Collision severity determination system and method

• US 8,725,346 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Productivity Council
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Productivity Council
• Inventors: Qian, Huihuan, Xu, Yangsheng, Xu, Guoqing, Chen, Yongquan, Shi, Xin, Ding, Ning, Chung, Wing Kwong, Sun, Yuandong, Chow, Maxwell
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): MYHRE, KEVIN C
• Application Number:
  US13/314,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 701/32.2, 701/45, 701/70, 701/31.4, 701/31.5, 340/436, 340/438, 340/440
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• 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: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558

Abstract

A system for vehicle safety enhancement is disclosed. The system comprises a sudden slowdown detection subsystem, a slight bump detection subsystem, an airbag activation and brake malfunction detection subsystem, and a rollover detection subsystem. A controlling unit is connected to each subsystem for determining a severity level of a collision involving a vehicle, and the controlling unit is in turn connected to a communication unit for sending an alert signal based on the severity level. A method for vehicle safety enhancement is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for vehicle safety enhancement, comprising:

a) a sudden slowdown detection subsystem;

b) a slight bump detection subsystem;

c) an airbag activation and braking malfunction detection subsystem;

d) a rollover detection subsystem;

e) a controlling unit connected to each said subsystem for determining a severity level of a collision involving a vehicle based on data received from each said subsystem; and

f) a communication unit connected to the controlling unit for transmitting an alert signal based on said severity level of said collision;

wherein said sudden slowdown detection subsystem comprises a first accelerometer detecting a predetermined direction with a first dynamic range, and said slight bump detection subsystem comprises a second accelerometer detecting said predetermined direction with a second dynamic range;

wherein said second dynamic range is larger than said first dynamic range;

wherein said first dynamic range is 6 g and said second dynamic range is between 12 g and 500 g.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first accelerometer is a first single-axis accelerometer, and said second accelerometer is a second single-axis accelerometer.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said airbag activation and brake malfunction detection subsystem comprises a detection circuit connected to a dashboard of said vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said rollover detection subsystem comprises a three-axis accelerometer.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said sudden slowdown detection subsystem is installed behind a front windshield of said vehicle.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said slight bump detection system is installed right behind a front bumper of said vehicle.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an acceleration pedal sensor, tire direction sensor and a video camera, which are all connected to said controlling unit to provide additional information for processing.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controlling unit is installed below a driver'"'"'s seat.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a further slight bump detection system provided at the back of the vehicle.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said communication unit is a GPRS unit.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second dynamic range is 12 g, 30 g, 70 g or 500 g.

7. A method for vehicle safety enhancement comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether a rollover has occurred for a vehicle;

b) determining whether an airbag is activated or a brake is malfunctioning for said vehicle, if the result of step a) is false;

c) determining whether a slight bump has occurred for said vehicle, if the result of steps a) and b) are false;

d) determining whether a sudden slowdown has occurred for said vehicle, if the result of steps a), b) and c) are false; and

e) sending an alert signal from a communication unit if the result of any of said above steps is true.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said step a) comprises the step of analyzing acceleration data of a three-axis accelerometer in said vehicle.