Accident prevention system and a vehicle including the accident prevention system

• US 8,766,846 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Surveillance Guard Co., Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Surveillance Guard Co., Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kiehne, Bruce Leigh
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US13/447,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20120326917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 340/428, 340/462, 340/427, 340/932.2, 340/450.1, 340/453, 340/457.3, 340/479, 340/933, 340/942, 340/425.5, 340/435, 340/438, 701/70, 307/10.2, 307/9.1, 307/10.3, 307/10.5, 307/10.6, 303/3, 303/122.09, 303/89, 303/124, 303/3.89, 342/71
• US Class Current: 342/71
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/745 acting on a hydraulic system, e.g. a master cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• 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: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/876 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S15/872 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9317 Driving backwards
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2015/938 in the bumper area radar in bumper area G01S2013/93275; bumper with obstacle sensor of electric or electronic type B60R19/483

Abstract

A vehicle with an accident prevention system is disclosed. The vehicle also has a foot brake for stopping the vehicle. The system includes a sensor arrangement for sensing an object behind a rear end of the vehicle that generates an object recognition signal when it senses an object within range behind the vehicle. The sensor arrangement includes passive IR sensors or reflected pulse sensors such as sonar or radar sensors on the rear end. A controller generates an accident prevention response signal on receiving an object recognition signal from the sensor arrangement. A brake applicator is operatively coupled to the brake to stop the vehicle when the controller generates a response signal. Conveniently the system includes an alarm for sounding an alarm signal. A method for preventing an accident where a vehicle which is reversing at low speed collides with a person is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for preventing a reversing accident where a vehicle that is reversing a low speed collides with a person in the path of travel of the vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing an object in the path of travel by means of a sensor arrangement that generates an object recognition signal when the sensor arrangement senses an object satisfying a predetermined condition;

wherein the sensor arrangement comprises an IR sensor arrangement and a reflected pulse sensor arrangement that are mounted on the rear end of the vehicle, and sensing an object comprises;

passive sensing of IR heat from a mammal with said IR sensor and generating an object recognition signal when it senses an object satisfying the condition that it radiates IR heat corresponding to a mammal, and

transmitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle and sensing return pulses returning to the sensor arrangement, and generating an object recognition signal comprises sensing when an object is within a predetermined range of the rear end of the vehicle;

sending the object recognition signal to a controller that is operatively coupled to the sensor arrangement; and

sending an accident prevention response signal from the controller to a brake applicator on receiving the object recognition signal which then applies the brake of the vehicle whereby to resist movement of the vehicle.

2. A method for preventing a reversing accident according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises at least one IR sensor on a rear end of the vehicle, and sensing an object comprises passive sensing of IR heat from a mammal with said IR sensor and generating an object recognition signal when it senses an object satisfying the condition that it radiates IR heat corresponding to a mammal.

3. The method for preventing a reversing accident according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a reflected pulse sensor arrangement on a rear end of the vehicle, and sensing an object comprises transmitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end, and sensing return pulses returning to the sensor arrangement, and generating an object recognition signal comprises sensing when an object is within a predetermined range of the rear end of the vehicle.

4. The method for preventing a reversing accident according to claim 1, wherein sensing an object comprises sensing when an object is within a predetermined range of between 0.5 meters and 2.0 meters of the rear end of the vehicle.

5. The method for preventing a reversing accident according to claim 1, herein transmitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle comprises transmitting pulses of sound waves or radio waves or microwaves away from the rear end of the vehicle.

6. The method for preventing a reversing accident according to claim 1, which also includes sending each accident prevention response signal to an alarm which then issues an alarm signal.

7. The method for preventing a reversing accident according to claim 1, wherein issuing an alarm signal comprises issuing an audio alarm and a visual alarm.

8. The method for preventing a reversing accident according to claim 1, wherein applying the brake of the vehicle comprises passing en electric current through a solenoid to displace a cable which is operatively connected to a brake pedal of a foot brake whereby to displace the brake pedal downward to apply the foot brake.

28. Software for preventing a reversing accident, the software embodied on at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and operable when executed by at least one processor to perform the method according to claim 1.

9. A method for preventing a reversing accident where a vehicle that is reversing a low speed collides with a person in the vehicle'"'"'s path of travel, the method comprising:

sensing an object rearward of a rear end of the vehicle by means of a sensor arrangement that generates an object recognition signal when an object is sensed that meets a predetermined condition;

wherein the sensor arrangement comprises an IR sensor arrangement and a reflected pulse sensor arrangement that are mounted on the rear end of the vehicle, and sensing an object comprises;

passive sensing of IR heat from a mammal with said IR sensor and generating an object recognition signal when it senses an object satisfying the condition that it radiates IR heat corresponding to a mammal, and

transmitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle and sensing return pulses returning to the sensor arrangement, and generating an object recognition signal comprises sensing when an object is within a predetermined range of the rear end of the vehicle;

generating an accident prevention response signal on receiving the object recognition signal from the sensor arrangement, the accident prevention response signal response comprises applying the brakes of the vehicle to either bring the vehicle to a halt if it is reversing or to stop the vehicle from reversing if the vehicle is stationary.

10. The method for preventing a reversing accident according to claim 9, wherein sensing an object rearward of a rear end of the vehicle comprises sensing IR heat from a mammal using a passive IR sensor or sensing an object comprises transmitting a pulse of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle and sensing for return pulses that return to the sensor arrangement.

11. The method for preventing a reversing accident according to claim 9, wherein the generating an accident prevention response signal comprises issuing an alarm.

29. Software for preventing a reversing accident, the software embodied on at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and operable when executed by at least one processor to perform the method according to claim 9.

12. An accident prevention system for use on a vehicle comprising a front end and a rear end, the accident prevention system comprising:

a sensor arrangement for mounting on the vehicle for sensing an object rearward of the rear end of the vehicle, and that generates an object recognition signal when the sensor arrangement senses an object satisfying a predetermined condition;

a controller that is operatively coupled to the sensor arrangement and that generates an accident prevention response signal on receiving an object recognition signal from the sensor arrangement;

wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a reflected pulse sensor arrangement that transmits pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle and senses return pulses returning to the sensor arrangement, and the sensor arrangement generates an object recognition signal, when the sensor arrangement senses an object satisfying the condition that the object is within a predetermined range of the rear end of the vehicle, and sends the object recognition signal to the controller; and

a brake applicator that is operatively coupled to a brake of the vehicle in use, the brake applicator is operatively connected to the controller and applies the brake of the vehicle when the controller generates the accident prevention response signal whereby to resist movement of the vehicle.

13. The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the sensor arrangement that comprises at least one IR sensor that is mounted on the rear end of the vehicle that senses heat and generates an object recognition signal when it senses an object satisfying the condition that it radiates IR heat corresponding to a mammal.

14. The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the IR sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of IR sensors that are spaced apart across the rear end of the vehicle.

15. The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the reflected pulse sensor arrangement generates an object recognition signal when the reflected pulse sensor arrangement identifies objects within a range that is a distance of between 0.5 meters and 2.0 meters of the rear end of the vehicle.

16. The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the reflected pulse sensor arrangement comprises one or more reflected pulse sensors positioned on the rear end of the vehicle.

17. The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises:

an IR sensor arrangement that senses IR heat and that generates an object recognition signal when the IR sensor arrangement senses an object satisfying the condition that it radiates IR heat corresponding to a mammal, and sends it to the controller; and

a reflected pulse sensor arrangement that transmits pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle and senses return pulses returning to the sensor arrangement, and the sensor arrangement generates an object recognition signal, when it senses an object satisfying the condition that it is within a predetermined range of the rear end of the vehicle, and sends the object recognition signal to the controller.

18. The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the IR sensor arrangement comprises one or more passive IR sensors and the reflected pulse sonar arrangement comprises a plurality of sonar sensors.

19. The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the brake applicator comprises a solenoid that is operatively connected to the controller, a brake mounting member for operatively mounting to a foot brake of the vehicle in use, and a cable operatively coupling the brake mounting member to the solenoid.

20. The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising an alarm that is operatively connected to the controller, and wherein the alarm issues an alarm signal on receiving an accident prevention response signal from the controller.

21. The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the controller is a central processing unit contained within a control housing, and wherein the CPU is wired to the sensor arrangement and the CPU is wired to the brake applicator and to the alarm.

22. A vehicle comprising an accident prevention system installed thereon, comprising:

a vehicle body comprising a front end and a rear end mounted on ground engaging formations that permit the vehicle body to travel across a surface, the vehicle comprising at least one brake for stopping the vehicle;

a sensor arrangement mounted on the vehicle for sensing an object rearward of the rear end of the vehicle, and that generates an object recognition signal when the sensor arrangement senses an object satisfying a predetermined condition;

a controller that is operatively coupled to the sensor arrangement and that generates an accident prevention response signal on receiving an object recognition signal from the sensor arrangement;

wherein the sensor arrangement comprises an IR sensor arrangement that senses IR heat and that generates an object recognition signal when IR sensor arrangement senses an object radiating IR heat corresponding to a mammal and sends the object recognition signal to the controller; and

a reflected pulse sensor arrangement that transmits pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle and senses return pulses returning to the sensor arrangement, and the sensor arrangement generates an object recognition signal when the sensor arrangement senses an object within a predetermined range of the rear end of the vehicle and sends the object recognition signal to the controller; and

a brake applicator that is operatively coupled to a brake, and the brake applicator is operatively connected to the controller and applies the brake when the controller generates the accident prevention response signal whereby to resist movement of the vehicle.

23. A vehicle comprising an accident prevention system installed thereon according to claim 22, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises an IR sensor arrangement that senses IR heat and that generates an object recognition signal when it senses an object satisfying the condition that it radiates IR heat corresponding to a mammal, and sends it to the controller.

24. A vehicle comprising an accident prevention system installed thereon according to claim 22, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a reflected pulse sensor arrangement that transmits pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle and senses return pulses returning to the sensor arrangement, and the sensor arrangement generates an object recognition signal when the sensor arrangement senses an object satisfying the condition that the object is within a predetermined range of the rear end of the vehicle, and sends the object recognition signal to the controller.

25. A vehicle comprising an accident prevention system installed thereon according to claim 24, wherein the reflected pulse sensor arrangement comprises one or more reflected pulse sensors that are positioned on the rear end of the vehicle, and wherein the reflected pulse sensor arrangement generates an object recognition signal when the reflected pulse sensor arrangement identifies objects within a range that is a distance of between 0.5 meters and 2.0 meters from the rear end of the vehicle.

26. A vehicle comprising an accident prevention system installed thereon according to claim 25, wherein the one or more reflected pulse sensors comprises sonar sensors that pulse sound waves, or radar sensors that pulse radio waves, or microwave sensors that pulse microwaves, and the sensors sense when the reflected waves return to the sensor arrangement.

27. A vehicle comprising an accident prevention system installed thereon according to claim 22, further comprising an alarm that is operatively connected to the controller, and wherein the alarm issues an alarm signal on receiving an accident prevention response signal from the controller.