Anti-collision safety system for vehicle

• US 20020171542A1
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R., Bloomfield, John
• Granted Patent: US 6,850,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/448 specially adapted for vehicles with ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle

Abstract

An anti-collision safety light control for a vehicle includes a microprocessor which receives one or more inputs and controls an output of at least one indicator or signaling device in response to the inputs. The microprocessor is continuously powered or energized when the vehicle is in use, such that the indicator may be modulated in situations when the brake pedal of the vehicle is not applied. Preferably, an accelerometer may be included with the safety light system to provide a deceleration signal to the microprocessor, which may determine whether the deceleration is at or above one or more threshold levels and correspondingly modulate the indicator in accordance with the particular threshold level encountered. The microprocessor may modulate the indicator independent of actuation of the brake pedal by a driver of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular anti-collision safety light system for actuating an output of at least one indicator on a vehicle, said safety light system comprising:

an accelerometer which is operable to sense a deceleration of the vehicle;

a microprocessor for receiving a deceleration input from said accelerometer and controlling the output of at least one indicator in response to said deceleration input, said microprocessor controlling the output of the at least one indicator independent of actuation of a brake system of the vehicle.

2. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said accelerometer and said microprocessor are integrally constructed as a solid state module adaptable for mounting on the vehicle.

3. The safety light system of claim 2, wherein said solid state module is integrally constructed with a stop lamp base to form a stop lamp module, the at least one indicator being a stop lamp of the vehicle.

4. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein the at least one indicator is a rear center mounted stop lamp on the vehicle.

5. The safety light system of claim 4, wherein the at least one indicator is activated irrespective of said microprocessor in a first mode during vehicle braking and actuated by said microprocessor in a second mode when said deceleration input reaches a threshold level.

6. The safety light system of claim 5, wherein said second mode comprises a braking second mode and a non-braking second mode, the brake system being actuated during said braking second mode, said microprocessor being operable to repeatedly interrupt a braking signal to the rear center mounted stop lamp during said braking second mode.

7. The safety light system of claim 6, wherein said microprocessor intermittently energizes the center mounted stop lamp in said non-braking second mode.

8. The safety light system of claim 4, wherein the center mounted stop lamp is adjusted by said microprocessor in response to a first threshold deceleration input to said microprocessor and at least one other indicator is operable by said microprocessor in response to a second threshold deceleration input.

9. The safety light system of claim 8, wherein the at least one other indicator includes at least one of taillights, headlamps, turn indicators, interior lights and horn of the vehicle.

10. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor adjusts the output of the at least one indicator by one of flashing the indicator and changing an intensity of the indicator.

11. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said accelerometer is a two axis accelerometer, said two axis accelerometer being capable of sensing an acceleration of the vehicle in a forwardly, rearwardly and sidewardly direction with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

12. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor variably adjusts the output of the at least one indicator in response to a degree of deceleration of the vehicle.

13. The safety light system of claim 12, wherein said microprocessor adjusts the output of the at least one indicator correspondingly with an increase in the deceleration of the vehicle, said microprocessor adjusting the output when the deceleration of the vehicle is above a first threshold level.

14. The safety light system of claim 13, wherein said microprocessor further adjusts the output of the at least one indicator as the deceleration of the vehicle reaches at least one other threshold level, said at least one other threshold level being a higher deceleration than said first threshold level.

15. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor variably adjusts the output of the at least one indicator in response to said deceleration input reaching first, second and third threshold levels, said microprocessor increasing at least one of an intensity and rate of flash of the at least one indicator as the deceleration increases from said first threshold level to said second threshold level and further increasing said at least one of an intensity and rate of flash of the at least one indicator as the deceleration increases from said second threshold level to said third threshold, said first, second and third threshold levels corresponding to different degrees of deceleration of the vehicle, said second threshold level being greater than said first threshold level and said third threshold level being greater than said second threshold level.

16. The safety light system of claim 15, wherein said microprocessor is responsive to a fourth threshold level indicative of a collision of the vehicle, said microprocessor adjusting said at least one of intensity and rate of flash to a maximum level in response to said fourth threshold level.

17. The safety light system of claim 16, wherein said deceleration input includes a forwardly, rearwardly and sidewardly acceleration of the vehicle, said microprocessor flashing the at least one indicator at a rate corresponding to said fourth threshold level in response to a sideward acceleration of the vehicle.

18. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is operable to control the output of the indicator in response to a deceleration threshold, said microprocessor being further operable to control the indicator for a period of time after the deceleration level reduces to a level which is less than the deceleration threshold.

19. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is responsive to multiple inputs from multiple sensing devices associated with the vehicle.

20. The safety light system of claim 19, wherein said multiple inputs are associated with at least one of an actuation of an anti-lock brake system of the vehicle, a deployment of an airbag of the vehicle, a collision of the vehicle and an output of a proximity sensing device of the vehicle.

21. The safety light system of claim 20, wherein said proximity sensing device detects a distance to at least one object remote from the vehicle, said microprocessor controlling the output of the at least one indicator in response to the at least one object being within a threshold distance from the vehicle.

22. The safety light system of claim 21, wherein said threshold distance varies in response to a rate of approach of the at least one object relative to the vehicle.

23. The safety light system of claim 21, wherein said microprocessor variably controls the output of the at least one indicator in response to at least two threshold distances.

24. The safety light system of claim 20, wherein said proximity sensing device senses a distance to at least one object remote from the vehicle, the at least one object being located at least one of forwardly, rearwardly, and sidewardly from the vehicle.

25. The safety light system of claim 24 further including at least one sidewardly directed light on each side of the vehicle, said microprocessor activating said at least one sidewardly directed light in response to at least one of a distance and approach rate of at least one object sidewardly of the vehicle.

26. The safety light system of claim 20, wherein said proximity sensing device is one of a radar, sonar, Doppler radar and distance-sensing camera.

27. The safety light system of claim 20, wherein said microprocessor flashes multiple exterior lights of the vehicle in response to a collision detection.

28. The safety light system of claim 19 further including at least one interior indicator within the vehicle, said microprocessor communicating a signal to said at least one interior indicator in response to at least one of said multiple inputs being at a threshold level.

29. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is interrupt driven by multiple electronic inputs.

30. The safety light system of claim 29, wherein said microprocessor samples said multiple inputs to determine if at least one of said multiple inputs is above at least one threshold level, said microprocessor adjusting the output of the at least one indicator when at least one of said multiple inputs is above said at least one threshold level.

31. The safety light system of claim 30, wherein said microprocessor samples said multiple inputs at least every 50 milliseconds.

32. The safety light system of claim 30, wherein said microprocessor samples said multiple inputs at least every 20 milliseconds.

33. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is interconnected with a power source of the vehicle, said microprocessor being energized in response to one of an actuation of an ignition of the vehicle, a movement of the vehicle and a shifting into a driving gear of the vehicle.

35. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein said control is interconnected with a power source of the vehicle, said control being energized in response to one of an actuation of an ignition of the vehicle, a movement of the vehicle and a shifting into a driving gear of the vehicle.

36. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein said control samples said multiple inputs to determine if at least one of said multiple inputs is above at least one threshold level, said control adjusting said output of said at least one indicator when at least one of said multiple inputs is above said at least one threshold level.

37. The anti-collision system of claim 36, wherein said control samples said multiple inputs at least every 50 milliseconds.

38. The anti-collision system of claim 36, wherein said control samples said multiple inputs at least every 20 milliseconds.

39. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein said control and said accelerometer are integrally constructed as a solid state module.

40. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein said indicator module is mounted on a trailer and directed exteriorly of the trailer, the trailer being adapted to be towed by the vehicle.

41. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein said indicator module is mounted on the vehicle and directed exteriorly of the vehicle.

42. The anti-collision system of claim 41, wherein said indicator module is mounted on a rear portion of the vehicle.

43. The anti-collision system of claim 42, wherein said at least one indicator is further interconnected with a brake system of the vehicle such that said at least one indicator is energized when brake lights of the vehicle are activated.

44. The anti-collision system of claim 43, wherein said at least one indicator is operable in a first mode in response to normal actuation of the brake system and in a second mode in response to an output of said control.

45. The anti-collision system of claim 44, wherein said second mode occurs when at least one of said multiple inputs reaches a threshold level.

46. The anti-collision system of claim 45, wherein said second mode comprises a braking mode and a non-braking mode, the brake system being actuated during said braking mode, said control being operable to repeatedly interrupt a braking signal to said at least one indicator during said braking mode.

47. The anti-collision system of claim 46, wherein said control intermittently energizes said at least one indicator in said non-braking mode, said control being interconnected to a power source.

48. The anti-collision system of claim 44, wherein said at least one indicator is continuously energized in said first mode and said at least one indicator is intermittently energized in said second mode.

49. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein said control is operable to adjust said at least one indicator in response to at least one threshold level of said multiple inputs, said control being further operable to continue adjusting said at least one indicator for a time period following at least one of said multiple inputs lowering to a level below the at least one threshold level.

50. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein said at least one indicator is a rear illumination source, said indicator being mounted on a rearward portion of the vehicle, said control further controlling an output of at least one of a first side illumination source on a first side of the vehicle, a second side illumination source on a second side of the vehicle, a forward illumination source on a forward portion of the vehicle and at least one interior signaling device positioned within the vehicle, said control selectively controlling said output of said illumination sources in response to at least one threshold level of said multiple inputs.

51. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein said at least one indicator is at least one illumination source.

52. The anti-collision system of claim 51, wherein said at least one illumination source is a solid state indicator, said control and said illumination source forming a solid state indicator module.

53. The anti-collision system of claim 52, wherein said solid state indicator is one of a light emitting diode, a laser emitting diode and a phosphor display.

54. The anti-collision system of claim 51, wherein said at least one illumination source is at least two illumination sources within a common housing, such that said control alternatingly flashes said at least two illumination sources in response to said at least one input.

55. The anti-collision system of claim 51, wherein said control adjusts at least one of a rate of repeat, a color and an intensity of said at least one illumination source.

56. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein an acceleration input from said accelerometer provides a forward and rearward acceleration of the vehicle and a sideward acceleration of the vehicle to said control.

57. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein said multiple inputs include an output from at least one of a proximity sensor, a speed sensor, an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle, an airbag module of the vehicle, a collision detection device of the vehicle, a vehicle door switch and a headlamp detector.

58. The anti-collision system of claim 57, wherein said proximity sensor provides a distance to at least one object remote from the vehicle, the at least one object being located at least one of forwardly, rearwardly and sidewardly from the vehicle, said control adjusting said output of said indicator in response to a threshold level of said distance.

59. The anti-collision system of claim 58, wherein said threshold level of said distance varies correspondingly with a rate of approach of the at least one object relative to the vehicle.

60. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein said control variably controls said output of said at least one indicator in response to multiple threshold levels of at least one of said multiple inputs.

34. A vehicular anti-collision system for providing an indication in response to at least one hazardous condition associated with a vehicle, said anti-collision system comprising:

at least one indicator mounted on an indicator base;

a solid state control for receiving multiple inputs and adjusting an output of said at least one indicator in response to said multiple inputs, said control including a microcomputer being interrupt driven by said multiple inputs, one of said inputs being a solid state accelerometer, said control being integrally constructed on said indicator base to form an indicator module.

61. A vehicular anti-collision stop lamp module for providing a signal in response to at least one hazardous condition associated with a vehicle, said anti-collision stop lamp module comprising:

a base mountable on a rearward facing portion of the vehicle;

at least one indicator which is mountable to said base and is interconnected with a brake system of the vehicle such that actuation of the brake system correspondingly energizes said at least one indicator;

a microprocessor mountable to said base and controlling an output of said at least one indicator in response to at least one electronic input, said at least one indicator being operable in a first mode when the brake system is actuated and said at least one electronic input is below a threshold level, a second mode when the brake system is actuated and at least one of said at least one electronic input is at or above a threshold level and a third mode when the brake system is not actuated and at least one of said at least one electronic input is at or above a threshold level, said at least one indicator being energized by actuation of the brake system in said first and second modes, said microprocessor at least occasionally interrupting an output of said at least one indicator in said second mode and said microprocessor being operable to at least intermittently energize said at least one indicator in said third mode.

62. The stop lamp module of claim 61, wherein said microprocessor is interconnected with a power source of the vehicle, said microprocessor being energized in response to one of an actuation of an ignition of the vehicle, a movement of the vehicle and a shifting into a driving gear of the vehicle.

63. The stop lamp module of claim 61, wherein said at least one electronic input is an output from at least one of an accelerometer which determines a deceleration of the vehicle, a proximity sensor which determines a distance between at least one object and the vehicle, a speed sensor, an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle, an airbag module of the vehicle and a collision detection device of the vehicle.

64. The stop lamp module of claim 63, wherein said proximity sensor further determines a rate of approach of the at least one object toward the vehicle, said microprocessor being responsive to the distance and the rate of approach of the at least one object.

65. The stop lamp module of claim 63, wherein said accelerometer is a two axis accelerometer, said two axis accelerometer being capable of sensing an acceleration of the vehicle in a forwardly, rearwardly and sidewardly direction with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

66. The stop lamp module of claim 65, wherein said accelerometer and said microprocessor are integrally constructed as a solid state module.

67. The stop lamp module of claim 63, wherein said microprocessor flashes multiple exterior lights of the vehicle in response to a collision detection.

68. The stop lamp module of claim 61, wherein said microprocessor is interrupt driven by said at least one electronic input.

69. The stop lamp module of claim 61, wherein said microprocessor variably controls said output of said at least one indicator in said second and third modes in response to at least two threshold levels of said at least one electronic input.

70. The stop lamp module of claim 61, wherein said stop lamp module is a center mounted stop lamp of the vehicle.

71. The stop lamp module of claim 70, wherein said microprocessor controls said output of said at least one indicator in said second and third modes by adjusting at least one of a rate of flash, color and intensity of said at least one indicator.

72. The stop lamp module of claim 61, wherein said microprocessor is operable to flash said at least one indicator, said at least one indicator being one of a light emitting diode and an illumination device, said illumination device having at least two illumination sources, the at least two illumination sources being alternatingly energized in said second and third modes.

73. A vehicular anti-collision safety light system for providing a signal in response to at least one hazardous condition associated with a vehicle, said anti-collision system comprising:

at least one solid state indicator;

a solid state accelerometer for determining an acceleration of the vehicle, said accelerometer being a two axis accelerometer positionable on the vehicle such that said accelerometer is operable to detect a forwardly and rearwardly acceleration and a sidewardly acceleration with respect to a directional heading of the vehicle; and

a microprocessor for controlling an output of said at least one indicator in response to at least one electronic input, said at least one electronic input including a forwardly or rearwardly acceleration and a sidewardly acceleration from said accelerometer, said microprocessor modulating said at least one indicator when said at least one electronic input reaches at least one threshold level.

74. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 73, wherein said microprocessor, said accelerometer and said indicator are integrally constructed as a solid state module.

75. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 73, wherein said at least one solid state indicator is one of a light emitting diode, a laser emitting diode, and a phosphor display.

76. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 73, wherein said microprocessor controls said output of said at least one indicator in response to an actuation of a brake system of the vehicle.

77. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 73, wherein said microprocessor controls said output of said at least one indicator independent of an actuation of a brake system of the vehicle.

78. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 77, wherein said microprocessor, said accelerometer, and said indicator form a solid state module, said solid state module being positionable on a trailer, the trailer being towable by the vehicle.

79. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 73, wherein said microprocessor, said accelerometer, and said indicator form a solid state module, said solid state module being positionable on a trailer, the trailer being towable by the vehicle.

80. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 73, wherein said microprocessor variably controls said output of said at least one indicator in response to varying degrees of acceleration of the vehicle in the forwardly and rearwardly direction.

81. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 80, wherein said microprocessor controls said output of said at least one indicator correspondingly with an increase in said degree of deceleration of the vehicle, said microprocessor adjusting said output when said degree of deceleration is above at least one threshold level.

82. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 81, wherein said microprocessor adjustably controls the output of said at least one indicator as said degree of deceleration reaches multiple threshold levels.

83. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 82, wherein said microprocessor adjusts a rate of repeat of said at least one indicator, a first rate of repeat at a lower deceleration threshold level being slower than a second rate of repeat at a more rapid deceleration threshold level.

84. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 73, wherein said microprocessor variably controls the output of said at least one indicator in response to a degree of a forward or rearward deceleration of the vehicle reaching first, second and third threshold levels, said microprocessor increasing at least one of an intensity and rate of flash of said at least one indicator as said deceleration increases from said first threshold level to said second threshold level and further increasing said at least one of an intensity and rate of flash of said at least one indicator as said deceleration increases from said second threshold level to said third threshold, said first, second and third threshold levels corresponding to different degrees of deceleration of the vehicle, said second threshold level being a greater degree of deceleration than said first threshold level and said third threshold level being a greater degree of deceleration than said second threshold level.

85. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 84, wherein said microprocessor adjusts said at least one of an intensity and rate of flash of said at least one indicator to a maximum level in response to a fourth degree of deceleration, said fourth degree of deceleration being greater than said third degree and being indicative of a collision of the vehicle.

86. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 85, wherein said microprocessor continues to adjust said at least one indicator for a period of time after said fourth degree of deceleration is detected.

87. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 85, wherein said microprocessor adjusts said at least one of an intensity and rate of flash of said at least one indicator to said maximum level in response to a sideward acceleration of the vehicle.

88. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 73, wherein said microprocessor adjusts said output of said at least one indicator to a maximum flash rate in response to a sideward acceleration of the vehicle.

89. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 88, wherein said microprocessor intermittently energizes multiple exterior lights of the vehicle in response to said sideward acceleration.

90. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 73, wherein said microprocessor continues to control the output of said at least one indicator for a time period following detection of said at least one electronic input lowering to a level that is less than the at least one threshold level.

91. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 73, wherein said microprocessor is interrupt driven by multiple electronic inputs.

92. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 91, wherein said multiple inputs are associated with at least one of an actuation of an anti-lock brake system of the vehicle, a deployment of an airbag of the vehicle, a collision of the vehicle and an output of a proximity sensing device of the vehicle.

93. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 92, wherein said proximity sensing device detects a distance to at least one object remote from the vehicle, said microprocessor controlling said output of said at least one indicator in response to the at least one object being within a threshold distance from the vehicle.

94. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 93, wherein said threshold distance varies in response to a rate of approach of the at least one object relative to the vehicle.

95. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 92, wherein said proximity sensing device is one of a radar, sonar, Doppler radar and distance-sensing camera.

96. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 92, wherein said microprocessor controls an output of multiple exterior lights of the vehicle in response to a collision detection.

97. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 73, wherein said microprocessor samples said at least one electronic input to determine if at least one of said at least one electronic input is above at least one threshold level, said microprocessor controlling said output of said at least one indicator when at least one of said at least one electronic input is above said at least one threshold level.

98. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 97, wherein said microprocessor samples said at least one electronic input at least every 50 milliseconds.

99. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 97, wherein said microprocessor samples said at least one electronic input at least every 20 milliseconds.

100. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 73, wherein said microprocessor is interconnected with a power source of the vehicle, said microprocessor being energized in response to one of an actuation of an ignition of the vehicle, a movement of the vehicle and a shifting into a driving gear of the vehicle.