Device for increasing traffic safety

• US 6,429,790 B1
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Frese, Thomas, Aumayer, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/701,772
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/902, 340/905, 340/933, 340/936, 340/988, 340/995, 180/167, 180/168, 701/210, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0058 responsive to externally generated signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0045 using databus protocols
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/046 involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle, e.g. via telemetry, satellite, Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/00 Input parameters relating to vehicle conditions or values, not covered by groups B60W2510/00 or B60W2520/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/045 Monitoring control system parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

In a system for increasing traffic safety, objects that can be located on or by a sheet are provided with transmitters of short transmission range. The transmitters transmit safety-related data in a form that can be received by receivers in other objects located on or by the street.

Claims

1. A system for increasing traffic safety, comprising:

a transmitter having a short transmission range equipped in an object located on or by a street, the transmitter configured to transmit safety-related data;

a receiver arranged in a first vehicle, the receiver configured to receive the safety-related data; and

an evaluation unit arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to the receiver, the evaluation unit configured to compare information in the received safety-related data with operational data of the first vehicle, the evaluation unit configured to determine whether the information is relevant to the first vehicle, wherein if the information is relevant to the vehicle, the evaluation unit displays an indication of at least some of the relevant information and initiating an intervention in a drive/brake system of the first vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a motor vehicle and the safety-related data includes operational data of the motor vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a bus system arranged in the motor vehicle, the operational data being supplied from a device of the motor vehicle via the bus sytem.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a device to convert a data format of the safety-related data, the device being arranged between the bus system and the transmitter of the motor vehicle.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the operational data transmitted by the motor vehicle includes information on a specific position and a speed of the motor vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the information on the specific position and the speed include both quantity and direction.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the operational data transmitted by the motor vehicle further includes information on changes in the operational data.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the operational data transmitted by the motor vehicle further includes information regarding operator inputs in the motor vehicle.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the operational data transmitted by the motor vehicle further includes switching information, the switching information including at least one of:

turn signal lights right/left on, light, fog light on/off, and windshield wiper on/off.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the transmitted operational data includes authorization information.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is one of a traffic signal and a road sign, and wherein the safety-related data includes a position and meaning of the object.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a stationary traffic guidance device, and wherein the safety-related data includes a position of the traffic guidance device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit data for identifying the object.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is fed a GPS location signal of a GPS receiver situated at a location of the transmitter.