Apparatus and methods for near object detection

• US 7,068,155 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Deering, Richard K., Altan, Osman D., Chundrlik, William J. Jr., Kade, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/891,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/425.5, 340901-904, 340/435, 701/23, 701/24, 701/70, 701/96, 701/301, 342/46, 342/47, 342/70
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting an object in the projected path of a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a yaw sensor configured to determine the yaw of the vehicle and an object detection sensor configured to evaluate an Actual Range Bin and to produce obstruction data if an object is sensed within the Actual Range Bin. The apparatus also comprises a controller that is configured to receive the yaw determined by the yaw sensor and determine a projected path of the vehicle based at least in part upon the yaw. The controller is also configured to determine a True Range Bin based at least in part upon the projected path of the vehicle and the Actual Range Bin. The controller is further configured to receive the obstruction data from the object detection sensor and determine if the object is within the True Range Bin.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting an object in the projected path of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a yaw sensor configured to determine a yaw of the vehicle;

an object detection sensor configured to evaluate an Actual Range Bin and to produce obstruction data if an object is detected within said Actual Range Bin;

a controller that is configured to;

receive said yaw determined by said yaw sensor and determine a projected path of the vehicle based at least in part upon said yaw;

determine a True Range Bin based at least in part upon said projected path of the vehicle and said Actual Range Bin; and

receive said obstruction data from said object detection sensor and determine if said object is within said True Range Bin.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said controller further configured to cause a warning to be generated if said object is within said True Range Bin.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said apparatus further comprises a warning device that is activated by said controller if said object is within said True Range Bin.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said warning device comprises at least one of an audio and visual device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said warning device comprises at least one of a light, a horn, a beeper and a chime.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the yaw sensor comprising a steering wheel angle sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said object detection sensor is configured to evaluate an area proximate the vehicle, said Actual Range Bin comprising a portion of said area.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, said area comprising a plurality of Actual Range Bins.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to activate the braking mechanism of the vehicle if said object is within said True Range Bin.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, said vehicle comprising an automobile.

11. A method for detecting an object in the projected path of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the yaw of a vehicle;

determining a projected path of the vehicle based at least in part on said yaw of the vehicle;

establishing an Actual Range Bin located proximate to the vehicle;

determining a True Range Bin based at least in part upon said projected path of the vehicle and said Actual Range Bin; and

evaluating whether the object is within said True Range Bin.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising causing a warning to be generated if said object is within said True Range Bin.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of causing a warning to be generated comprises activating a warning device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of causing a warning to be generated comprises generating a first warning when the vehicle is a first distance from said object and generating a second warning when the vehicle is a second distance from said object.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of determining a projected path comprises determining said projected path based in part on the equation k_θ

Θ

s where Θ

s is the yaw of the vehicle and k_θ

is a vehicle-dependent scaling constant.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of establishing an Actual Range Bin comprises storing an area and position of an Actual Range Bin in a memory.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of establishing an Actual Range Bin comprises receiving data from an object sensor configured to evaluate an area proximate the vehicle, a portion of said area comprising an Actual Range Bin.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of determining a True Range Bin comprises determining said True Range Bin from a look-up table.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of evaluating whether an object is within said True Range Bin comprises receiving from an object sensor obstruction data that indicates whether an object is within an Actual Range Bin that is a True Range Bin.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising activating the vehicle'"'"'s braking mechanism if said object is within said True Range Bin.