Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

• US 9,878,693 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2014
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Fritz
• Primary Examiner(s): Alharbi, Adam
• Application Number:
  US14/340,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20140336892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/1042 using at least two sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/32 of only one vehicle part or side
• 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: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/32 responsive to a speed condition, e.g. acceleration or deceleration using electrical circuitry or regulation means B60T8/17 ; B60T8/28 takes precedence; electric devices on electrically propelled vehicles indicating the wheel slip B60L3/10; measuring linear or angular speed per se G01P3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/043 about the roll axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/04 related to roll-over prevention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/08 : for idling F02D41/06, F02D41/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/10 : for acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/10 : by using measurements of speed or acceleration G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 : Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/005 : altimeters for aircraft G01C5/02, G01C5/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/003 : Kinematic accelerometers, i.e. measuring acceleration in relation to an external reference frame, e.g. Ferratis accelerometers G01P15/001, G01P15/16, G01P15/165 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/14 : by making use of gyroscopes gyroscopes per se G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 : with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• 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 for a vehicle comprises a mechanism for sensing a motion status of a vehicle, a control device, plurality of data acquisition sensors, and one or more alerting device activation circuits. The communication system is customizable with the plurality of data acquisition sensors and one or more alerting device activation circuits based upon the needs of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for automatically turning off an idling vehicle engine comprising:

a. a vehicle speed sensor that emits a signal corresponding to a stationary motion status of the vehicle;

b. a brake engagement detector to detect a brake engagement of the vehicle;

c. a control device coupled to the vehicle speed sensor; and

d. an idling timer with an expiration time and which is activated after receiving a signal corresponding to the stationary motion status of the vehicle and engagement of the brakes, wherein the idling timer sends a de-activation signal to the control device upon expiration and the control device turns off the vehicle'"'"'s engine and accessory equipment of the vehicle, and wherein the idling timer is programmed to expire after a predetermined period of time.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an alerting device capable of warning other drivers of a stationary status of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the de-activation signal further turns off a lighting system of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an engine temperature sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising an external temperature sensor.

6. A system for automatically turning off an idling vehicle engine comprising:

a. a sensor that emits a signal corresponding to a stationary motion status of the vehicle;

b. a brake engagement detector to detect a brake engagement of the vehicle;

c. a control device coupled to the sensor; and

d. an idling timer with an expiration time and which is activated after receiving a signal corresponding to the stationary motion status of the vehicle and engagement of the brakes, wherein the idling timer sends a de-activation signal to the control device upon expiration and the control device turns off the vehicle'"'"'s engine and accessory equipment of the vehicle, and wherein the idling timer is programmed to expire after a predetermined period of time.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an alerting device capable of warning other drivers of a stationary status of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the de-activation signal further turns off a lighting system of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising an engine temperature sensor.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising an external temperature sensor.

11. A system for automatically turning off an idling vehicle engine comprising:

a. a sensor that emits a signal corresponding to a stationary motion status of the vehicle;

b. a brake engagement detector to detect a brake engagement of the vehicle; and

c. an idling timer with an expiration time and which is activated after receiving a signal corresponding to the stationary motion status of the vehicle and engagement of the brakes, wherein the idling timer sends a de-activation signal upon expiration used to turn off the vehicle'"'"'s engine and accessory equipment of the vehicle, and wherein the idling timer is programmed to expire after a predetermined period of time.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising an alerting device capable of warning other drivers of a stationary status of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the de-activation signal further turns off a lighting system of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising an engine temperature sensor.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising an external temperature sensor.