Vehicle Airbag System and Method

• US 20120209505A1
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HVAC Modulation Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HVAC Modulation Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Breed, David S., Johnson, Wendell C., DuVall, Wilbur E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

Method and arrangement for setting a speed limit for vehicle travelling on a road includes monitoring conditions of the road, determining a speed limit for travel of vehicles on the road based on the monitored conditions, and transmitting the determined speed limit to the vehicles to thereby notify operators of the vehicles of the determined speed limit. Monitoring conditions of the road may entail monitoring weather conditions around the road, monitoring visibility for operators of the vehicles on the roads, monitoring traffic on the road, monitoring accidents on the road or emergency situations of vehicles on the road and/or monitoring the speed of vehicles travelling on the road and a distance between adjacent vehicles.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A navigation system for use in a vehicle, the navigation system comprising:

at least one position determining unit configured to determine a current location of the vehicle;

a processor configured to obtain a speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling based on the current location of the vehicle determined by the at least one position determining unit; and

a navigation display configured to show a map of a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling based on the current location of the vehicle determined by the at least one position determining unit, wherein the navigation display is further configured to show the speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling as obtained by the processor, and

wherein the navigation system is configured to alert an occupant of the vehicle when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling.

22. The navigation system of claim 21, wherein the navigation system is configured to audibly alert the occupant of the vehicle.

23. The navigation system of claim 21, wherein the navigation system is configured to alert the occupant of the vehicle by displaying an icon on the navigation display.

24. The navigation system of claim 21, wherein the navigation system is configured to alert the occupant of the vehicle by displaying an icon on a heads up display device for projecting a display in a field of view of the occupant of the vehicle.

25. The navigation system of claim 21, further comprising a heads up display device configured to project a display in a field of view of an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the projected display includes at least one of the speed limit, a portion of the traffic information and the map of the roadway.

26. A method for providing speed limit information on a navigation system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining, by at least one position determining unit, a current location of the vehicle;

obtaining, by a processor, a speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling based on the current location of the vehicle determined by the at least one position determining unit; and

alerting an occupant of the vehicle when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the alerting includes audibly alerting the occupant of the vehicle.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the alerting includes displaying an icon on a navigation display.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the alerting includes displaying an icon on a heads up display device for projecting a display in a field of view of the occupant of the vehicle.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

projecting a display in a field of view of the occupant of the vehicle on a heads up display device, wherein the projected display includes at least one of the speed limit, a portion of the traffic information and the map of the roadway.

31. A navigation system for use in a vehicle, the navigation system comprising:

at least one position determining unit configured to determine a current location of the vehicle;

a processor configured to obtain a speed limit for a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling based on the current location of the vehicle determined by the at least one position determining unit;

a navigation display configured to show a map of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling based on the current location of the vehicle determined by the at least one position determining unit, wherein the navigation display is further configured to display the speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling as obtained by the processor; and

wherein the navigation system is configured to alert an occupant of the vehicle when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling.

32. The navigation system of claim 31, wherein the navigation system is configured to visually alert the occupant of the vehicle.

33. The navigation system of claim 31, further comprising a heads up display device configured to project a display in a field of view of the occupant of the vehicle, wherein the projected display includes at least one of the speed limit, a visual alert, and the map of the roadway.

34. The navigation system of claim 31, wherein the navigation system is configured to alert the occupant of the vehicle when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling by a predetermined threshold.

35. The navigation system of claim 31, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a wireless communication comprising traffic information;

wherein the navigation display is further configured to display at least a portion of the received traffic information.

36. The navigation system of claim 31, further comprising

a receiver configured to receive a wireless communication comprising traffic information;

and

a heads up display device configured to project a display in a field of view of an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the projected displays includes at least a portion of the received traffic information.