Collision probability detection system
First Claim
1. Apparatus, comprising:
- a distance sensor;
a host vehicle velocity sensor;
a controller connected to the distance sensor and the velocity sensor,wherein the controller includesmeans for receiving a velocity signal from the velocity sensor;
means for monitoring a status of the host vehicle based on the velocity signal, said means for monitoring a status the host vehicle includingmeans for determining whether the vehicle is;
(1) moving with constant velocity,(2) moving with acceleration,(3) moving with deceleration, or(4) not moving; and
means for assessing a status of object, said means for assessing a status of the object includingmeans for determining, based on the distance and velocity signals and on the previously determined status of the host vehicle, at least one of the following about the object;
(1) a direction in which the object is moving,(2) whether the object is moving with constant velocity,(3) the magnitude of the velocity of the object,(4) whether the object is moving with acceleration or deceleration,(5) the magnitude of the acceleration or deceleration of the object, and(6) whether the object is not moving; and
means for generating an output signal representative of the probability that a collision will occur between the host vehicle and the object; and
an alarm which is activated upon generation of an output signal by said controller when a collision is likely to occur between the host vehicle and the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An accident alarm system continuously assesses the potential for a collision between a host vehicle and an object, based solely on input signals representative of the host vehicle velocity and the distance to the object measured at intervals at time t, by first assessing the status of the host vehicle to determine whether it is moving with constant velocity, stationary, accelerating, or decelerating, and then carrying out different signal processing routines to determine, as necessary, whether the object is moving with constant velocity, stationary, accelerating, or decelerating, the magnitude of the host vehicle and object accelerations, and the direction of movement of the object. Warning signals are generated based on these determinations, which assume that the vehicle and object will continue to possess the same acceleration or deceleration until a collision occurs. The system can also be used to activate additional safety devices by performing additional determinations as to whether a severe collision is imminent.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus, comprising:
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a distance sensor; a host vehicle velocity sensor; a controller connected to the distance sensor and the velocity sensor, wherein the controller includes means for receiving a velocity signal from the velocity sensor; means for monitoring a status of the host vehicle based on the velocity signal, said means for monitoring a status the host vehicle including means for determining whether the vehicle is; (1) moving with constant velocity, (2) moving with acceleration, (3) moving with deceleration, or (4) not moving; and means for assessing a status of object, said means for assessing a status of the object including means for determining, based on the distance and velocity signals and on the previously determined status of the host vehicle, at least one of the following about the object; (1) a direction in which the object is moving, (2) whether the object is moving with constant velocity, (3) the magnitude of the velocity of the object, (4) whether the object is moving with acceleration or deceleration, (5) the magnitude of the acceleration or deceleration of the object, and (6) whether the object is not moving; and means for generating an output signal representative of the probability that a collision will occur between the host vehicle and the object; and an alarm which is activated upon generation of an output signal by said controller when a collision is likely to occur between the host vehicle and the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for predicting a probability that an object will collide with a host vehicle in which the apparatus is situated, comprising:
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distance measurement means for taking repeated measurements of a distance between the host vehicle and the object; host vehicle velocity measurement means for taking repeated measurements of the host vehicle velocity; host vehicle and object velocity, acceleration, and relative distance determining means connected to the distance measurement means and the host vehicle velocity measurement means for, between measurements, determining values for the host vehicle and object acceleration, velocity, and relative distance, the determination assuming that the host vehicle and object status will not change during a measurement interval, means connected to the host vehicle and object velocity, acceleration, and relative distance determining means for generating an output signal based on said determination during each measurement interval. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling an electrical device, comprising the steps of:
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measuring a distance between a host vehicle in which the device is situated and an object detected by the device and generating a signal representative thereof; measuring a velocity of the host vehicle and generating a signal representative thereof; monitoring a status of the host vehicle by processing the velocity signal to determine whether the vehicle is; (1) moving with constant velocity, (2) moving with acceleration, (3) moving with deceleration, or (4) not moving; assessing a status of the object by processing the distance and velocity signals based on the previously determined status of the host vehicle to determine at least one of the following about the object; (1) a direction in which the object is moving, (2) whether the object is moving with constant velocity, (3) a magnitude of the velocity of the object, (4) whether the object is moving with acceleration or deceleration, (5) a magnitude of the acceleration or deceleration of the object, and (6) whether the object is not moving; generating an output signal representative of the probability that a collision will occur between the host vehicle and the object; and activating an alarm upon the generation of an output signal by said controller when a collision is likely to occur between the host vehicle and the object. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification