Systems and Methods for Use in a Vehicle for Detecting External Events

• US 20160355125A1
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Inventors: Herbert, Mark D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,844,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 5/005 Ballast tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

There is provided a vehicle comprising a microphone positioned to receive sounds originated from outside of the vehicle, an analog-to-digital converter configured to covert the sounds received by the microphone to digital audio signals, a memory storing a sound processing software and one or more known audios, and a hardware processor configured to execute the sound processing software. In one implementation the sound processing software performs comparing the digital audio signals with the one or more known audios stored in the memory, determining, in response to the comparing, a match between the digital audio signals and a first audio of the one or more known audios stored in the memory; and taking an action in response to the determining of the match between the digital audio signals and the first audio.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a microphone positioned to receive sounds originated from outside of the vehicle;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to covert the sounds received by the microphone to digital audio signals;

a memory storing a sound processing software and one or more known audios; and

a hardware processor configured to execute the sound processing software to perform;

comparing the digital audio signals with the one or more known audios stored in the memory;

determining, in response to the comparing, a match between the digital audio signals and a first audio of the one or more known audios stored in the memory; and

taking an action in response to the determining of the match between the digital audio signals and the first audio.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a display, wherein the taking of the action includes displaying a message on the display.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a speaker, wherein the taking of the action includes playing an audio using the speaker.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a seatbelt, wherein the taking of the action includes tightening the seatbelt.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to execute the sound processing software to perform:

determining a power level of the sounds; and

calculating, based on the power level, a distance of a source of the sounds from the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to execute the sound processing software to perform:

determining a direction of the sounds; and

calculating, based on the direction, a position of a source of the sounds in relation to the vehicle.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the sounds include siren sounds generated by an emergency vehicle.

8. A method for use by a vehicle including a microphone positioned to receive sounds originated from outside of the vehicle and a memory storing one or more known audios, the method comprising:

receiving, using the microphone, the sounds originated from outside of the vehicle;

comparing, using the hardware processor, the sounds with the one or more known audios stored in the memory;

determining, using the hardware processor, in response to the comparing, a match between the sounds and a first audio of the one or more known audios stored in the to memory; and

taking an action, using the hardware processor, in response to the determining of the match between the digital sounds and the first audio.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the vehicle further includes a display, and wherein the taking of the action includes displaying a message on the display.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the vehicle further includes a speaker, and wherein the taking of the action includes playing an audio using the speaker.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the vehicle further includes a seatbelt, and wherein the taking of the action includes tightening the seatbelt.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

determining a power level of the sounds; and

calculating, based on the power level, a distance of a source of the sounds from the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

determining a direction of the sounds; and

calculating, based on the direction, a position of a source of the sounds in relation to the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the sounds include siren sounds generated by an emergency vehicle.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a microphone positioned to receive sounds originated from outside of the vehicle;

a memory storing a sound processing software and one or more known audios; and

a hardware processor configured to execute the sound processing software to perform;

comparing the sounds with the one or more known audios stored in the memory;

determining, in response to the comparing, a match between the sounds and a first audio of the one or more known audios stored in the memory; and

taking an action in response to the determining of the match between the digital sounds and the first audio.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a display, wherein the taking of the action includes displaying a message on the display.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a speaker, wherein the taking of the action includes playing an audio using the speaker.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a seatbelt, wherein the taking of the action includes tightening the seatbelt.

19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to execute the sound processing software to perform:

determining a power level of the sounds; and

calculating, based on the power level, a distance of a source of the sounds from the vehicle.

20. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to execute the sound processing software to perform:

determining a direction of the sounds; and

calculating, based on the direction, a position of a source of the sounds in relation to the vehicle.