Method and apparatus for activating a crash countermeasure in response to the road condition

• US 6,480,102 B1
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Ronald Hugh, Salmeen, Irving Toivo, Tascillo, Anya Lynn, DiMeo, David Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US09/683,588
• Time in Patent Office: 293 Days
• Field of Search: 342/27, 342/28, 342/41, 342/42-51, 342/59, 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 342/104, 342/105, 342/107-115, 342/118, 342/128-135, 342/139, 342/146, 342/147, 342/175, 342/195, 342/357-1-3, 340/436, 340/437, 340/438, 340/439, 340/901, 340/902, 340/903, 340/904, 340/905, 701/300, 701/301, 701/302, 701/36-49, 701/93, 701/96, 701/117, 701/200, 180/167-170
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/26 Wheel slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/35 Road bumpiness, e.g. potholes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/80 Spatial relation or speed relative to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/064 Degree of grip
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9322 using additional data, e.g. driver condition, road state or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems

Abstract

A system for sensing a potential collision of a first vehicle (11) with a second vehicle (72) that transmits a second position signal. The first vehicle has a pre-crash sensing system (10) includes a memory (14) that stores vehicle data and generates a vehicle data signal. A first global positioning system (18) generates a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle. A first sensor (20) generating sensor data signals from the first vehicle. A receiver (22) receives a second position signal and a road condition signal from the second vehicle. A countermeasure system (40) is also coupled within the first vehicle. A controller (12) is coupled to the memory (14), the global positioning receiver (18) the first sensor (20) and the counter measure system (40). The controller (12) determines a distance to the second vehicle in as a function of the second position signal. The controller determines a first vehicle trajectory from the sensor data signals and the position signal. The controller (12) determines a threat level as a function of the distance, the first vehicle trajectory and the road condition signal and activates the counter-measure system in response to the threat level.

Claims

1. A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for a first vehicle proximate a second vehicle a counter-measure system comprising:

generating a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle;

generating sensor signals from the first vehicle;

receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle; and

receiving a first road condition signal;

determining a distance to the second vehicle as a function of the second position signal;

determining a first vehicle trajectory from said vehicle data, said sensor signals, said first position signal and said second position signal;

determining a threat level as a function of the first vehicle trajectory and the road condition signal; and

activating a counter-measure system in response to the threat level.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving a first road condition signal comprises receiving the first road condition signal from the first vehicle.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving a first road condition signal comprises receiving the first road condition signal from the second vehicle.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle comprises generating the first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle from a global positioning system.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating sensor signals from the first vehicle comprises generating a speed sensor signal, a yaw rate sensor signal, a steering wheel angle signal or a lateral acceleration signal.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal in response to a global positioning system.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal directly from the second vehicle.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal from a repeater station.

9. A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for a first vehicle proximate a second vehicle a counter-measure system comprising:

generating a vehicle data signal;

generating first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle;

generating sensor signals from the first vehicle;

receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle corresponding to a second position;

receiving a road condition signal from the second vehicle;

determining a distance between said first vehicle and said second position; and

when the distance is less than a first threshold distance from said second position, activating a first display.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising when said first vehicle approaches said second position, activating a counter-measure system.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal in response to a global positioning system.

12. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal directly from the second vehicle.

13. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal from a repeater station.

14. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising activating a second display when the distance is below a second threshold.

15. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein receiving a first road condition signal comprises receiving the first road condition signal from the first vehicle.

16. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein receiving a first road condition signal comprises receiving the first road condition signal from the second vehicle.

17. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating a vehicle data signal comprises generating a vehicle type signal, a vehicle weight signal or a vehicle size signal.

18. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle comprises generating the first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle from a global positioning system.

19. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating sensor signals from the first vehicle comprises generating a speed sensor signal, a yaw rate sensor signal, a steering wheel angle signal or a lateral acceleration signal.

20. A system for sensing a potential collision of a first vehicle with a second vehicle that transmits a second position signal, said first vehicle having a pre-crash sensing system comprising:

a memory storing vehicle data generating a vehicle data signal;

a first global positioning system generating a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle;

a first sensor generating sensor data signals from the first vehicle;

a receiver receiving a second position signal and a road condition signal from the second vehicle;

a countermeasure system; and

a controller coupled to said memory, said global positioning receiver, said first sensor and said counter measure system, said controller determining a distance to the second vehicle in as a function of the second position signal, receiving a first road condition signal, determining a first vehicle trajectory from said sensor data signals, said first position signal and said second position signal, determining a threat level as a function of the first vehicle trajectory and the road condition signal and activating the counter-measure system in response to the threat level.