System and method for warning of dangerous driving conditions

• US 6,263,282 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Vallancourt, David Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/140,563
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 701/301, 701/96, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/463, 340/901, 340/902, 340/903, 340/904, 342/455, 395/90
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles

Abstract

A dangerous driving conditions warning system for a vehicle such as an automobile is described. The warning system captures signals from two or more devices in an automobile, such as speedometer, distance measuring device, and airbag, and conveys the signals to a decision circuit which determines whether a dangerous driving condition exists and outputs an activation signal upon detecting a dangerous condition. The activation signal is sent to and activates an indicator such as a warning light or loud audible warning. The warning indicator alerts a trailing vehicle and other vehicles near the vehicle equipped with the warning system of the existence of one of various conditions warranting caution, a reduction in speed, or a veering or turn.

Claims

1. A system in a first vehicle for warning a driver of a second vehicle of a dangerous driving condition, the system comprising:

a first signal conveyer coupled to a distance sensor for measuring a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle at a given time;

a decision circuit, coupled to receive signals carried by the first signal conveyer, for detecting excessive approach speed by the second vehicle to the first vehicle; and

an indicator coupled to and selectively activated by the decision circuit for indicating the detection of the excessive approach speed, the indicator being perceivable by the driver of the second vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of signal conveyers each coupled to one of a plurality of devices on the first vehicle, wherein the decision circuit is coupled to receive signals carried by the signal conveyers and detect a dangerous driving condition based on the received signals, and wherein the indicator is selectively activated by the decision circuit for indicating the detection of the dangerous driving condition.

3. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the signal conveyers are coupled to two or more devices in the group consisting of an anti-lock braking system, a speedometer, an odometer, a distance sensor, a traction control system, an airbag deployment system, and a manual trigger.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the decision circuit is capable of detecting one or more dangerous driving conditions in the group consisting of anti-lock brake activation, slippery road conditions, tailgating, rapid deceleration, airbag deployment, and excessive approach speed by the second automobile.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first vehicle devices produces an analog signal, the system comprising an analog to digital converter coupled between the signal conveyer for the at least one analog device and the decision circuit.

6. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the decision circuit comprises a processor and one or more multiplexers for selecting among the two or more signals conveyed by the signal conveyers.

7. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the indicator has a plurality of activated states.

8. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein the decision circuit determines a severity of a detected dangerous condition and sending a signal to the indicator identifying the severity of the detected condition, and wherein the indicator assumes one of the activated states depending upon the severity of the condition.

9. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein the decision circuit detects a plurality of dangerous conditions and sending a signal to the indicator identifying which one of the plurality of conditions is detected, and wherein the indicator assumes one of the activated states depending upon a condition identified by the decision circuit.

10. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein the plurality of states include states for displaying a plurality of textual messages identifying the detected dangerous condition or a recommended course of action depending upon the detected dangerous condition.

11. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein the indicator is a visible indicator positioned to be visible to the driver of the second vehicle.

12. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the indicator is an audio indicator producing a sound loud enough to be audible to the driver of the second vehicle.

13. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the decision circuit comprises:

a memory for storing at least a first distance value d₁ and a second distance value d₂ received in signals from the distance sensor at a first time t₁ and a second time t₂, respectively; and

logic for detecting excessive approach speed when |d₂−

d₁)/(t₂−

t₁)|/(t₂−

t₁) exceeds a first value and d₂ is less than a second value.

14. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein a second signal conveyer is coupled to a speedometer.

15. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the decision circuit detects tailgating by the second vehicle with respect to the first vehicle.

16. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein the decision circuit comprises logic for detecting tailgating when a distance value received in the signal from the distance sensor at a first time divided by a speed value received in the signal from the speedometer at the first time is less than a time value.

17. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein the time value is two seconds.

18. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the decision circuit detects rapid deceleration by the first vehicle.

19. The system as defined in claim 18, wherein the decision circuit comprises

a memory for storing at least a first speed value v₁ and a second speed value v₂ received in signals from the speedometer at a first time t₁ and a second time t₂, respectively;

and

logic for detecting rapid deceleration when (v₂−

v₁)/(t₂−

t₁) exceeds a given deceleration value.

20. A method for issuing a warning about a dangerous driving condition, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of signals from a speedometer and distance sensor which measures a distance between first and second vehicles,

determining whether a dangerous driving condition exists comprising determining whether the first vehicle is rapidly decelerating, whether the second vehicle is tailgating with respect to the first vehicle, and whether the second vehicle is approaching the first vehicle at an excessive speed;

sending an activation signal to an indicator when a dangerous condition is determined to exist; and

activating the indicator upon receipt by the indicator of the activation signal to thereby indicate the existence of a dangerous driving condition to a driver of a second vehicle.

21. The method as defined in claim 20, comprising receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of safety devices in the group consisting of an airbag deployment device, anti-lock brakes, and a traction control system, and wherein the step of determining whether a dangerous condition exists comprises determining that a dangerous condition exists upon activation of one or more of the safety devices.

22. A system in a first vehicle for warning a driver of a second vehicle of a dangerous driving condition, the system comprising:

a distance sensor for measuring distances between the first and second vehicles at a plurality of times;

a decision circuit, coupled to receive signals from the distance sensor, for detecting a dangerous driving condition based on the distances measured by the distance sensor, the decision circuit comprising;

a memory for storing at least a first distance value d₁ and a second distance value d₂ received in signals from the distance sensor at a first time t₁ and a second time t₂, respectively; and

logic for detecting an excessive approach speed by the second vehicle with respect to the first vehicle when the absolute value of (d₂−

d₁)/(t₂−

t₁) exceeds a first value and d₂ is less than a second value; and

an indicator coupled to and selectively activated by the decision circuit for indicating the detection of the dangerous driving condition, the indicator being perceivable by the driver of the second vehicle.

23. An automobile comprising:

two or more devices in the group consisting of an anti-lock braking system, a traction control system, an airbag deployment system, and a manual trigger;

a plurality of signal conveyers each coupled to one of the plurality of devices on the automobile;

a decision circuit, coupled to receive signals carried by the signal conveyers, for detecting a dangerous driving condition based on the received signals; and

an indicator coupled to and selectively activated by the decision circuit for indicating the detection of the dangerous driving condition, the indicator being perceivable by the driver of a second automobile.

24. A system in a first vehicle for warning a driver of a second vehicle of a dangerous driving condition, the system comprising:

a plurality of signal conveyers each coupled to one of a plurality of devices on the first vehicle;

a decision circuit, coupled to receive signals carried by the signal conveyers, for interpreting the signals received from the signal conveyers and detecting a dangerous driving condition based on the interpreted signals;

a clocking mechanism, coupled to the decision circuit, for controlling the decision circuit to select which signals from the signal conveyers the decision circuit interprets at any given time; and

an indicator coupled to and selectively activated by the decision circuit for indicating the detection of the dangerous driving condition, the indicator being perceivable by the driver of the second vehicle.

25. A system in a first vehicle for warning a driver of a second vehicle of a dangerous driving condition, the system comprising:

a plurality of signal conveyers each coupled to one of a plurality of devices on the first vehicle, wherein a first signal conveyer is coupled to a distance sensor for measuring a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle at a given time and a second signal conveyer is coupled to a speedometer;

a decision circuit, coupled to receive signals carried by the signal conveyers, for detecting a dangerous driving condition based on the received signals including tailgating by the second vehicle with respect to the first vehicle when a distance value received in the signal from the distance sensor at a first time divided by a speed value received in the signal from the speedometer at the first time is less than a time value; and

an indicator coupled to and selectively activated by the decision circuit for indicating the detection of the dangerous driving condition, the indicator being perceivable by the driver of the second vehicle.

26. The system as defined in claim 25, wherein the time value is two seconds.

27. A system in a first vehicle for warning a driver of a second vehicle of a dangerous driving condition, the system comprising:

two or more signal conveyers each coupled to one of a plurality of devices on the first vehicle;

a decision circuit, coupled to receive signals carried by the signal conveyers, for detecting a dangerous driving condition based on the received signals, the decision circuit comprising a processor and one or more multiplexers for selecting among the two or more signals conveyed by the signal conveyers; and

an indicator coupled to and selectively activated by the decision circuit for indicating the detection of the dangerous driving condition, the indicator being perceivable by the driver of the second vehicle.

28. The system of claim 27, comprising a clock for controlling the one or more multiplexers to thereby select from among the two or more signals conveyed by the signal conveyers.

29. A system in a first vehicle for warning a driver of a second vehicle of a dangerous driving condition, the system comprising:

a plurality of signal conveyers each coupled to one of a plurality of devices on the first vehicle;

a decision circuit, coupled to receive signals carried by the signal conveyers, for detecting a dangerous driving condition based on the received signals; and

an indicator coupled to and selectively activated by the decision circuit for indicating the detection of the dangerous driving condition, the indicator being perceivable by the driver of the second vehicle, and indicator having a plurality of activated states.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the decision circuit detects a plurality of dangerous conditions and sending a signal to the indicator identifying which one of the plurality of conditions is detected, and wherein the indicator assumes one of the activated states depending upon a condition identified by the decision circuit.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of states include states for displaying a plurality of textual messages identifying the detected dangerous condition or a recommended course of action depending upon the detected dangerous condition.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the decision circuit is capable of determining a severity of a detected dangerous condition and sending a signal to the indicator identifying the severity of the detected condition, and wherein the indicator assumes one of the activated states depending upon the severity of the condition.

33. A system in a first vehicle for warning a driver of a second vehicle of a dangerous driving condition, the system comprising:

a plurality of signal conveyers each coupled to one of a plurality of devices on the first vehicle, a first signal conveyer being coupled to a speedometer;

a decision circuit, coupled to receive signals carried by the signal conveyers, for detecting a dangerous driving condition based on the received signals including rapid deceleration by the first vehicle; and

an indicator coupled to and selectively activated by the decision circuit for indicating the detection of the dangerous driving condition, the indicator being perceivable by the driver of the second vehicle.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the decision circuit comprises

a memory for storing at least a first speed value v₁ and a second speed value v₂ received in signals from the speedometer at a first time t₁ and a second time t₂, respectively; and

logic for detecting rapid deceleration when (v₂−

v₁)/(t₂−

t₁) exceeds a given deceleration value.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the decision circuit detects tailgating by the second vehicle with respect to the first vehicle.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the decision circuit comprises logic for detecting tailgating when a distance value received in the signal from the distance sensor at a first time divided by a speed value received in the signal from the speedometer at the first time is less than a time value.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the indicator is a visible indicator positioned to be visible to the driver of the second vehicle.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the indicator is an audio indicator producing a sound loud enough to be audible to the driver of the second vehicle.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein at least one of the first vehicle devices produces an analog signal, the system comprising an analog to digital converter coupled between the signal conveyer for the at least one analog device and the decision circuit.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein the decision circuit comprises a processor and one or more multiplexers for selecting among the two or more signals conveyed by the signal conveyers.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein the indicator has a plurality of activated states.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the decision circuit detects a plurality of dangerous conditions and sending a signal to the indicator identifying which one of the plurality of conditions is detected, and wherein the indicator assumes one of the activated states depending upon a condition identified by the decision circuit.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the plurality of states include states for displaying a plurality of textual messages identifying the detected dangerous condition or a recommended course of action depending upon the detected dangerous condition.

44. The system claim 41, wherein the decision circuit determines a severity of a detected dangerous condition and sending a signal to the indicator identifying the severity of the detected condition, and wherein the indicator assumes one of the activated states depending upon the severity of the condition.