Vehicle-mounted transducer

• US 8,446,267 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2007
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven Schraga
• Original Assignee: Steven Schraga
• Inventors: Schraga, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US11/836,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20090040037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,112 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/904, 340/436, 340/435, 340/932.2, 701/301
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9317 Driving backwards
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4017 of HF systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/81 Handing over between on-board automatic and on-board manual control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08

Abstract

A communication system, including an apparatus, method and program, is provided for communicating a message from a vehicle to a location. The communication system detects a distance to an object that is located at the location and a speed of the vehicle. A target distance is then calculated on the basis of the detected distance to the object and the detected speed of the vehicle. A determination is made as to whether the object is configured for communication with the vehicle. According to the determination, a message is communicated to the object from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for notifying a user of a status of a plurality of transducer elements formed in a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a status of whether at least one transducer element of the plurality of transducer elements is functioning in a prescribed manner to detect a presence of an object and a distance to the object;

determining an operational status of the at least one transducer element on the basis of the detected status of the at least one transducer element; and

displaying a message in accordance with the determined operational status.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a detection signal from the at least one transducer element;

receiving an incident signal from the object, the incident signal being formed from the transmitted signal being reflected from the object;

determining a proximate distance to the object on the basis of the detection signal and the incident signal; and

generating a manifest message in a direction of the object.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

extending a minor system, the mirror system being configured to retract into a body of the vehicle and comprising the at least one transducer and a detector configured for receiving the incident signal from the object.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the manifest message comprises at least one of a visual signal and an audio signal,

the visual signal including a textual message, and

the audio signal including an audible alert signal.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein a parameter of the manifest message varies in accordance with the determined proximate distance to the object, the parameter includes at least one of a frequency and an amplitude of the manifest message.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein generating a manifest message comprises generating an illumination signal from the at least one transducer element, the illumination signal having a frequency component and an amplitude component, the method further comprising one of:

varying the frequency component of the illumination signal according to the determined proximate distance to the object; and

varying the amplitude component of the illumination signal according to the determined proximate distance of the object.

7. A computer readable medium comprising a program, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to carryout the method according to claim 1.

8. A method for communicating a message from a vehicle to at least one location of a plurality of locations, comprising:

receiving an input message, the input message being provided from a user interface;

determining whether to send the input message on the basis of a content of the input message;

selecting at least one location from the plurality of locations when the content of the input message includes a message to be sent to the at least one location; and

sending the message to the selected at least one location, whereby the sent message is manifested at the at least one location.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the sent message comprises at least one of a visual signal and an audio signal,

the visual signal including a textual message, and

the audio signal including an audible alert signal.

9. A The method for communicating a message from a vehicle to at least one location of a plurality of locations, comprising:

receiving an input message, the input message being provided from a user interface;

determining whether to send the input message on the basis of a content of the input message;

selecting at least one location from the plurality of locations when the content of the input message includes a message to be sent to the at least one location;

sending the message to the selected at least one location, whereby the sent message is manifested at the at least one location;

determining whether the input message is a setup instruction on the basis of the content of the input message; and

sending the setup instruction to a processor in the vehicle when the input message is determined to be a setup instruction.

11. A method for communicating a message from a vehicle to at least one location of a plurality of locations, comprising:

detecting a distance to an object, the object being located at the at least one location;

detecting a speed of the vehicle;

determining a target distance on a basis of at least one of the detected distance to the object and the detected speed of the vehicle;

determining whether the object is configured for communication with the vehicle; and

communicating a message to the object when the object is determined to be configured for communication.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a direction of travel of the vehicle; and

generating a manifest message on the basis of the detected direction of travel of the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

extending a mirror system, the mirror system being configured to retract into a body of the vehicle and comprising at least one transducer configured for detecting the distance to the object.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a remedial action mode for the vehicle; and

controlling the vehicle on the basis of the remedial action mode.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the controlling comprises controlling a speed control system on the vehicle.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the speed control system comprises a braking system on the vehicle.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the manifest message comprises at least one of a visual signal and an audio signal,

wherein the visual signal comprises at least one of a textual message and an illumination signal having a predetermined frequency;

and

wherein the audio signal includes an audible alert signal.

18. A computer readable medium comprising a program, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to carryout the method according to claim 11.

19. An apparatus for communicating a message to an object, comprising:

a detector configured to detect a distance to the object;

a generator configured to generate a message;

a display configured to display the message in a direction of the object in accordance with the detected distance to the object,

wherein the display comprises an illuminator, including a plurality of parameters that are adjustable in accordance with the generated message.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the detector comprises:

a plurality of energy transducers, each of which is configured to generate an electromagnetic energy signal having one of a predetermined wave-length and a predetermined frequency range.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined wave-length comprises a wave-length in a range of wave-length values, including 380nm to 1 mm, and the predetermined frequency range comprises a range of frequency values, including 10 Hz to 25 kHZ.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

a plurality of illuminators, each of which is configured to surround a respective one of the plurality of energy transducers.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of illuminators generates a plurality of illumination signals, each of the illumination signals having a frequency that is adjustable on the basis of at least one of the detected distance to the object and an operating status of a corresponding one of the plurality of energy transducers.

24. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a mirror system configured to retract into a body of the vehicle, the mirror system including said detector configured to detect the distance to the object.

25. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a mirror system affixed to an interior compartment of the vehicle, the mirror system including said detector configured to detect the distance to the object.