Method and system for transitive turn signal and braking indication

• US 7,525,417 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2008
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Grigsby, Travis M., Seacat, Lisa Anne, Mallempati, Vandana, Miller, Steven Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunnings; Travis R
• Application Number:
  US12/122,649
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 340/475, 340/467, 340/479, 340/464, 340/466, 340/469, 340/463, 340/465, 340/468, 701/96, 701/300, 701/301, 701/70
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered

Abstract

A method for managing observable information in a front of a vehicle and providing a representation of the information to a rear of the vehicle in the form of a local optical signal is disclosed. The method comprising monitoring, at the vehicle, a remote signal, the remote signal being one selected from the group consisting of: interrupted, changed brightness and steady; determining a status of the monitored remote signal; determining a distance between a vehicle transmitting the remote signal and said vehicle; determining a speed of the vehicle; determining an action responsive to the monitored signal status, the determined distance and the speed, activating a local signal in response to the action, the action causing at least one of an interruption of the local signal at a first known rate and a changed brightness; initiating the local optical signal in response to a local action at the vehicle, wherein the initiation causing at least one of an interruption of the local signal at a second known rate and a changed brightness of the local optical signal, the activation of the local optical signal supplementing any initiation of the local optical signal, wherein a condition of interruption of the local optical signal at the second known rate inhibits the supplemental activation of the local optical signal.

Claims

1. A method for managing observable information in a front of a vehicle and providing a representation of said information to a rear of said vehicle in the form of a local optical signal, said method comprising:

monitoring, at said vehicle, a remote signal, said remote signal being one selected from the group consisting of;

interrupted, changed brightness and steady;

determining a status of said monitored remote signal;

determining a distance between a vehicle transmitting said remote signal and said vehicle, said distance being selected from the group consisting of;

an estimated distance value and an actual distance value;

determining a speed of said vehicle;

determining an action responsive to said monitored signal status, said determined distance and said speed,

activating a local optical signal in response to said determined action, said determined action causing at least one of an interruption of said local optical signal at a first known rate and a changed brightness;

initiating said local optical signal in response to a local action at said vehicle, wherein said initiation causes at least one of an interruption of said local optical signal at a second known rate and a changed brightness of said local optical signal,

supplementing any initiation of said local optical signal with said activation of a local optical signal in response to said determined action; and

inhibiting said supplementing of said local optical signal when at least one of;

interruption of said local optical signal at said second known rate occurs and said determined distance is greater than a known distance criterion.