Vehicle Collision Avoidance System Enhancement Using In-Car Air Bag Deployment System

• US 20080036579A1
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gregory Boss, James Seaman, Rick Hamilton II, Timothy Waters
• Original Assignee: Gregory Boss, James Seaman, Rick Hamilton II, Timothy Waters
• Inventors: Waters, Timothy, Seaman, James, Boss, Gregory, Hamilton, Rick II
• Application Number:
  US11/875,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20080036579A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered

Abstract

Peer-to-peer communications between vehicles providing warning of a collision or near-collision event and/or collision avoidance is controlled by otherwise underutilized air bag deployment processors in respective vehicles. Direction of reception of warning signals is used to selectively control relaying of warning signals at differentiated warning levels, collision avoidance actions and/or in-vehicle warning alarms to operators of vehicles in the vicinity of an event.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle collision and warning system (IVCAWS) for a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle air bag collision protection system including sensors and a processor, said processor being capable of discriminating a collision, near-collision or dangerous condition;

means for transmitting a warning or information signal upon detection of a said collision, near-collision or dangerous condition; and

means responsive to a received warning or information signal for

providing a warning to an operator of the vehicle, and

selectively relaying a warning or information signal directionally.

2. An IVCAWS system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means responsive to said received warning or information signal further comprises:

means for transmitting warning level information indicating a number of time a warning or information signal has be relayed.

3. An IVCAWS system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means responsive to a received warning or information signal is responsive to a direction of reception of said received warning or information signal.

4. An IVCAWS system as recited in claim 3, wherein said warning to an operator is responsive to a said direction of reception of said warning signal.

5. An IVCAWS system as recited in claim 3, wherein said relaying of a warning signal is responsive to a said direction of reception of said warning signal.

6. An IVCAWS system as recited in claim 3, wherein said controlling of said vehicle is responsive to a said direction of reception of said warning signal.

7. An IVCAWS system as recited in claim 2, wherein said means responsive to a received warning or information signal is responsive to a direction of reception of said received warning or information signal.

8. An IVCAWS system as recited in claim 7, wherein said warning to an operator is responsive to a said direction of reception of said warning or information signal.

9. An IVCAWS system as recited in claim 7, wherein said relaying of a warning signal is responsive to a said direction of reception of said warning or information signal.

10. An IVCAWS system as recited in claim 7, wherein said controlling of said vehicle is responsive to a said direction of reception of said warning or information signal.

11-15. -15. (canceled)

16. An in-vehicle collision and warning system (IVCAWS) for a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle air bag collision protection system including sensors and a processor, said processor being capable of discriminating a collision, near-collision or dangerous condition;

means for transmitting a warning or information signal in a selected direction upon detection of a collision, near-collision or dangerous condition or in response to a directionally received warning or information signal, said means for transmitting further including

means for transmitting warning level information indicating a number of times a warning or information signal has be relayed.