Collision avoidance of unattended vehicles

• US 20060187009A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Kropinski, Michael A., Bolander, Thomas E., Makris, Alexander N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,403,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9314 Parking operations

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for protecting an unattended parked vehicle from being impacted by a moving vehicle under control of a driver. The apparatus comprises a detection and alarm system built into the unattended parked vehicle. When a moving vehicle comes within a predetermined distance from the unattended parked vehicle, the apparatus senses the presence of the moving vehicle and activates the alarm system. If the moving vehicle continues to approach the unattended parked vehicle, the activated alarm signals are increased in intensity. Typically, the alarm signals would be in the form of lights flashing and/or horn blowing, or any appropriate combination of audible and visual signals.

Claims

1. A method of protecting an unattended parked vehicle from being impacted by a moving object, comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring a predetermined distance threshold around the unattended parked vehicle;

b) detecting the presence of the moving object at a distance equal to or less than the predetermined distance threshold; and

c) activating an alarm system when the moving object is detected within the predetermined distance threshold from the unattended parked vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring step operates in a low power standby mode.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the monitoring step further comprises monitoring a plurality of concentric predetermined distance thresholds around the perimeter of the unattended parked vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting step further comprises detecting a moving object within one of the plurality of concentric predetermined distance thresholds around the perimeter of the unattended parked vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the detecting step further comprises placing the monitoring step in a full power active mode when a moving object is detected within one of the plurality of concentric predetermined distance thresholds around the perimeter of the unattended parked vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the activating step activates a first level of the alarm system when a moving object is detected within the outermost distance threshold.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the activating step activates an intermediate level of the alarm system when a moving object is detected within a closer distance threshold than the outermost distance threshold.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the activating step activates a maximum level of the alarm system when a moving object is detected within the closest distance threshold around the perimeter of the unattended parked vehicle.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the first level of the alarm system comprises light signals.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein an intermediate level of the alarm system increases the intensity of the light signals.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein an intermediate level of the alarm system flashes the light signals on and off.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the maximum level of the alarm system comprises an audible signal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the audible signal comprises blowing the horn of the unattended parked vehicle.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the maximum level of the alarm system comprises a combination of light signals and audible signals.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the alarm system is time limited.

16. A collision avoidance system for protecting an unattended parked vehicle from being impacted by a moving vehicle under the control of a driver, comprising:

a detection apparatus within the unattended parked vehicle;

a processor within the unattended parked vehicle; and

an alarm system within the unattended parked vehicle, wherein the detection apparatus is configured to sense the presence of a moving vehicle within a predetermined threshold distance from the unattended parked vehicle, and wherein the processor is configured to activate the alarm system to warn the driver of the moving vehicle when the detection apparatus indicates that the moving vehicle is within the predetermined threshold distance.

17. The collision avoidance system of claim 16 wherein the alarm system comprises light signals.

18. The collision avoidance system of claim 17 wherein the light signals increase in intensity as the moving vehicle approaches the unattended parked vehicle.

19. The collision avoidance system of claim 17 wherein the light signals flash on and off as the moving vehicle approaches the unattended parked vehicle.

20. The collision avoidance system of claim 16 wherein the alarm system comprises an audible signal.

21. The collision avoidance system of claim 20 wherein the audible signal comprises blowing the horn of the unattended parked vehicle as the moving vehicle approaches the unattended parked vehicle.

22. The collision avoidance system of claim 16 wherein the alarm system comprises a combination of light signals and audible signals.

23. The collision avoidance system of claim 16 wherein the alarm system is time limited.

24. The collision avoidance system of claim 16 wherein the detection apparatus comprises an ultrasonic distance detection system.

25. The collision avoidance system of claim 24 wherein the ultrasonic distance detection system comprises a plurality of sensors positioned on the exterior of the unattended parked vehicle.

26. The collision avoidance system of claim 24 wherein the ultrasonic distance detection system is first operated in a power conserving standby mode.

27. The collision avoidance system of claim 26 wherein the ultrasonic distance detection system is activated to a full power mode when a moving vehicle is detected within a predetermined threshold distance from the unattended parked vehicle.