Method and apparatus for rear-end collision warning and accident mitigation
First Claim
1. A method for generating a rear-end collision warning within a lead vehicle having at least one sensor, a computer processing system and an alerting device, the method comprising:
- detecting, using at least one sensor, a second vehicle approaching the lead vehicle from a rear direction;
calculating, using the central processing system, a time to collision, based on at least one algorithm that determines a relative velocity of the second vehicle using data from the sensor; and
generating, using the alerting device, a rear-end collision warning to alert a driver of the lead vehicle of a possible rear-end collision, when the time to collision is within a predetermined range of values.
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Abstract
This disclosure introduces a system which generates a visual, audio, and/or tactile warning to a driver of a lead vehicle when a possible rear-end collision is detected, based on the approach of a second vehicle from a rear direction. The system may also generate a warning signal (such as quick blinking red brake light, or an array of multi-color lights) directed to the approaching vehicle when it is determined to be approaching at an unsafe speed. The system may include one or more of: approaching-vehicle-sensors mounted on the back end of the lead vehicle, a computer processing system, a set of warning lights, a set of speakers within the lead vehicle, and an antenna and transmitter/receiver for communicating with systems of other vehicles. This system may include a connection to the existing taillight system and other existing systems in the lead vehicle. Extended systems may include connections to and control of head support system, seat-belt systems and airbags system to provide additional safety to the occupants of the lead vehicle. The system may also record and store a few seconds of sensor data of the pre-crash and crash related scene when an impact occurs, and provide blind spot warnings.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for generating a rear-end collision warning within a lead vehicle having at least one sensor, a computer processing system and an alerting device, the method comprising:
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detecting, using at least one sensor, a second vehicle approaching the lead vehicle from a rear direction; calculating, using the central processing system, a time to collision, based on at least one algorithm that determines a relative velocity of the second vehicle using data from the sensor; and generating, using the alerting device, a rear-end collision warning to alert a driver of the lead vehicle of a possible rear-end collision, when the time to collision is within a predetermined range of values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for generating a rear-end collision warning within a lead vehicle having at least one sensor, a computer processing system and at least one alerting device, the method comprising:
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detecting, using the at least one sensor, a second vehicle approaching the lead vehicle from a rear direction; calculating, using the central processing system, at least one of a time to collision and an estimated severity of collision, based on at least one algorithm that determines a relative velocity of the second vehicle using data from the sensor; and generating, using a first alerting device, a rear-end collision warning to alert a driver of the lead vehicle of a possible rear-end collision, when the time to collision is within a predetermined range of values; and generating, using a second alerting device, a second rear-end collision warning to alert a driver of the second vehicle of the possible rear-end collision, when the time to collision is within a second predetermined range of values. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for generating a rear-end collision warning within a lead vehicle having at least one sensor, an antenna, a computer processing system and at least one alerting device, the method comprising:
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detecting, using the at least one sensor, a second vehicle approaching the lead vehicle from a rear direction; receiving, using the antenna, vehicle performance information from the second vehicle; calculating, using the central processing system, a time to collision, based on the vehicle performance information and at least one algorithm that determines the velocity of the second vehicle using data from the sensor; and generating, using a first alerting device, a rear-end collision warning to alert a driver of the lead vehicle of a possible rear-end collision, when the time to collision is within a range of values determined from the vehicle performance information. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification