Retrofittable vehicle collision warning apparatus

• US 6,696,931 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2001
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Directed, LLC (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DEI Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Paranjpe, Ajit P.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/938,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20020030591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/435, 340/502, 340/903, 340/904
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/006 using a distance sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A retrofittable collision warning apparatus for vehicles comprises a base unit within the vehicle cabin and a plurality of remote units located around the periphery of the vehicle. The remote units generally operate in a low-power sleep mode, and periodically go partially active to listen for wakeup inputs from the base unit, at which time the remote units enter a highest-power active mode to measure the distance between the vehicle and obstacles in the proximity, and use wireless transmission to communicate obstacle position information to the base unit. The base unit accepts operator commands, use wireless communication to transmit control signals to the remote units and receives obstacle position information from the remote units, communicates obstacle position information to the operator through audio and/or visual signals, and controls operation of the collision warning apparatus. The base and remote units employ power conservation and voltage boosters to extend the lifetime of compact, low voltage on-board power sources and communicate through wireless means. Auto detection and configuration of remote units are incorporated for easy system expandability.

Claims

1. A vehicle collision warning apparatus that warns an operator of obstacles in the vicinity of a vehicle, comprising:

a base unit located within a cabin of said vehicle that accepts operator commands, controls operation of said collision warning apparatus, and communicates obstacle position information to said operator; and

a remote unit located around a periphery of said vehicle that respond to inputs from said base unit, measures the distance between said vehicle and said obstacles, and communicates said obstacle position information to said base unit through a wireless communication link, the remote unit including a battery and electronic circuitry that generally operates in a low-power sleep mode and periodically switches to a higher-power momentary active mode of relatively brief duration to listen for a makeup signal from the base unit, the remote unit'"'"'s electronic circuitry switching to a fully active mode of limited duration if the wakeup signal is detected and returning to the low-power sleep mode if no wakeup signal is detected.

2. A vehicle collision warning apparatus that warns an operator of obstacles in the vicinity of a vehicle, comprising:

a base unit located within said vehicle cabin comprising;

(a) a base unit control circuit means for controlling operation of said base unit;

(b) a wireless transceiver circuit means for communicating with a remote unit including a wakeup signal;

(c) a warning indicator circuit means for conveying obstacle position information to said operator; and

(d) an unswitched power means for supplying power to a first portion of said base unit; and

a remote unit located on an exterior of said vehicle comprising;

(a) a remote unit control circuit means for controlling operation of said remote unit;

(b) a distance measuring circuit means for measuring the distance between said vehicle and said obstacles;

(c) a wireless transceiver circuit means for communicating with said base unit;

(d) an unswitched power means for supplying power to a first portion of said remote unit;

(e) a switched power means for selectively supplying power to a second portion of said remote unit based on wireless communication from said base unit; and

(f) a power conservation circuit means for operating the remote unit in a low-power sleep mode and periodically switching to a high-power active mode of relatively brief duration to listen for the wakeup signal from the base unit, for switching to a fully active mode involving the switched power means if the wakeup signal is detected and for returning to the low-power sleep mode if the wakeup signal is not detected.

3. The vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said unswitched power means comprises a battery.

4. The vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further comprising a solar panel for providing charging power to said battery.

5. The vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said distance measuring circuit means comprises an ultrasonic sensing means for measuring the distance between said vehicle and said obstacles.

6. The vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said distance measuring circuit means comprises a radar sensing means for measuring the distance between said vehicle and said obstacles.

7. The vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said wireless transceiver circuit means comprises an RF communication means for communicating control signals and said obstacle information between said remote unit and said base unit.

8. The vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said wireless transceiver circuit means comprises microwave communication means for communicating control signals and said obstacle information between said remote unit and said base unit.

9. The vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said wireless transceiver circuit means comprises an ultrasonic communication means for communicating control signals and said obstacle information between said remote unit and said base unit.

10. The vehicle collision warning apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said warning indicator circuit means comprises:

(a) visual signal means for displaying said obstacle information to said operator; and

(b) an audio signal means for alerting said operator about said obstacles in the vicinity of said vehicle.

11. The vehicle collision warning apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first portion of said remote unit includes a receiving means of said wireless transceiver circuit means for receiving wireless transmissions from said base unit.

12. The vehicle collision warning apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second portion of said remote unit means includes said distance measuring circuit means and a transmitting means of said wireless transceiver circuit means for transmitting information to said base unit.

13. A method of operating a vehicle collision warning system having a base unit located within a cabin of said vehicle and a remote unit located around a periphery of said vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the remote unit with an unswitched self-contained power source for locating said remote unit on said vehicle without electrically connecting it to said vehicle;

operating the remote unit in a low-power sleep mode a majority of the time;

periodically entering a higher-power listening mode and listening for a wakeup signal from the base unit;

switching to a highest-power distance-measurement mode if the wakeup signal is heard; and

returning to the low-power sleep mode if the wakeup signal is not heard.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the remote unit periodically enters the higher power listening mode every 1-3 seconds.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the remote unit periodically enters the higher-power listening mode for 5-20 ms.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of briefly generating a higher voltage to power a distance measurement circuit when the remote unit is switched to the highest-power distance measurement mode.