Retrofittable vehicle collision warning apparatus

• US 6,339,369 B1
• Filed: 09/23/1998
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Directed, LLC (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DEI Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Paranjpe, Ajit P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/159,137
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/435, 340/502, 340/903, 340/904
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/006 using a distance sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A retrofittable collision warning apparatus for vehicles is described. The collision warning apparatus comprises a base unit that is located within the vehicle cabin and a plurality of remote units located around the periphery of the vehicle. The remote units respond to inputs from the base unit, measure the distance between the vehicle and obstacles in the proximity, and utilize wireless transmission to communicate obstacle position information to the base unit. The base unit accepts operator commands, utilizes wireless communication to transmit control signals to the remote units and receive obstacle position information from the remote units, communicates obstacle position information to the operator through audio and visual signals, and controls operation of the collision warning apparatus. Base unit and remote units that comprise the collision warning apparatus employ power management to extend the lifetime of power sources and communicate through wireless means. These attributes make this collision warning apparatus well suited for quick and easy retrofit to existing vehicles.

Claims

1. A vehicle collision warning apparatus that warns operator of obstacles in the vicinity of the vehicle, comprising:

(a) a base unit means located within a cabin of said vehicle that accepts said operator commands, controls operation of said collision warning apparatus, and communicates said obstacle position information to said operator; and

(b) a remote unit means located around the periphery of said vehicle that respond to inputs from said base unit means, measures the distance between said vehicle and said obstacles in the proximity, and communicates said obstacle position information to said base unit means through wireless means, and wherein the remote unit means includes an unswitched power means that supplies power to a receiving means for receiving wireless signals from said base unit means and a switched power means for supplying power to additional modules within said remote unit means based on a wireless transmission from said base unit.

16. The vehicle collision warning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said unswitched power means continuously supplies power to said receiving means.

2. A vehicle collision warning apparatus that warns an operator of obstacles in the vicinity of a vehicle, comprising:

a base unit means located within said vehicle cabin comprising;

(a) a base unit control module means for controlling operation of said base unit means;

(b) an input module means for accepting commands from said operator;

(c) a wireless communication module means for communicating with a remote unit means;

(d) a warning indicator module means for conveying said obstacle position information to said operator; and

(e) an unswitched power means for supplying power to a first portion of said base unit means; and

a remote unit means located on an exterior of said vehicle comprising;

(a) a remote unit control module means for controlling operation of said remote unit means;

(b) a distance measuring module means for measuring the distance between said vehicle and said obstacles in the proximity;

(c) a wireless communication module means for communicating with said base unit means; and

(d) an unswitched power means for supplying power to a first portion of said remote unit means; and

(e) a switched power means for selectively supplying power to a second portion of said remote unit means based on wireless communication from said base unit.

3. A vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said power management module means comprising:

(a) battery for powering said collision warning apparatus; and

(b) electrical circuit means for controlling and selectively supplying power to said remote unit modules based on wireless communication from said base unit.

4. A vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 3, said power management module means further comprising:

(a) solar panel for providing charging power to said battery means.

5. A vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said distance measuring module means comprising:

(a) ultrasonic sensing means for measuring the distance between said vehicle and said obstacles in the proximity.

6. A vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said distance measuring module means comprising:

(a) radar sensing means for measuring the distance between said vehicle and said obstacles in the proximity.

7. A vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said wireless communication module means comprising:

(a) RF communication means for communicating control signals and said obstacle information between said remote unit means and said base unit means.

8. A vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said wireless communication module means comprising:

(a) microwave communication means for communicating control signals and said obstacle information between said remote unit means and said base unit means.

9. A vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said wireless communication module means comprising:

(a) ultrasonic communication means for communicating control signals and said obstacle information between said remote unit means and said base unit means.

10. A vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said warning indicator module means comprising:

(a) visual signal means for displaying said obstacle information to said operator; and

(b) audio signal means for alerting said operator about said obstacles in close proximity of said vehicle.

11. The vehicle collision warning apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first portion of said base unit means includes said input module means.

12. The vehicle collision warning apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second portion of said base unit means includes said wireless communication module means and said warning indicator module means.

13. The vehicle collision warning apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first portion of said remote unit means includes said a receiving means of said wireless communication module means for receiving wireless transmissions from said base unit means.

14. The vehicle collision warning apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second portion of said remote unit means includes said distance measuring module means and a transmitting means of said wireless communication module means for transmitting information to said base unit.

15. The vehicle collision warning apparatus of claim 2, wherein said unswitched power means of said remote unit continuously supplies power to said first portion.