System and method for controlling blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert based on driver status

• US 8,103,412 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, Reed, Eric L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US12/139,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/36, 701/45, 701/49, 701/301, 340/5.1, 340/5.21, 340/5.2, 340/5.6, 340/5.61
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A system for controlling the operation of performing at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert in a vehicle based on driver status is provided. The system comprises a controller configured to receive at least one driver status signal indicative of whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver. The controller is configured to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal. The controller is configured selectively control the operation of performing the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert based on whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an operation of performing at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert in a vehicle based on driver status, wherein at least one primary key is configured to be assigned to a primary driver and at least one secondary key is configured to be assigned to a secondary driver, the system comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive at least one driver status signal indicative of whether a driver of the vehicle is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver from a key ignition device;

determine whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal;

selectively control the operation of performing the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert based on the at least one driver status signal, and

prevent the driver from disabling the operation of performing the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert in response to the at least one driver status signal indicating that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to allow the driver to enable/disable the operation of performing the at least one blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to transmit an alert signal in response to performing the operation of the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a light indicator configured to receive the alert signal and to illuminate in response to performing the operation of the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert.

5. The system of claim 3 further comprising at least one of a sounder and a chime configured to receive the alert signal and to generate at least one audible signal in response to performing the operation of the blind spot monitoring.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the controller is further configured to allow the driver to enable/disable an operation of generating the at least one audible signal in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the controller is further configured to enable the operation of generating the at least one audible signal and to prevent the driver from disabling the operation of generating the at least one audible signal in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

8. A method for controlling an operation of performing at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert in a vehicle based on driver status, wherein at least one primary key is configured to be assigned to a primary driver and at least one secondary key is configured to be assigned to a secondary driver, the method comprising:

receiving at least one driver status signal indicative of whether a driver of the vehicle is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver from a key ignition device;

determining whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal;

selectively controlling the operation of performing the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert based on the at least one driver status signal; and

preventing the operation of performing the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert from being disabled in the event the at least one driver status signal indicates that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising allowing the driver to enable/disable the operation of performing the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising transmitting an alert signal in response to performing the operation of the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting the alert signal further comprises transmitting the alert signal to a light indicator to illuminate in response to performing the operation of the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting the alert signal further comprising transmitting the alert signal to at least one of a sounder and a chime to generate at least one audible signal in response to performing the operation of the blind spot monitoring.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising allowing the driver to enable/disable the operation of transmitting the alert signal to the at least one of the sounder and the chime in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising enabling the operation of transmitting the alert signal to the at least one of the sounder and the chime and preventing the driver from disabling the operation of generating the at least one audible signal in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

15. A system for controlling an operation of performing at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert in a vehicle based on whether a driver is a primary driver and a secondary driver, the system comprising:

a first controller configured to associate at least one primary key to the primary driver and to associate at least one secondary key to the secondary driver and to generate at least one driver status signal indicative of whether the driver is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver; and

a second controller configured to;

receive at least one driver status signal;

determine whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal;

selectively control the operation of performing the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert based on the at least one driver status signal;

prevent the driver from disabling the operation of performing the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert in the event the at least one driver status indicates that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the second controller is further configured to allow the driver to enable/disable the operation of performing the at least one of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the operation of performing blind spot monitoring includes detecting a presence of a first target vehicle in a detection zone that is defined as an area from outside minors of the vehicle to at least one meter beyond a bumper of the vehicle and the operation of performing cross traffic alert includes detecting a presence of a second target vehicle while the vehicle is departing from a parking spot within an area that is at least one meter away from a rear of the vehicle.

18. A device for controlling a blind spot monitoring operation based on driver status, the device comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive a driver status signal indicative of whether a driver is one of a primary driver and a secondary driver;

enable/disable the blind spot monitoring operation; and

prevent the blind spot monitoring operation from being disabled in response to the driver status signal indicating that the driver is the secondary driver.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the controller is further configured to allow the driver to enable/disable the blind spot monitoring operation in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver.