VEHICLE PROXIMITY ALERTING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20060164222A1
• Filed: 09/21/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai AMCO Company Limited (Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai AMCO Company Limited (Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: NOU, SEONG TAEG
• Granted Patent: US 7,365,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• 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: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A vehicle proximity alerting system and method is provided. The system includes: a sensor unit having a plurality of sensors for measuring distances from other vehicles; a system controlling unit for receiving measurement signals from the sensors, calculating distances from other vehicles, determining whether or not the calculated distance is less than a preset vehicle proximity distance setting value, and generating an alert signal when it is determined that the calculated distance is less than the vehicle proximity distance setting value; and an alerting unit for receiving the alert signal and alerting.

Claims

1. A vehicle proximity alerting system comprising:

a sensor unit having a plurality of sensors for measuring distances from other vehicles;

a system controlling unit for receiving measurement signals from the sensors, calculating distances from other vehicles, determining whether or not the calculated distance is less than a preset vehicle proximity distance setting value, and generating an alert signal when it is determined that the calculated distance is less than the vehicle proximity distance setting value; and

an alerting unit for receiving the alert signal and alerting.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit comprises:

a first distance sensor for sensing a distance from a front vehicle;

a second distance sensor for sensing a distance from a right vehicle;

a third distance sensor for sensing a distance from a left vehicle; and

a fourth distance sensor for sensing a distance from a rear vehicle.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system controlling unit comprises:

a distance setting unit for storing the preset proximity distance setting value;

an input signal processor for receiving each of sensing signals from the sensors under a predetermined control, and converting the received sensing signals into distance values;

a distance calculator for comparing the distance values with the proximity distance setting values under a predetermined control, determining whether or not the distance value is less than the proximity distance setting value, and generating a determination result signal;

an output signal processor for generating the alert signal under a predetermined control; and

a controller for controlling the input signal processor and the distance calculator, reading and outputting the proximity distance setting value to the distance calculator in a vehicle proximity alerting mode, and receiving and outputting the determination result signal and the alert signal to the output signal processor.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system controlling unit comprises:

a distance setting unit for storing the preset proximity distance setting value;

an input signal processor for receiving each of sensing signals from the sensors under a predetermined control, and converting the received sensing signals into distance values;

a distance calculator for comparing the distance values with the proximity distance setting values under a predetermined control, determining whether or not the distance value is less than the proximity distance setting value, and generating a determination result signal;

an output signal processor for generating the alert signal under a predetermined control; and

a controller for controlling the input signal processor and the distance calculator, reading and outputting the proximity distance setting value to the distance calculator in a vehicle proximity alerting mode, and receiving and outputting the determination result signal and the alert signal to the output signal processor.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the alerting unit is a lateral alert lamp processor having a plurality of lamps at left and right sides of a vehicle, and receiving the alert signal and blinking the lamps.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the alert signal is a vehicle proximity alerting text data.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the alerting unit is a glass alert display processor installed at an end of a front glass of a vehicle, and receiving and displaying the vehicle proximity alerting text data.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the glass alert display processor is an organic EL (EletroLuminescent) display unit.

9. A vehicle proximity alerting method comprising the steps of:

setting at least one proximity distance setting value by a user;

measuring distances from other vehicles; and

sequentially comparing the measured distances with the proximity distance setting values, and alerting correspondingly to the corresponding proximity distance setting value.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the alerting is performed using an alert sound signal.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the alerting is performed through displaying a vehicle proximity alerting text data.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the alerting is performed through blinking a lamp installed outside a vehicle and alerting anti-approach to other vehicles.