Speed-sensitive rear obstacle detection and avoidance system
First Claim
1. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system for use on a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a rear obstacle detector coupled to the vehicle for measuring the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle'"'"'s rear;
a speed sensor for determining vehicle speed;
an alert generator for notifying an occupant of the vehicle of a rear obstacle; and
a processor coupled to said rear obstacle detector, said speed sensor, and said alert generator, said processor for causing the generation of (i) a first alert when the speed of the vehicle is less than a threshold speed and said distance is less than a first distance related to a first function of speed vs. distance wherein distance varies as a function of speed below the threshold speed, and (ii) a second alert when the speed of the vehicle is greater than said threshold speed and said distance is less than a second distance related to a second function of speed vs. distance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system for use on a vehicle comprises a rear obstacle detector that is coupled to the vehicle and measures the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle'"'"'s rear, a speed sensor that determines vehicle speed, an alert generator that notifies an occupant of the vehicle of a rear obstacle, and a processor that is coupled to the rear obstacle detector, the speed sensor, and the alert generator. The processor causes the generation of a first alert when the vehicle'"'"'s speed is less than a threshold speed and the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle'"'"'s rear is less than a first distance determined in accordance with a first function of speed vs. distance. Additionally, the processor causes the generation of a second alert when the vehicle'"'"'s speed is greater than the threshold speed and the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle'"'"'s rear is less than a second distance determined in accordance with second function of speed vs. distance.
46 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system for use on a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a rear obstacle detector coupled to the vehicle for measuring the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle'"'"'s rear; a speed sensor for determining vehicle speed; an alert generator for notifying an occupant of the vehicle of a rear obstacle; and a processor coupled to said rear obstacle detector, said speed sensor, and said alert generator, said processor for causing the generation of (i) a first alert when the speed of the vehicle is less than a threshold speed and said distance is less than a first distance related to a first function of speed vs. distance wherein distance varies as a function of speed below the threshold speed, and (ii) a second alert when the speed of the vehicle is greater than said threshold speed and said distance is less than a second distance related to a second function of speed vs. distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system for use on a vehicle having a brake system, the system comprising:
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a rear obstacle detector coupled to the vehicle for measuring the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle'"'"'s rear; a speed sensor for determining vehicle speed; an alert generator for notifying an occupant of the vehicle of a rear obstacle; and a processor coupled to said rear obstacle detector, said speed sensor, and said alert generator, said processor for (i) generating at least a first type of alert when the speed of the vehicle is less than a threshold speed and said distance is less than a first distance determined in accordance with a first function of speed vs. distance wherein distance varies as a function of speed below the threshold speed;
(ii) generating at least a second type of alert when the speed of the vehicle is greater than said threshold speed and said distance is less than a second distance determined in accordance with a second function of speed vs. distance; and
(iii) causing the brake system to reduce the speed of the vehicle when said distance is less than a third distance determined in accordance with a third function of speed vs. distance, the third function of speed vs. distance converging with the first function of speed vs. distance as the vehicle'"'"'s speed approaches zero miles per hour. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for detecting and avoiding obstacles behind a vehicle when the vehicle is being operated in reverse, the vehicle including brakes, the method comprising:
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detecting the distance between an obstacle and the rear of the vehicle; measuring the speed of the vehicle; and
,generating a first alert when the speed of the vehicle is less than a threshold speed and the distance is less than a first distance determined in accordance with a first function of speed vs. distance; and temporarily applying the vehicle brakes to produce a brake pulse when the speed of the vehicle is greater than the threshold speed and the distance is less than a second distance determined in accordance with a second function of speed vs. distance. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification