Vehicle collision avoidance system

• US 9,714,033 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2016
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ai Incorprated
• Original Assignee: Ai Incorprated
• Inventors: Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US15/017,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20160229396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 701301, 701 41, 701 70, 340435, 340903
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/54 Audio sensitive means, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2422/95 Measuring the same parameter at multiple locations of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/80 Spatial relation or speed relative to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• 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 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle collision avoidance system that utilizes signal emitters and receivers positioned around the periphery of vehicles to detect nearby vehicles. Upon detection of a nearby vehicle, the system may execute any of a variety of predefined responses based on the distance from the local vehicle to the detected nearby vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for a subject vehicle to avoid collisions with a different vehicle comprising:

emitting signals from a plurality of signal emitters positioned around the periphery of a subject vehicle such that signals are emitted within a predetermined range;

receiving one or more inbound signals emitted from a different vehicle with one or more signal receivers positioned around the periphery of the subject vehicle;

determining a distance from the subject vehicle to the different vehicle upon receipt of the one or more inbound signals at a location of a signal receiver that received the one or more inbound signals; and

,

executing any of a variety of predefined collision avoidance actions, separately or in combination, based on the determined distance or distances from the subject vehicle to the different vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said signals are any of:

laser light beams, infrared light beams, radio waves, and ultrasound waves.

3. The method of claim 1 in which said predefined collision avoidance actions include any of:

countersteering, applying a haptic alert, emitting a sound alert, displaying a visual alert, reducing speed, and increasing speed.

4. The method of claim 3 in which countersteering comprises:

in a first step, determining whether said distance from the subject vehicle to the different vehicle is less than a predetermined threshold;

in a second step, if said distance is less than said predetermined threshold, determining a second distance to a nearest obstacle on a side of the subject vehicle opposite of a side on which said different vehicle was detected; and

,

in a third step, if said second distance is greater than a predetermined threshold, adjusting the steering position of the subject vehicle a predetermined amount, in a direction opposite of a side on which said inbound signal or signals were received, for a predetermined length of time.

5. A system for avoiding vehicular collisions comprising:

a plurality of signal emitters positioned around the periphery of a subject vehicle such that signals may be emitted within a predetermined range;

a plurality of signal receivers positioned around the periphery of the subject vehicle such that inbound signals emitted from a different vehicle within a predetermined field may be received;

and,

one or more predefined collision avoidance actions corresponding to one or more vehicle to vehicle distance thresholds;

whereby, upon receipt of one or more inbound signals from a different vehicle, the subject vehicle;

determines the distance from the subject vehicle to a different vehicle at a location of a signal receiver that received one or more inbound signals; and

executes the one or more collision avoidance actions corresponding to a distance from the subject vehicle to the different vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5 in which said signals are any of:

laser light beams, infrared light beams, radio waves, and ultrasound waves.

7. The system of claim 5 in which said predefined collision avoidance actions include any of:

countersteering, applying a haptic alert, emitting a sound alert, displaying a visual alert, reducing speed, and increasing speed.

8. The system of claim 7 in which countersteering comprises:

in a first step, determining whether the distance from the subject vehicle to the different vehicle is less than a predetermined threshold;

in a second step, if said distance is less than said predetermined threshold, determining a second distance to a nearest obstacle on the side of the subject vehicle opposite of the side on which the different vehicle was detected; and

,

in a third step, if said second distance is greater than a predetermined threshold, adjusting the steering position of the subject vehicle a predetermined amount, in a direction opposite of the side on which said inbound signal or signals were received, for a predetermined length of time.