Radar collison warning system for rooftop mounted cargo

• US 7,877,209 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amanda Brooke Cousins, Steven Massey Harris
• Original Assignee: Amanda Brooke Cousins, Steven Massey Harris
• Inventors: Cousins, Amanda Brooke, Harris, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen; Lin B
• Application Number:
  US11/527,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 701/301, 342/70
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/08 responsive to conditions relating to the cargo, e.g. overload
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/04 Carriers associated with vehicle roof B60R9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93273 on the top of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees

Abstract

Rooftop cargo racks, otherwise simply known as roof-racks, provide an option for transporting cargo that does not use space inside a vehicle. However, despite the usefulness of roof-racks, once cargo is secured to a roof-rack on a vehicle there is the added potential for a collision between the cargo and some overhead obstruction—such as, for example only, a garage door, over-hanging sign, public parking structures, and tree branch. Previous collision avoidance systems that employ either ultrasonic acoustic or Doppler-based radar systems are poorly suited for detecting the potential of a collision between rooftop mounted cargo and an overhead obstruction. By contrast, aspects of the present invention provide systems and methods for reducing the risk of a collision between rooftop mounted cargo and overhead obstructions by providing a more suitable radar-based means for detecting overhead obstructions and warning drivers and, if present, passengers in vehicles when there is a risk of a collision.

Claims

1. A non-Doppler radar-based collision warning system for determining when there is a risk of a potential collision between an overhead obstruction and cargo mounted on a roof of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a non-Doppler radar-based detector including a forward radar sensor, mountable on a front portion of a vehicle, the forward radar sensor operable to emit electromagnetic pulses and receive subsequent pulse reflections in a specifically shaped first antenna beam pattern covering a first antenna beam pattern space so as to gather information about the presence of absence of objects within said first antenna beam pattern space covered by the first antenna beam pattern, said first antenna beam pattern space defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle; and

a user interface unit connectable to the radar-based detector for receiving at least some of the information gathered by the radar-based detector, the user interface unit including an alarm unit and a computer program product comprising a portion of a memory including computer usable program code for determining the risk of collision between an object and cargo mounted on the roof of the vehicle, the computer usable program code including program instructions for;

processing the information gathered by the radar-based detector to determine if said object is within said first antenna beam pattern space; and

warning a user that a risk of a potential collision is present when said object is determined to be in said first antenna beam pattern space;

wherein the user interface unit further comprises a drive/engine sensor for providing a signal indicative as to whether or not the engine of the vehicle is running, and wherein the computer usable program code also includes program instructions for;

processing the signal from the drive/engine sensor to determine whether or not the vehicle is running; and

placing the collision avoidance system in a stand-by mode in order to save power when it is determined that the vehicle is not running.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the user interface further comprises an alternate display for providing another link between a user and the system.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the computer program product includes the operability to perform the functions of a local modem providing connectivity between the user interface unit and at least one component of the radar-based detector.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the local modem includes at least one of a simple wire connection, an optical fibre modem, a wireless modem, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, an Ethernet modem, in order to establish a data link with at least one component of the radar-based detector.

5. A computer program product comprising:

a computer program product comprising a portion of a memory including computer usable program code for determining the risk of collision between an object and cargo mounted on the roof of the vehicle using a non-Doppler radar-based detector, the computer usable program code including program instructions for;

using said non-Doppler radar-based detector, transmitting electromagnetic pulses using a specifically shaped first forward antenna beam pattern covering a first forward antenna beam pattern space, wherein said first forward antenna beam pattern space is defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle;

receiving reflections of the transmitted electromagnetic pulses from said first forward antenna beam pattern space;

processing the information gathered by the radar-based detector to determine if said object is within said first forward antenna beam pattern space; and

warning a user that a risk of potential collision is present when said object is determined to be in said first forward antenna beam pattern space;

wherein the computer usable program code further includes program instructions for;

transmitting electromagnetic pulses using a specifically shaped second forward antenna beam pattern covering a second forward antenna beam pattern space, wherein said second forward antenna beam pattern space is defined as a portion of the space below a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle and in a driver'"'"'s forward line of sight;

receiving reflections of the transmitted electromagnetic pulses from said second forward antenna beam pattern space covered;

processing the information gathered by said non-Doppler radar-based detector to determine if said object is within said second forward antenna beam pattern space; and

not warning a user that a risk of a potential collision is present when said object is determined to be in said second forward antenna beam pattern space, irrespective of whether or not said object is also in said first forward antenna beam pattern space.

6. A computer program product comprising:

a computer program product comprising a portion of a memory including a computer usable program code for using a non-Doppler radar-based detector for determining the risk of collision between an object and cargo mounted on the roof of the vehicle, the computer usable program code including program instructions for;

using said non-Doppler radar-based detector, transmitting electromagnetic pulses using a specifically shaped first forward antenna beam pattern covering a first forward antenna beam space, wherein said first forward antenna beam pattern space is defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle;

receiving reflections of the transmitted electromagnetic pulses from said first forward antenna beam pattern space covered;

processing the information gathered by the radar-based detector to determine if an object is within said first forward antenna beam pattern space; and

warning a user that a risk of potential collision is present when an object is determined to be in said first forward antenna bema pattern space;

wherein the computer usable program code further includes program instructions for;

transmitting electromagnetic pulses using a specifically shaped cargo antenna beam pattern covering a cargo antenna beam pattern space, wherein said cargo antenna beam pattern space is defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle where cargo may be mounted;

receiving reflections of the transmitted electromagnetic pulses from said cargo antenna beam pattern space;

processing the information gathered by said non-Doppler radar-based detector to determine if cargo is mounted on the roof of the vehicle; and

placing the collision avoidance system in a stand-by mode in order to save power when it is determined that cargo has not been mounted on the roof of the vehicle.

7. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer program product comprising a portion of a memory including computer usable program code for determining the risk of collision between an object and cargo mounted on the roof of a vehicle using a non-Doppler radar-based detector, the computer usable program code including program instructions for;

using said non-Doppler radar-based detector, transmitting electromagnetic pulses using a specifically shaped first forward antenna beam pattern covering a first forward antenna beam pattern space, wherein said first forward antenna beam pattern space is defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle;

receiving reflections of the transmitted electromagnetic pulses from said first forward antenna beam pattern space;

processing the information gathered by the radar-based detector to determine if said object is within said first forward antenna beam pattern space; and

warning a user that a risk of potential collision is present when said object is determined to be in said first forward antenna beam pattern space;

wherein the computer usable program code further includes program instructions for;

transmitting electromagnetic pulses using a specifically shaped first rear antenna beam pattern covering a first rear antenna beam pattern space, wherein said first rear antenna beam pattern space is defined as a rear portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle;

receiving reflections of the transmitted electromagnetic pulses from said first rear antenna beam pattern space;

processing the information gathered by the radar-based detector to determine if an object located at the rear of said vehicle is within said first rear antenna beam pattern space; and

warning a user that a risk of a potential collision is present when said object located at the rear of said vehicle is determined to be in said first rear antenna beam pattern space;

wherein the computer usable program code further includes program instructions for;

transmitting electromagnetic pulses using a specifically shaped second rear antenna beam pattern covering a second rear antenna beam pattern space, wherein said second rear antenna beam pattern space is defined as a rear portion of the space below a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle;

receiving reflections of the transmitted electromagnetic pulses from said second rear antenna beam pattern space;

processing the information gathered by said non-Doppler radar-based detector to determine if said object located at the rear of said vehicle is within said second rear antenna beam pattern space; and

not warning a user that a risk of potential collision is present when said object located at the rear of said vehicle is determined to be in said second rear antenna beam pattern space, irrespective of whether of not said object located at the rear of said vehicle is also in said first rear antenna beam pattern space.

8. A non-Doppler radar-based collision warning system for determining when there is a risk of a potential collision between an overhead obstruction and cargo mounted on a roof of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a non-Doppler radar-based detector including a forward radar sensor, mountable on a front portion of a vehicle, the forward radar sensor operable to emit electromagnetic pulses and receive subsequent pulse reflections in a specifically shaped first antenna beam pattern covering a first antenna beam pattern space so as to gather information about the presence or absence of objects within said first antenna beam pattern space, said first antenna beam pattern space defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle; and

a user interfaces unit connectable to said non-Doppler radar-based detector for receiving at least some of the information gathered by said non-Doppler radar-based detector, the user interface unit including an alarm unit and a computer program product including computer usable program code for determining the risk of collision between an object and cargo mounted on the roof of the vehicle, the computer usable program code including program instructions for;

processing the information gathered by said non-Doppler radar-based detector to determine if said object is within said first antenna beam pattern space; and

warning a user that a risk of a potential collision is present when said object is determined to be in said first antenna beam pattern space;

wherein the forward radar sensor is further operable to emit electromagnetic pulses and receive subsequent pulse reflections in a specifically shaped second antenna beam pattern covering a second antenna beam pattern space so as to gather information about the presence or absence of objects within said second antenna beam pattern space covered by the second antenna beam pattern, where said second antenna beam pattern space is defined as a portion of the space below a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle and in a driver'"'"'s forward line of sight; and

wherein the computer usable program code also includes program instructions for;

processing the information gathered by said non-Doppler radar-based detector to determine if said object is within said second antenna beam pattern space; and

not warning a user that a risk of potential collision is present when said object is determined to be in said second antenna beam pattern space, irrespective of whether or not said object is also in said first antenna beam pattern space.

9. A non-Doppler radar-based collision warning system for determining when there is a risk of a potential collision between an overhead obstruction and cargo mounted on a roof of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a non-Doppler radar-based detector including a forward radar sensor, mountable on a front portion of a vehicle, the forward radar sensor operable to emit electromagnetic pulses and receive subsequent pulse reflections in a specifically shaped first antenna beam pattern covering a first antenna beam pattern space so as to gather information about the presence or absence of objects within said first antenna beam pattern space, said first antenna beam pattern space defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle; and

a user interface unit connectable to said non-Doppler radar-based detector for receiving at least some of the information gathered by said non-Doppler radar-based detector, the user interface unit including an alarm unit and a computer program product including computer usable program code for determining the risk of collision between an object and cargo mounted on the roof of the vehicle, the computer usable program code including program instructions for;

processing the information gathered by said non-Doppler radar-based detector to determine if an object is within said first antenna beam pattern space; and

warning a user that a risk of a potential collision is present when an object is determined to be in said first antenna beam pattern space;

wherein said non-Doppler radar-based detector further comprises;

a cargo radar sensor operable to emit electromagnetic pulses and receive subsequent pulse reflections in a specifically shaped second antenna beam pattern so as to gather information about the presence or absence of objects within a second antenna beam pattern space covered by the second antenna beam pattern, where said second antenna beam pattern space is defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle where cargo may be mounted; and

wherein the computer usable program code also includes program instructions for;

processing the information gathered by the radar-based detector to determine if cargo is mounted on the roof of the vehicle; and

placing the collision avoidance system in a stand-by mode in order to save power when it is determined that cargo has not been mounted on the roof of the vehicle.

10. A non-Doppler radar-based collision warning system for determining when there is a risk of a potential collision between an overhead obstruction and cargo mounted on a roof of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a non-Doppler radar-based detector including a forward radar sensor, mountable on a front portion of a vehicle, the forward radar sensor operable to emit electromagnetic pulses and receive subsequent pulse reflections in a specifically shaped first antenna beam pattern so as to gather information about the presence or absence of objects within the space covered by the first antenna beam pattern, the first antenna beam pattern is defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle; and

a user interface unit connectable to said non-Doppler radar-based detector for receiving at least some of the information gathered by said non-Doppler radar-based detector, the user interface unit including an alarm unit an a computer program product including computer usable program code for determining the risk of collision between an object and cargo mounted on the roof of the vehicle, the computer usable program code including program instructions for;

processing the information gathered by said non-Doppler radar-based detector to determine if an object is within the space covered by the first antenna beam pattern; and

warning a user that a risk of a potential collision is present when an object is determined to be in the space covered by the first antenna beam pattern;

wherein the user interface unit further comprises a magnetron sensor for providing a signal indicative as to whether or not the vehicle is moving, and wherein the computer usable program code also includes program instructions for;

processing the signal from the magnetron sensor to determine whether or not the vehicle is moving; and

placing the collision avoidance system in a stand-by mode in order to save power when it is determined that the vehicle is not moving.

11. A non-Doppler radar-based collision warning system for determining when there is a risk of a potential collision between an overhead obstruction and cargo mounted on a roof of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a non-Doppler radar-based detector including a forward radar sensor and a rear radar sensor,

wherein said forward radar sensor is mountable on a front portion of a vehicle, said forward radar sensor operable to emit electromagnetic pulses and receive subsequent pulse reflections in a specifically shaped first forward antenna beam pattern so as to gather information about the presence or absence of objects within a first forward antenna beam pattern space covered by the first forward antenna beam pattern, said first forward antenna beam pattern space defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle;

wherein said rear radar sensor is operable to emit electromagnetic pulses and receive subsequent pulse reflections in a specifically shaped first rear antenna beam pattern covering a first rear antenna beam pattern space so as to gather information about the presence or absence of objects within said first rear antenna beam pattern space, wherein said first rear antenna beam pattern space is defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle and in a driver'"'"'s rear line of sight;

wherein said rear radar sensor is further operable to emit electromagnetic pulses and receive subsequent pulse reflections in a specifically shaped second rear antenna beam pattern covering a second rear antenna beam pattern space so as to gather information about the presence or absence of objects within said second rear antenna beam pattern space, wherein said second rear antenna beam pattern space is defined as a portion of the space below a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle and in a driver'"'"'s rear line of sight; and

a user interface unit connectable to said non-Doppler radar-based detector for receiving at least some of the information gathered by said non-Doppler radar-based detector, the user interface unit including an alarm unit and a computer program product comprising a portion of a memory including computer usable program code for determining the risk of collision between an object and cargo mounted on the roof of the vehicle, the computer usable program code including program instructions for;

processing the information gathered by said non-Doppler radar-based detector to determine if said object is within said first forward antenna beam pattern space; and

warning a user that a risk of a potential collision is present when said object is determined to be in said first forward antenna beam pattern space; and

wherein the computer usable program code also includes program instructions for;

processing the information gathered by the radar-based detector to determine if an object located at the rear of said vehicle is within said first rear antenna beam pattern space; and

not warning a user that a risk of potential collision is present when said object located at the rear of said vehicle is determined to be in said second rear antenna beam pattern space, irrespective of whether or not the object is also in said first rear antenna beam pattern space.

12. A method of determining a risk of potential collision between an object and cargo mounted on the roof of the vehicle, using a non-Doppler radar-based detector, the method comprising:

transmitting electromagnetic pulses using a specifically shaped first forward antenna beam pattern covering a first forward antenna beam pattern space, wherein said first forward antenna beam pattern space is defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle;

receiving reflections of the transmitted electromagnetic pulses from said first forward antenna beam pattern space;

processing the reflections to determine if said object is within said first forward antenna beam pattern space; and

warning a user that a risk of a potential collision is present when said object is determined to be in said first forward antenna beam pattern space;

said method further comprising;

transmitting electromagnetic pulses using a specifically shaped second forward antenna beam pattern covering a second forward antenna beam pattern space, wherein said second forward antenna beam pattern space is defined as a portion of the space below a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle and in a driver'"'"'s forward line of sight;

receiving reflections of the transmitted electromagnetic pulses from said second forward antenna beam pattern space;

processing information gathered by the radar-based detector to determine if said object is within said second forward antenna beam pattern space; and

not warning a user that a risk of a potential collision is present when said object is determined to be in said second forward antenna beam pattern space whether or not said object is also in said first forward antenna beam pattern space.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

transmitting electromagnetic pulses using a specifically shaped cargo antenna beam pattern covering a cargo antenna beam pattern space, wherein said cargo antenna beam pattern space is defined as a portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle where cargo may be mounted;

receiving reflections of the transmitted electromagnetic pulses from said cargo antenna beam pattern space;

processing information gathered by the radar-based detector to determine if cargo is mounted on the roof of the vehicle; and

placing the collision avoidance system in a stand-by mode in order to save power when it is determined that cargo has not been mounted on the roof of the vehicle.

14. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

transmitting electromagnetic pulses using a specifically shaped first rear antenna beam pattern covering a first rear antenna beam pattern space, wherein said first rear antenna beam pattern space is defined as a rear portion of the space above a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle;

receiving reflections of the transmitted electromagnetic pulses from said first rear antenna beam pattern space;

processing information gathered by the radar-based detector to determine if an object located at the rear of said vehicle is within said first rear antenna beam pattern space; and

warning a user that a risk of potential collision is present when said object located at the rear of said vehicle is determined to be in the space covered by said first rear antenna beam pattern.

15. A method according to claim 14 further comprising:

transmitting electromagnetic pulses using a specifically shaped second rear antenna beam pattern covering a second rear antenna beam pattern space, wherein said second rear antenna beam pattern space is defined as a rear portion of the space below a plane approximately coplanar with the roof of the vehicle;

receiving reflections of the transmitted electromagnetic pulses from said second rear antenna beam pattern space;

processing information gathered by the radar-based detector to determine if said object located at the rear of said vehicle is within said second rear antenna beam pattern space; and

p1 not warning a user that a risk of potential collision is present when said object located at the rear of said vehicle is determined to be in said second rear antenna beam pattern space, irrespective of whether or not said object is also in said first rear antenna beam pattern space.