COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES

• US 20100010742A1
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mochizuki, Yutaka
• Granted Patent: US 9,401,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication

Abstract

A collision avoidance system uses map information to manage power. The collision avoidance system operates at a first communications range when a vehicle is determined, based upon the map information, to be in a relatively low collision risk scenario. When the collision avoidance system determines that the vehicle is approaching a situation of increased collision risk, such as an intersection, the communications is increased. The communications range may be increased by increasing the power to the antenna system or using antenna diversity techniques.

Claims

1. A method for operating a collision avoidance system that utilizes dedicated short range communications (DSRC), the method comprising the steps of:

operating the collision avoidance system with a first communications range;

determining if the vehicle is approaching an increased collision risk location; and

operating the collision avoidance system with a second communications range when the vehicle is approaching the increased collision risk location, wherein the second communications range is greater than the first communications range.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communications range is achieved by operating the collision avoidance system at a first power level and the second communications range is achieved by operating the collision avoidance system at a second power level, wherein the second power level is greater than the first power level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the DSRC system includes an antenna array, and wherein the first communications range is achieved by receiving communications using a single antenna from the array, and the second communications range is achieved by receiving communications using more than one antenna from the array.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communications range is used when the vehicle is operating under normal conditions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the increased collision risk location comprises an area proximate a traffic control device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the increased collision risk location comprises a non-line of sight situation.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing navigation information to the collision avoidance system from a navigation system that is in communication with the collision avoidance system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the navigation information is used to determine that the vehicle is approaching the location of increased collision risk.

9. A method for operating a collision avoidance system that utilizes dedicated short range communications (DSRC), the method comprising the steps of:

operating the collision avoidance system at a first power level under normal driving conditions;

determining if the vehicle is approaching a location of increased collision risk; and

increasing the first power level to a second power level when the vehicle is approaching the location of increased collision risk, wherein the second power level is greater than the first power level.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of providing navigation information to the collision avoidance system from a navigation system that is in communication with the collision avoidance system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the navigation information is used to determine that the vehicle is approaching the location of increased collision risk.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the navigation information includes the presence of a traffic control device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the navigation information includes the location of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein a deceleration of the vehicle indicates that the vehicle is approaching the location of increased collision risk.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving communications using only one antenna under normal driving conditions;

determining if the vehicle is approaching a location of increased collision risk; and

receiving communications using an antenna diversity technique when the vehicle is approaching the location of increased collision risk.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the collision avoidance system utilizes vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

17. A method for operating a collision avoidance system that utilizes dedicated short range communications (DSRC), wherein the collision avoidance system has more than one antenna, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving communications using only one antenna under normal driving conditions;

determining if the vehicle is approaching a location of increased collision risk; and

receiving communications using an antenna diversity technique when the vehicle is approaching the location of increased collision risk.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the antenna diversity technique is selected from the group consisting of switching, selecting, combining, dynamic control, and combinations of these techniques.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the location of increased collision risk comprises an area proximate a traffic control device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the location of increased collision risk comprises a non-line of sight situation.