Security eyes for prevention of car accidents

• US 4,641,136 A
• Filed: 12/16/1985
• Issued: 02/03/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thaddeus Kowalczyk
• Original Assignee: Thaddeus Kowalczyk
• Inventors: Kowalczyk, Thaddeus
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/809,318
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 180/169, 340/52 R, 340/52 F, 340/52 B, 340/53, 340/62, 340/901, 340/902, 340/903, 340/904, 364/426, 367/909, 343/7 VM
• US Class Current: 340/904
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9317 Driving backwards
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9319 Controlling the accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9322 using additional data, e.g. driver condition, road state or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance

Abstract

This invention allows for the use of safety apparatus at the front and rear of the automobile, which serve as an addditional pair of "eyes" for the driver. The apparatus comprises a security system for the prevention of automobile collisions. The apparatus at the front of the automobile is connected to the front wheel system or to the steering mechanism by an appropriate rotary device which revolves so that the beams or waves do not encounter vehicles in oncoming lanes going in the opposite direction. The electronic safety apparatus emits beams or waves whose length is automatically regulated to correspond to weather conditions and to the speed of the vehicle so as to ensure safe braking distance.

Claims

1. A collision avoidance system for an automobile or the like having a front wheel system, a braking system and a steering system, said system comprising:

means on the automobile for emitting a signal in the vicinity of the automobile, for receiving at least a portion of the emitted signal which is reflected from an object to be avoided and for generating a control signal having a magnitude proportional to the distance between the automobile and the object;

means for rotatably mounting said emitting means on said automobile;

means for connecting said mounting means to the steering system of the automobile so that said emitting means rotates in synchronism with the turning of the steering system; and

control means responsive to said control signal for automatically actuating the braking system when the magnitude of said control signal is at least a first value.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said emitting means includes a radar system.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said emitting means includes a retroreflective scanner.

4. The system of claim 1 including a lamp visible to the driver of said automobile and which is automatically actuated when the magnitude of said control signal is at least a second predetermined value.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said control means includes means responsive to said control signal for disabling the throttle of said automobile when the magnitude of said control signal is at least a second preselected value.

6. The system of claim 1 including means responsive to the speed of said automobile for controlling the distance that the signal is emitted by said emitting means.

7. The system of claim 1 including means responsive to manual actuation by the driver for disabling said control means.

8. The system of claim 1 including a medium applied to said object which is reflective of said signal.

9. A collision avoidance system for a wheeled vehicle having a fuel throttle, a steering system, a front wheel system and a braking system, comprising:

means for sensing the presence of an object such as another vehicle, said sensing means including means for transmitting a signal in the vicinity of the vehicle which is reflected off said object and means for receiving portions of said signal reflected from said object;

means for connecting the steering system of the vehicle to said transmitting means and for rotating said transmitting means so that the transmitting means tracks the turning movement of the vehicle steering system;

means for generating a control signal which is proportional in magnitude to the distance between said vehicle and the sensed object;

control means responsive to said control signal and having first and second outputs for respective outputting first and second command signals in accordance with the magnitude of said control signal;

means coupled to said control means and with said braking system for automatically actuating said braking system in response to said first command signal when the sensed object is within a first distance of said vehicle; and

means coupled to said control means and with said fuel throttle for automatically disabling said throttle in response to said second command signal when the sensed object is within a second distance of said vehicle.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said control means has a third output for outputting a third channel signal in accordance with the magnitude of said control signal and wherein said system further comprises means coupled to said control means and responsive to said third command signal for providing the driver of said vehicle with a visual indication of the presence of a sensed object when said object is within a third distance of said vehicle.