System and method for barrier proximity detection

• US 6,581,006 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BWI Company Limited SA (Shougang Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Riley, Hubert B., Cazzell, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/754,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 701/301, 701/96, 701/93, 701/300, 340/425.5, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 342/70
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/006 using a distance sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/007 providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• 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 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area

Abstract

A system for barrier proximity detection, comprising a short-range detection (SRD) sensor, a barrier proximity detection system (BPDS) controller, and an operator display and control. The SRD sensor mounted on the vehicle detects the distance to objects and transmits a distance signal to the BPDS controller. The BPDS controller provides an operator control signal to the operator display and control for the driver'"'"'s use. The BPDS controller may also store preset alarms, distance setpoints, or desired ranges for repeated use. The operator display and control may be a gradient alert display with audible alarms or an alphanumeric display to indicate the distance to an object with a preset target distance. The method provides the steps of measuring a desired range between the front of a vehicle and a barrier and storing the desired range in the BPDS, then using the desired range to provide a clear indication to the driver.

Claims

1. A system for barrier proximity detection to monitor distance between a vehicle and an object and to provide information to an operator, comprising:

means for transmitting a radar signal to the object;

means for receiving a reflected signal from the object;

means for generating a distance signal responsive to the radar signal and the reflected signal;

means for generating an operator control signal responsive to operator input;

means for generating an operator display signal responsive to the distance signal and the operator control signal;

means for displaying the operator display signal in a form useable by the operator;

means for storing desired range;

means for comparing the distance signal to the desired range; and

means for providing a clearance indication status signal to the operator when the distance signal is less than or equal to the desired range.

2. A system for barrier proximity detection to monitor distance between a vehicle and an object, comprising:

an SRD (short-range detection) sensor for transmitting a radar signal to the object, receiving a reflected signal from the object, and, responsive to the radar signal and the reflected signal, generating a distance signal;

an operator display and control responsive to an operator display signal and generating an operator control signal; and

a BPDS barrier proximity detection system) controller programmed to receive the distance signal from the SRD sensor, to receive the operator control signal from the operator display and control, responsive to the operator control signal and the distance signal to generate the operator display signal, and to transmit the operator display signal to the operator display and control.

wherein the operator display and control is an alphanumeric display;

the alphanumeric display further comprises a control portion and a status portion; and

the status portion further comprises a BPDS status indication, a range indication, and a clearance indication.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the SRD sensor is mounted on a front bumper.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the SRD sensor is mounted behind a front bumper.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the SRD sensor is mounted from 15 to 30 inches above ground.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the operator display and control is a gradient alert display.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the gradient alert display further comprises a plurality of display segments responsive to the operator display signal.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the SRD sensor has a range of 6 meters.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the operator display and control further comprises at least one audible alarm.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the control portion further comprises a range set switch and an on/off switch.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein the BPDS controller is a microprocessor.

12. The system of claim 2 wherein the BPDS controller is a modified back-up aid (BUA) controller.

13. The system of claim 2 wherein the BPDS controller further comprises storage for preset alarms, distance setpoints, and desired ranges.

14. A system for barrier proximity detection to monitor distance between a vehicle and an object and to provide information to an operator, comprising:

means for transmitting a radar signal to the object;

means for receiving a reflected signal from the object;

means for generating a distance signal responsive to the radar signal and the reflected signal;

means for generating an operator control signal responsive to operator input;

means for generating an operator display signal responsive to the distance signal and the operator control signal; and

means for displaying the operator display signal in a form useable by the operator;

wherein the operator display signal display means is an alphanumeric display;

the alphanumeric display further comprises a control portion and a status portion; and

the status portion further comprises a BPDS status indication, a range indication, and a clearance indication.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

means for storing a desired range;

means for comparing the distance signal to the desired range; and

means for providing a clearance indication status signal to the operator when the distance signal is less than or equal to the desired range.

16. A method for calibrating a barrier proximity detection system (BPDS) for parking a vehicle at a desired range from an object, comprising the steps of:

providing the BPDS mounted on the vehicle;

positioning the vehicle at a safe parking distance from the object;

measuring a distance between the vehicle and the object; and

storing the measured distance in the BPDS as the desired range to calibrate the BPDS;

wherein the BPDS comprises an SRD (short-range detection) sensor for transmitting a radar signal to the object, receiving a reflected signal from the object, and, responsive to the radar signal and the reflected signal, generating a distance signal;

an operator display and control responsive to an operator display signal and generating an operator control signal; and

a BPDS (barrier proximity detection system) controller programmed to receive the distance signal from the SRD sensor, to receive the operator control signal from the operator display and control, responsive to the operator control signal and the distance signal to generate the operator display signal, and to transmit the operator display signal to the operator display and control.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the operator display and control is an alphanumeric display;

the alphanumeric display further comprises a control portion and a status portion; and

the status portion further comprises a BPDS status indication, a range indication, and a clearance indication.

18. A method for using a barrier proximity detection system (BPDS) for parking a vehicle at a desired range from an object, comprising the steps of:

providing the BPDS mounted on the vehicle;

activating the BPDS to use the BPDS for parking;

moving the vehicle toward the object;

determining whether clearance indication shows the vehicle to be clear; and

moving the vehicle further toward the object if the clearance indication shows the vehicle is not clear;

wherein the BPDS comprises an SRD (short-range detection) sensor for transmitting a radar signal to the object, receiving a reflected signal from the object, and, responsive to the radar signal and the reflected signal, generating a distance signal;

an operator display and control responsive to an operator display signal and generating an operator control signal; and

a BPDS (baffler proximity detection system) controller programmed to receive the distance signal from the SRD sensor, to receive the operator control signal from the operator display and control, responsive to the operator control signal and the distance signal to generate the operator display signal, and to transmit the operator display signal to the operator display and control.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the operator display and control is an alphanumeric display;

the alphanumeric display further comprises a control portion and a status portion; and

the status portion further comprises a BPDS status indication, a range indication, and a clearance indication.