Speed-sensitive rear obstacle detection and avoidance system

• US 20070132563A1
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• 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: Green, Charles, Altan, Osman, Balbale, Uzmaa, Labuhn, Pamela, Chundrlik, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,375,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/004 using wave sensors radar designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicles and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/08 Driving in reverse
• 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 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/105 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system for use on a vehicle comprises a rear obstacle detector that is coupled to the vehicle and measures the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle'"'"'s rear, a speed sensor that determines vehicle speed, an alert generator that notifies an occupant of the vehicle of a rear obstacle, and a processor that is coupled to the rear obstacle detector, the speed sensor, and the alert generator. The processor causes the generation of a first alert when the vehicle'"'"'s speed is less than a threshold speed and the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle'"'"'s rear is less than a first distance determined in accordance with a first function of speed vs. distance. Additionally, the processor causes the generation of a second alert when the vehicle'"'"'s speed is greater than the threshold speed and the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle'"'"'s rear is less than a second distance determined in accordance with second function of speed vs. distance.

Claims

1. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system for use on a vehicle, the system comprising:

a rear obstacle detector coupled to the vehicle for measuring the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle'"'"'s rear;

a speed sensor for determining vehicle speed;

an alert generator for notifying an occupant of the vehicle of a rear obstacle; and

a processor coupled to said rear obstacle detector, said speed sensor, and said alert generator, said processor for causing the generation of (i) a first alert when the speed of the vehicle is less than a threshold speed and said distance is less than a first distance related to a first function of speed vs. distance, and (ii) a second alert when the speed of the vehicle is greater than said threshold speed and said distance is less than a second distance related to a second function of speed vs. distance.

2. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 1 wherein said processor further causes a third alert to be generated when the speed of the vehicle is greater than said threshold speed and said distance is less than a third distance related to a third function of speed vs. distance.

3. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said first, said second, and said third alerts comprises a visual alert.

4. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 2 wherein said processor further causes a fourth alert to be generated when the speed of the vehicle is less than said threshold speed and said distance is less than a predefined distance.

5. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 3 wherein the vehicle includes a rear windshield and wherein said visual alert is generated on a display proximate the rear windshield of the vehicle.

6. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said first, said second, and said third alerts comprises an audible alert.

7. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 6 wherein a characteristic of said audible alert varies in relation to said distance.

8. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said first, said second, and said third alerts comprises a haptic alert.

9. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 8 wherein said haptic alert is a brake pulse.

10. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes a brake system and wherein said processor is coupled to the brake system for causing the brake system to reduce the speed of the vehicle when said distance is less than a third distance determined in accordance with a third function of speed vs. distance.

11. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 1 wherein said rear obstacle detector comprises a radar system.

12. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 1 wherein said threshold speed is approximately 4 mph.

13. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system for use on a vehicle having a brake system, the system comprising:

a rear obstacle detector coupled to the vehicle for measuring the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle'"'"'s rear;

a speed sensor for determining vehicle speed;

an alert generator for notifying an occupant of the vehicle of a rear obstacle; and

a processor coupled to said rear obstacle detector, said speed sensor, and said alert generator, said processor for (i) generating at least a first type of alert when the speed of the vehicle is less than a threshold speed and said distance is less than a first distance determined in accordance with a first function of speed vs. distance;

(ii) generating at least a second type of alert when the speed of the vehicle is greater than said threshold speed and said distance is less than a second distance determined in accordance with a second function of speed vs. distance; and

(iii) causing the brake system to reduce the speed of the vehicle when said distance is less than a third distance determined in accordance with a third function of speed vs. distance.

14. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 13 wherein said processor further causes at least a third type of alert to be generated when the speed of the vehicle is more than said threshold speed and said distance is less than a fourth distance related to a fourth function of speed vs. distance.

15. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 14 wherein at least one of said first, said second, and said third alerts comprises a haptic alert.

16. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system according to claim 15 wherein said haptic alert is a brake pulse.

17. A method for detecting and avoiding obstacles behind a vehicle when the vehicle is being operated in reverse, the method comprising:

detecting the distance between an obstacle and the rear of the vehicle;

measuring the speed of the vehicle; and

,

generating (i) a first alert when the speed of the vehicle is less than a threshold speed and the distance is less than a first distance determined in accordance with a first function of speed vs. distance; and

(ii) a second alert when the speed of the vehicle is greater than the threshold speed and the distance is less than a second distance determined in accordance with a second function of speed vs. distance.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of generating further comprises generating a third alert when the speed of the vehicle is more than the threshold speed and the distance is less than a third distance related to a third function of speed vs. distance.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the step of generating comprises producing a brake pulse.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the vehicle includes a throttle, the method further comprising:

disengaging the throttle of the vehicle; and

braking the vehicle when the distance is less than a fourth distance related to a fourth function of speed vs. distance.