SAFE DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20120075088A1
• Filed: 05/09/2011
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mesa Digital LLC (Ortiz & Lopez PLLC)
• Original Assignee: Mesa Digital LLC (Ortiz & Lopez PLLC)
• Inventors: Marentes Aguilar, Jim Ray
• Application Number:
  US13/103,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20120075088A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A safe distance measuring device, methods, and processor-readable medium for measuring and displaying a safe distance between vehicle and surrounding traffic. A distance measuring device measures the distances between the vehicle and surrounding traffic. A speed sensor can be utilized for sensing a current speed of the vehicle. A processor calculates the safe distances between the vehicle and surrounding traffic by utilizing the distance measured by the distance measuring device and the current speed of vehicle. A display unit can be utilized for displaying the safe distance between the vehicle and other vehicles. A warning output device can be provided for outputting an alarm to the driver of the vehicle when a vehicle distance is less than the calculated safe distance.

Claims

1. A safe distance measuring apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

at least one distance-measuring device for measuring a plurality of distances from said vehicle to at least one of a plurality of other vehicles;

a speed sensor for sensing a current speed of said vehicle;

a display unit for displaying a plurality of safe distances; and

a warning output device for outputting an alarm to a driver of said vehicle when at least one of said plurality of distances is less than the corresponding calculated said plurality of safe distances.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a processor for calculating said plurality of safe distances from said vehicle to said plurality of vehicles by utilizing said plurality of distances and said current speed.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said safe distance measuring device is installable within said vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one distance-measuring device comprises a LASER type device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one distance-measuring device comprises a RADAR type device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one distance-measuring device comprises an image capturing distance measuring type device.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said display unit displays graphical data indicative of traffic surrounding said vehicle and data indicative of a safe distance between said vehicle and said traffic surrounding said vehicle.

8. A safe distance measuring apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

at least one distance-measuring device for measuring a plurality of distances from said vehicle to at least one of a plurality of other vehicles;

a speed sensor for sensing a current speed of said vehicle;

a processor for calculating a plurality of safe distances from said vehicle to said plurality of vehicles by utilizing said plurality of distances and said current speed;

a display unit for displaying said plurality of safe distances; and

a warning output device for outputting an alarm to a driver of said vehicle when at least one of said plurality of distances is less than the corresponding calculated said plurality of safe distances.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said safe distance measuring device is installable within said vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least one distance-measuring device comprises a LASER type device.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least one distance-measuring device comprises a RADAR type device.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least one distance-measuring device comprises an image capturing distance measuring type device.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said display unit displays graphical data indicative of traffic surrounding said vehicle and data indicative of a safe distance between said vehicle and said traffic surrounding said vehicle,

14. A method for providing safe distance measurement data for a vehicle, said method comprising:

measuring a plurality of distances from said vehicle to at least one of a plurality of other vehicles utilizing at least one-distance-measuring device;

sensing a current speed of said vehicle utilizing a speed sensor;

automatically calculating a plurality of safe distances from said vehicle to said plurality of vehicles by utilizing said plurality of distances and said current speed;

displaying said plurality of safe distances via a display unit; and

generating an alarm to a driver of said vehicle when at least one of said plurality of distances is less than the corresponding calculated said plurality of safe distances.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said safe distance measuring device is installable within said vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said at least one distance-measuring device comprises a LASER type device.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said at least one distance-measuring device comprises a RADAR type device.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said at least one distance-measuring device comprises an image capturing distance measuring type device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said display unit displays graphical data indicative of traffic surrounding said vehicle and data indicative of a safe distance between said vehicle and said traffic surrounding said vehicle,

20. A processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions to cause a processor to perform a process, the code comprising code to:

measure a plurality of distances from said vehicle to at least one of a plurality of other vehicles utilizing at least one-distance-measuring device;

detect a current speed of said vehicle utilizing a speed sensor;

automatically calculate a plurality of safe distances from said vehicle to said plurality of vehicles by utilizing said plurality of distances and said current speed;

display said plurality of safe distances via a display unit; and

generate an alarm to a driver of said vehicle when at least one of said plurality of distances is less than the corresponding calculated said plurality of safe distances.

21. The processor-readable medium of claim 20 wherein said safe distance measuring device is installable within said vehicle.

22. The processor-readable medium of claim 20 wherein said at least one distance-measuring device comprises a LASER type device.

23. The processor-readable medium of claim 20 wherein said at least one distance-measuring device comprises a RADAR type device.

24. The processor-readable medium of claim 20 wherein said at least one distance-measuring device comprises an image capturing distance measuring type device.

25. The processor-readable medium of claim 21 wherein said display unit displays graphical data indicative of traffic surrounding said vehicle and data indicative of a safe distance between said vehicle and said traffic surrounding said vehicle.