SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING VEHICLE SPEED AND DRIVER NOTIFICATION

• US 20140244111A1
• Filed: 02/26/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HL Klemove Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Falb, David M., Gross, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,499,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/00 Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles B60R22/00; devices, apparatus or methods for life-saving in general A62B; safety devices for propulsion unit control specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles B60K28/00; seats constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats, B60N2/42; energy-absorbing arrangements for hand wheels for steering vehicles B62D1/11; energy-absorbing arrangements for vehicle steering columns B62D1/19; harnessing in aircraft B64D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A vehicle speed monitoring system and method is provided that determines a speed threshold based on provided inputs from various vehicle systems and measures the speed threshold against the current driving speed. In the event the threshold speed is exceeded, the system notifies the driver and/or makes a recommendation depending on the present driving conditions.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the speed of a controlled vehicle driven by a driver, comprising:

at least one vehicle system configured to provide data based on current driving conditions; and

a controller configured to receive and analyze the data and to generate a speed threshold;

said controller further configured to;

modify the speed threshold when the data indicates that a low visibility condition is present;

compare the speed threshold with the current driving speed of the controlled vehicle; and

provide at least one of a notification and recommendation to the driver if the current driving speed exceeds the speed threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle system is chosen from the group consisting of an imaging system, a navigational system, a speed detection system, a rain detection system, and an exterior light control system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the low visibility condition comprises at least one of rain, snow, and fog.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is part of an exterior light control system.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display system, wherein the display system is configured to display the at least one of the notification and recommendation.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the display system is provided in at least one of rearview mirror assembly and a dashboard display.

7. A method for monitoring the speed of a controlled vehicle, comprising:

providing data based on current driving conditions;

receiving and analyzing the data in a controller to generate a speed threshold;

modifying the speed threshold when the data indicates that a low visibility condition is present;

comparing the speed threshold with the current driving speed of the vehicle; and

providing at least one of a notification and recommendation if the current driving speed exceeds the speed threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of displaying at least one of the notification and recommendation on a display system of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the recommendation comprises a recommended driving speed.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the low visibility condition comprises at least one of rain, snow, and fog.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the data is provided to the controller via at least one vehicle system chosen from the group consisting of an imaging system, a navigational system, a speed detection system, a rain detection system, and an exterior light control system.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of calculating the speed threshold using a stopping distance, a perception to reaction time, and a coefficient of friction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the coefficient of friction is a dynamic variable and is reduced in value when the data is indicative of a low visibility condition.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions executed by a processor, the software instructions comprising the steps of:

providing data based on current driving conditions;

receiving and analyzing the data in a controller to generate a speed threshold;

modifying the speed threshold when the data indicates that a low visibility condition is present;

comparing the speed threshold with the current driving speed of the vehicle; and

providing at least one of a notification and recommendation if the current driving speed exceeds the speed threshold.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the software instructions further comprise the step of displaying at least one of the notification and recommendation on a display system of the vehicle.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the recommendation comprises a recommended driving speed.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the low visibility condition comprises at least one of rain, snow, and fog.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the data is provided to the controller via at least one vehicle system chosen from the group consisting of an imaging system, a navigational system, a speed detection system, a rain detection system, and an exterior light control system.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the software instructions further comprise the step of calculating the speed threshold using a stopping distance, a perception to reaction time, and a coefficient of friction.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the software instructions further comprise the step of reducing the coefficient of friction when the data is indicative of a low visibility condition.