Highway safety system and method

• US 20080228400A1
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wheeler, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US11/725,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228400A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/578 consisting of preformed elements, e.g. tapes, block-type elements specially designed or arranged to make up a traffic line E01F9/582, E01F9/588, E01F9/594 take precedence; studs, blocks or like markers per se E01F9/553
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/02 using treadles built into the road pads or other sensitive devices responsive to passage of vehicles E01F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

There is provided a highway safety system for use by a vehicle for detecting a lane boundary defined by a plurality of markers, wherein each of the plurality of markers has an associated identifier. The highway safety system comprises a detection module configured to detect the associated identifier in each of the plurality of markers defining the lane boundary, wherein the detection module is further configured to receive marker detection data from the associated identifier in each of the plurality of markers defining the lane boundary. The highway safety system further comprises an alarm module for determining an alarm condition based on marker detection data provided by the detection module, wherein the alarm module is configured to generate an alert according to the alarm condition. For example, each of the plurality of markers may be a raised pavement marker, and the associated identifier may be an RFID tag.

Claims

1. A highway safety system for use by a vehicle for detecting a lane boundary defined by a plurality of markers, each of said plurality of markers having an associated identifier, said system comprising:

a detection module configured to detect said associated identifier in each of said plurality of markers defining said lane boundary, wherein said detection module is further configured to receive marker detection data from said associated identifier in each of said plurality of markers defining said lane boundary; and

an alarm module for determining an alarm condition based on marker detection data provided by said detection module, wherein said alarm module is configured to generate an alert according to said alarm condition.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said associated identifier is an RFID tag.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said detection module includes an RFID reader.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said each of said plurality of markers is a raised pavement marker.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said each of said plurality of markers is a painted line that includes one or more RFID tags.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said associated identifier has a reflective surface.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said associated identifier is an active RFID tag configured to store and transmit identification data to said detection module.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said associated identifier is a wireless communication device, wherein said associated identifier is configured to transmit data to a neighboring associated identifier.

9. A highway safety method for use by a vehicle for detecting a lane boundary defined by a plurality of markers, each of said plurality of markers having an identifier, said highway safety method comprising:

detecting said identifier in each of said plurality of markers defining said lane boundary using a detection module situated in said vehicle;

receiving marker detection data from said identifier in each of said plurality of markers defining said lane boundary using said detection module;

providing said marker detection data to an alarm module situated in said vehicle;

determining an alarm condition based on said marker detection data; and

generating an alert according to said alarm condition.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said identifier is an RFID tag.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said sensing device includes an RFID reader.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein each of said plurality of markers is a raised pavement marker.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein each of said plurality of markers is a painted line that includes one or more RFID tags.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said identifier has a reflective surface.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said identifier is an active RFID tag configured to store and transmit identification data.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said identifier is a wireless communication device,

wherein said identifier is configured to transmit data to a neighboring identifier.

17. A highway safety marker for use by a vehicle for detecting a defined lane boundary, said highway safety marker comprising:

an identifier associated with said highway safety marker, wherein said identifier is configured to enable a vehicle detection module in said vehicle to detect said associated identifier in said marker defining said lane boundary, and wherein said identifier is further configured to provide marker detection data from said associated identifier said marker defining said lane boundary to said vehicle, for use by said vehicle to generate an alert.

18. The marker of claim 17 wherein said marker is a raised pavement marker.

19. The marker of claim 17 wherein said identifier is an RFID tag.

20. The marker of claim 17 wherein said identifier has a reflective surface.