Methods and apparatus to detect and warn proximate entities of interest

• US 9,230,419 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2010
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Inventors: Beggs, Ryan P., Boerger, James C., Hoffmann, David J., Markham, Ken, McNeill, Matthew, Muhl, Timothy, Nelson, Kyle, Oates, James, Senfleben, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US12/844,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20120025964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,988 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/469, 340/456, 340/461, 340/435, 340/688, 701/301, 701/93, 701/33.7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2673 on parts worn by the driver, e.g. clothes, gloves or bags, specially adapted to provide auxiliary vehicle signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/525 automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2800/20 Utility vehicles, e.g. for agriculture, construction work
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

Systems and methods to detect and warn proximate entities of interest are described herein. An example signal generation system for a vehicle capable of different modes of movement includes a detector to determine at least one property of vehicle movement and an output representative of that at least one property and a selectively variable signal generator includes an input to receive the at least one output representative of the at least one property of vehicle movement and, responsively, generates a selected signal based on the received output. In some examples, a detector on a pedestrian detects the selected signal from the signal generator and, responsively, provides an output indicative of a vehicle in proximity to the pedestrian. In some examples, a trajectory vector is generated for at least two entities of interest based on at least one characteristic of movement of each entity. Each entity'"'"'s trajectory vector is expanded and each entity'"'"'s expanded trajectory vector is analyzed for overlap with the other entity'"'"'s expanded trajectory vector to assess the possibility of a collision between them.

Claims

1. A warning signal generation system comprising:

a selector to select between different modes of movement for a vehicle, the different modes of movement including at least a forward position to enable the vehicle to move in a forward direction and a rearward mode to enable the vehicle to move in a rearward direction;

a detector to determine which of the different modes of movement has been selected via the selector and to produce an output indicative of that mode of movement; and

a signal generator including an input to receive the output indicative of the vehicle mode of movement from the detector, the signal generator to generate a selected signal based on the received output indicative of the mode of movement of the vehicle, the selected signal to represent a warning zone proximate the vehicle based on a direction of movement of the vehicle indicated by the detected mode of movement of the vehicle, the signal generator to change a direction of the selected signal based on a change in the mode of movement detected by the detector, and the signal generator to modify a size and a shape of the warning zone based on a speed of the vehicle, the selected signal to communicate with a device separate from the vehicle and within the warning zone.

2. A signal generation system as in claim 1, wherein the modes of movement of the vehicle further includes a stationary position.

3. A signal generation system as in claim 2, wherein the selected signal generates the warning zone in a forward direction relative to vehicle travel when the forward position is selected via the selector.

4. A signal generation system as in claim 1, wherein the selected signal is at least one of a form of a magnetic signal, a RF signal, an optical signal, or an infrared signal.

14. The signal generation system of claim 1, wherein the shape of the warning zone provided by the selected signal changes based on the mode of movement of the vehicle.

15. The signal generation system of claim 14, wherein the shape of the warning zone radiates only in front of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving in a forward direction.

16. The signal generation system of claim 1, wherein the selected signal is a proximity signal broadcast by a transmitter of the vehicle.

17. The signal generation system of claim 1, wherein the selected signal is to be detected by a receiver positioned within the warning zone.

18. The signal generation system of claim 1, wherein the selected signal is generated based on a gear selection of the vehicle provided by the selector.

19. The signal generation system of claim 2, wherein the selected signal provides the warning zone when the mode of movement is stationary.

20. The signal generation system of claim 19, wherein the warning zone generated by the selected signal radiates in all directions relative to the vehicle when the mode of movement is stationary.

21. The signal generation system of claim 20, wherein the warning zone has a circular profile when the mode of movement is stationary.

22. The signal generation system of claim 2, wherein the selected signal generates the warning zone in a rearward direction relative to vehicle travel when reverse is the mode of movement.

23. The signal generation system of claim 2, wherein the selected signal generates the warning zone having a non-circular profile when at least one of forward or reverse is the mode of movement.

24. The signal generation system of claim 1, wherein the warning zone projects a first distance when the vehicle is traveling at a first speed and the warning zone projects a second distance when the vehicle is traveling at a second speed, the first distance being greater than the second distance when the first speed is greater than the second speed.

5. A signal generation system for a vehicle capable of different modes of movement, the generation system comprising:

a detector to determine a property of vehicle movement and to produce an output representative of the property, the property of vehicle movement being a dynamic property including a forward direction and a rearward direction; and

a signal generator including an input to receive the output representative of the property of vehicle movement from the detector, the signal generator to generate a first selected signal that provides a first warning zone that is directed toward a front of the vehicle when the detector detects the vehicle is moving in the forward direction and a second selected signal that provides a second warning zone that is directed toward a rear of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving in the rearward direction, the signal generator to dynamically modify a size and shape of the first and second warning zones based on the property of vehicle movement as the vehicle moves along a travel path, the signal generator to select between the first selected signal and the second selected signal based on a detected change in direction of the vehicle, the first and second selected signals to communicate with a device separate from the vehicle and within the first and second warning zones.

6. The signal generation system of claim 5, wherein the dynamic property further includes a speed of the vehicle.

7. The signal generation system of claim 5, wherein the dynamic property includes a position of a vehicle steering wheel.

8. The signal generation system of claim 5, wherein the dynamic property includes a rotational direction in which a vehicle steering wheel is being rotated.

9. A signal generation system for a vehicle capable of different modes of movement, the generation system comprising:

a detector to determine a property of vehicle movement and to produce an output representative of the property, the property of vehicle movement being a dynamic property including at least one of a forward direction and a rearward direction; and

a signal generator including an input to receive the output representative of the property of vehicle movement from the detector and, responsively, to generate a selected signal based on the received output, wherein the selected signal provides a warning zone that is directed toward a front of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving in the forward direction and directed toward a rear of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving in the rearward direction, the selected signal to communicate with a device separate from the vehicle and within the warning zone, wherein the dynamic property is a rotational direction in which a vehicle steering wheel is being rotated, and wherein the selected signal projects the warning zone in a direction opposite the rotational direction in which the vehicle steering wheel is rotated.

10. The signal generation system of claim 9, wherein the dynamic property further comprises a vehicle selector being engaged in at least one of a forward position or a rearward position.

11. The signal generation system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of detectors, each of the detectors to determine the property of vehicle movement and to produce a property-representative output, and the signal generator to generate the selected signal based on the property-representative outputs from the detectors.

12. The signal generation system of claim 9, wherein the selected signal is light.

13. The signal generation system of claim 12, wherein a color of the light is selected based on the received input.