Accident avoidance system
DCFirst Claim
1. A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprisinga first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position of the first vehicle, a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing map data relating to edges of lanes of roadways, edges of roadways and the location of traffic control devices, a second positioning system arranged in the second vehicle for determining the absolute position of the second vehicle, communication means arranged at least partially in the second vehicle and coupled to said second positioning system for transmitting the position of the second vehicle to the first vehicle, first receiver means arranged in the first vehicle for receiving position information from the second vehicle, second receiver means arranged in the first vehicle for providing status information about the status of traffic control devices, processor means coupled to said first positioning system, said first receiver means, said second receiver and said memory unit for predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position of the first and second vehicles, the map data and status information, and a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor means, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and method for preventing vehicle accidents in which GPS ranging signals relating to a host vehicle'"'"'s position on a roadway on a surface of the earth are received on a first communication link from a network of satellites and DGPS auxiliary range correction signals for correcting propagation delay errors in the GPS ranging signals are received on a second communication link from a station or satellite. The host vehicle'"'"'s position on a roadway on a surface of the earth is determined from the GPS, DGPS, and accurate map database signals with centimeter accuracy and communicated to other vehicles. The host vehicle receives position information from other vehicles and determines whether any other vehicle from which position information is received represents a collision threat to the host vehicle based on the position of the other vehicle relative to the roadway and the host vehicle. If so, a warning or vehicle control signal response to control the host vehicle'"'"'s motion is generated to prevent a collision with the other vehicle.
1177 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising
a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position of the first vehicle, a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing map data relating to edges of lanes of roadways, edges of roadways and the location of traffic control devices, a second positioning system arranged in the second vehicle for determining the absolute position of the second vehicle, communication means arranged at least partially in the second vehicle and coupled to said second positioning system for transmitting the position of the second vehicle to the first vehicle, first receiver means arranged in the first vehicle for receiving position information from the second vehicle, second receiver means arranged in the first vehicle for providing status information about the status of traffic control devices, processor means coupled to said first positioning system, said first receiver means, said second receiver and said memory unit for predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position of the first and second vehicles, the map data and status information, and a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor means, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted.
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16. A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising
a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle, a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing map data relating to edges of lanes of roadways, edges of roadways and the location of traffic control devices, a second positioning system for determining position and velocity of the second vehicle, receiver means arranged in the first vehicle for providing status information about the status of the traffic control devices, processor means coupled to said first positioning system, said memory unit, said receiver means and said second positioning system for determining whether the second vehicle is travelling in an intersecting path to the first vehicle based on the position and velocity of the second vehicle, the map data and the status information, and when the second vehicle is determined to be in an intersecting path, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles, the map data and the status information, and a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor means, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted.
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28. A system for monitoring the position of a vehicle relative to an intersection, comprising
a positioning system arranged in the vehicle for determining the absolute position of the vehicle, a memory unit arranged in the vehicle for storing data relating to edges of at least one lane of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling and edges of an intersecting lane at an intersection, and processor means coupled to said positioning system and said memory unit for determining when the vehicle has entered the intersection of the roadway on which the vehicle is travelling and the intersecting lane section.
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30. A method for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles at intersections, comprising the steps of:
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determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle, storing map data in a memory unit relating to edges of lanes of roadways, edges of roadways and the location of traffic control devices, providing the status of the traffic control devices to the first vehicle, determining the absolute position and velocity of the second vehicle, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles, the map data and the status of the traffic control devices, and initiating an action or changing operation by a reactive component or system in the first vehicle when a collision is predicted. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
determining the acceleration of the first and second vehicles, and predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position, velocity and acceleration of the first and second vehicles, the map data and the status of the traffic control devices.
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35. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of determining the position and velocity of the first vehicle comprises the step of arranging a positioning system on the first vehicle.
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36. The method of, claim 35, wherein the step of determining the position and velocity of the second vehicle comprises the step of arranging a positioning system on the second vehicle.
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37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of:
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transmitting the position and velocity of the second vehicle to the first vehicle, and providing a processor in the first vehicle for receiving the determined position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and predicting the collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.
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38. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of determining the position and velocity of the second vehicle comprises the step of arranging a positioning system in the first vehicle.
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39. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of determining the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles comprises the step of fixedly arranging a positioning system at the intersection of the lanes on which the first and second vehicles are traveling, the positioning system using a wave-propagation phenomena to determine the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles.
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40. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of:
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determining the acceleration of the first vehicle, determining the acceleration of the second vehicle, and predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position, velocity and acceleration of the first and second vehicles, the map data and the status of the traffic control devices.
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41. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of providing the status of the traffic control devices to the first vehicle comprises the step of transmitting information about the status of the traffic control devices to the first vehicle from transmitters associated with the traffic control devices.
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42. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of providing the status of the traffic control devices to the first vehicle comprises the step of obtaining images of the traffic control device and analyzing the images to ascertain the status of the traffic control devices.
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43. A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising
a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position of the first vehicle, a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing map data relating to edges of lanes of roadways and edges of roadways, a second positioning system arranged in the second vehicle for determining the absolute position of the second vehicle, communication means arranged at least partially in the second vehicle and coupled to said second positioning system for transmitting the position of the second vehicle to the first vehicle, receiver means arranged in the first vehicle for receiving position information from the second vehicle, processor means coupled to said first positioning system, said receiver means and said memory unit for predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position of the first and second vehicles and the map data, and a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor means, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted, said processor means being structured and arranged to receive data on at least one of weather conditions and traffic accidents and control operation of the vehicle based thereon.
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44. A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising
a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position of the first vehicle, a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing map data relating to edges of lanes of roadways and edges of roadways, a second positioning system arranged in the second vehicle for determining the absolute position of the second vehicle, communication means arranged at least partially in the second vehicle and coupled to said second positioning system for transmitting the position of the second vehicle to the first vehicle, receiver means arranged in the first vehicle for receiving position information from the second vehicle, processor means coupled to said first positioning system, said receiver means and said memory unit for predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position of the first and second vehicles and the map data, and a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor means, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted, said processor means being structured and arranged to receive data on at least one of weather conditions and traffic accidents and display such data to the driver.
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45. A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising
a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle, a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing map data relating to edges of lanes of roadways and edges of roadways, a second positioning system for determining position and velocity of the second vehicle, said second positioning system being arranged on the first vehicle, processor means coupled to said first positioning system, said memory unit and said second positioning system for determining whether the second vehicle is travelling in an intersecting path to the first vehicle based on the position of the second vehicle and the map data, and when the second vehicle is determined to be in an intersecting path, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the map data, and a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor means, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted.
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46. A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising
a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle, a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing map data relating to edges of lanes of roadways and edges of roadways, a second positioning system for determining position and velocity of the second vehicle, said second positioning system being arranged at a location apart from the first vehicle and wirelessly coupled to said processor means, processor means coupled to said first positioning system, said memory unit and said second positioning system for determining whether the second vehicle is travelling in an intersecting path to the first vehicle based on the position of the second vehicle and the map data, and when the second vehicle is determined to be in an intersecting path, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the map data, and a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor means, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted.
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48. A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising
a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle, a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing map data relating to edges of lanes of roadways and edges of roadways, a second positioning system for determining position and velocity of the second vehicle, processor means coupled to said first positioning system, said memory unit and said second positioning system for determining whether the second vehicle is travelling in an intersecting path to the first vehicle based on the position of the second vehicle and the map data, and when the second vehicle is determined to be in an intersecting path, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the map data, and a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor means, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted, said processor means being structured and arranged to receive data on at least one of weather conditions and traffic accidents and control operation of the first vehicle based thereon.
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49. A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising
a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle, a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing map data relating to edges of lanes of roadways and edges of roadways, a second positioning system for determining position and velocity of the second vehicle, processor means coupled to said first positioning system, said memory unit and said second positioning system for determining whether the second vehicle is travelling in an intersecting path to the first vehicle based on the position of the second vehicle and the map data, and when the second vehicle is determined to be in an intersecting path, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the map data, and a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor means, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted, said processor means being structured and arranged to receive data on at least one of weather conditions and traffic accidents and display such data to the driver.
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50. A method for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles at intersections, comprising the steps of:
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determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle, storing map data in a memory unit relating to edges of lanes of roadways and edges of roadways, arranging the memory unit separate from the first and second vehicles, determining the absolute position and velocity of the second vehicle, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the map data, and initiating an action or changing operation by a reactive component or system in the first vehicle when a collision is predicted.
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51. A method for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles at intersections, comprising the steps of:
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determining the absolute position-and velocity of the first vehicle, storing map data in a memory unit relating to edges of lanes of roadways and edges of roadways, determining the absolute position and velocity of the second vehicle, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, in a processor at a location separate and apart from the first and second vehicles, based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the map data, initiating an action or changing operation by a reactive component or system in the first vehicle when a collision is predicted, and providing wireless communications from the processor to the reactive component or system.
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52. A method for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles at intersections, comprising the steps of:
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arranging a positioning system on the first vehicle to determine the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle, storing map data in a memory unit relating to edges of lanes of roadways and edges of roadways, determining the absolute position and velocity of the second vehicle by means of a positioning system in the first vehicle, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the map data, and initiating an action or changing operation by a reactive component or system in the first vehicle when a collision is predicted.
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53. A method for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles at intersections, comprising the steps of:
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determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle, storing map data in a memory unit relating to edges of lanes of roadways and edges of roadways, determining the absolute position and velocity of the second vehicle, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the map data, and initiating an action or changing operation by a reactive component or system in the first vehicle when a collision is predicted, the step of determining the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles comprising the step of fixedly arranging a positioning system at the intersections of the lanes on which the first and second vehicles are traveling, the positioning system using a wave-propagation phenomena to determine the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles.
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Specification