ABSOLUTE ACCELERATION SENSOR FOR USE WITHIN MOVING VEHICLES

• US 20140067248A1
• Filed: 08/27/2013
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Fritz, Braunberger, Beau M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,954,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/447 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing the shape or intensity of the indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A communication system comprises a pointable range finder to calculate a distance between the vehicle and an object, a recorder for recording a status of the vehicle and a control device. The range finder sends a signal to the control device corresponding to the vehicle'"'"'s distance from the object and the control device operates the recorder in a manner dependent upon the signal from the range finder. The recorder is able to record the event if the vehicle is an unsafe distance from the object. The unsafe distance is able to be a programmed distance. In some embodiments, the unsafe distance increases with an increase in speed of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the unsafe distance is determined by a programmable constant. In these embodiments, the unsafe distance is determined according to a speed of the vehicle, the vehicle'"'"'s distance from an object and a pre-defined safe zone threshold value.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. a pointable range finder to calculate a distance between the vehicle and an object;

b. a recorder for recording an operation status of the vehicle; and

c. a control device coupled to the rangefinder and the recorder, wherein the range finder sends a signal to the control device corresponding to a distance of the vehicle from the object and the control device operates the recorder in a manner dependent upon the signal from the range finder.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the control device sends a signal to the recorder to record the operation status of the vehicle if the vehicle is an unsafe distance from the object.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein a recorded operation status is saved.

4. The communication system of claim 3, wherein a plurality of different recorded operation statuses recorded at different times are saved.

5. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the saved operation status is retrievable.

6. The communication system of claim 5, wherein the saved operation status is automatically retrievable.

7. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the unsafe distance is a programmable value.

8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the range finder is actively pointable.

9. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the rangefinder is pointable in the direction of the object as the vehicle is making a turn.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the rangefinder comprises an accelerometer to determine the direction and degree of turn.

11. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a speed control system coupled to the control device, wherein the control device operates the speed control system in a manner dependent upon the distance between the vehicle and the object.

12. The communication of system of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a leading vehicle.

13. A communication method for a vehicle comprising:

a. calculating a distance of the vehicle from an object; and

b. recording the event if the vehicle is an unsafe distance from the object.

14. The communication method of claim 13, wherein the event is saved.

15. The communication method of claim 14, wherein a plurality of different recorded events recorded at different times are saved.

16. The communication method of claim 14, wherein the saved event is retrievable.

17. The communication method of claim 16, wherein the saved event is automatically retrievable.

18. The communication method of claim 13, wherein the unsafe distance is a programmable value.

19. The communication method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting the speed of the vehicle based upon the distance of the vehicle from the object.

20. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. a system located within a vehicle to calculate and record an unsafe distance encroachment event by the vehicle; and

b. a database for saving the encroachment event, wherein the database is not located within the vehicle.

21. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the unsafe distance is based upon the traveling speed of the vehicle.

22. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the unsafe distance is programmable.

23. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the encroachment event is automatically saved within the database.

24. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the encroachment event is automatically saved when the vehicle returns to its starting point.

25. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. a pointable range finder to calculate a distance between the vehicle and an object;

b. a warning device that generates an alert; and

c. a control device coupled to the rangefinder and the warning device, wherein the range finder sends a signal to the control device corresponding to the vehicles distance from the object and the control device operates the warning device in a manner dependent upon the signal from the range finder.

26. The communication system of claim 25, wherein the warning device generates an alert that the vehicle is an unsafe distance from the object.

27. The communication system of claim 25, wherein the system further comprises a vehicle speed sensor that sends a signal to the control device corresponding to a speed of the vehicle and the control device operates the warning device in a manner dependent on the signal from the range finder and the speed of the vehicle.

28. The communication system of claim 27, wherein the warning device generates an alert that the vehicle is an unsafe distance from the object based upon the speed of the vehicle.

29. The communication system of claim 28, wherein the unsafe distance increases with an increase in speed of the vehicle.

30. The communication system of claim 26, wherein the unsafe distance is determined according to a pre-defined constant value.

31. The communication system of claim 30, wherein the constant value is defined according to the speed of the vehicle and the distance of the vehicle from an object.

32. The communication system of claim 30, wherein the constant value is programmable.

33. The communication system of claim 30, wherein the constant value is programmed to increase the unsafe distance at a constant rate once the vehicle reaches a determined speed.

34. The communication system of claim 30 wherein the constant value is variable and increases the unsafe distance as the speed of the vehicle increase.

35. The communication system of claim 26, wherein the warning device generates an alert announcing “

YOU HAVE ENCROACHED ON THE SAFE SEPARATION ZONE.”

36. The communication system of claim 26 wherein the object is a vehicle.

37. The communication system of claim 25 wherein the range finder comprises a laser rangefinder.

38. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. a laser range finder to calculate a distance between the vehicle and an object;

b. a vehicle speed sensor that calculates a speed of the vehicle;

c. a warning device that generates an alert; and

d. a control device coupled to the rangefinder, the vehicle speed sensor and the warning device, wherein the range finder sends a signal to the control device corresponding to the vehicles distance from the object, the vehicle speed sensor sends a signal to the control device corresponding to a speed of the vehicle and the control device operates the warning device in a manner dependent upon the signal from the range finder and the speed of the vehicle.