Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

• US 8,682,558 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• 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): Jeanglaude, Gertrude Arthur
• Application Number:
  US13/650,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20130096776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/37, 701/70, 701/79, 701/91, 180/170, 180/197, 340/425.5, 340/439
• 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 device for a vehicle comprising:

a. an accelerometer-gyroscope;

b. a vehicle computer unit; and

c. an internal warning system,

wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope sends a signal to the vehicle computer unit and the vehicle computer unit operates one or more vehicle performance systems based upon the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope senses an absolute acceleration of the vehicle.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope senses an absolute vertical acceleration of the vehicle.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope sends a signal to a suspension monitoring portion of the vehicle computer unit.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the vehicle computer unit performs a self-correct operation based upon the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the vehicle computer unit issues a warning through the warning system based upon the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the warning is a vehicle performance warning.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the warning is a suspension performance warning.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is installed within the vehicle as an aftermarket add-on.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is installed within the vehicle at a factory.

11. A system for monitoring and controlling the performance characteristics of a vehicle comprising:

a. an accelerometer-gyroscope for sensing an absolute acceleration of the vehicle;

b. a vehicle computer unit that receives a signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope based upon the absolute acceleration of the vehicle,

wherein the vehicle computer unit operates one or more vehicle performance systems based upon the absolute acceleration of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope senses an absolute vertical acceleration of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope sends a signal to a suspension monitoring portion of the vehicle computer unit.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the vehicle computer unit performs a self-correct operation based upon the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope.

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising an internal warning system.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the vehicle computer unit issues a warning through the warning system based upon the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the warning is a vehicle performance warning.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the warning is a suspension performance warning.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the system is installed within the vehicle as an aftermarket add-on.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the system is installed within the vehicle at a factory.

21. A method of monitoring and controlling the performance characteristics of a vehicle, comprising:

a. sensing an absolute acceleration of the vehicle at the vehicle;

b. sending a signal to a vehicle computer unit based upon the absolute acceleration of the vehicle; and

c. operating one or more vehicle performance systems based upon the absolute acceleration of the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising sensing a vertical acceleration of the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the vehicle computer unit receives a signal corresponding to the absolute acceleration of the vehicle and uses a baseline performance data to either self correct a performance characteristic of the vehicle or issue a warning.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the vehicle computer unit issues an internal warning that a tire pressure is low.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the vehicle computer unit issues an internal warning that one or more suspension shock absorbers of the vehicle are degraded.