Vehicle collision warning system

• US 6,278,360 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2000
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yanagi, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US09/559,109
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/438, 340/435, 340/903, 340/901, 340/902, 340/904, 340/905, 340/907, 340/909, 340/457.1, 340/439, 701/117, 180/167, 180/281, 180/271, 180/272, 180/270
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered

Abstract

A vehicle collision warning system includes a distance measuring device for measuring a distance from a subject vehicle to an obstacle in front of the subject vehicle, a speed detecting device for detecting a speed of the subject vehicle, a control device for receiving signals from the distance measuring device and the speed detecting device and estimating a possibility of collision to the obstacle based on the received signals, and an alerting device electrically connected to the control device. When the control device determines that there is a possibility of collision, the alerting device receives a signal from the control device and emits a first alarm to the subject vehicle and provides a second alarm to a following vehicle without awaiting an action of a driver of the subject vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle collision warning system, comprising:

distance measuring means for measuring a distance from a subject vehicle to an obstacle in front of the subject vehicle;

speed detecting means for detecting a speed of the subject vehicle;

control means electrically connected to the distance measuring means and the speed detecting means for receiving signals from the distance measuring means and the speed detecting means, said control means estimating a possibility of collision to the obstacle based on the received signals; and

alerting means electrically connected to the control means, said alerting means, when the control means determines that there is a possibility of collision, receiving a signal from the control means, emitting a first alarm to the subject vehicle and providing a second alarm to a following vehicle without awaiting an action of a driver of the subject vehicle, said second alarm being a signal sending to the following vehicle for increasing tension of a seat belt of the following vehicle.

2. A vehicle collision warning system according to claim 1, wherein said distance measuring means utilizes millimeter wave, laser radiation, or ultrasonic wave.

3. A vehicle collision warning system according to claim 1, wherein said second alarm to the following vehicle additionally includes at least one means selected from the group consisting of lighting a stop lamp of the subject vehicle, lighting a hazard lamp of the subject vehicle, alerting through radio communication to the following vehicle, and sending a signal to the following vehicle for automatically braking the following vehicle.

4. A vehicle collision warning system according to claim 3, wherein said second alarm has levels of warnings selected in accordance with a degree of possibility of collision estimated by said control means.

5. A vehicle collision warning system according to claim 4, wherein when it is estimated that a possibility of collision is medium, said alerting means emits a first level alarm including signals for lighting the stop lamp and alerting through the radio communication;

and when it is estimated that the possibility of collision is high, said alerting means emits a second level alarm including signals for lighting the stop lamp and the hazard lamp, and alerting through the radio communication.

6. A vehicle collision warning system according to claim 1, wherein said second alarm includes a first level alarm for providing a first tension to the seat belt of the following vehicle to notify that the following vehicle is approaching to an emergency situation, and a second level alarm for providing a second tension greater than the first tension to the seat belt of the following vehicle to notify that the following vehicle is in the emergency situation.