Vehicle safety sensor system

• US 6,606,027 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blue Voz, LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Reeves, Ronda K. Reeves
• Inventors: Reeves, Ronda K., Reeves, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/718,105
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/435, 340/903, 340/942, 340/943
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/006 using a distance sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/007 providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9327 Sensor installation details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93273 on the top of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/062 in which different colours are used
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/10 Providing two-dimensional and co-ordinated display of distance and direction

Abstract

A vehicle safety sensor allows a vehicle operator such as a truck driver to detect the presence of adjacent objects in order to avoid collision with same. In one embodiment, three detection ranges providing feedback with various lights and sounds can be used with separate sensors, with some sensors automatically made “live” upon reversing or turning of the vehicle, and some sensors being manually activated, such as when a overpass is encountered.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety system, said system for use with a vehicle for use by an operator on a roadway, said vehicle having turn signal indicators for allowing said operator to indicate intentions for left and right turns, said vehicle safety system comprising:

at least one presence sensor attached proximate the exterior of said vehicle for sensing the presence of a remote object a distance beside said vehicle and for providing a presence sensor signal if such an object is sensed;

a signal processing and generating unit for receiving and processing said presence sensor signal from said presence sensor and generating an advisory signal to said operator in response to said receipt of said presence sensor signal by said unit; and

a switch having an ON and OFF position, said switch being operably associated with said vehicle turn signal indicators, said switch when in said ON position allowing an advisory signal to reach said operator if an object is sensed by said presence sensor, said switch when in said OFF position not allowing said advisory signal to reach said operator despite the presence of said same object, and said switch being operably associated with said turn signal indicators such that said switch is placed in its ON position when said operator activates at least one said turn signal indicator and such that said switch is turned OFF when said turn signal indicator is deactivated.

2. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, wherein said advisory signal includes a visual warning which can be seen by said operator.

3. The vehicle safety system of claim 2, wherein said advisory signal also includes an audible warning signal.

4. The vehicle safety system of claim 3, wherein said audible warning simulates a human voice advising said operator not to change lanes.

5. A vehicle safety system, said system for use with a vehicle for use by an operator on a roadway, said vehicle safety system comprising:

at least one presence sensor attached proximate the exterior of said vehicle for sensing the presence of a remote object a distance from said vehicle and for providing a presence sensor signal if such an object is sensed;

at least one speed sensor for determining the speed of said vehicle and for providing a low speed signal when said speed has fallen below a predetermined value; and

a signal processing and generating unit for processing said signals from both said presence sensor and said speed sensor, said unit configured for selectively generating an advisory signal to said operator in response to receipt by said unit of said presence sensor signal, said unit selectively allowing said generated advisory signal to reach said operator in response to said low speed signal from said low speed sensor being received by said unit.

6. A vehicle safety system, said system for use with a vehicle for use by an operator on a roadway, said vehicle safety system comprising:

at least one presence sensor attached proximate the exterior of said vehicle for sensing the presence of a remote object a distance from said vehicle and for providing a sensor signal if such an object is sensed;

at least one speed sensor for determining the speed of said vehicle and for providing a low speed signal when said speed has fallen below a predetermined value; and

a signal processing and generating unit for processing said signals from said presence sensor and said speed sensor and generating two modes of advisory signals to said operator depending on whether or not said low speed signal is received by said processing unit, the first mode being a CITY MODE if said low speed signal is received, and the second mode being a NORMAL mode if said low speed signal is not received by said processing unit.

7. The vehicle safety system as claimed in claim 6, wherein when said vehicle is in said NORMAL mode, a first advisory signal is given for a first event and a second advisory signal is given for a second event, and when said vehicle is in said CITY MODE mode, a second advisory signal is not given, and said first advisory signal is given for said second event.

8. The vehicle safety system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first advisory signal, given for said first event, is a Voice Warning, and said second advisory signal, given for said second event, is a Voice Command.

9. A vehicle safety system, said system for use with a vehicle for use by an operator on a roadway, said vehicle safety system comprising:

a plurality of presence sensors attached proximate at least two outside locations on said vehicle, each presence sensor configured for sensing the presence of a remote object a distance from said vehicle and for providing a sensor signal if such an object is sensed;

a signal processing and generating unit for processing at least one sensor signal from said sensors and generating an advisory signal to said operator in response to said sensor signal; and

a manual switch having an ON and an OFF position for use by said operator, said manual switch configured when in said ON position to allow said operator to allow for continuous sensing by said presence sensors and for generation of said advisory signal to said operator in response to said sensor signal, and said manual switch configured when in said OFF position to prevent generation of said advisory signal, either alone or in combination with the preclusion of any sensor signal.

10. A vehicle safety system, said system for use with a vehicle for use by an operator on a roadway, said vehicle safety system comprising:

a presence sensor located proximate the exterior of said vehicle, said sensor configured for sensing the presence of a remote object a distance from said vehicle and for providing a sensor signal if such an object is sensed;

a signal processing and generating unit for processing said signals from said presence sensor and for generating an advisory signal to said operator in response to said presence sensor signal; and

a storage device for storing and logging a plurality of said advisory signals for later review.

11. A vehicle safety system, said system for use with a vehicle for use by an operator on a roadway, said vehicle safety system comprising:

at least one presence sensor attached proximate the exterior of said vehicle for sensing the presence of a remote object a distance from said vehicle and for providing a presence sensor signal if such an object is sensed;

at least one direction sensor for determining the forward or reverse direction of said vehicle and for providing a reverse direction signal when said vehicle is moving in reverse;

a signal processing and generating unit for processing said signals from said two sensors and generating two modes of advisory signals to said operator depending on whether or not said reverse direction signal is received by said unit, the first mode being a REVERSE MODE if said reverse direction signal is received by said unit, and the second mode being a NORMAL MODE if said reverse direction signal is not received by said unit.

12. The vehicle safety system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said sensor is located on the rear of said vehicle, and wherein a simulated voice command is provided in response to a particular event only in said REVERSE MODE.

13. A vehicle safety system, said system for use with a vehicle for use by an operator on a roadway, said vehicle having a turn signal indicator, said vehicle safety system comprising:

at least one presence sensor attached proximate the exterior of said vehicle for sensing the presence of a remote object a distance from said vehicle and for providing a presence sensor signal if such an object is sensed;

at least one speed sensor for determining the forward speed of said vehicle and for providing a low forward speed signal when said speed has gone below a predetermined value;

at least one direction sensor for determining the forward or reverse direction of said vehicle and for providing a reverse direction signal when said vehicle is moving in reverse;

a signal processing and generating unit for processing at least one sensor signal from said sensors and generating an advisory signal to said operator in response to said sensor signal, and for processing said signals from said sensors and generating various modes of advisory signals to said operator depending on whether or not said low forward speed signal is received by said unit and depending on whether or not said reverse direction signal is received by said unit, said various modes including a CITY MODE if said low forward speed signal is received, a REVERSE MODE if said reverse direction signal is received, and a NORMAL MODE if said low speed signal is not received and said reverse direction signal is not received;

a switch having an ON and an OFF position, said ON position allowing an advisory signal to reach said operator if an object is sensed by said presence sensor, and said OFF position not allowing said advisory signal to reach said operator despite the presence of said same object, said switch being placed in its ON position when said operator activates said turn signal indicator and OFF when said turn signal indicator is deactivated;

a manual switch having an ON and an OFF position for use by said operator, said manual switch configured when in said ON position to allow said operator to allow for continuous sensing by said presence sensors and for generation of said advisory signal to said operator in response to said sensor signal, and said manual switch configured when in said OFF position to prevent generation of said advisory signal, to preclude any sensor signal, or to so prevent and preclude in combination; and

a memory storage device for storing said logging a plurality of advisory signals for later review.

14. The vehicle safety system as claimed in claim 13, wherein when said vehicle is in said NORMAL MODE, a first advisory signal is given for a first event and a second advisory signal is given for a second event, and when said vehicle is in said CITY MODE mode, a second advisory signal is not given, and a first advisory signal is given for a second event.

15. The vehicle safety system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first advisory signal is a Voice Warning, and wherein said second advisory signal is a Voice Command.