Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

• US 9,830,821 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Fritz, Braunberger, Beau M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alharbi, Adam
• Application Number:
  US14/584,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20150187215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/447 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing the shape or intensity of the indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A communication system comprises a pointable range finder to calculate a distance between the vehicle and an object, a recorder for recording a status of the vehicle and a control device. The range finder sends a signal to the control device corresponding to the vehicle'"'"'s distance from the object and the control device operates the recorder in a manner dependent upon the signal from the range finder. The recorder is able to record the event if the vehicle is an unsafe distance from the object. The unsafe distance is able to be a programmed distance. In some embodiments, the unsafe distance increases with an increase in speed of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the unsafe distance is determined by a programmable constant. In these embodiments, the unsafe distance is determined according to a speed of the vehicle, the vehicle'"'"'s distance from an object and a pre-defined safe zone threshold value.

Claims

1. A communication system for a moving vehicle comprising:

a. a pointable range finder to calculate a distance between the vehicle and an object;

b. a recorder for recording an operation status of the vehicle; and

c. a control device coupled to the rangefinder and the recorder, wherein the range finder sends a signal to the control device corresponding to a distance of the vehicle from the object and the control device operates the recorder in a manner dependent upon the signal from the range finder wherein the control device sends a signal to the recorder to record the operation status of the vehicle if the vehicle enters a safe-zone threshold with respect to the object, and wherein the safe-zone threshold depends on a speed of the vehicle, and further wherein the safe-zone threshold increases as the speed of the vehicle increases once the vehicle reaches a determined speed.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein a recorded operation status is saved.

3. The communication system of claim 2, wherein a plurality of different recorded operation statuses recorded at different times are saved.

4. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the saved operation status is retrievable.

5. The communication system of claim 4, wherein the saved operation status is automatically retrievable.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the safe-zone threshold is a programmable value.

7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the range finder is actively pointable.

8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the rangefinder is pointable in the direction of the object as the vehicle is making a turn.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the rangefinder receives data from an accelerometer to determine the direction and degree of turn.

10. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a speed control system coupled to the control device, wherein the control device operates the speed control system in a manner dependent upon the distance between the vehicle and the object.

11. The communication of system of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a leading vehicle.

23. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the recorded operation status comprises a GPS location of the vehicle.

12. A communication method for a moving vehicle comprising:

a. calculating a distance of the vehicle from an object; and

b. recording the event if the vehicle enters a safe-zone threshold with respect to the object, wherein the safe-zone threshold depends on a traveling speed of the vehicle, and further wherein the safe-zone threshold increases as the speed of the vehicle increases once the vehicle reaches a determined speed.

13. The communication method of claim 12, wherein the event is saved.

14. The communication method of claim 13, wherein a plurality of different recorded events recorded at different times are saved.

15. The communication method of claim 13, wherein the saved event is retrievable.

16. The communication method of claim 15, wherein the saved event is automatically retrievable.

17. The communication method of claim 12, wherein the safe-zone threshold is a programmable value.

18. The communication method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting the speed of the vehicle based upon the distance of the vehicle from the object.

24. The communication method of claim 12, wherein recording comprises recording a GPS location of the vehicle.

19. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. a system located within a vehicle to calculate and record an unsafe distance encroachment event by the vehicle into a safe-zone threshold with respect to an object, wherein the safe-zone threshold depends on a traveling speed of the vehicle, and further wherein the safe-zone threshold increases as the speed of the vehicle increases once the vehicle reaches a determined speed; and

b. a database for saving the encroachment event, wherein the database is not located within the vehicle.

20. The communication system of claim 19, wherein the unsafe distance is programmable.

21. The communication system of claim 19, wherein the encroachment event is automatically saved within the database.

22. The communication system of claim 21, wherein the encroachment event is automatically saved when the vehicle returns to its starting point.

25. The communication system of claim 19, wherein the system records a GPS location of the vehicle with the encroachment event.