Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

• US 10,266,164 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2017
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• 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 M
• Application Number:
  US15/425,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20170146563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 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 method of re-referencing a gyroscope located within a vehicle, the method comprising:

a. detecting an acceleration value of the vehicle using one or more accelerometers, wherein the acceleration value represents an acceleration the vehicle is experiencing;

b. sending a signal to a control device based upon the acceleration value; and

c. separately re-referencing the gyroscope when the vehicle is stopped and when no acceleration has been detected for a predetermined period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the acceleration value comprises an absolute acceleration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gyroscope is re-referenced when it is detected that the acceleration value is zero.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the acceleration value is detected by a lateral axis accelerometer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the acceleration value is detected by a vertical axis accelerometer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the acceleration value is detected by both of the lateral axis accelerometer and the vertical axis accelerometer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a value from a longitudinal axis of the accelerometer is used to re-reference the gyroscope.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the gyroscope is re-referenced after a period of time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the gyroscope is re-referenced while the vehicle is moving.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the gyroscope is re-referenced while the vehicle is stopped.

11. A system for re-referencing a gyroscope implemented within a vehicle, the system comprising:

a. an accelerometer for detecting an acceleration value of the vehicle; and

b. a control device,

wherein the accelerometer sends a signal to the control device based upon an acceleration value representing acceleration the vehicle is experiencing and the control device separately re-references the gyroscope when the vehicle is stopped and when no acceleration has been detected for a predetermined period of time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the accelerometer sends a signal to the control device based upon an absolute acceleration experienced by the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the gyroscope is re-referenced when it is detected that the acceleration value is zero.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the acceleration value is detected by a lateral axis accelerometer.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the acceleration value is detected by a vertical axis accelerometer.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the acceleration value is detected by both of the lateral axis accelerometer and the vertical axis accelerometer.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein a signal from a longitudinal axis of the accelerometer is used to re-reference the gyroscope.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the gyroscope is re-referenced after a period of time.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the gyroscope is re-referenced while the vehicle is moving.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the gyroscope is re-referenced while the vehicle is stopped.

21. A method of re-referencing a gyroscope within a moving vehicle, the method comprising:

a. detecting an acceleration value of the vehicle using one or more accelerometers, wherein the acceleration value represents an acceleration the vehicle is experiencing; and

b. separately re-referencing the gyroscope when the vehicle is stopped and the acceleration value is zero.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the acceleration value is detected by a lateral axis accelerometer.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the acceleration value is detected by a vertical axis accelerometer.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the acceleration value is detected by both of the lateral axis accelerometer and the vertical axis accelerometer.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein a signal from a longitudinal axis of the accelerometer is used to re-reference the gyroscope.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the gyroscope is re-referenced after a period of time.