Method for detecting vehicle speed

• US 20060178798A1
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: E-Lead Electronic Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: E Lead Electronic Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/050,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178798A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/44 for measuring angular speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/56 for comparing two speeds
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 7/00 Measuring speed by integrating acceleration measuring travelled distance by double integration of acceleration G01C21/16

Abstract

A method for detecting vehicle speed detects existing noise frequency of vehicle power supply and vehicle acceleration value, and compares and processes the detected data to estimate the final vehicle speed. The method includes the procedure of (1) detecting power supply noise frequency and converting to engine speed; (2) detecting acceleration value; (3) comparing the engine speed and the vehicle speed; and (4) selecting the final vehicle speed. By means of the procedure of the invention, the vehicle speed may be provided to the vehicle navigation apparatus to continuously perform navigation during the brief period when the GPS signals are lost.

Claims

1. A method for detecting vehicle speed, comprising the steps of:

(1) detecting power supply noise frequency and converting to an engine speed through a vehicle power supply noise detection unit of a vehicle speed detection apparatus;

(2) detecting an acceleration value through an accelerometer and processing to get a second estimated vehicle speed;

(3) comparing the engine speed with a first estimated vehicle speed of GPS to establish a vehicle speed table after having incorporated gearshift modifications to derive a third estimated vehicle speed; and

(4) selecting a final vehicle speed based on satellite signal receiving conditions and the comparison result of the engine speed with the vehicle speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed detection apparatus includes a processing unit which records an off set value of the accelerometer when the accelerometer is at a constant speed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of comparing the engine speed with a first estimated vehicle speed of GPS includes recording the first estimated vehicle speed and the engine speed value into a statistical data when GPS signals are received and the reading of the accelerometer is a constant speed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the engine speed value is an average of a plurality of engine speed values of a same vehicle speed, the average being used to check against a vehicle speed table to derive the third estimated vehicle speed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of comparing the engine speed with a first estimated vehicle speed of GPS includes processing gearshift calculation when GPS signals are received and the reading of the accelerometer is not a constant speed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the processing of gearshift calculation determines gearshift by acceleration and deceleration of the accelerometer and comparing with a vehicle speed on the vehicle speed table on a corresponding gearshift to derive the third estimated vehicle speed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a final vehicle speed selects the first estimated vehicle speed obtained through the GPS as the final vehicle speed when the satellite signal is received.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a final vehicle speed selects the second estimated vehicle speed derived by the accelerometer as the final vehicle speed when the satellite signal is lost and the difference between the second estimated vehicle speed and the third estimated vehicle speed derived by comparing the engine speed and the vehicle speed is within a set range.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a final vehicle speed selects the third estimated vehicle speed derived by comparing the engine speed and the vehicle speed as the final vehicle speed when the satellite signal is lost and the difference between the second estimated vehicle speed and the third estimated vehicle speed exceeds a set range.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected final vehicle speed at the step of selecting a final vehicle speed is provided to a navigation apparatus to perform navigation function.