VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE COMMUNICATION

• US 20190052359A1
• Filed: 01/12/2018
• Published: 02/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ruben Trejo Calle
• Inventors: Brady, Kevin, Trejo Calle, Ruben, Rafferty, William Anthony, O'Cualain, Diarmaid, Sels, Jelle, Relihan, David, Grealy, Tommy, O'Reilly, Michael, Guerra Perez, Keissy
• Granted Patent: US 10,700,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/525 automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication

Abstract

Various systems and methods for implementing an anti-collision mechanism are described herein. A system for a lead vehicle to provide a visible light communication (VLC) message to a trailing vehicle behind the lead vehicle includes a vehicle controller subsystem of the lead vehicle, to: receive from a sensor array interface, sensor data from a forward-facing sensor incorporated into the lead vehicle; determine, using a processor, from the sensor data that a hazard exists; initiate the application of brakes with a braking force; and initiate, via a light controller, a VLC message to the trailing vehicle, the VLC message including the braking force.

Claims

1. A system for a lead vehicle to provide a visible light communication (VLC) message to a trailing vehicle behind the lead vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle controller subsystem of the lead vehicle, to;

receive from a sensor array interface, sensor data from a forward-facing sensor incorporated into the lead vehicle;

determine, using a processor, from the sensor data that a hazard exists;

initiate the application of brakes with a braking force; and

initiate, via a light controller, a VLC message to the trailing vehicle, the VLC message including the braking force, wherein the braking force represents the force applied to a brake pedal of the lead vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the braking force represents a deceleration of the lead vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein to initiate the VLC message, the vehicle controller subsystem is to:

convert the braking force to a binary representation;

encode the binary representation; and

present the VLC message using the pulse width modulation encoded binary representation.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the binary representation is encoded using pulse width modulation.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein to initiate the VLC message, the light controller is to initiate an illumination pattern on a taillight cluster of the lead vehicle.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein to initiate the VLC message, the light controller is to illuminate a light that is not a part of a taillight and not a part of a third-brake light assembly of the lead vehicle.

2. (canceled)

6. The system of claim to initiate the VLC message, the vehicle controller subsystem is to:

calculate a VLC message expiration; and

encode the VLC message expiration in the VLC message.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the VLC message expiration is a queue length representing a number of vehicles able to view the VLC message.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the VLC message expiration is a time to live (TTL) value.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein to calculate the VLC message expiration, the vehicle controller subsystem is to:

identify a vehicle operating context; and

set a time to live (TTL) value based on the vehicle operating context.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle operating context indicates that the lead vehicle is operating in more difficult operating context, and wherein the vehicle controller subsystem sets the TTL value higher based on the more difficult operating context.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle operating context indicates that he lead vehicle is operating in less difficult operating context, and wherein the vehicle controller subsystem sets the TTL value lower based on the less difficult operating context.

14. A method for a lead vehicle to provide a visible light communication (VLC) message to a trailing vehicle behind the lead vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving from a sensor array interface, sensor data from a forward-facing sensor incorporated into the lead vehicle;

determining, using a processor, from the sensor data that a hazard exists;

initiating the application of brakes with a braking force; and

initiating, via a light controller, a VLC message to the trailing vehicle, the VLC message including the braking force, wherein the braking force represents the force applied to a brake pedal of the lead vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the hazard includes a vehicle collision.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the hazard includes a vehicle brake lights.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the braking force represents the force applied to a brake pedal of the lead vehicle.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the braking force represents a deceleration of the lead vehicle.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating the VLC message comprises:

converting the braking force to a binary representation;

encoding the binary representation; and

presenting the VLC message using the pulse width modulation encoded binary representation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein encoding the binary representation comprises encoding the binary representation using pulse width modulation.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating the VLC message comprises:

calculating a VLC message expiration; and

encoding the VLC message expiration in the VLC message.

22. At least one non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions for a lead vehicle to provide a visible light communication (VLC) message to a trailing vehicle behind the lead vehicle, the instructions when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving from a sensor array interface, sensor data from a forward-facing sensor incorporated into the lead vehicle;

determining, using a processor, from the sensor data that a hazard exists;

initiating the application of brakes with a braking force; and

initiating, via a light controller, a VLC message to the trailing vehicle, the VLC message including the braking force, wherein the braking force represents the force applied to a brake pedal of the lead vehicle.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein initiating the VLC message comprises:

converting the braking force to a binary representation;

encoding the binary representation; and

presenting the VLC message using the pulse width modulation encoded binary representation.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 23, wherein encoding the binary representation comprises encoding the binary representation using pulse width modulation.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein initiating the VLC message comprises:

calculating a VLC message expiration; and

encoding the VLC message expiration in the VLC message.