Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

• US 8,571,776 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Beau M., Braunberger, Alfred S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amin, Bhavesh V
• Application Number:
  US12/499,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20090276131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 701/71, 701/301, 701/1, 701/23, 701/24, 701/25, 701/26, 701/27, 701/28, 701/36
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01908 Acceleration or inclination sensors characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/28 Gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/044 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0124 Roll-over conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• 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: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/36 Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/06 Active Suspension System
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/171 Detecting parameters used in the regulation; Measuring values used in the regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/905 the sensor being an xyz axis sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/182 Brake pressure, e.g. of fluid or between pad and disc
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 : Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 : Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 : Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/22 : Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/226 : Damping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/107 : Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/109 : Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/11 : Pitch movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/18 : Stabilised platforms, e.g. by gyroscope
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 : with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/14 : by making use of gyroscopes gyroscopes per se G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 : in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 : Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/072 : Ionosphere corrections
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 : whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/53 : Determining attitude

Abstract

A method of and system for detecting absolute acceleration along various axes relative to a desired movement vector while moving relative to a gravity source includes steps of determining a vertical acceleration, perpendicular to the desired movement vector and substantially anti-parallel to a gravitational acceleration due to the gravity source; determining a longitudinal acceleration, parallel to the desired movement vector and to output at vertical acceleration signal and a longitudinal acceleration signal; determining an inclination of the desired movement vector relative to the gravitational acceleration; and processing the vertical acceleration signal, the longitudinal acceleration signals and the inclination signal to produce an absolute vertical acceleration signal and an absolute longitudinal acceleration signal.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a. an absolute deceleration detector including an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a control logic and configured to detect an absolute deceleration status for the vehicle;

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

c. an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, wherein the signal is received at a proximate vehicle in proximity to the decelerating vehicle; and

d. a control device coupled to the absolute deceleration detector and the alerting device, wherein the deceleration detector sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the absolute deceleration status of the vehicle.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the signal is visible light.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the signal is non-visible radiation.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the signal is emitted at a constant rate.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the signal is emitted at a variable rate.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the signal is emitted at a variable rate correlated to a rate of deceleration.

7. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the non-visible radiation is one of the following:

infrared and radio frequency.

8. The communication system of claim 3, wherein after the signal is received at a proximate vehicle in proximity to the decelerating vehicle an alert signal is generated to notify the driver of the proximate vehicle of deceleration.

9. The communication system of claim 1, wherein once the braking system is engaged, a conventional brake lamp system is activated and the communication system is deactivated.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein once the braking system is disengaged the communication system is reactivated.

11. A method of alerting drivers in proximity to a vehicle of deceleration and braking of the vehicle, comprising:

a. sensing an apparent rate of deceleration of the vehicle;

b. sensing an inclination of the vehicle relative to a gravitational acceleration;

c. correcting, via a processor, the apparent rate of deceleration to account for an effect of gravitational acceleration to determine an absolute rate of deceleration of the vehicle;

d. detecting a braking status of the vehicle;

e. detecting a throttle status of the vehicle; and

f. emitting a signal to indicate that the vehicle is decelerating, wherein the signal varies depending on the absolute rate of deceleration, the braking status and the throttle status of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the signal includes visible light.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal flashes at a constant rate.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal flashes at a variable rate correlated to a rate of deceleration.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the signal is non-visible radiation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal is emitted at a constant rate.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal is emitted at a variable rate correlated to a rate of deceleration.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

a. receiving the signal at a proximate vehicle in proximity to the decelerating vehicle; and

b. generating an alert signal to notify the driver of the proximate vehicle of the deceleration.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the non-visible radiation is one of the following:

infrared and radio frequency.

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

a. adding a deceleration warning circuit to a brake lamp system of the vehicle, the deceleration circuit comprising;

1. a deceleration detector, wherein the deceleration detector detects and deceleration of the vehicle;

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

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

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

5. 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 activated brake indicators of the vehicle if the absolute deceleration of the vehicle is positive; and

b. placing the communication system within a vehicle.