Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

• US 8,428,839 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Alfred S., Braunberger, Beau M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US13/182,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20120010799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/70, 701/79, 701/91, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/435, 340/439, 340/426.18, 180/170, 180/197
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/447 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing the shape or intensity of the indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/14 by making use of gyroscopes gyroscopes per se G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A communication system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a parameter correlated to the speed of the vehicle, an acceleration monitoring system, a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle, an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, and a control device. The acceleration monitoring system is configured to compute the acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the parameter of the periodic function of the vehicle speed sensor and to output a deceleration status of the vehicle. The control device is coupled to the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the alerting device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of forming a communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. providing a deceleration warning circuit, the deceleration detection warning circuit comprising;

i. a deceleration detector, wherein the deceleration detector detects any deceleration of the vehicle;

ii. a gyroscope, wherein the gyroscope detects an inclination of the vehicle relative to a gravitational acceleration;

iii. a logic circuit configured to determine an absolute deceleration from the deceleration of the vehicle and the inclination of the vehicle;

iv. a braking system engagement detector, wherein the braking system engagement detector any engagement of a braking system of the vehicle;

v. a control device coupled to the deceleration detector and the braking system engagement detector, wherein the logic circuit and the braking system engagement detector send signals to the control device, and wherein the control device activates brake lamps of the vehicle if the absolute deceleration of the vehicle is positive; and

b. coupling the deceleration warning circuit to a brake lamp system of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication system is installed in a vehicle as an aftermarket add-on.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lamps are capable of flashing at one or more of a constant rate, a variable rate, and a variable rate correlated to a rate of deceleration.

4. A method of forming a communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. providing a vehicle speed sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the speed of the vehicle;

b. providing an acceleration monitoring system that computes an acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the speed of the vehicle and outputs a deceleration status of the vehicle;

c. providing a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle;

d. providing an alerting device that activates an alert based on a deceleration status of the vehicle; and

e. coupling the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the alerting device to a control device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends a signal to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the vehicle speed sensor is one of the following:

an aftermarket add-on an original vehicle system installed by the vehicle manufacturer.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the alerting device is capable of responding at one or more of a constant rate, a variable rate, and a variable rate correlated to a rate of deceleration.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the alerting device emits visible light.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the alerting device emits non-visible radiation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the non-visible radiation is one of the following:

infrared and radio frequency.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the alerting device is an after-market add-on.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the alerting device is a circuit configured to couple to and activate one or more brake lamps included on the vehicle during its original manufacture.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the control device are contained within a deceleration warning circuit.

13. A method of forming a communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. providing a vehicle speed sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the speed of the vehicle;

b. providing an acceleration monitoring system that computes an acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the speed of the vehicle and outputs a deceleration status of the vehicle; and

c. coupling the acceleration monitoring system to a control device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends a signal to the control device and the control device operates an alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the alerting device is capable of responding at one or more of a constant rate, a variable rate, and a variable rate correlated to a rate of deceleration.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the alerting device is a circuit configured to couple to and activate one or more brake lamps included on the vehicle during its original manufacture.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing the alerting device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the alerting device emits visible light.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the alerting device emits non-visible radiation.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the non-visible radiation is one of the following:

infrared and radio frequency.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein once a braking system is engaged, a conventional brake lamp system is activated and the communication system is de-activated.