OBJECT DETECTION FOR VEHICLES

• US 20160001702A1
• Filed: 07/02/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HL Klemove Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Wright, Thomas S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,956,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a vehicle warning system. The warning system includes a sensor configured to detect a presence of a foreign object and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller is operable to periodically communicate with the sensor to identify the presence of the foreign object while the vehicle is parked. The controller is further operable to output a warning signal in response to the presence of the foreign object. The warning signal is configured to communicate a detection of the foreign object having entered a path of the vehicle during a period while the vehicle is parked.

Claims

1. A vehicle warning system comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a presence of a foreign object;

a controller in communication with the sensor, wherein the controller is operable to;

periodically communicate with the sensor to identify the presence of the foreign object while the vehicle is idle; and

output a warning signal in response to the presence of the foreign object, wherein the warning signal is configured to communicate a detection of the foreign object having entered a path of the vehicle.

2. The warning system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a notification device in communication with the controller, the notification device configured to communicate information corresponding to the presence of the foreign object in the path of the vehicle.

3. The warning system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor corresponds to a vehicle reverse sensor.

4. The warning system according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle reverse sensor comprises at least one of an image sensor, an IR sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a magnetic sensor.

5. The warning system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a remote detection device located in a remote location relative the vehicle and configured to communicate wirelessly with the controller.

6. The warning system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a transceiver configured to provide for the communication between the controller and the remote detection device.

7. The warning system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to periodically communicate with the sensor while an ignition of the vehicle is in an off condition.

8. The warning system according to claim 1, wherein the warning signal is output in response to an ignition sequence of the vehicle.

9. A vehicle detection system for a vehicle idle state comprising:

a sensor configured to scan an area proximate the vehicle;

at least one notification device;

a controller in communication with the sensor and the notification device, wherein the controller is operable to;

communicate with the sensor to identify a presence of a foreign object while the vehicle is parked; and

output a warning signal to the notification device in response to the presence of the foreign object, wherein the warning signal is configured to communicate a detection of the foreign object having entered a path of the vehicle during a period corresponding to the vehicle being parked.

10. The detection system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further operable to control the sensor to periodically scan the area proximate the vehicle with the sensor to identify the presence of a foreign object during the idle period.

11. The detection system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to control the the sensor to scan the area proximate the vehicle in response to a proximity detection of a key of the vehicle.

12. The detection system according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to detect the foreign object based on the scan and output a warning signal via at least one notification device in response to the detection of the foreign object.

13. The detection system according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle idle state corresponds to an ignition of the vehicle being inactive.

14. A method for generating a vehicle operation alert corresponding to a detection of the foreign object having entered a path of the vehicle, the method comprising:

scanning a detection area proximate the vehicle to generate scanning data during a temporal period of inactivity of the vehicle;

detecting a foreign object in the detection area based on the scanning data;

generating a warning in response to the detection of the foreign object; and

outputting an alert corresponding to the warning.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the alert is emitted in response to at least one of an entry into the vehicle, an ignition sequence of the vehicle, a proximity detection of a key of the vehicle, and an unlocking operation of the vehicle.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the alert is output via at least one of a display device and a speaker.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method further comprises periodically scanning the detection area during the period of inactivity to update the scanning data.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the scanning comprises:

scanning the detection area in a first scan corresponding to the vehicle being in at least one of a stopped state and a parked state and setting a first detection status for the detection area corresponding to the first scan.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the scanning further comprises:

scanning the detection area in a second scan during the period of inactivity following the at least one of the stopped state and the parked state and setting a second detection status for the detection area corresponding to the second scan.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

comparing the first detection status to the second detection status to detect the foreign object.