Emergency vehicle maneuver communications

• US 9,481,295 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Bennie, Brian, Ignaczak, Brad Alan, Freiburger, Randy Michael, Miller, Thomas Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOOFI, YAZAN A
• Application Number:
  US14/611,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20150266411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/10 Change speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/72 for two-dimensional tracking, e.g. combination of angle and range tracking, track-while-scan radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/66 Sonar tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/66 Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• 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: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 : using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

Improved vehicle emergency lighting control may be implemented in a vehicle computer. Data may be collected related to a pursuit of a second vehicle. The collected data can be used to determine at least one of an action of the first vehicle and an action of the second vehicle. An emergency light in the first vehicle can be controlled based on the at least one determined action.

Claims

1. A system for improved vehicle emergency lighting control, comprising a computer deployable in a first vehicle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is programmed to:

collect data related to a pursuit of a second vehicle;

use the collected data to identify a turn of at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and

control an emergency light in the first vehicle based on the at least one determined turn.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the collected data includes at least one of a position, speed, acceleration, deceleration, and turning of the first vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the collected data includes at least one of a position, speed, acceleration, deceleration, and turning of the second vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the collected data includes at least one of ultrasonic, image, radar, lidar, global positioning system (GPS), and infrared data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the collected data includes data from at least one of a steering controller, a brake controller, an engine controller, and a transmission controller.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency light in the first vehicle faces a rear portion of the first vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to detect activation of a pursuit switch before executing the control of the emergency light in the first vehicle based on the at least one determined action.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control of the emergency light in the first vehicle is provided according to a communication sent via a controller area network (CAN) bus in the first vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control of the emergency light in the first vehicle is provided according to a communication sent via a discrete communication.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to provide an audible indication of the determined action.

11. A method for improved vehicle emergency lighting control, comprising, in a computer in a first vehicle:

collecting data related to a pursuit of a second vehicle;

using the collected data to identify a turn of at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and

controlling an emergency light in the first vehicle based on the at least one determined action.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the collected data includes at least one of a position, speed, acceleration, deceleration, and turning of the first vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the collected data includes at least one of a position, speed, acceleration, deceleration, and turning of the second vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the collected data includes at least one of ultrasonic, image, radar, lidar, global positioning system (GPS), and infrared data.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the collected data includes data from at least one of a steering controller, a brake controller, an engine controller, and a transmission controller.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the emergency light in the first vehicle faces a rear portion of the first vehicle.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising detecting activation of a pursuit switch before executing the control of the emergency light in the first vehicle based on the at least one determined action.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the control of the emergency light in the first vehicle is provided according to a communication sent via a controller area network (CAN) bus in the first vehicle.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the control of the emergency light in the first vehicle is provided according to a communication sent via a discrete communication.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing an audible indication of the determined action.