Vehicle collision warning system

• US 5,979,586 A
• Filed: 02/04/1998
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Farmer, Michael E., Bruce, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/018,256
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/734, 180/271, 180/274, 180/169, 180/167, 701/45, 340/435, 340/433, 340/903, 340/436, 381/86
• US Class Current: 180/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A vehicle collision warning system converts collision threat messages from a predictive collision sensor into intuitive sounds which are perceived by the occupant to be directed from the direction of the potential collision. The type and volume of the sounds are dependent upon the estimated likelihood, severity, and commencement time of the collision. The types of sound are chosen to evoke the proper corrective action by the driver as necessary to avoid the collision or mitigate the effects thereof. Examples of the sounds include a horn, screeching tires, a siren, sounds of various types of vehicles and object, and voice commands. The sounds are stored monaurally and are converted to directional sounds using known techniques.

Claims

1. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision, comprising:

a. a predictive collision sensing system for generating a signal estimating the direction relative to the vehicle of a potential collision, and for generating at least one signal selected from the group consisting of the estimated likelihood of said potential collisions the estimated severity of said potential collision the estimated commencement time of said potential collision, an estimated type of collision object, the distance to the collision object, and the relative velocity of the collision object with respect to the vehicle;

b. a memory for storing a plurality of sound signals, wherein each sound of said plurality of sound signals is selected from the group consisting of the sound of a potential collision object, the sound of a potential collision related event, and a siren sound;

c. a signal processor wherein said signal processor selects a sound signal from said plurality of sound signals responsive to at least one of said signals estimating the likelihood of said potential collision, the severity of said potential collision, the commencement time of said potential collision, the estimated type of collision object; and

said signal processor adapts the amplitude of said sound signal responsive to at least one of said signals estimating the likelihood of said potential collision, the severity of said potential collision, the commencement time of said potential collision, the type of the collision object;

d. a plurality of speakers disposed within the vehicle; and

e. a means incorporated within said signal processor for transforming said selected sound signal into a plurality of speaker signals, each said speaker signal operatively coupled to a respective one of said plurality of speakers, said plurality of speaker signals disposed so that the sound field generated by said plurality of speakers is perceived by the occupant to emanate from the estimated direction of a potential collision.

2. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, further comprising an occupant position sensor for sensing the position of the occupant, wherein said means incorporated within said signal processor for transforming said selected sound signal into a plurality of speaker signals is responsive to the position of the occupant.

3. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of sound signals is selected from the group consisting of:

a horn sound, a screeching tire sound, a siren sound, a bicycle sound, a motorcycle sound, an automobile sound, a sport utility vehicle sound, a small truck sound, a large truck sound, a stationary object sound, a pedestrian sound, an animal sound, and a voice command.

12. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more amplifiers interposed between said signal processor and said speakers for amplifying said speaker signals.

13. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, wherein said signal processor adapts the amplitude of said sound signal responsive to said distance to the collision object.

14. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, wherein said signal processor adapts the pitch of said sound signal responsive to at least one of said signals estimating the likelihood of said potential collision, the severity of said potential collision, the commencement time of said potential collision, the type of collision object.

15. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, wherein said signal processor adapts the timbre of said sound signal responsive to at least one of said signals estimating the likelihood of said potential collision, the severity of said potential collision, the commencement time of said potential collision, the type of collision object.

16. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, wherein said signal processor adapts the location of said sound signal responsive to at least one of said signals estimating the likelihood of said potential collision, the severity of said potential collision, the commencement time of said potential collision, the type of collision object.

17. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, wherein said estimate of the severity of said potential collision is responsive to at least one signal selected from the group consisting of the distance to the collision object and the relative velocity of the collision object with respect to the vehicle.

18. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, wherein said means incorporated within said signal processor for transforming said selected sound signal into a plurality of speaker signals incorporates a Finite Impulse Response filter that is responsive to a Head Related Transfer Function.

19. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 2, wherein said means incorporated within said signal processor for transforming said selected sound signal into a plurality of speaker signals determines the acoustic path length between at least one of said plurality of speakers and at least one ear of the occupant.

20. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 2, wherein said occupant position sensor determines at least one signal selected from the group consisting of the size of the occupant and the type of the occupant, and said means incorporated within said signal processor for transforming said selected sound signal into a plurality of speaker signals is responsive to said at least one signal.

21. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, further comprising a microphone for generating a first signal, wherein said microphone is operatively coupled to said signal processor, said signal processor generates at least one tone operatively coupled to at least one of said plurality of speakers, said signal processor detects said at least one tone from said first signal and generates a second signal responsive to said first signal, and said means incorporated within said signal processor for transforming said selected sound signal into a plurality of speaker signals is responsive to said second signal.

22. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, wherein said microphone is centrally located above the occupant'"'"'s head.

23. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, further comprising a microphone for generating a first signal, wherein said microphone is operatively coupled to said signal processor, said signal processor determines a noise level from said first signal, said signal processor compares said noise level with a threshold, and if said noise level exceeds said threshold, said signal processor adapts said speaker signals so as to cancel at least some noise in said sound field.

24. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of speakers comprises four (4) speakers.

25. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of speakers is mounted in a location selected from the group consisting of a headrest, a dashboard, and a headliner.

26. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, wherein said means incorporated within said signal processor for transforming said selected sound signal into a plurality of speaker signals generates first and second acoustic wavefronts from each speaker, wherein said first acoustic wavefront provides a sound signal to a proximal ear, and said second acoustic wavefront provides a sound cancellation signal to a distal ear.

27. A vehicular collision warning system for warning an occupant of a collision as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of speakers are substantially equidistant to the nominal center of the occupant'"'"'s head.

4. A method of warning a vehicular occupant of a collision threat, comprising:

a. generating an estimate of collision direction of a potential collision using a predictive collision sensing system;

b. generating at least one signal selected from the group consisting of the estimated likelihood of said potential collision, the estimated severity of said potential collision the estimated commencement time of said potential collision, and an estimated type of collision object;

c. retrieving from memory a sound signal, wherein said sound signal is selected responsive to at least one of said signals estimating the likelihood of said potential collision, the severity of said potential collision, the commencement time of said potential collision, the estimated type of collision object from the group consisting of the sound of a potential collision object, the sound of a potential collision related event, and a siren sound;

d. adapting the amplitude of said sound signal responsive to at least one of said signals estimating the likelihood of said potential collision, the severity of said potential collision, the commencement time of said potential collision, the type of collision object;

e. responsive to said estimate of collision direction, transforming said sound signal into a plurality of speaker signals; and

f. applying said plurality of speaker signals to an associated plurality of speakers so as to generate a sound field within the vehicle, wherein said plurality of speaker signals is adapted so that the occupant perceives said sound signal to emanate from a direction corresponding to said estimate of collision direction.

5. A method of warning a vehicular occupant of a collision threat as recited in claim 4, wherein said operation of generating at least one signal comprises generating an estimate of the likelihood of a potential collision using said predictive collision sensing system, and said operation of retrieving from memory a sound signal suggestive of collision related event is responsive to said estimate of the likelihood of a potential collision.

6. A method of warning a vehicular occupant of a collision threat as recited in claim 4, wherein said operation of generating at least one signal comprises generating an estimate of the likelihood of a potential collision using said predictive collision sensing system, and the volume of said sound field is responsive to said estimate of the likelihood of a potential collision.

7. A method of warning a vehicular occupant of a collision threat as recited in claim 4, wherein said operation of generating at least one signal comprises generating an estimate of the severity of a potential collision using said predictive collision sensing system, and said operation of retrieving from memory a sound signal suggestive of collision related event is responsive to said estimate of the severity of a potential collision.

8. A method of warning a vehicular occupant of a collision threat as recited in claim 4, wherein said operation of generating at least one signal comprises generating an estimate of the severity of a potential collision using said predictive collision sensing system, and the volume of said sound field is responsive to said estimate of the severity of a potential collision.

9. A method of warning a vehicular occupant of a collision threat as recited in claim 4, wherein said operation of generating at least one signal comprises generating an estimate of the commencement time of a potential collision using said predictive collision sensing system, and said operation of retrieving from memory a sound signal suggestive of collision related event is responsive to said estimate of the commencement time of a potential collision.

10. A method of warning a vehicular occupant of a collision threat as recited in claim 4, wherein said operation of generating at least one signal comprises generating an estimate of the commencement time of a potential collision using said predictive collision sensing system, and the volume of said sound field is responsive to said estimate of the commencement time of a potential collision.

11. A method of warning a vehicular occupant of a collision threat as recited in claim 4, further comprising the operation of sensing the position of the occupant, wherein the operation of transforming said sound signal into a plurality of speaker signals is responsive to said position of the occupant.