnetic polling signal to said object when said imminent collision is identified to thereby determine whether said object is another vehicle having another communications device onboard;

performing the method steps (b), (c), and (d) only when said object is other than said another vehicle having another communications device onboard;

receiving onboard said subject vehicle an electromagnetic affirmative signal transmitted from said communications device onboard said object vehicle;

transmitting subject vehicle size data and real time subject vehicle dynamics data from said subject vehicle and receiving said subject vehicle size data and said real time subject vehicle dynamics data onboard said object vehicle;

transmitting object vehicle size data and real time object vehicle dynamics data from said object vehicle and receiving said object vehicle size data and said real time object vehicle dynamics data onboard said subject vehicle;

using said sensor onboard said subject vehicle to obtain real time object vehicle position data regarding the real time position of said object vehicle with respect to said subject vehicle; and

using said subject vehicle size data, said real time subject vehicle dynamics data, said real time object vehicle position data, said object vehicle size data, and said real time object vehicle dynamics data to predict said severity level of said imminent collision onboard said subject vehicle.

24. The method according to claim 23, said method further comprising the steps of:

using a sensor onboard said object vehicle to identify said imminent collision between said object vehicle and said subject vehicle;

using said sensor onboard said object vehicle to obtain real time subject vehicle position data regarding the real time position of said subject vehicle with respect to said object vehicle;

using said subject vehicle size data, said real time subject vehicle dynamics data, said real time subject vehicle position data, said object vehicle size data, and said real time object vehicle dynamics data to predict said severity level of said imminent collision; and

selectively deploying at least one responsive device onboard said object vehicle according to said predicted severity level.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said subject vehicle is an automobile.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein said sensor is one of an electromagnetic radar type sensor, a laser radar type sensor, and a pulsed infrared laser type sensor.

28. The system according to claim 25, wherein said object is one of a tree, a mailbox, a sign, a fire hydrant, a post, a pole, a fence, a guardrail, a building structure, and another vehicle.

29. The system according to claim 25, wherein said dynamics data for said subject vehicle comprises real time dynamics data including at least one of speed level, acceleration rate, yaw rate, steering wheel position, brake position, throttle position, and transmission gear position of said subject vehicle.

30. The system according to claim 25, wherein said elicitation signal is an electromagnetic, modulated radio-frequency type signal having a wide frequency bandwidth.

31. The system according to claim 25, wherein said transmitter is a wideband radio-frequency type transmitter.

32. The system according to claim 25, wherein said response signal is an electromagnetic radio-frequency type signal having at least one narrow frequency bandwidth.

33. The system according to claim 25, wherein said response signal sending means comprises at least one reflector situatable on said object for reflecting at least one narrow predetermined frequency band of said elicitation signal a s said response signal back toward said subject vehicle, wherein said at least one narrow predetermined frequency band provides said information positively identifying said object.

34. The system according to claim 25, wherein said response signal sending means comprises a transponder situatable on said object for receiving said elicitation signal and transmitting a predetermined signal as said response signal to said subject vehicle, wherein said predetermined signal provides said information positively identifying said object.

35. The system according to claim 25, wherein said receiver includes at least one filter for obtaining said positive identification information from said response signal in the form of a predetermined digital code.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein said second computer has an associated memory containing pre-stored object-specific object size data which is capable of being looked up and accessed by using said predetermined digital code.

37. The system according to claim 25, said system further comprising at least one responsive device electrically connected to said second computer, wherein said second computer is capable of selectively communicating a deploy signal to said at least one responsive device according to said predicted severity level, said deploy signal thereby serving as an activation signal for any of said at least one responsive device which is resettable, and said deploy signal thereby serving as an enabling signal for any of said at least one responsive device which is non-resettable.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein at least one said resettable responsive device comprises one of a pre-tensionable seat belt, an extendable/retractable bumper, and an extendable/retractable knee bolster device, and wherein at least one said non-resettable responsive device comprises an inflatable airbag.

39. The system according to claim 25, said system further comprising a global positioning system device, attachable to said subject vehicle and electrically connected to at least one of said first computer and said second computer, for obtaining real time subject vehicle position data and digital map data for use in providing information positively identifying said object.

40. The system according to claim 25, said system further comprising a communications device attachable to said subject vehicle and electrically connected to at least one of said first computer and said second computer, said communications device comprising:

a communications antenna attachable to said subject vehicle;

a transmitter, electrically connected between said communications antenna and at least one of said first computer and said second computer, for transmitting an electromagnetic polling signal via said communications antenna to said object when said imminent collision is identified to thereby determine whether said object is another vehicle having another communications device onboard; and

a receiver, electrically connected between said communications antenna and at least one of said first computer and said second computer, for receiving onboard said subject vehicle an electromagnetic affirmative signal via said communications antenna transmitted from said communications device onboard said object vehicle;

wherein, after receiving said affirmative signal, said communications device is capable of exchanging vehicle size data and real time vehicle dynamics data with said object vehicle, and wherein said vehicle size data and said real time vehicle dynamics data are used to predict said severity level of said imminent collision.

25. A system for deploying responsive devices in a vehicle in anticipation of a collision with an object, said system comprising:

a sensor, attachable to a subject vehicle, for identifying an imminent collision between said subject vehicle and an object;

a first computer dedicated to processing dynamics data for said subject vehicle;

a second computer, electrically connected to said sensor and said first computer, dedicated to predicting a severity level of said imminent collision;

an antenna attachable to said subject vehicle;

a transmitter, electrically connected between said second computer and said antenna, for transmitting an elicitation signal via said antenna to said object;

means, situatable on said object, for sending a response signal to said subject vehicle wherein said response signal provides information positively identifying said object; and

a receiver, electrically connected between said antenna and said second computer, for receiving said response signal via said antenna from said object;

wherein said second computer is electrically connectable to at least one responsive device onboard said subject vehicle and is capable of using said positive identification information to predict said severity level of said imminent collision and selectively deploy said at least one responsive device according to said predicted severity level.