Vehicle safety systems and methods

• US 8,620,549 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Grimm, Donald K., Nickolaou, James N.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US12/881,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 701/301, 701/117, 701/49, 701/29.9, 340/471, 340/463, 340/468, 340/436, 340/435, 340901-904, 340/932.2, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 342/70
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered

Abstract

A safety system is provided for use in a first vehicle at a first location. The safety system includes a position unit configured to determine the first location; a sensor group configured to detect an opening of the enclosure; a controller coupled to the position unit and the sensor group, the controller configured to generate a warning message including the first location when the opening of the enclosure is detected; and a transmitter coupled to the controller and configured to transmit the warning message.

Claims

1. A safety system for use in a first vehicle at a first location, the first vehicle having an enclosure, the safety system comprising:

a position unit configured to determine the first location;

a sensor group configured to detect an opening of the enclosure;

a controller coupled to the position unit and the sensor group, the controller configured to generate a warning message including the first location when the opening of the enclosure is detected; and

a transmitter coupled to the controller and configured to transmit the warning message, wherein the sensor group is further configured to monitor occupant activity in the first vehicle, and the controller is further configured to anticipate the opening of the enclosure based on the occupant activity and to generate the warning message when the opening of the enclosure is anticipated;

wherein the controller is further configured to anticipate the opening of the enclosure based on the first location.

2. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the sensor group includes a camera to monitor the occupant activity.

3. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle includes a seat and wherein the sensor group includes a pressure sensor within the seat to monitor the occupant activity.

4. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the warning message identifies the opening of the enclosure as being anticipated or open.

5. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle includes an ignition and the transmitter is configured to continue to transmit the warning message after the ignition is turned off.

6. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to continue to transmit the warning message until the enclosure is closed.

7. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising a transition module coupled to the controller and configured to transfer transmission of the warning message from the transmitter to a mobile device.

8. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the warning message identifies a position of the enclosure.

9. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a short range transmitter configured to broadcast the warning message to other vehicles.

10. A method for preventing collisions between a first vehicle that is stationary at a first location and includes an enclosure and a second vehicle that is in motion with a trajectory, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, with a first safety system, the first location of the first vehicle;

monitoring, with the first safety system, occupant activity in the first vehicle to detect an opening of the enclosure;

anticipating, with the first safety system, an opening of the enclosure based on the first location,

transmitting, with a transmitter of the first safety system, a warning message with the first location when the opening of the enclosure is anticipated;

receiving, with a second safety system, the warning message; and

generating, with the second safety system, a warning for the second vehicle based on the warning message.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of evaluating, with the second safety system, a collision threat between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the first location and the trajectory.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting, with a mobile device, the warning message.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of automatically initiating an active safety response based on the warning message.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the initiating step includes slowing down the second vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the anticipating step includes anticipating the opening of the enclosure based on the first location.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the monitoring step includes monitoring occupant activity with a camera in the first vehicle or a pressure sensor in a seat of the first vehicle.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the monitoring step includes monitoring non-occupant activity with the first safety system, and wherein the anticipating step includes anticipating, with the first safety system, the opening of the enclosure by the non-occupant.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the monitoring step includes monitoring the non-occupant activity by receiving a broadcast from a mobile device of the non-occupant.

19. A safety system for use in a first vehicle at a first location, the first vehicle having an enclosure, the safety system comprising:

a position unit configured to determine the first location;

a sensor group configured to detect an opening of the enclosure;

a controller coupled to the position unit and the sensor group, the controller configured to generate a first warning message including the first location when the opening of the enclosure is anticipated;

a transmitter coupled to the controller and configured to transmit the first warning message;

a receiver coupled to the controller and configured to receive a second warning message from a second vehicle; and

an active response unit configured to automatically initiate an active response based on the first warning message or the second warning message.