Anti-collision safety system for vehicle

• US 6,850,156 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bloomfield, John, Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/178,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20020171542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 340/467, 340/435, 340/436, 340/464, 340/466, 340/479, 340/903, 340/463, 180/169, 382/104, 362/496
• US Class Current: 340/467
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/448 specially adapted for vehicles with ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle

Abstract

An anti-collision safety system for a vehicle includes a microprocessor which receives one or more inputs and controls an output of at least one indicator or signaling device in response to the inputs. The microprocessor may be continuously powered or energized when the vehicle is in use, such that the indicator may be modulated in situations when the brake pedal of the vehicle is not applied. Preferably, a proximity sensing device may be provided to detect objects exteriorly of the vehicle. Preferably, an accelerometer may also be included to provide a deceleration signal to the microprocessor. The microprocessor may modulate the indicator independent of actuation of the brake pedal by a driver of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An anti-collision safety system for modulating an output of at least one indicator on a vehicle, the vehicle having a brake system, said safety system comprising:

at least one indicator operable to output visible light when powered, said at least one indicator comprising a stop lamp of the vehicle, said at least one indicator being energized when the brake system is actuated;

a proximity sensing device operable to sense a distance between the vehicle and an object exteriorly of the vehicle, said proximity sensing device providing an output signal, said output signal of said proximity sensing device being a function of at least one of a speed being traveled by the vehicle and an approach rate of the vehicle and said object;

an accelerometer operable to sense a change in acceleration of the vehicle; and

a microprocessor, said microprocessor receiving at least one input, said at least one input comprising at least one of an input from said accelerometer and an input from said proximity sensing device, said microprocessor generating an output, said output causing the visible light output of said at least one indicator to be modulated, said at least one indicator being operable in a first mode in response to actuation of the brake system and in a second mode in response to said output of said microprocessor, said second mode occurring at least independent of actuation of the brake system of the vehicle.

2. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is operable to vary said modulation of the visible light output of said at least one indicator in response to said at least one input.

3. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said proximity sensing device comprises at least one of a forward facing camera, a rearward facing camera, and a sideward facing camera.

4. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said proximity sensing device comprises at least one of a camera, an image sensor, an imaging array sensor, a sonar, a radar, and an infrared beam detector device.

5. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is operable to intermittently actuate said at least one indicator in response to said at least one input.

6. The safety system of claim 5, wherein said microprocessor is operable to vary a rate of intermittent actuation of said at least one indicator in response to said output signal of said proximity sensing device.

7. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is operable to modulate the visible light output of said at least one indicator in response to said proximity sensing device sensing said object within at least one distance threshold.

8. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said at least one input includes at least one input from at least one of a brake system, a speed sensor, an antilock brake system, and an airbag deployment module.

9. The safety system of claim 7, wherein said at least one input includes an input from a brake system of the vehicle.

10. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said at least one indicator comprises a center high mounted stop lamp of the vehicle.

11. The safety system of claim 10, wherein said center high mounted stop lamp comprises a solid state indicator, said microprocessor and said center high mounted stop lamp forming a solid state indicator module.

12. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said accelerometer is operable to detect at least one of a forward, rearward, and sideward change in acceleration of the vehicle.

13. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is operable to modulate the visible light output of said at least one indicator in response to said accelerometer detecting at least one threshold level of deceleration of the vehicle.

14. The safety system of claim 13, wherein said microprocessor is operable to vary the modulation of the output of said at least one indicator in response to said at least one threshold level of deceleration of the vehicle.

15. The safety system of claim 13, wherein said microprocessor is operable to vary the modulation of the output of said at least one indicator in response to multiple threshold levels of deceleration of the vehicle.

16. The safety system of claim 15, wherein said microprocessor is operable to increase a rate of flash of said at least one indicator in response to an increase in the level of deceleration of the vehicle.

17. The safety system of claim 15, wherein said microprocessor is operable to flash multiple exterior lights of the vehicle in response to a collision detection.

18. The safety system of claim 17, wherein said microprocessor is operable to continue to flash said multiple exterior lights for a period of time following the collision detection.

19. The safety system of claim 7, wherein said proximity sensing device provides multiple output signals when said proximity sensing device senses an object within multiple distance thresholds.

20. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said at least one indicator comprises a solid state indicator and said accelerometer comprises a solid state accelerometer, said microprocessor, said accelerometer and said at least one indicator forming a solid state indicator module.

21. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is operable to adjust at least one of a rate of repeat, a color, and an intensity of said at least one indicator.

22. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a trailing vehicle.

23. The safety system of claim 22, wherein said trailing vehicle comprises a tailgating vehicle.

24. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a leading vehicle.

25. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said object is positioned forwardly of the vehicle.

26. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said object is positioned rearwardly of the vehicle.

78. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said at least one input is indicative of at least one of (a) a threshold speed of the vehicle, (b) a threshold approach rate of the vehicle and said object, and (c) a threshold change in acceleration of the vehicle.

27. A vehicular anti-collision safety system for actuating an output of at least one indicator on a vehicle, the vehicle having a brake system, said at least one indicator comprising a stop lamp of the vehicle, said at least one indicator being energized when the brake system is actuated, said safety light system comprising:

an accelerometer which is operable to sense a deceleration of the vehicle;

a proximity sensing device operable to sense a distance between the vehicle and an object exteriorly of the vehicle, said proximity sensing device comprising at least one of a camera, an image sensor, an imaging array sensor, a sonar, a radar, and an infrared beam detector device;

said proximity sensing device providing an output signal, said output signal of said proximity sensing device being a function of at least one of a speed being traveled by the vehicle and an approach rate of the vehicle and said object; and

a microprocessor, said microprocessor receiving at least one input, said at least one input comprising at least one of an input from said accelerometer and an input from said proximity sensing device, said microprocessor generating an output, said output causing the visible light output of said at least one indicator to be modulated, said at least one indicator being operable in a first mode in response to actuation of the brake system and in a second mode in response to said output of said microprocessor, said second mode occurring at least independent of actuation of the brake system of the vehicle.

28. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said microprocessor is operable to vary said modulation of the visible light output of said at least one indicator in response to said at least one input.

29. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said proximity sensing device comprises at least one of a forward facing camera, a rearward facing camera, and a sideward facing camera.

30. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said microprocessor is operable to intermittently actuate said at least one indicator in response to said at least one input.

31. The safety system of claim 30, wherein said microprocessor is operable to vary a rate of intermittent actuation of said at least one indicator in response to said output signal of said proximity sensing device.

32. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said microprocessor is operable to modulate the visible light output of said at least one indicator in response to said proximity sensing device sensing said object within at least one distance threshold.

33. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said at least one input includes at least one input from at least one of a brake system, a speed sensor, an antilock brake system, and an airbag deployment module.

34. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said at least one input includes an input from a brake system of the vehicle.

35. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said at least one indicator comprises a center high mounted stop lamp of the vehicle.

36. The safety system of claim 35, wherein said center high mounted stop lamp comprises a solid state indicator, said microprocessor and said center high mounted stop lamp forming a solid state indicator module.

37. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said accelerometer is operable to detect at least one of a forward, rearward, and sideward change in acceleration of the vehicle.

38. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said microprocessor is operable to modulate the visible light output of said at least one indicator in response to said accelerometer detecting at least one threshold level of deceleration of the vehicle.

39. The safety system of claim 38, wherein said microprocessor is operable to vary the modulation of the output of said at least one indicator in response to said at least one threshold level of deceleration of the vehicle.

40. The safety system of claim 38, wherein said microprocessor is operable to vary the modulation of the output of said at least one indicator in response to multiple threshold levels of deceleration of the vehicle.

41. The safety system of claim 40, wherein said microprocessor is operable to increase a rate of flash of said at least one indicator in response to an increase in the level of deceleration of the vehicle.

42. The safety system of claim 40, wherein said microprocessor is operable to flash multiple exterior lights of the vehicle in response to a collision detection.

43. The safety system of claim 42, wherein said microprocessor is operable to continue to flash said multiple exterior lights for a period of time following the collision detection.

44. The safety system of claim 32, wherein said proximity sensing device provides multiple output signals when said proximity sensing device senses an object within multiple distance thresholds.

45. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said at least one indicator comprises a solid state indicator and said accelerometer comprises a solid state accelerometer, said microprocessor, said accelerometer and said at least one indicator forming a solid state indicator module.

46. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said microprocessor is operable to adjust at least one of a rate of repeat, a color, and an intensity of said at least one indicator.

47. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said object comprises a trailing vehicle.

48. The safety system of claim 47, wherein said trailing vehicle comprises a tailgating vehicle.

49. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said object comprises a leading vehicle.

50. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said object is positioned forwardly of the vehicle.

51. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said object is positioned rearwardly of the vehicle.

79. The safety system of claim 27, wherein said at least one input is indicative of at least one of (a) a threshold speed of the vehicle, (b) a threshold approach rate of the vehicle and said object, and (c) a threshold change in acceleration of the vehicle.

52. A vehicular anti-collision safety light system for actuating an output of at least one indicator on a vehicle, the vehicle having a brake system, said at least one indicator comprising a stop lamp of the vehicle, said at least one indicator being energized when the brake system is actuated, said safety light system comprising:

an accelerometer which is operable to sense a deceleration of the vehicle;

a proximity sensing device operable to sense a distance between the vehicle and an object exteriorly of the vehicle, said object comprising one of a leading vehicle and a trailing vehicle;

said proximity sensing device providing an output signal, said output signal of said proximity sensing device being a function of at least one of a speed being traveled by the vehicle and an approach rate of the vehicle and said object;

a microprocessor, said microprocessor receiving at least one input, said at least one input comprising at least one of an input from said accelerometer and an input from said proximity sensing device, said microprocessor generating an output, said output causing the visible light output of said at least one indicator to be modulated, said at least one indicator being operable in a first mode in response to actuation of the brake system and in a second mode in response to said output of said microprocessor, said second mode occurring at least independent of actuation of the brake system of the vehicle.

53. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said microprocessor is operable to vary said modulation of the visible light output of said at least one indicator in response to said at least one input.

54. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said proximity sensing device comprises at least one of a camera, an image sensor, an imaging array sensor, a sonar, a radar, and an infrared beam detector device.

55. The safety system of claim 54, wherein said proximity sensing device comprises at least one of a forward facing camera, a rearward facing camera, and a sideward facing camera.

56. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said microprocessor is operable to intermittently actuate said at least one indicator in response to said at least one input.

57. The safety system of claim 56, wherein said microprocessor is operable to vary a rate of intermittent actuation of said at least one indicator in response to said output signal of said proximity sensing device.

58. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said microprocessor is operable to modulate the visible light output of said at least one indicator in response to said proximity sensing device sensing said object within at least one distance threshold.

59. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said at least one input includes at least one input from at least one of a brake system, a speed sensor, an antilock brake system, and an airbag deployment module.

60. The safety system of claim 59, wherein said at least one input includes an input from a brake system of the vehicle.

61. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said at least one indicator comprises a center high mounted stop lamp of the vehicle.

62. The safety system of claim 61, wherein said center high mounted stop lamp comprises a solid state indicator, said microprocessor and said center high mounted stop forming a solid state indicator module.

63. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said accelerometer is operable to detect at least one of a forward, rearward, and sideward change in acceleration of the vehicle.

64. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said microprocessor is operable to modulate the visible light output of said at least one indicator in response to said accelerometer detecting at least one threshold level of deceleration of the vehicle.

65. The safety system of claim 64, wherein said microprocessor is operable to vary the modulation of the output of said at least one indicator in response to said at least one threshold level of deceleration of the vehicle.

66. The safety system of claim 64, wherein said microprocessor is operable to vary the modulation of the output of said at least one indicator in response to multiple threshold levels of deceleration of the vehicle.

67. The safety system of claim 66, wherein said microprocessor is operable to increase a rate of flash of said at least one indicator in response to an increase in the level of deceleration of the vehicle.

68. The safety system of claim 66, wherein said microprocessor is operable to flash multiple exterior lights of the vehicle in response to a collision detection.

69. The safety system of claim 68, wherein said microprocessor is operable to continue to flash said multiple exterior lights for a period of time following the collision detection.

70. The safety system of claim 58, wherein said proximity sensing device provides multiple output signals when said proximity sensing device senses an object within multiple distance thresholds.

71. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said at least one indicator comprises a solid state indicator and said accelerometer comprises a solid state accelerometer, said microprocessor, said accelerometer and said at least one indicator forming a solid state indicator module.

72. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said microprocessor is operable to adjust at least one of a rate of repeat, a color, and an intensity of said at least one indicator.

73. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said object comprises a trailing vehicle.

74. The safety system of claim 73, wherein said trailing vehicle comprises a tailgating vehicle.

75. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said object comprises a leading vehicle.

76. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said object is positioned forwardly of the vehicle.

77. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said object is positioned rearwardly of the vehicle.

80. The safety system of claim 52, wherein said at least one input is indicative of at least one of (a) a threshold speed of the vehicle, (b) a threshold approach rate of the vehicle and said object, and (c) a threshold change in acceleration of the vehicle.