Method and apparatus for activating a crash countermeasure

• US 6,658,355 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Miller, Ronald Hugh, Salmeen, Irving Toivo
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/683,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20030191586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 701/301, 701/207, 701/209, 701/211, 701/213, 340/436, 340/991, 340/995, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 455/502, 180/167
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking

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 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 vehicle data, the first sensor data signal and the position signal. The controller (12) determines a threat level as a function of the distance and the first vehicle trajectory 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 vehicle data signal;

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;

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

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

determining a threat level as a function of the distance and said first vehicle trajectory; and

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

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a vehicle data signal comprises generating a vehicle type signal, a vehicle weight signal or a vehicle size signal.

3. 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.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein generating the first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle from a global positioning system comprises generating an update signal at a predetermined interval from the global position system and generating a first position signal during said interval as a function of said update signal and speed and acceleration.

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 as recited in claim 1 wherein activating the counter-measure comprises deploying and airbag or changing a bumper height.

10. A method as recited in claims 9 further comprising when the distance is below a first threshold and above a second threshold, activating a second display.

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

12. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising when the distance is below a second threshold, activating a counter-measure system.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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;

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

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

when the distance is greater than a first threshold activating a first display; and

when the distance is less than the fist threshold, activating a counter-measure system.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising activating a second display when the distance is below the first threshold.

17. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal in response to a global positioning system.

18. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal directly from the second vehicle.

19. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal from a repeater station.

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 from the second vehicle;

a countermeasure system;

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, determining a first vehicle trajectory from said sensor data, said sensor data signals and said position signal, said controller determining a threat level as a function of the distance and said first vehicle trajectory, and activating the counter-measure system in response to the threat level.

21. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a first display coupled to said controller for displaying information in response to a first threat level.

22. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a second display coupled to said controller for displaying second information in response to a second threat level.

23. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a third display coupled to said controller for displaying third display information in response to a third threat level corresponding to an activated counter-measure.