WIRELESS, INFRASTRUCTURELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES AND METHOD FOR THE SAME

• US 20090207043A1
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Aulakh, Gurpreet, Raceu, Dan, Shaffer, Aric David, Miller, Ronald Hugh
• Application Number:
  US12/034,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20090207043A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication

Abstract

The present invention is a wireless, infrastructureless, communication system for vehicle to vehicle data transfer over a 900 MHz frequency over a substantially 360° radius of view over a predetermined range, preferably about 8 miles. Each vehicle is equipped with a geo-position system, a warning alert system, at least one sensor to produce a data signal indicative of vehicle operation conditions, a micro-chip set and a transceiver. The invention further includes methods to communicate over a wireless, infrastructureless communication system for vehicle to vehicle data transfer over the described system.

Claims

1. A wireless, infrastructureless, communication system for vehicle to vehicle data transfer, comprising:

at least two vehicles, each equipped with at least one sensor for producing signals indicative of vehicle operating conditions, a transceiver, a micro-chip set adapted for wireless transmission of data signals over a predetermined distance indicative of vehicle operating conditions as warning data packets over a frequency of about 900 MHz over substantially a 360°

field of view and a predetermined effective range radius;

said vehicle further equipped with an operator warning alert system adapted to provide said operator with varying levels of warnings based upon said distance from a location where said second vehicle transmits said warning data packet to said first vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said warning alert increases in frequency as said first vehicle approaches said location where said second vehicle transmitted said warning data packet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said warning alert is at least an audio, visual, haptic and combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle operating conditions include hard braking events deceleration events, road speed, wheel speed, location, road conditions and vehicle collision information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor includes at least one accelerometer, wheel speed sensor, road speed sensor, and brake sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a media gateway module and a navigation display.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said warning data packet includes information concerning location of transmitting vehicle, actual road speed, location of hard brake event, road conditions, deceleration events, collision location, time elapsed and alternative vehicle travel paths to avoid a receiving vehicle road travel delays.

8. The system of claim 1, further including a Geo Position System (GPS).

9. A method for wireless, infrastructureless communication between at least a first and second vehicle;

each said vehicle equipped with a transceiver, a micro-chip set, at least one sensor to produce signals indicative of vehicle operating conditions, and a warning alert system responsive to warning data packets received from a remote vehicle;

comprising;

determining a first vehicle operational status;

determining whether a significant change in said first vehicle operation status has occurred;

communicating said change in said first vehicle operation status to a second remote vehicle within a predetermined range;

actuating an operator warning alert system in said second vehicle variable with a distance between a location of said change of first vehicle operation status and a second vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said warning alert increases as said second vehicle approaches said location of said change of operational status of said first vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said warning alert may be audio, visual, haptic or combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said change in said first vehicle operation status is communicated on a frequency of about 900 MHz over a substantially 360°

radius of view over a predetermined distance.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said predetermined distance is about 8 miles.

14. The method of claim 9, further including a Geo Position System (GPS).