System for monitoring the status and driving of a vehicle

• US 8,498,777 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2009
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crambo, S.A.
• Original Assignee: Crambo, S.A.
• Inventors: Sanchez-Prieto Aler, Enrique, Garcia Manchado, Nilo
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US12/918,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20110022263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35, 701/29.1, 340/988
• US Class Current: 701/33.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

System for monitoring the status and driving of a vehicle that consists of at least the following:

• • (i) a first adjustable means for detecting vibrations (2) and a first element for adjusting the sensitivity of the vibrating means (5), where this first adjusting element (5) is configured for adapting the system to different types of vibrations, controlling the operation of the first adjustment means (2);
  • (ii) a second adjustable means for timing (3) and a second element for adjusting the sensitivity of the timing means (4), where this second adjusting element (4) is configured for determining the system waiting period between vibrations and lack of vibrations, controlling the operation of the second adjustment means (2); and
  • (iii) a third means for detecting the type of driving (10) that has been configured, at least, to know the nominal status of the vehicle and the status of the vehicle in motion.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a status and driving of a vehicle carrying a load, the system comprising:

a vibration detector having an adjustable sensitivity;

a configurable timer; and

diagnosing means for diagnosing a type of driving of a vehicle, said diagnosing means comprising;

a lateral movement detector of the vehicle;

a longitudinal movement detector of the vehicle;

an accelerometer;

a speedometer;

a weather condition detector configured to detect a weather condition while the vehicle is moving;

a memory configured to store

a road layout including a map, and a physical condition of said road;

data acquired by the lateral movement detector and the longitudinal movement detector;

mechanical data of the vehicle;

a relative position of the vehicle load inside the vehicle;

a data transmitter configured to share the data collected by the lateral movement detector and the longitudinal movement detector with other systems located in nearby vehicles; and

an inclinometer configured to provide a horizontal position of the vehicle load;

wherein the system further comprises a processor configured to;

calculate a distance to a nearby vehicle;

establish the sensitivity for the vibration detector and a waiting time between vibrations via the timer;

detect a start of the vehicle when

the vibration detector detects a vibration,

the timer is triggered,

and the waiting time has elapsed;

detect a stop of the vehicle when

the vibration detector does not detect a vibration,

the timer is triggered,

and the waiting time has elapsed;

analyze a degree of danger of the driving when the vehicle is started as a function of;

an acceleration of the vehicle;

a speed of the vehicle;

the lateral movement of the vehicle;

the longitudinal movement of the vehicle;

the road layout;

the weather condition;

the distance to a nearby vehicle;

the mechanical data of the vehicle;

the horizontal position of the vehicle load; and

the relative position of the vehicle load inside the vehicle; and

inform a user of the vehicle of the degree of danger.

2. The system according to claim 1, further including a GPS signal coupled to the processor.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is connected to the diagnosing means through a bus.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle load is coupled to an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to disable the vehicle or limit the vehicle speed when the degree of danger exceeds a predefined threshold.

6. A method for monitoring a status and driving of a vehicle carrying a load comprising the steps of:

calculating a distance to a nearby vehicle;

establishing a sensitivity for a vibration detector, and a waiting time between vibrations via a timer;

detecting a start of the vehicle when

the vibration detector detects a vibration,

the timer is triggered,

and the waiting time has elapsed;

detecting a stop of the vehicle when

the vibration detector does not detect a vibration,

the timer is triggered,

and the waiting time has elapsed;

analyzing a degree of danger of the driving when the vehicle is started as a function of;

an acceleration of the vehicle;

a speed of the vehicle;

a lateral movement of the vehicle;

a longitudinal movement of the vehicle;

a layout of a road where the vehicle is located;

a weather condition where the vehicle is located;

the distance to a nearby vehicle;

mechanical data of the vehicle;

a horizontal position of the vehicle load; and

a relative position of the vehicle load inside the vehicle; and

informing a user of the vehicle of the degree of danger.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of disabling the vehicle or limiting a speed of the vehicle when the degree of danger exceed a predefined threshold via an electronic control unit.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of sharing the degree of danger with another vehicle.