Driver alert system

• US 6,014,601 A
• Filed: 01/07/1997
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gustafson J. Martin
• Original Assignee: Gustafson J. Martin
• Inventors: Gustafson, J. Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US08/779,793
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/301, 701/96, 340/425.5, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 342/70, 342/71, 342/72
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A laser transmitter is configured to transmit a laser beam at an object, and a laser receiver is configured to receive a reflection of the laser beam. A speed sensor is connected to a vehicle speedometer system and receives vehicle speed information from the vehicle speedometer system. A processing unit receives laser pulse data from the laser receiver and road condition data from a road condition switch, and the vehicle speed information from the speed sensor. The processing unit calculates a relative speed of the object with respect to the vehicle, a distance from the object to the vehicle, and a relative acceleration of the object with respect to the vehicle. The processing unit further calculates a safe following distance based on the road condition data and the vehicle speed information, and compares the safe following distance to the actual distance from the object to the vehicle. The processing unit further calculates a collision time based on the relative speed of the object, the distance from the object to the vehicle, and the relative acceleration of the object. The collision time is displayed on a collision time display. A linear light display indicates the relative level of safety or danger based on following distance and collision time.

Claims

1. A driver alert system for installation in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a. a transmission means for transmitting a signal to an object;

b. a reception means for receiving the signal transmitted by the transmission means, after the signal is reflected from the object;

c. a first control and driving means configured to control and drive the transmission means and the reception means;

d. a processing means comprising a processing unit and a memory unit, the processing means configured to receive data from the reception means regarding time durations between transmission and reception of multiple ones of the signals;

e. the processing means configured to calculate a relative speed of the object with respect to the vehicle, a distance from the object to the vehicle, and a relative acceleration of the object with respect to the vehicle, based on time durations between transmission and reception of multiple ones of the signals;

f. the processing means further configured to calculate a collision time as a function of the relative speed of the object, the distance from the object to the vehicle, and the relative acceleration of the object, and to establish an output signal based on the collision time;

g. a collision time display;

h. an output device;

i. an output control and driving means configured to display the collision time on the collision time display, and to control the operation of the output device based on the output signal received from the processing means;

j. the processing means further configured to transmit collision time data to the output control and driving means, and to transmit the output signal to the output control and driving means.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission means is a laser transmitter configured to transmit a laser beam at the object, and the reception means is a receiver configured to receive a reflection of the laser beam.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the output device comprises at least one lamp.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises at least one lamp.

5. A driver alert system for installation in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a. a transmission means for transmitting a signal to an object;

b. a reception means for receiving the signal transmitted by the transmission means, after the signal is reflected from the object;

c. a first control and driving means configured to control and drive the transmission means and the reception means;

d. at least one road condition switch;

e. a speed sensor configured to connect to a vehicle speedometer system and to receive vehicle speed information from the vehicle speedometer system;

f. a processing means comprising a processing unit and a memory unit, the processing means configured to receive reception data from the reception means regarding time durations between transmission and reception of multiple ones of the signals and road condition data from the road condition switch, and the vehicle speed information from the speed sensor;

g. the processing means configured to calculate a relative speed of the object with respect to the vehicle, a distance from the object to the vehicle, and a relative acceleration of the object with respect to the vehicle, based on time durations between transmission and reception of multiple ones of the signals;

h. the processing means further configured to calculate a safe following distance based on the road condition data and the vehicle speed information and to establish a comparison between the safe following distance and the distance from the object to the vehicle and to set a first alarm level based on the comparison;

i. the processing means further configured to calculate a collision time as a function of the relative speed of the object, the distance from the object to the vehicle, and the relative acceleration of the object, and to set a second alarm level based on the collision time;

j. a collision time display;

k. an output device;

l. an output control and driving means configured to display the collision time on the collision time display, and to control the operation of the output device based on an output signal received from the processing means;

m. the processing means further configured to transmit collision time data to the output control and driving means, to determine which of the first alarm level and the second alarm level has a greater value, to establish the output signal based on the greater of the first alarm level and the second alarm level, and to transmit the output signal to the output control and driving means.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the transmission means is a laser transmitter configured to transmit a laser beam at the object, and the reception means is a receiver configured to receive a reflection of the laser beam.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the output device comprises at least one lamp.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the output device comprises at least one lamp.

9. A process for alerting a driver of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

a. transmitting multiple laser beams at an object;

b. receiving reflections of the laser beams;

c. determining a speed of the vehicle;

d. calculating a relative speed of the object with respect to the vehicle, a distance from the object to the vehicle, and a relative acceleration of the object with respect to the vehicle, based on time durations between transmissions and receptions of the reflections of the multiple laser beams;

e. calculating a safe following distance based on road conditions and the speed of the vehicle, and establishing a comparison between the safe following distance and the distance from the object to the vehicle and setting a first alarm level based on the comparison;

f. calculating a collision time as a function of the relative speed of the object, the distance from the object to the vehicle, and the relative acceleration of the object, and setting a second alarm level based on the collision time;

g. displaying the collision time on a collision time display;

h. determining which of the first alarm level and the second alarm level has a greater value; and

i. providing an output on an output device based on the greater of the first alarm level and the second alarm level.