Deceleration based anti-collision safety light control for vehicle

• US 6,411,204 B1
• Filed: 11/15/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bloomfield, John, Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US09/440,497
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 340/467, 340/479, 340/463, 340/471, 340/464, 340/466, 340/468, 340/472, 340/903, 340/440, 340/689
• US Class Current: 340/467
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/448 specially adapted for vehicles with ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle

Abstract

An anti-collision safety light control for a vehicle includes a microprocessor which receives one or more inputs and controls an output of at least one indicator or signaling device in response to the inputs. The microprocessor is continuously powered or energized when the vehicle is in use, such that the indicator may be modulated in situations when the brake pedal of the vehicle is not applied. Preferably, an accelerometer may be included with the safety light system to provide a deceleration signal to the microprocessor, which may determine whether the deceleration is at or above one or more threshold levels and correspondingly modulate the indicator in accordance with the particular threshold level encountered. The microprocessor may modulate the indicator independent of actuation of the brake pedal by a driver of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular anti-collision safety light system for actuating an output of at least one indicator on a vehicle, said safety light system comprising:

a stop lamp configured to be mounted at a rear portion of the vehicle and operable in response to actuation of a brake pedal by a driver of the vehicle, said stop lamp comprising a plurality of light sources, said stop lamp being actuated to illuminate at a generally constant intensity while the brake pedal is actuated;

an accelerometer which is operable to sense a deceleration of the vehicle; and

,

a microprocessor for receiving a deceleration input from said accelerometer and modulating the output of said plurality of light sources whereby said plurality of light sources is intermittently energized in response to said deceleration input, said microprocessor modulating the output of said plurality of light sources independent of actuation of the brake pedal of the vehicle, said microprocessor being operable to continue modulating the output of said plurality of light sources independent of actuation of the brake pedal for a period of time following said microprocessor receiving said deceleration input, an amount of said period of time being adjustable in response to a triggering level of said deceleration input received by said microprocessor, said triggering level corresponding to a deceleration level which is at a sufficient level to trigger said microprocessor to modulate the output of said plurality of light sources independent of actuation of the brake pedal.

2. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said accelerometer and said microprocessor are integrally constructed as a solid state module adaptable for mounting on the vehicle.

3. The safety light system of claim 2, wherein said stop lamp includes a stop lamp base and wherein solid state module is integrally constructed with said stop lamp base to form a stop lamp module.

4. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said stop lamp comprises a rear center mounted stop lamp on the vehicle.

5. The safety light system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of light sources are actuated irrespective of said microprocessor in a first mode during vehicle braking and actuated by said microprocessor in a second mode when said deceleration input reaches a threshold level independent of actuation of the brake pedal.

6. The safety light system of claim 4, wherein said center mounted stop lamp is adjusted by said microprocessor in response to a first threshold deceleration input to said microprocessor and at least one other indicator is operable by said microprocessor in response to a second threshold deceleration input.

7. The safety light system of claim 6, wherein the at least one other indicator includes at least one of taillights, headlamps, turn indicators, interior lights and horn of the vehicle.

8. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor modulates the output of said plurality of light sources by one of flashing said plurality of light sources and changing an intensity of said plurality of light sources.

9. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said accelerometer comprises a two axis accelerometer, said two axis accelerometer being capable of sensing an acceleration of the vehicle in a forwardly, rearwardly and sidewardly direction with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

10. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor variably adjusts the output of said plurality of light sources in response to a degree of deceleration of the vehicle, said microprocessor variably adjusting the amount of said period of time in response to a triggering degree of deceleration.

11. The safety light system of claim 10, wherein said microprocessor adjusts the output of said plurality of light sources correspondingly with an increase in the deceleration of the vehicle, said microprocessor adjusting the output when the deceleration of the vehicle is above a first threshold level.

12. The safety light system of claim 11, wherein said microprocessor further adjusts the output of said plurality of light sources as the deceleration of the vehicle reaches at least one other threshold level, said at least one other threshold level being a higher deceleration than said first threshold level, an amount of said time period for said at least one other threshold level being greater than an amount of said time period for said first threshold level.

13. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor variably adjusts the output of said plurality of light sources in response to said deceleration input reaching first, second and third threshold levels, said microprocessor increasing at least one of an intensity and rate of flash of said plurality of light sources as the deceleration increases from said first threshold level to said second threshold level and further increasing said at least one of an intensity and rate of flash said plurality of light sources as the deceleration increases from said second threshold level to said third threshold, said first, second and third threshold levels corresponding to different degrees of deceleration of the vehicle, said second threshold level being greater than said first threshold level and said third threshold level being greater than said second threshold level, said amount of said time period for said third threshold level being greater than said amount of said time period for said second threshold level.

14. The safety light system of claim 13, wherein said microprocessor is responsive to a fourth threshold level indicative of a collision of the vehicle, said microprocessor adjusting said at least one of intensity and rate of flash of said plurality of light sources to a greater level in response to said fourth threshold level.

15. The safety light system of claim 14, wherein said deceleration input includes a forwardly, rearwardly and sidewardly acceleration of the vehicle, said microprocessor flashing said plurality of light sources at a rate corresponding to said fourth threshold level in response to a sideward acceleration of the vehicle.

16. The safety light system of claim 15, wherein said amount of said period of time is at least approximately three seconds when said triggering level is at or above said fourth threshold level.

17. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is responsive to multiple inputs from multiple sensing devices associated with the vehicle.

18. The safety light system of claim 17, wherein said multiple inputs are associated with at least one of an actuation of an anti-lock brake system of the vehicle, a deployment of an airbag of the vehicle, a collision of the vehicle and an output of a proximity sensing device of the vehicle.

19. The safety light system of claim 18, wherein said proximity sensing device detects a distance to at least one object remote from the vehicle, said microprocessor controlling the output of said plurality of light sources in response to the at least one object being within a threshold distance from the vehicle.

20. The safety light system of claim 19, wherein said threshold distance varies in response to a rate of approach of the at least one object relative to the vehicle.

21. The safety light system of claim 19, wherein said microprocessor variably controls the output of said plurality of light sources in response to at least two threshold distances.

22. The safety light system of claim 18, wherein said proximity sensing device senses a distance to at least one object remote from the vehicle, the at least one object being located at least one of forwardly, rearwardly, and sidewardly from the vehicle.

23. The safety light system of claim 22, further including at least one sidewardly directed light on each side of the vehicle, said microprocessor activating said at least one sidewardly directed light in response to at least one of a distance and approach rate of at least one object sidewardly of the vehicle.

24. The safety light system of claim 18, wherein said proximity sensing device is one of a radar, sonar, Doppler radar and distance-sensing camera.

25. The safety light system of claim 18, wherein said microprocessor flashes multiple exterior lights of the vehicle in response to a collision detection, said microprocessor being operable to continue to flash said multiple exterior lights for a period of time following the collision detection.

26. The safety light system of claim 17 further including at least one interior indicator within the vehicle, said microprocessor communicating a signal to said at least one interior indicator in response to at least one of said multiple inputs being at a threshold level.

27. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is interrupt driven by multiple electronic inputs.

28. The safety light system of claim 27, wherein said microprocessor samples said multiple inputs to determine if at least one of said multiple inputs is above at least one threshold level, said microprocessor adjusting the output of said plurality of light sources when at least one of said multiple inputs is above said at least one threshold level.

29. The safety light system of claim 28, wherein said microprocessor samples said multiple inputs at least every 50 milliseconds.

30. The safety light system of claim 28, wherein said microprocessor samples said multiple inputs at least every 20 milliseconds.

31. The safety light system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is interconnected with a power source of the vehicle, said microprocessor being energized in response to one of an actuation of an ignition of the vehicle, a movement of the vehicle and a shifting into a driving gear of the vehicle.

32. A vehicular anti-collision system for providing an indication in response to at least one hazardous condition associated with a vehicle, said anti-collision system comprising:

a center high mounted stop lamp comprising at least one indicator, said center high mounted stop lamp being mountable to a rear portion of a vehicle, said center high mounted stop lamp being actuatable in response to actuation of a brake pedal of the vehicle whereby said center high mounted stop lamp is actuated to be illuminated at a generally constant intensity in response to actuation of the brake pedal; and

a solid state control for receiving multiple inputs and adjusting an output of said at least one indicator in response to said multiple inputs, said control including a microcomputer being interrupt driven by said multiple inputs, one of said inputs being a solid state accelerometer, said control being operable independent of the brake pedal to intermittently actuate said center high mounted stop lamp in response to said solid state accelerometer, said control being integrally constructed with said center high mounted stop lamp to form an indicator module, said control being operable to intermittently actuate said stop lamp in response to a triggering input from said accelerometer which is indicative of a collision of the vehicle, said control being further operable to continue to intermittently actuate said stop lamp for a period of time after said triggering input is received by said control, said period of time being at least three seconds.

33. The anti-collision system of claim 32, wherein said control is interconnected with a power source of the vehicle, said control being energized in response to one of an actuation of an ignition of the vehicle, a movement of the vehicle and a shifting into a driving gear of the vehicle.

34. The anti-collision system of claim 32, wherein said control samples said multiple inputs to determine if at least one of said multiple inputs is above at least one threshold level, said control adjusting said output of said at least one indicator when at least one of said multiple inputs is above said at least one threshold level.

35. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein said control samples said multiple inputs at least every 50 milliseconds.

36. The anti-collision system of claim 34, wherein said control samples said multiple inputs at least every 20 milliseconds.

37. The anti-collision system of claim 32, wherein said control and said accelerometer are integrally constructed as a solid state module.

38. The anti-collision system of claim 32, wherein said center high mounted stop lamp is operable in a first mode in response to normal actuation of the brake pedal and in a second mode in response to an output of said control.

39. The anti-collision system of claim 38, wherein said second mode occurs when at least one of said multiple inputs reaches a threshold level.

40. The anti-collision system of claim 38, wherein said at least one indicator is continuously energized in said first mode and said at least one indicator is intermittently energized in said second mode.

41. The anti-collision system of claim 32, wherein said control is operable to adjust said at least one indicator in response to at least one threshold level of said multiple inputs, said control being further operable to continue adjusting said at least one indicator for a second time period following at least one of said multiple inputs lowering to a level below the at least one threshold level.

42. The anti-collision system of claim 32, wherein an amount of said second time period is determined in response to a triggering level of said at least one of said multiple inputs.

43. The anti-collision system of claim 32, wherein said at least one indicator comprises a solid state indicator, said control and said center high mounted stop lamp forming a solid state indicator module.

44. The anti-collision system of claim 43, wherein said solid state indicator comprises one of a light emitting diode, a laser emitting diode and a phosphor display.

45. The anti-collision system of claim 32, wherein said at least one indicator comprises at least two illumination sources within a common housing, such that said control alternatingly flashes said at least two illumination sources in response to said at least one input.

46. The anti-collision system of claim 32, wherein said control is operable to adjust at least one of a rate of repeat, a color and an intensity of said at least one indicator.

47. The anti-collision system of claim 32, wherein an acceleration input from said accelerometer provides a forward and rearward acceleration of the vehicle and a sideward acceleration of the vehicle to said control.

48. The anti-collision system of claim 32, wherein said multiple inputs include an output from at least one of a proximity sensor, a speed sensor, an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle, an airbag module of the vehicle, a collision detection device of the vehicle, a vehicle door switch and a headlamp detector.

49. The anti-collision system of claim 48, wherein said proximity sensor provides a distance to at least one object remote from the vehicle, the at least one object being located at least one of forwardly, rearwardly and sidewardly from the vehicle, said control adjusting said output of said at least one indicator in response to a threshold level of said distance.

50. The anti-collision system of claim 49, wherein said threshold level of said distance varies correspondingly with a rate of approach of the at least one object relative to the vehicle.

51. The anti-collision system of claim 32, wherein said control variably controls said output of said at least one indicator in response to multiple threshold levels of at least one of said multiple inputs.

52. A vehicular anti-collision center high mounted stop lamp module for providing a signal in response to at least one hazardous condition associated with a vehicle, said anti-collision center high mounted stop lamp module comprising:

a base mountable on a rearward portion of the vehicle;

a stop lamp adapted to be interconnected with a brake pedal of the vehicle such that actuation of the brake pedal correspondingly energizes said stop lamp in a first mode at a generally constant intensity; and

a microprocessor controlling an output of said stop lamp in response to at least one electronic input, said microprocessor being operable to continuously energize said stop lamp in said first mode when the brake pedal is actuated and intermittently energize said stop lamp in a second mode when the brake pedal is not actuated and a level of at least one of said at least one electronic input is at or above a threshold level, said stop lamp being energized by actuation of the brake pedal in said first mode, said microprocessor being operable to intermittently energize said stop lamp independent of the brake pedal in said second mode, said microprocessor being further operable to continue to intermittently energize said stop lamp in said second mode for a period of time after said level of at least one of said at least one electronic input is no longer at or above said threshold level and said brake pedal is not actuated, an amount of said period of time being dependent on a triggering level of said at least one of said at least one electronic input.

53. The center high mounted stop lamp module of claim 52, wherein said microprocessor is interconnected with a power source of the vehicle, said microprocessor being energized in response to one of an actuation of an ignition of the vehicle, a movement of the vehicle and a shifting into a driving gear of the vehicle.

54. The center high mounted stop lamp module of claim 52, wherein said at least one electronic input is an output from at least one of an accelerometer which determines a deceleration of the vehicle, a proximity sensor which determines a distance between at least one object and the vehicle, a speed sensor, an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle, an airbag module of the vehicle and a collision detection device of the vehicle.

55. The center high mounted stop lamp module of claim 54, wherein said at least one electronic input is an output from a proximity sensor, said proximity sensor further determining a rate of approach of the at least one object toward the vehicle, said microprocessor being responsive to the distance and the rate of approach of the at least one object.

56. The center high mounted stop lamp module of claim 54, wherein said at least one electronic input is an output from an accelerometer, said accelerometer being a two axis accelerometer, said two axis accelerometer being capable of sensing an acceleration of the vehicle in a forwardly, rearwardly and sidewardly direction with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle, said amount of said time period being dependent on a triggering degree of the forwardly, rearwardly and sidewardly acceleration of the vehicle.

57. The center high mounted stop lamp module of claim 56, wherein said accelerometer and said microprocessor are integrally constructed as a solid state module.

58. The center high mounted stop lamp module of claim 54, wherein said microprocessor flashes multiple exterior lights of the vehicle in response to a collision detection.

59. The center high mounted stop lamp module of claim 52, wherein said microprocessor is interrupt driven by said at least one electronic input.

60. The center high mounted stop lamp module of claim 52, wherein said microprocessor is operable to intermittently energize said stop lamp independent of the brake pedal in said second mode at a maximum rate of flash in response to said level of at least one of said at least one electronic input being at a level which is indicative of a collision of the vehicle.

61. The center high mounted stop lamp module of claim 60, wherein said amount of said time period is at least approximately three seconds in response to said level of at least one of said at least one electronic input which is indicative of a collision of the vehicle.

62. The center high mounted stop lamp module of claim 52, wherein said stop lamp comprises at least two illumination sources, said at least two illumination sources comprising one of a light emitting diode and an illumination device, said at least two illumination sources being alternatingly intermittently energized in said second mode.

63. A vehicular anti-collision safety light system for providing a signal in response to at least one hazardous condition associated with a vehicle, said anti-collision system comprising:

a stop lamp comprising at least one solid state indicator and being mountable at a rear portion of a vehicle, said stop lamp being actuatable in a first mode in response to actuation of a brake pedal of the vehicle, said stop lamp being actuated in said first mode at a generally constant intensity when the brake pedal is actuated;

a solid state accelerometer for determining an acceleration of the vehicle, said accelerometer being a two axis accelerometer positionable on the vehicle such that said accelerometer is operable to detect a forwardly and rearwardly acceleration and a sidewardly acceleration with respect to a directional heading of the vehicle; and

a microprocessor receiving at least one electronic input and controlling an output of said stop lamp in response to said at least one electronic input, said at least one electronic input being indicative of a forwardly or rearwardly acceleration and a sidewardly acceleration from said accelerometer, said microprocessor being operable to intermittenly actuate said stop lamp in a second mode in response to a triggering level of said at least one electronic input reaching at least one threshold level independent of actuation of the brake pedal, said microprocessor being further operable to continue to intermittently actuate said stop lamp in said second mode for a period of time after said triggering level of said at least one electronic input is no longer at or above said at least one threshold level, an amount of said period of time being determined in response to said triggering level of said at least one electronic input initially received by said microprocessor.

64. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 63, wherein said microprocessor, said accelerometer and said stop lamp are integrally constructed as a solid state module.

65. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 63, wherein said at least one solid state indicator comprises one of a light emitting diode, a laser emitting diode, and a phosphor display.

66. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 63, wherein said microprocessor variably controls said output of said stop lamp in said second mode in response to varying degrees of acceleration of the vehicle in the forwardly and rearwardly direction.

67. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 66, wherein said microprocessor adjustably controls the output of said stop lamp in said second mode as said degrees of deceleration reaches multiple threshold levels.

68. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 67, wherein said microprocessor adjusts a rate of repeat of said stop lamp in said second mode, a first rate of repeat at a lower deceleration threshold level being slower than a second rate of repeat at a more rapid deceleration threshold level.

69. The anti-collision sagety light system of claim 63, wherein said microprocessor variably controls the output of said stop lamp in said second mode in response to a degree of a forward or rearward deceleration of the vehicle reaching first, second and third threshold levels, said microprocessor increasing at least one of an intensity and rate of flash of said stop lamp as said deceleration increases from said first threshold level to said second threshold level and further increasing said at least one of an intensity and rate of flash of said stop lamp as said deceleration increases from said second threshold level to said third threshold, said first, second and third threshold levels corresponding to different degrees of deceleration of the vehicle, said second threshold level being a greater degree of deceleration than said first threshold level and said third threshold level being a greater degree of deceleration than said second threshold level, said amount of said period of time comprising first, second and third time periods corresponding to said first, second and third threshold levels, respectively, said third time period being greater than said second time period, said second time period being greater than said first time period.

70. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 69, wherein said microprocessor intermittently actuates said stop lamp in said second mode to a maximum rate of flash in response to fourth degree of deceleration, said fourth degree of deceleration being greater than said third degree and being indicative of a collision of the vehicle, said amount of said period of time further comprising a fourth time period corresponding to said fourth degree of deceleration, said fourth time period being greater than said third time period.

71. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 70, wherein said microprocessor intermittently actuates said stop lamp in said second mode to said maximum rate of flash in response to a sideward acceleration of the vehicle.

72. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 63, wherein said microprocessor intermittently actuates said stop lamp in said second mode to a maximum flash rate in response to a sideward acceleration of the vehicle.

73. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 72, wherein said microprocessor intermittently energizes multiple exterior lights of the vehicle in response to said sideward acceleration.

74. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 63, wherein said microprocessor is interrupt driven by multiple electronic inputs.

75. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 74, wherein said multiple electronic inputs are associated with at least one of an actuation o an anti-lock brake system of the vehicle, a deployment of an airbag of the vehicle, a collision of the vehicle and an output of a proximity sensing device of the vehicle.

76. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 75, wherein said proximity sensing device detects a distance to at least one object remote from the vehicle, said microprocessor controlling said output of said stop lamp in response to the at least one object being within a threshold distance from the vehicle.

77. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 76, wherein said threshold distance varies in response to a rate of approach of the at least one object relative to the vehicle.

78. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 75, wherein said proximity sensing device is one of a radar, sonar, Doppler radar and distance-sensing camera.

79. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 75, wherein said microprocessor controls an output of multiple exterior lights of the vehicle in response to a collision detection.

80. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 63, wherein said microprocessor samples said at least one electronic input to determine if at least one of said at least one electronic input is above said at least one threshold level, said microprocessor intermittently actuating said stop lamp in said second mode when at least one of said at least one electronic input is above said at least one threshold level.

81. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 80, wherein said microprocessor samples said at least one electronic input at least every 50 milliseconds.

82. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 80, wherein said microprocessor samples said at least one electronic input at least every 20 milliseconds.

83. The anti-collision safety light system of claim 63, wherein said microprocessor is interconnected with a power source of the vehicle, said microprocessor being energized in response to one of an actuation of an ignition of the vehicle, a movement of the vehicle and a shifting into a driving gear of the vehicle.