Method for Initiating Safety Measures for a Motor Vehicle

• US 20070296565A1
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Himmel, Timo
• Application Number:
  US11/587,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20070296565A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for initiating safety measures for a motor vehicle in which a transceiver unit of the motor vehicle emits an electromagnetic field into a predefined, close surrounding area of the motor vehicle, if a second motor vehicle is located in the predefined, close surrounding area of the first motor vehicle a transceiver unit of the second motor vehicle transmits a response signal which is received by the transceiver unit of the first motor vehicle. According to the invention it is proposed that safety measures for the first motor vehicle are initiated before the occurrence of the accident event as soon as the response signal is received.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A safety method for initiating safety measures for a first motor vehicle in which a transceiver unit of the first motor vehicle emits an electromagnetic field into a predefined, close surrounding area of the first motor vehicle comprising:

transmitting a response signal from a transceiver unit of a second motor vehicle, which is received by the transceiver unit of the first motor vehicle, when the second motor vehicle is located in the predefined, close surrounding area of the first motor vehicle, and

initiating safety measures for the first motor vehicle, before an accident event occurs, as soon as the response signal is received.

12. The safety method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the transceiver unit of the first motor vehicle emits an electromagnetic field into a lateral surrounding area, and wherein the transceiver unit of the second motor vehicle emits its response signal in a direction of travel as it approaches the first motor vehicle laterally.

13. The safety method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the response signal contains safety-related information.

14. The safety method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the safety-related information indicates at least one of a class of vehicle, a type of vehicle, a vehicle mass, a vehicle unladen weight, a maximum permissible overall weight, a vehicle height, a vehicle width, and velocity.

15. The safety method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in order to initiate suitable safety measures before the accident event occurs, further data relevant to safety of a travel operation are taken into account.

16. The safety method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the further data are at least one of driving state variables, data relating to surroundings, and evaluated driver activities.

17. A safety device for a motor vehicle for carrying out the safety method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the transceiver unit of at least one of the first and second motor vehicles is arranged in a lateral area of that motor vehicle, emits an electromagnetic field, and can receive a response signal.

18. The safety device as claimed in claim 17, wherein a plurality of transceiver units are arranged distributed in the lateral area of the at least one of the motor vehicles.

19. A safety device for a motor vehicle for carrying out the safety method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the transceiver unit is arranged in a front area of that motor vehicle, and can be activated by an electromagnetic field in such a way that it emits a response signal.

20. The safety device as claimed in claim 19, wherein a plurality of transceiver units are arranged distributed in the front area of the at least one of the motor vehicles.

21. The safety device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the transceiver unit has a reception coil, into which the electromagnetic field can induce an electric current, and a chip, which is fed by the electric current and emits the response signal.

22. The safety device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the transceiver unit is formed by a transponder.