System and method for vehicle direction signaling using an accelerometer for cancellation control
First Claim
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1. A direction signaling system for a vehicle, said system comprising:
- left and right signaling units operable for indicating intended turning movements of the vehicle;
operation means for selectively operating said signaling units;
cancellation means for canceling signaling unit operation, said cancellation means including a first accelerometer for sensing vehicle acceleration along the lateral axis, means for determining if the sensed acceleration is indicative of a need to cancel signaling unit operation, and means for canceling signaling unit operation in response to the determination; and
modification means for modifying the operation of the signal unit, including a second accelerometer, means for mounting said accelerometer to sense acceleration along a fore-to-aft axis, means for determining if the sensed acceleration along the fore-to-aft axis is indicative of a need to modify signal unit operation, and means for modifying signaling unit operation in response to the determination relating to sensed fore-to-aft acceleration.
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Abstract
A direction signaling system (12) for a vehicle (10) includes left and right signaling units (16-22) that are operable for indicating intended turning movements of the vehicle. A module (26) controls selective operation of the signaling units (16-22) and controls cancellation of signaling unit operation. The module (26) includes an accelerometer (e.g., 38) for sensing vehicle acceleration. A processor (50) of the module (26) determines if the sensed acceleration is indicative of a need to cancel signaling unit operation and cancels signaling unit operation in response to the determination.
30 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A direction signaling system for a vehicle, said system comprising:
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left and right signaling units operable for indicating intended turning movements of the vehicle;
operation means for selectively operating said signaling units;
cancellation means for canceling signaling unit operation, said cancellation means including a first accelerometer for sensing vehicle acceleration along the lateral axis, means for determining if the sensed acceleration is indicative of a need to cancel signaling unit operation, and means for canceling signaling unit operation in response to the determination; and
modification means for modifying the operation of the signal unit, including a second accelerometer, means for mounting said accelerometer to sense acceleration along a fore-to-aft axis, means for determining if the sensed acceleration along the fore-to-aft axis is indicative of a need to modify signal unit operation, and means for modifying signaling unit operation in response to the determination relating to sensed fore-to-aft acceleration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of direction signaling for a vehicle, said method comprising:
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selecting either a left or a right signaling unit for operation to indicate an intended turning movement of the vehicle;
operating the selected signaling unit;
sensing vehicle acceleration along its lateral axis;
determining if the sensed acceleration is indicative of a need to cancel signaling unit operation;
canceling signaling unit operation in response to the determination;
sensing vehicle acceleration along the fore-to-aft axis;
determining if the sensed acceleration along the fore-to-aft axis is indicative of a need to modify signaling unit operation; and
modifying signal unit operation in response to the determination relating to the sensed fore-to-aft acceleration. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification