System for Automatic Driving and For Warning of Areas of Reduced Speed for Vehicles

• US 20140277897A1
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Manuel M. Saiz
• Original Assignee: Manuel M. Saiz
• Inventors: Saiz, Manuel M.
• Application Number:
  US14/343,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277897A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/05 Type of road, e.g. motorways, local streets, paved or unpaved roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/53 Road markings, e.g. lane marker or crosswalk
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/12 Lane keeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0016 of the vehicle or its occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0236 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0244 using reflecting strips
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road

Abstract

The system for automatic driving and for warning of areas of reduced speed for vehicles which consists of placing in the lower area of the vehicle a signal detector and sensor system using reflective encoded elements, strips or bands arranged on the road surface or underground in the same. The signals received when are transverse or inclined are applied to a microprocessor, or directly to a visual warning or to an audio annunciator. The microprocessor decodes and compares the signals obtained with the vehicle speed, calculating and providing audible and visual warning signals. Additionally the system can provide lateral displacement signals with reference to central longitudinal lines, bands or strips, lateral or close to said side area, captured by the sensors in the bottom of the vehicle, and/or place a video camera or a laser radar in the upper front of the vehicle, for an automatic guided of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An automatic driving system for vehicles, of the type used in vehicle warning systems intelligent sensors and automatic driving, which consists of a system that places a video camera or laser radar in the upper front or bottom of the vehicle, which is directed to one or more central longitudinal lines or stripes of each track, and/or captures these deviations on underground lines or elements or not, by means of sensors in the lower area of the vehicle, generating further warning signals, other of control, which are applied to an actuator that actuates the fuel flow valve, which controls the gas or engine power and the servo that drives and corrects the direction of the vehicle, the microprocessor compares each other successive images captured by the camera, determining the effect of displacing one side or the other consistently and instantaneously correcting the direction of the vehicle.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein said microprocessor additionally receives signals from GPS, accelerometers, braking, acceleration, vehicle wheel speed, alert conditions, the front and rear laser radar, and is fed the signal from the follower wheel position, these signals are processed by the microprocessor which sends a signal to the steering servo that drives an electric motor through a rpm reducer corrects the direction of the vehicle, rotates the wheel and feeds back the negative signal from the follower to the microprocessor to compensate for the deviation signal generated with the different images captured, correcting the direction of the vehicle to match the indicated by the line or lines, a second signal is applied to an amplifier which feeds the electric motor that drives the fuel shut-off valve, a third signal visually warns the faults and fourth signal is sent to an audio generator that is applied to a speaker.

4. System according to claim 1, wherein the central line or strip is metallic.

5. System according to claim 1, wherein the centreline carries the paint or metallic paint, degraded from the centre thereof to the sides.

7. System according to claim 1, wherein are used one or more continuous central longitudinal lines, making them discontinuous to give warnings, lines of the same or different colours.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein are used central longitudinal lines, coded sections with different colours, magnetic or metal particles, for reporting the need to reduce vehicle speed by curves or other reasons.

9. System according to claim 1, wherein are used one or more continuous central longitudinal lines with transverse lines for announcements, the lines with the same or different colours.

10. System according to claim 1, wherein the sensors are placed on the two sides of the bottom of the vehicle and capture the deviations from the sidelines of the lane.

11. System according to claim 1, wherein are added to the microprocessor signals of buried cables, mesh or metal strips, or lines, bands or stripes of paint, or metallic paint transverse or inclined detected in the lower area of the vehicle, which are signals that warns of hazard warning, caution, reduce speed, curves and the like.

12. System according to claim 1, wherein are added to the microprocessor signals of buried wires, mesh or metal strips fed electrically and detected electro-statically or electromagnetically on driving over them.

26. System according to claims 1 and 13, wherein the sensor system used is:

a) a metal detector, b) a system of laser light reflection, c) capacitive system, d) an electromagnetic system, e) an electrostatic system, f) an induction system, g) a mini radar system, h) a microwave system, i) a photoelectric system and/or j) a video camera system.

3. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

13. A warning system of areas of reduced speed for vehicles, which consists of a system which places in the lower area of the vehicle a signal detector and sensor system using reflective encoded elements, strips or bands arranged on the road surface or underground in the same, the signals received when are transverse or inclined are applied to a microprocessor, or directly to a visual warning or to an audio annunciator, the microprocessor decodes and compares the signals obtained with the vehicle speed, calculating and providing audible and visual warning signals.

15. System according to claim 13, wherein the signal detectors or sensors are moveable, moving vertically supported by a spring, protected by protruding wheels and avoid contact the sensor with the ground.

16. System according to claim 13, wherein are added a cleaning mud and dirt system to the emitters and detectors, using a squeegee and/or a water jet.

17. System according to claim 13, wherein the spacing between lines or strips determines the type of notification.

19. System according to claim 13, wherein warning or LED lights are used in various colours, and messages are displayed on a screen and also some lights until it exceeds the restricted area.

20. System according to claim 13, wherein are used coded stripes and lines with different widths.

23. System according to claim 13, wherein to the paint is added powdered or granulated metals like aluminum, copper, bronze, magnetic or ferromagnetic material.

24. System according to claim 13, wherein the system supported by the microprocessor clock, automatically ignore some signals depending on the time zone, holiday or eve.

25. System according to claim 13, wherein the wires, mesh or metal strips are fed buried electrically detected electro statically or electromagnetically to circulate over them.

14. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)