Vehicle alert system utilizing communication system

• US 10,316,571 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2017
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Koravadi, Krishna
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Leon Viet Q
• Application Number:
  US15/632,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20170292315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01027 Safing sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/34 Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians B60R19/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/308 by overlaying the real scene, e.g. through a head-up display on the windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8033 for pedestrian protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/08 Active safety systems predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision or attempting to minimise its consequences
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/767 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/45 Control modes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/54 Obstruction or resistance detection
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 : responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• 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 1/161 : Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 : event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A collision avoidance system for a vehicle includes a communication device disposed at a carrier exterior and remote from the vehicle. The communication device is operable to communicate information regarding location and motion of the communication device carried by the carrier relative to the vehicle. A receiver receives a communication from the communication device, and a processor processes information communicated by the communication device. The processor, responsive to processing communicated information, determines the location and motion of the communication device relative to the vehicle. A side sensing device is disposed at a side of the vehicle and operable to capture data, which is processed to determine approach of the carrier to the vehicle from rearward of the vehicle. Data captured by the side sensing device and information communicated by the communication device are processed by the processor to determine existence of a potential collision between the carrier and the vehicle.

Claims

1. A collision avoidance system for a vehicle, said collision avoidance system comprising:

a communication device disposed at a carrier exterior and remote from a vehicle, said communication device operable to communicate information regarding location and motion of said communication device carried by the carrier relative to the vehicle;

a receiver at the vehicle that receives a communication from said communication device;

a processor disposed at the vehicle, wherein said processor processes information (i) communicated by said communication device disposed at the carrier exterior and remote from the vehicle and (ii) received at said receiver at the vehicle;

wherein said processor, responsive to processing information communicated by said communication device and received at said receiver, determines the location and motion of said communication device relative to the vehicle;

a side sensing device disposed at a side of the vehicle and operable to capture data, wherein data captured by said side sensing device is processed to determine approach of the carrier to the vehicle from rearward of the vehicle and at the side of the vehicle at which said side sensing device is disposed;

wherein data captured by said side sensing device and information communicated by said communication device and received at said receiver are processed by said processor to determine existence of a potential collision between the carrier and the vehicle; and

wherein said side sensing device comprises one of (i) a side camera capturing image data and (ii) a side radar sensor capturing radar data.

2. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a dedicated short range communication device.

3. The collision avoidance system of claim 2, wherein the carrier comprises a mobile processor operable to determine location of said communication device and motion of said communication device.

4. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein said collision avoidance system is operable to control a system or accessory of the vehicle responsive to the determination of existence of a potential collision between the carrier and the vehicle.

5. The collision avoidance system of claim 4, wherein opening of a vehicle door of the vehicle is inhibited responsive to the determination of existence of a potential collision between the carrier and the vehicle.

6. The collision avoidance system of claim 4, wherein location of the carrier is determined by a geographical positioning system.

7. The collision avoidance system of claim 6, wherein said communication device receives information communicated by a home monitoring device.

8. The collision avoidance system of claim 7, wherein information communicated by said home monitoring device comprises information pertaining to a location of a second communication device at or near said home monitoring device.

9. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein said communication device is integrated in a smart phone.

10. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein said collision avoidance system is operable to determine the potential of collision between the carrier and the vehicle being above a threshold level.

11. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein said side sensing device comprises a side camera capturing image data and wherein said side camera is part of an exterior mirror assembly of the vehicle.

12. The collision avoidance system of claim 11, wherein the carrier comprises a bicycle.

13. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein said communication device is part of a v2v communication system.

14. A collision avoidance system for a vehicle, said collision avoidance system comprising:

a communication device disposed at a carrier exterior and remote from a vehicle, said communication device operable to communicate information regarding location and motion of said communication device carried by the carrier relative to the vehicle;

a receiver at the vehicle that receives a communication from said communication device;

a processor disposed at the vehicle, wherein said processor processes information (i) communicated by said communication device disposed at the carrier exterior and remote from the vehicle and (ii) received at said receiver at the vehicle;

wherein said processor, responsive to processing information communicated by said communication device and received at said receiver, determines the location and motion of said communication device relative to the vehicle;

a side sensing device disposed at a side of the vehicle and operable to capture data, wherein data captured by said side sensing device is processed to determine approach of the carrier to the vehicle from rearward of the vehicle and at the side of the vehicle at which said side sensing device is disposed;

wherein data captured by said side sensing device and information communicated by said communication device and received at said receiver are processed by said processor to determine existence of a potential collision between the carrier and the vehicle; and

wherein said communication device comprises a dedicated short range communication device.

15. The collision avoidance system of claim 14, wherein said communication device is part of a v2v communication system.

16. The collision avoidance system of claim 14, wherein said side sensing device comprises a side camera capturing image data.

17. The collision avoidance system of claim 14, wherein said side sensing device comprises a side radar capturing radar data.

18. A collision avoidance system for a vehicle, said collision avoidance system comprising:

a communication device disposed at a carrier exterior and remote from a vehicle, said communication device operable to communicate information regarding location and motion of said communication device carried by the carrier relative to the vehicle;

a receiver at the vehicle that receives a communication from said communication device;

a processor disposed at the vehicle, wherein said processor processes information (i) communicated by said communication device disposed at the carrier exterior and remote from the vehicle and (ii) received at said receiver at the vehicle;

wherein said processor, responsive to processing information communicated by said communication device and received at said receiver, determines the location and motion of said communication device relative to the vehicle;

a side sensing device disposed at a side of the vehicle and operable to capture data, wherein data captured by said side sensing device is processed to determine approach of the carrier to the vehicle from rearward of the vehicle and at the side of the vehicle at which said side sensing device is disposed;

wherein data captured by said side sensing device and information communicated by said communication device and received at said receiver are processed by said processor to determine existence of a potential collision between the carrier and the vehicle;

wherein said collision avoidance system is operable to control a system or accessory of the vehicle responsive to the determination of existence of a potential collision between the carrier and the vehicle; and

wherein said collision avoidance system is operable to determine the potential of collision between the carrier and the vehicle being above a threshold level.

19. The collision avoidance system of claim 18, wherein said communication device is part of a v2v communication system.

20. The collision avoidance system of claim 19, wherein said side sensing device comprises a side camera capturing image data.

21. The collision avoidance system of claim 19, wherein said side sensing device comprises a side radar capturing radar data.