Vehicle and environmental detection system

• US 9,459,349 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Incorporated (Nacco Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hyster-Yale Group Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Kenan, Fitzsimmons, Alan H., Moore, Stephen A., Brock, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, LUAT T
• Application Number:
  US14/525,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20160116587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 701/41, 701/36, 701/45, 701/49, 315/77, 315/82, 340/468, 340/435, 340/933
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/24 for lighting other areas than only the way ahead
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/30 Indexing codes relating to the vehicle environment
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/33 Driving situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2800/20 Utility vehicles, e.g. for agriculture, construction work
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• 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: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/00 Arrangements for automatically controlling steering depending on driving conditions sensed and responded to, e.g. control circuits means for initiating a change in direction B62D1/00; steering valves B62D5/06; combined with means for inclining the vehicle body or wheels on bends B62D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/065 non-masted mobile jacks of the garage type mounted on wheels or rollers B66F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07504 Accessories, e.g. for towing, charging, locking
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S15/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 : for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 : Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

A system includes a detection device configured to transmit and receive one or more signals in a generally vertical direction above a vehicle. Additionally, the system may include a processing device configured to measure a time of flight associated with the transmission and receipt of the one or more signals in the generally vertical direction. A distance travelled by the one or more signals may be determined based, at least in part, on the measured time of flight, and the distance travelled may be compared with a threshold distance to determine an overhead clearance of the vehicle. In response to determining the overhead clearance, a vehicle system may be activated.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a detection device configured to transmit and receive one or more signals in a generally vertical direction above a vehicle;

a vehicle system; and

a processing device configured to;

measure a time of flight associated with the transmission and receipt of the one or more signals in the generally vertical direction;

determine, based at least in part on the measured time of flight, a distance travelled by the one or more signals;

compare the distance travelled with a threshold distance to determine an overhead clearance of the vehicle, wherein the overhead clearance is associated with an operational range of distances; and

in response to determining the overhead clearance is within the operational range of distances, activate the vehicle system in a first mode of operation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle system comprises a vehicle lighting system, and wherein the vehicle lighting system is activated in response to determining that the distance travelled by the one or more signals is less than the threshold distance.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing device is further configured to:

monitor the receipt of the one or more signals for a period of time; and

compare the period of time against a predetermined time delay, wherein the vehicle lighting system is activated in response to both determining that the distance travelled by the one or more signals is less than the threshold distance and determining that the period of time is greater than the predetermined time delay.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the threshold distance corresponds to a trailer height, wherein the vehicle system comprises a trailer securing system configured to prohibit a trailer from departing a loading dock, and wherein the trailer securing system is activated in response to determining the overhead vehicle clearance.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processing device is further configured to:

determine a second overhead vehicle clearance based on a transmission and receipt of one or more subsequent signals in the generally vertical direction; and

in response to determining the second overhead vehicle clearance, deactivate the trailer securing system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle system comprises a vehicle traction system, wherein the traction system is activated to operate in the standard mode of operation in response to determining that the distance travelled by the one or more signals is greater than the threshold distance, and wherein a maximum speed of the vehicle traction system is restricted in response to determining that the distance travelled by the one or more signals is less than the threshold distance.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle system comprises a hoisting system, and wherein a maximum lift height of the hoisting system is restricted in response to determining that the distance travelled by the one or more signals is less than the threshold distance.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to activate the vehicle system to operate in a second mode of operation in response to determining the overhead clearance is outside of the operational range of distances.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to deactivate the vehicle system in response to determining the overhead clearance is outside of the operational range of distances.

10. A system, comprising:

means for transmitting and receiving one or more signals in a generally vertical direction above a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is associated with a vehicle system;

means for determining, based at least in part on a measured time of flight associated with the transmission and receipt of the one or more signals, a distance travelled by the one or more signals, wherein an overhead clearance of the vehicle is determined by comparing the distance travelled with a threshold distance; and

means for activating the vehicle system in response to determining the overhead clearance.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for activating comprises:

means for activating the vehicle system in a first mode of operation in response to determining a first overhead clearance of the vehicle; and

means for activating the vehicle system in a second mode of operation in response to determining a second overhead clearance of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle system comprises a first light and a second light, wherein the first mode of operation comprises activating the first light, and wherein the second mode of operation comprises activating the second light.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle system comprises a traction motor, wherein the first mode of operation comprises activating the traction motor at a standard operating speed, and wherein the second mode of operation comprises restricting the traction motor to a reduced operating speed which is less than the standard operating speed.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle system comprises a trailer securing system configured to prohibit a trailer from departing a loading dock, wherein the first mode of operation comprises activating the trailer securing system, and wherein the second mode of operation comprises deactivating the securing system to allow the trailer to depart the loading dock.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle system comprises a hoisting device, wherein the first mode of operation comprises enabling the hoisting device to operate at a standard lift height, and wherein the second mode of operation comprises restricting the hoisting device to operate at a reduced lift height which is less than the standard lift height.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for transmitting and receiving comprises means for transmitting and receiving one or more acoustic signals, and wherein the means for determining comprises means for determining the distance travelled by the one or more acoustic signals based, at least in part, on the measured time of flight associated with the transmission and receipt of the one or more acoustic signals.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the overhead clearance is associated with a range of distances, and wherein the vehicle system is operated in a first mode of operation in response to determining the overhead clearance is within the range of distances.

18. A method, comprising:

transmitting one or more signals in a generally vertical direction above a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is associated with a vehicle system;

receiving the one or more signals;

measuring a time of flight associated with the transmission and receipt of the one or more signals in the generally vertical direction;

determining, based at least in part on the measured time of flight, a distance travelled by the one or more signals;

comparing the distance travelled with a threshold distance to determine an overhead clearance of the vehicle, wherein the overhead clearance is associated with a first range of distances; and

in response to determining the overhead clearance, activating the vehicle system, wherein activating the vehicle system comprises operating the vehicle system in a first mode of operation in response to determining the overhead clearance.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining a second overhead clearance based, at least in part, on the transmission and receipt of one or more subsequent signals in a generally vertical direction above the vehicle, wherein the second overhead clearance is associated with a second range of distances, and wherein the method further comprises operating the vehicle system in a second mode of operation in response to determining the second overhead clearance.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining a time period in which the one or more subsequent signals are transmitted and received; and

comparing the time period with a predetermined time delay, wherein the vehicle system is operated in the second mode of operation in response to both determining the second overhead clearance and determining that the time period exceeds the predetermined time delay.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining a direction of vehicle travel selected from a forward direction and a reverse direction, wherein the vehicle system is operated in the first mode of operation in response to both determining the first overhead clearance and determining that the vehicle is operating in the forward direction, and wherein the vehicle system is operated in the second mode of operation in response to both determining the second overhead clearance and determining that the vehicle is operating in the reverse direction.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the vehicle system comprises one or more of a vehicle lighting system, vehicle traction control system, a vehicle hydraulic system, a vehicle steering control system, a vehicle coast control system, a vehicle braking system, or a loading dock securing system.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the vehicle system is operated in the first mode of operation in response to determining the overhead clearance is within the first range of distance, and wherein the method further comprises operating the vehicle system in a second mode of operation in response to determining the overhead clearance is within a second range of distances.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first mode of operation comprises a restricted operation of the vehicle system, and wherein the second mode of operation comprises a standard operation of the vehicle system.