Method and apparatus for in path target determination for an automotive vehicle using a gyroscopic device
First Claim
1. An in path-obstacle determination device comprising:
- (a) an input device through which a deviation of an obstacle from a reference azimuth may be determined;
(b) a sensing device through which an average turn rate, a rate of travel, and a radius of curvature of a path traveled by a host vehicle may be determined; and
(c) circuitry coupled to the input device and the sensing device, and configured to determine whether the obstacle is in the path of travel of the host vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention concerns a method, an apparatus and an article of manufacture that satisfies the need for determining whether or not an obstacle vehicle is in the path of a host vehicle. Specifically, the present invention satisfies the above stated regardless of whether or not the host vehicle is moving in a straight path or along a curved path. Preferably, input data ("input") is collected from instruments mounted to a host vehicle. The input is used to calculate for the host vehicle the average turn rate, the radius of curvature of the path being traveled, the velocity, and a range from the host vehicle to a obstacle vehicle. Additionally, the input is used to determine the deviation of an obstacle from a 0° reference azimuth extending through the center of a radar beamating from a radar unit mounted to the host vehicle. An obstacle azimuth angle ∝i is calculated and used to determine whether or not the obstacle is in the path of the host vehicle. After a determination is made as to whether or not the obstacle is in the path of the host vehicle, the results of that determination are sent to and displayed by sensors and displays which designate the results.
53 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An in path-obstacle determination device comprising:
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(a) an input device through which a deviation of an obstacle from a reference azimuth may be determined; (b) a sensing device through which an average turn rate, a rate of travel, and a radius of curvature of a path traveled by a host vehicle may be determined; and (c) circuitry coupled to the input device and the sensing device, and configured to determine whether the obstacle is in the path of travel of the host vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An in-path obstacle determination device comprising;
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(a) an input device through which a deviation of an obstacle from a reference azimuth may be determined; (b) a gyroscope having an output and coupled to a host vehicle, wherein the gyroscope is used to determine an average turn rate, a rate of travel, and a radius of curvature for the host vehicle; (c) a processor; and (d) circuitry connecting the input device, the gyroscope, and the processor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An in-path obstacle determination device comprising:
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(a) input means for determining a deviation of a obstacle from a reference azimuth; (b) sensing means for determining a turn rate, a rate of travel, and a radius of curvature for a host vehicle; and (c) circuitry means for coupling the input means and the sensing means, and configured to determine whether the obstacle is in a path of travel of the host vehicle.
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28. A method for in-path obstacle determination, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving an input through which a deviation of a obstacle from a reference azimuth may be determined; (b) receiving a turn input for a host vehicle from which an average turn rate, a rate of travel, and a radius of curvature for the path traveled by a host vehicle may be determined; (c) calculating the average turn rate; (d) determining the rate of travel of the host vehicle; (e) calculating the radius of curvature for the path traveled; (f) determining a range from the host vehicle to each obstacle; (g) determining a deviation of each obstacle from the reference azimuth; (h) calculating an angle ∝
i ; and(i) determining whether the obstacle is in a path of the host vehicle using the angle ∝
i. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An article of manufacture comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform method steps for in-path obstacle determination, said method steps comprising:
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(a) receiving an input through which a deviation of a obstacle from a reference azimuth may be determined; (b) receiving a turn input for a host vehicle from which an average turn rate, a rate of travel, and a radius of curvature for the path traveled by a host vehicle may be determined; (c) calculating the average turn rate; (d) determining the rate of travel of the host vehicle; (e) calculating the radius of curvature for the path traveled; (f) determining a range from the host vehicle to each obstacle; (g) determining a deviation of each obstacle from the reference azimuth; (h) calculating an angle ∝
i ; and(i) determining whether the obstacle is in a path of the host vehicle using the angle ∝
i. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification