Method for determining a danger zone for a pre-crash sensing system in a vehicle having a countermeasure system

• US 6,728,617 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Prakah-Asante, Kwaku O., Rao, Manoharprasad K., Strumolo, Gary Steven, Smirnov, Nikolay V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/201,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20040019420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 701/301, 701/45, 701/300, 701/302, 342/72, 342/42, 342/43, 342/52, 342/55, 342/70, 342/71, 340/901, 340/902, 340/903
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/723 by using numerical data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders

Abstract

A pre-crash sensing system (10) for a source vehicle (50) having a source vehicle length and a source vehicle width that is coupled to a countermeasure system (30) is described. The system includes an object sensor (17) having a radar sensor (18) generating an object distance signal and an object relative velocity signal, and a vision system (20) generating an object classification signal. A controller (12) is coupled to the object sensor for activating the countermeasure system (30) based on the object distance, relative velocity and the object classification signal.

Claims

1. A pre-crash sensing system for a source vehicle having a source vehicle length and a source vehicle width coupled to a countermeasure system comprising:

an object sensor generating an object distance signal and object relative velocity signal and an object classification signal; and

a controller coupled to said object sensor for activating the countermeasure system in response to said object distance, relative velocity and said object classification signal.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said object classification corresponds to an object width and an object length.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said object sensor comprises a lidar sensor and a vision system.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said object sensor comprises a radar sensor and a vision system.

5. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein said controller determines a danger zone in response to the object length and object width.

6. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein said controller determines the danger zone in response to the source vehicle length, source vehicle width and object length and object width.

7. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein said controller determines a danger zone having a length corresponding to the width of the object vehicle.

8. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a vehicle speed sensor generating a speed signal corresponding to the longitudinal speed of the vehicle;

wherein said controller activates said countermeasure in response to the longitudinal speed signal.

9. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the object comprises a target vehicle.

10. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller determines a danger zone having a width corresponding to the source vehicle width of the source vehicle.

11. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising storing the source vehicle length and the source vehicle width in a memory.

12. A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for an automotive vehicle having a countermeasure system, said method comprising:

determining an object distance, relative velocity and object travel direction;

determining an object classification with a vision system;

determining an object length and object width corresponding to the object classification; and

activating the countermeasure system in response to the object length and object width and the object distance and relative velocity.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein activating the countermeasure system comprises pre-arming airbags, pretensioning motorized belt pretensioners, dipping the nose of the vehicle and adjusting the host vehicle suspension height.

14. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said object comprises a target vehicle.

15. A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for a source vehicle having a source vehicle width and length having a countermeasure system, said method comprising:

measuring a source vehicle speed;

determining an object distance, object relative velocity and object travel direction;

determining an object classification with a vision system;

determining an object length and object width corresponding to the object classification;

determining a danger zone based on the source vehicle length, source vehicle width and object length and object width; and

activating the countermeasure system in response to the danger zone, the source vehicle speed, the object distance and relative velocity.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein activating the countermeasure system comprises pre-arming airbags, pretensioning motorized belt pretensioners, dipping the nose of the vehicle and adjusting the host vehicle suspension height.

17. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said object comprises a target vehicle.