Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles
First Claim
1. A method of determining and using data describing absolute acceleration along various axes relative to a desired movement vector while moving relative to a gravity source, comprising:
- a. determining a vertical acceleration, perpendicular to the desired movement vector and substantially antiparallel to a gravitational acceleration due to the gravity source;
b. determining a longitudinal acceleration, parallel to the desired movement vector;
c. determining an inclination of the desired movement vector relative to the gravitational acceleration;
d. determining an absolute vertical acceleration and an absolute longitudinal acceleration from the longitudinal acceleration, the vertical acceleration, and the inclination of the desired movement vector; and
e. producing an output determined at least in part by one or more of the absolute vertical acceleration and the absolute longitudinal acceleration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of and system for detecting absolute acceleration along various axes relative to a desired movement vector while moving relative to a gravity source includes steps of determining a vertical acceleration, perpendicular to the desired movement vector and substantially anti-parallel to a gravitational acceleration due to the gravity source; determining a longitudinal acceleration, parallel to the desired movement vector and to output at vertical acceleration signal and a longitudinal acceleration signal; determining an inclination of the desired movement vector relative to the gravitational acceleration; and processing the vertical acceleration signal, the longitudinal acceleration signal, and the inclination signal to produce an absolute vertical acceleration signal and an absolute longitudinal acceleration signal.
106 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of determining and using data describing absolute acceleration along various axes relative to a desired movement vector while moving relative to a gravity source, comprising:
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a. determining a vertical acceleration, perpendicular to the desired movement vector and substantially antiparallel to a gravitational acceleration due to the gravity source;
b. determining a longitudinal acceleration, parallel to the desired movement vector;
c. determining an inclination of the desired movement vector relative to the gravitational acceleration;
d. determining an absolute vertical acceleration and an absolute longitudinal acceleration from the longitudinal acceleration, the vertical acceleration, and the inclination of the desired movement vector; and
e. producing an output determined at least in part by one or more of the absolute vertical acceleration and the absolute longitudinal acceleration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for determining and using data describing absolute acceleration along various axes relative to a desired movement vector while moving relative to a gravity source, comprising:
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a. a two-axis accelerometer configured to sense both a vertical acceleration, perpendicular to the desired movement vector and substantially antiparallel to a gravitational acceleration due to the gravity source, and a longitudinal acceleration, parallel to the desired movement vector and to output a vertical acceleration signal and a longitudinal acceleration signal;
b. a gyroscope configured to sense an inclination of the desired movement vector relative to the gravitational acceleration and to output an inclination signal;
c. a logic circuit configured to process the vertical acceleration signal, the longitudinal acceleration signal, and the inclination signal to produce an absolute vertical acceleration signal and an absolute longitudinal acceleration signal; and
d. a controller configured to receive one or more of the absolute vertical acceleration signal and the absolute longitudinal acceleration signal and to produce an output determined at least in part by at least one of the absolute acceleration signals that it receives. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 39, 40)
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23. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a. an absolute deceleration detector including an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a control logic and configured to detect an absolute deceleration status of the vehicle;
b. a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle;
c. an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle; and
d. a control device coupled to the absolute deceleration detector, the braking system engagement detector, and the alerting device, wherein the deceleration detector sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the absolute deceleration status of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of alerting drivers in proximity to a vehicle of deceleration and braking of the vehicle, comprising:
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a. sensing an apparent rate of deceleration of the vehicle;
b. sensing an inclination of the vehicle relative to a gravitational acceleration;
c. correcting the apparent rate of deceleration to account for an effect of gravitational acceleration to determine an absolute rate of deceleration of the vehicle;
d. detecting a braking status of the vehicle;
e. detecting a throttle status of the vehicle; and
f. emitting a signal to indicate that the vehicle is decelerating, wherein the signal varies depending on the absolute rate of deceleration, the braking status, and the throttle status of the vehicle.
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41. A method of forming a communication system for a vehicle comprising:
a. adding a deceleration warning circuit to a brake lamp system of the vehicle, the deceleration detection circuit comprising;
1. a deceleration detector, wherein the deceleration detector detects any deceleration of the vehicle;
2. a gyroscope, wherein the gyroscope detects an inclination of the vehicle relative to a gravitational acceleration;
3. a logic circuit configured to determine an absolute deceleration from the deceleration of the vehicle and the inclination of the vehicle;
4. a braking system engagement detector, wherein the braking system engagement detector any engagement of a braking system of the vehicle;
5. a control device coupled to the deceleration detector and the braking system engagement detector, wherein the logic circuit and the braking system engagement detector send signals to the control device, and wherein the control device activates brake lamps of the vehicle if the absolute deceleration of the vehicle is positive.
Specification