System and method of providing scalable sensor systems based on stand alone sensor modules

• US 6,642,839 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Collision Avoidance Technologies Inc. (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Altia Technology (Altia Group)
• Inventors: Parisi, Michael A., Thiede, David, Gunderson, Richard A., Nelson, R. Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/505,418
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/903, 340/904, 340/461, 364/424.04
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• 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

Abstract

A stand alone sensor module having built in intelligence that provides object detection for a both a vehicle and stationary applications. The system includes a processor connected to a sensor and a signal interface. The processor receives signals from the sensor and the signal interface and generates a status signal based on the signals received from the sensor and the signal interface. The processor drives the status signal to the signal interface.

Claims

1. A collision avoidance system, comprising:

a first stand alone sensor module comprising;

a first sensor adapted to wirelessly detect an object within a first field of view;

a first vehicle condition input;

a first signal interface having a first output;

a first processor connected to the first sensor, the first signal interface, and the first vehicle condition input, wherein the first processor receives a first sensor signal from the first sensor and a first vehicle condition signal from the first vehicle condition input and transmits a first status signal using the first signal interface, the first status signal generated based on the first sensor signal and the first vehicle condition signal; and

a second stand alone sensor module coupled to the first stand alone sensor module comprising;

a second sensor adapted to wirelessly detect an object within a second field of view;

a second vehicle condition input;

a second signal interface having a second output;

a second processor connected to the second sensor, the second signal interface, and the second vehicle condition input, wherein the second processor receives a second sensor signal from the second sensor and a second vehicle condition signal from the second vehicle condition input and transmits a second status signal using the second signal interface, the second status signal generated based on the second sensor and the second vehicle condition signal; and

a display module coupled to the first output and the second output and adapted for displaying information representative of the first status signal and the second status signal.

2. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein the second stand alone sensor module is wirelessly coupled to the first stand alone sensor module.

3. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein the first signal interface is coupled to a first data bus, the first data bus adapted for transmitting the first status signal.

4. The collision avoidance system of claim 3, wherein the second signal interface is coupled to a second data bus, the second data bus adapted for transmitting the second status signal.

5. The collision avoidance system of claim 3, wherein the first sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, a ladar sensor, a video sensor, an infrared sensor, or a photoelectric sensor.

6. The collision avoidance system of claim 3, wherein the first data bus is communicatively coupled to the second data bus.

7. The collision avoidance system of claim 3, wherein the second signal interface is coupled to the first data bus for receiving second vehicle condition information.

8. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein the first signal interface includes a first slave sensor input for receiving a first slave signal from a first slave sensor.

9. The collision avoidance system of claim 8, wherein the second signal interface includes a second slave sensor input for receiving a second slave signal from a second slave sensor.

10. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein the first stand alone sensor module includes one or more first slave sensors, each of the one or more first slave sensors coupled to the first processor, and wherein the second stand alone sensor module includes one or more second slave sensors, each of the one or more second slave sensors coupled to the second processor, and further wherein each slave sensor is selected from the group including an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, a ladar sensor, a video sensor, an infrared sensor, and a photoelectric sensor.

11. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, further comprising a first slave sensor coupled to the first processor and adapted to provide a first slave signal and further wherein the first status signal is based on the first slave signal.

12. The collision avoidance system of claim 11, further comprising a second slave sensor coupled to the second processor and adapted to provide a second slave signal and further wherein the second status signal is based on the second slave signal.

13. The collision avoidance system of claim 12, wherein the second slave sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, a ladar sensor, a video sensor, an infrared sensor, or a photoelectric sensor.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a vehicle condition signal at a portable module, the portable module having a housing with a sensor, a processor, and a signal interface coupled to the housing;

wirelessly transmitting a detection signal from the module;

receiving a return of the transmitted detection signal;

generating a status signal based on the return and the vehicle condition signal wherein generating the status signal includes determining a time-to-impact for a detected object;

transmitting the status signal from the module to a remote device; and

determining a distance and closing rate to the object.

15. A method of detecting an object with a stand alone sensor module, including:

receiving vehicle condition signals;

performing a built-in-test;

sending a first signal to an information device, when a failure is detected in the built-in-test;

sending a second signal to the information device, when no failure is detected in the built-in-test;

transmitting a detection signal;

receiving a return of the transmitted detection signal;

determining whether a hazard exists based on the return of the transmitted detection signal and the vehicle condition signals; and

transmitting a vehicle status signal to the information device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein performing a built-in-test includes determining whether sensors connected to stand alone sensor module are functioning.

17. A method comprising:

receiving a vehicle condition signal at a portable module, the portable module having a housing with a sensor, a processor, and a signal interface coupled to the housing;

wirelessly transmitting a detection signal from the module;

receiving a return of the transmitted detection signal;

generating a status signal based on the return and the vehicle condition signal wherein generating the status signal includes generating the status signal based on a detected object, generating time-to-impact data based on the return or generating a closing rate based on the return; and

transmitting the status signal from the module to a remote device.

18. A method of detecting an object with a stand alone sensor module, including:

receiving a vehicle condition signal;

performing a built-in-test;

sending a first signal to an information device, when a failure is detected in the built-in-test;

sending a second signal to the information device, when no failure is detected in the built-in-test;

generating image data based on a detected object within a predetermined range;

determining whether a hazard exists based on the image data and the vehicle condition signals; and

transmitting a vehicle status signal to the information device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein performing a built-in-test includes determining whether sensors connected to stand alone sensor module are functioning.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein performing a built-in-test includes determining whether a processor of the stand alone sensor module is functioning.