Automatic Vehicle Collison Avoidance and Warning System

• US 20060244632A1
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: James Corcoran
• Inventors: Corcoran, James John III
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• 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: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2754/10 Spatial relation or speed relative to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered

Abstract

An integrated system for automatic vehicle collision avoidance and warning for vehicles operating on any highway or road system globally. The system may be used to not only illuminate the brake lights on the following vehicle but also to begin the application of braking pressure as a result of analysis of the speed of the vehicle. The system includes an RFID transponder (either active or passive) located in the rear and front of the vehicle with discrete recognition capability as to vehicle proximity and resulting action to be taken as a result of driver action. On the vehicle either the brake lights will be illuminated ahead of any actual driver action; an initial application of brake pressure as a result of receiving a signal from the vehicle in front, the pressure which is determined by analysis of the current speed of the vehicle or the system will provide additional warning through brake light illumination to the following vehicle with similar equipment and cruise control will be disengaged. The system can be retrofitted into existing vehicles to provide, at a minimum, brake light illumination indicating an action being taken somewhere ahead of your vehicle. The system thereby warns and prevents serious rear-end collisions at highway speeds especially where vehicle size mismatch contributes to the inability of the following driver to see activity in front of the car in front of him.

Claims

1. A totally integrated system for automatic vehicle collision avoidance and warning system for vehicles, said system comprising:

an automatic vehicle collision avoidance and warning system having a RFID transponder located on the vehicle to enable communications to another vehicle with similar equipment installed,

an RFID transponder located on the vehicle that provides a communication signal to another vehicle with similar equipment,

an RFID transponder located on the vehicle that provides a communication signal indicating a braking action being taken by a vehicle,

an RFID transponder that has links into the braking system of the vehicle and provides an indication of braking activity through a signal to another vehicle with similar equipment,

an RFID transponder on a similar vehicle that is linked to the braking system that provides a signal to illuminate the brake lights on the receiving vehicle,

an RFID device that can be either active or passive,

a means for sending an RFID signal to another vehicle with similar equipment and that vehicle being able to receive it and take action through the illumination of the brake lights on the receiving vehicle,

a means for linking to an existing brake system in order to analyze the speed and have the anti-skid braking system apply the brakes prior to the driver taking action and disconnect the cruise control,

a means to link into an existing brake light system on the vehicle,

a means to allow the driver of the vehicle to apply brake pressure from the existing pressure application initially applied by the signal and analysis of the AVCAWS system,

a means to distinguish the difference through either discrete frequency or identification as to whether the vehicle is following or providing the lead signal for the purposes of braking and brake light illumination.

2. A process for automatic vehicle collision avoidance and warning system comprising a RFID transponder system located on the vehicle that links with the ABS system, the speedometer system and the cruise control system, said system allows the illumination of the brake lighting system ahead of the taking of driver action on vehicles that are following another during highway traffic patterns,

linking to the braking system of the vehicle including the brake lights and the speedometer system,

providing an early warning brake light to a following vehicle equipped with similar equipment enabling the following driver to be aware of impending braking activity on the lead vehicle,

providing a linkage to the ABS on the vehicle in order to begin early application of brake pressure to prevent rear-end collisions,

providing a linkage to the speedometer processor on the vehicle in order to compute the amount of brake pressure to be applied as a result of receiving a signal from the RFID transponder on the vehicle in front of the receiving vehicle,

providing a discrete RFID signal, either active or passive, that generates a signal for the on-board processor and wiring module,

providing a combination of both braking pressure and brake light illumination to the following vehicle equipped with similar RFID AVCAWS installation.