Driver warning system
First Claim
1. A method of warning a driver of a potentially unsafe condition comprising the steps of:
- a) detecting a distance-based parameter between a driver vehicle and a traffic vehicle;
b) determining a safety status of the driver vehicle relative to the traffic vehicle including referencing a multivariable lookup table corresponding to a plurality of predetermined safety statuses;
c) comparing the safety status to a plurality of safety status levels with each of the plurality of safety status levels corresponding to a particular alert signal intensity;
d) selecting a safety status level for the safety status; and
e) activating an alert signal at the alert signal intensity for the safety status.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an improved driver warning system that more effectively conveys the urgency of a potentially unsafe condition. The driver warning system detects a distance based parameter, preferably headway time or range rate, between a driver vehicle and a traffic vehicle using various sensors. A controller with a multi-variable table determines the safety status of the driver vehicle relative to the traffic vehicle. The safety status is compared to a plurality of predetermined safety status levels, which correspond to particular alert signal intensities. For example, a first alert signal intensity may be a light flashing at a first rate, and a second alert signal intensity may be the light flashing at a second rate which is greater than the first rate. A safety status level is selected for the current safety status of the driver vehicle. The alert signal, which may be the light mentioned above, is activated at the alert signal intensity for the selected safety status.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of warning a driver of a potentially unsafe condition comprising the steps of:
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a) detecting a distance-based parameter between a driver vehicle and a traffic vehicle;
b) determining a safety status of the driver vehicle relative to the traffic vehicle including referencing a multivariable lookup table corresponding to a plurality of predetermined safety statuses;
c) comparing the safety status to a plurality of safety status levels with each of the plurality of safety status levels corresponding to a particular alert signal intensity;
d) selecting a safety status level for the safety status; and
e) activating an alert signal at the alert signal intensity for the safety status. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12)
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9. The method according to claim 9, wherein the light is a plurality of lights, the plurality of lights including a first light that corresponds to a first status level and a second light that together with the first light corresponds to a second status level.
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13. A driver warning system comprising:
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a first sensor for detecting a distance-based parameter between a driver vehicle and a traffic vehicle;
a second sensor for detecting a driver vehicle handling condition;
a controller having a multi-variable lookup table corresponding to a plurality of predetermined safety statuses including said distance-based parameter and said driver vehicle handling condition for determining a plurality of safety status levels which includes first and second status levels; and
an alert signal having first and second operational states representing said first and said second safety status levels, respectively, said second operational state being more intense than said first operational state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of warning a driver of a potentially unsafe condition comprising the steps of:
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a) detecting headway time between a driver vehicle and a traffic vehicle;
b) determining a safety status of the driver vehicle relative to the traffic vehicle;
c) comparing the safety status to a plurality of safety status levels with each of the plurality of safety status levels corresponding to a particular alert signal intensity;
d) selecting a safety status level for the safety status; and
e) activating an alert signal at the alert signal intensity for the safety status.
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24. A method of warning a driver of a potentially unsafe condition comprising the steps of:
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a) detecting range rate between a driver vehicle and a traffic vehicle;
b) determining a safety status of the driver vehicle relative to the traffic vehicle;
c) comparing the safety status to a plurality of safety status levels with each of the plurality of safety status levels corresponding to a particular alert signal intensity;
d) selecting a safety status level for the safety status; and
e) activating an alert signal at the alert signal intensity for the safety status.
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Specification