Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

• US 10,391,989 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2017
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• 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:
  US15/791,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20180043871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 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 vehicle monitoring system comprising:

a. an accelerometer for detecting a lateral acceleration of the vehicle;

b. a speed reduction activation circuit; and

c. a control device, wherein the control device receives a signal from the accelerometer and sends a signal to the speed reduction activation circuit based upon the signal from the accelerometer, wherein the control device sends a signal to the speed reduction activation circuit to reduce a speed of the vehicle based on a heading of the vehicle and if the lateral acceleration is greater than a threshold value.

2. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the control device sends a signal to the speed reduction circuit which slows a propulsion of the engine.

3. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the control device sends a signal to the speed reduction circuit which slows a drive wheel of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the control device sends a signal to the speed reduction circuit which activates a braking system of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the braking system is activated based upon the heading of the vehicle and the direction of lateral acceleration.

6. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer detects a gross lateral acceleration of the vehicle and the control device is configured to calculate the absolute lateral acceleration based upon the gross acceleration value.

7. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises one of an automobile, a bus, a motorcycle, and a train.

8. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the control device activates a performance warning system if the lateral acceleration exceeds the threshold value.

9. A method of monitoring a vehicle comprising:

a. detecting a lateral acceleration of the vehicle;

b. determining whether the lateral acceleration of the vehicle is greater than a threshold value; and

c. based on a heading of the vehicle and if the lateral acceleration is greater than the threshold value, reducing the speed of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein if the lateral acceleration is greater than the threshold value, then an alert is also issued.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a control device sends a signal to a speed reduction activation circuit to reduce a speed of the vehicle if the lateral acceleration is greater than the threshold value.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the control device sends a signal to the speed reduction circuit which slows a propulsion of the engine.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the control device sends a signal to the speed reduction circuit which slows a drive wheel of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the control device sends a signal to the speed reduction circuit which activates a braking system of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the braking system is activated based upon a change of heading of the vehicle and the direction of lateral acceleration.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the braking system is activated based upon a rate of change of heading of the vehicle and the direction of lateral acceleration.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein an accelerometer detects a gross lateral acceleration of the vehicle and the control device is configured to calculate the absolute lateral acceleration based upon the gross acceleration value.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle comprises one of an automobile, a bus, a motorcycle, and a train.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the control device activates a performance warning system if the lateral acceleration exceeds the threshold value.

20. A vehicle monitoring system comprising:

a. an accelerometer for detecting a gross lateral acceleration of the vehicle;

b. a speed reduction activation circuit; and

c. a control device, wherein the control device receives a signal from the accelerometer based on the gross lateral acceleration of the vehicle, wherein the control device calculates the absolute lateral acceleration based upon the gross acceleration value and sends a signal to the speed reduction activation circuit based upon the gross acceleration value, wherein the control device sends a signal to the speed reduction activation circuit to reduce a speed of the vehicle based on a heading of the vehicle and if the gross lateral acceleration is greater than a threshold value.

21. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the control device sends a signal to the speed reduction circuit which slows a propulsion of the engine.

22. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the control device sends a signal to the speed reduction circuit which slows a drive wheel of the vehicle.

23. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the control device sends a signal to the speed reduction circuit which activates a braking system of the vehicle.

24. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 23, wherein the braking system is activated based upon a change of heading of the vehicle and the direction of lateral acceleration.

25. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 23, wherein the braking system is activated based upon a rate of change of heading of the vehicle and the direction of lateral acceleration.

26. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the vehicle comprises one of an automobile, a bus, a motorcycle, and a train.

27. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the control device activates a performance warning system if the lateral acceleration exceeds the threshold value.