System and method for providing wireless communication between vehicles

• US 7,005,977 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tengler, Steve, Heft, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US11/094,321
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457.2, 340/457, 340/933, 340/942, 340/458, 340/468, 340/471
• US Class Current: 340/457.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/486 for indicating that vehicle is in a parked state
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/40 Indexing codes relating to other road users or special conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/47 Direct command from other road users, i.e. the command for switching or changing the beam is sent by other vehicles or road devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered

Abstract

A vehicle and a method for controlling headlight status in a first vehicle includes receiving status information from at least one vehicle other than the first vehicle located in a communication area surrounding the first vehicle, the status information including a headlight status of the at least one other vehicle. A headlight status of the first vehicle is determined, and an action is initiated in the first vehicle based on the determined headlight status of the first vehicle and the received vehicle status of the at least one vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling headlight status in a first vehicle, comprising:

receiving status information from at least one vehicle other than the first vehicle located in a communication area surrounding the first vehicle, the status information including a headlight status of the at least one vehicle;

determining a headlight status of the first vehicle;

initiating an action in the first vehicle based on the determined headlight status of the first vehicle and the received status information of the at least one vehicle.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein initiating an action includes automatically turning on the headlights of the first vehicle if the determined headlight status of the first vehicle indicates that the headlights of the first vehicle are off and the received headlight status of the at least one vehicle indicates that the headlights of the at least one vehicle are on.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein initiating an action includes providing an alert to a driver of the first vehicle if the determined headlight status of the first vehicle indicates that the headlights of the first vehicle are off and the received headlight status of the at least one vehicle indicates that the headlights of the at least one vehicle are on.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the alert indicates that the headlights of the first vehicle should be turned on, and

wherein the alert is an audible alert or a visual alert.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein initiating an action includes flashing parking lamps of the first vehicle if the determined headlight status of the first vehicle indicates that the headlights of the first vehicle are off and the received headlight status of the at least one vehicle indicates that the headlights of the at least one vehicle are on.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein initiating an action includes providing an alert to vehicles in an area proximate to the first vehicle if the determined headlight status of the first vehicle indicates that the headlights of the first vehicle are off and the received headlight status of the at least one vehicle indicates that the headlights of the at least one vehicle are on.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the status information is received wirelessly.

8. A method according to claim 7, where the status information is received in conformance with a Dedicated Short Range Communications standard.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the status information is received in a format operating between approximately 5 GHz and 6 GHz.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein an action is initiated if the determined headlight status of the first vehicle indicates that the headlights of the first vehicle are off and the received headlight status of a predetermined number of vehicles indicates that the headlights of the predetermined number of vehicles are on.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined number of vehicles is three vehicles.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein an action is initiated if the determined headlight status of the first vehicle indicates that the headlights of the first vehicle are off and the received headlight status of a predetermined percentage of the at least one vehicle indicates that the headlights of the predetermined percentage of the at least one vehicle are on.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication area corresponds to an area surrounding the first vehicle in which the first vehicle is capable of receiving status information from another vehicle.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the status information of the at least one vehicle further includes a location and a velocity.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the status information of the at least one vehicle further includes vehicle dimensions.

16. A vehicle configured to control a headlight status, comprising:

headlights configured to be on or off;

a receiver that receives status information from at least one other vehicle located in a communication area surrounding the vehicle, the status information including a headlight status of the at least one other vehicle; and

a processor configured to determine a headlight status of the vehicle and to initiate an action based on the determined headlight status of the vehicle and the received status information of the at least one other vehicle.

17. A vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to generate a signal to turn on the headlights of the vehicle automatically if the determined headlight status of the vehicle indicates that the headlights of the vehicle are off and the received headlight status of the at least one other vehicle indicates that the headlights of the at least one other vehicle are on.

18. A vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to generate a signal to provide an alert to a driver of the vehicle if the determined headlight status of the vehicle indicates that the headlights of the vehicle are off and the received headlight status of the at least one other vehicle indicates that the headlights of the at least one other vehicle are on.

19. A vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the alert indicates that the headlights of the vehicle should be turned on, and

wherein the alert is an audible alert or a visual alert.

20. A vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to generate a signal to flash parking lamps of the vehicle if the determined headlight status of the vehicle indicates that the headlights of the vehicle are off and the received headlight status of the at least one other vehicle indicates that the headlights of the at least one other vehicle are on.

21. A vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to generate a signal to provide an alert to vehicles in an area proximate to the vehicle if the determined headlight status of the vehicle indicates that the headlights of the vehicle are off and the received headlight status of the at least one other vehicle indicates that the headlights of the at least one other vehicle are on.

22. A vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the receiver receives the status information wirelessly.

23. A vehicle according to claim 22, where the receiver receives the status information in conformance with a Dedicated Short Range Communications standard.

24. A vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the receiver receives the status information in a format operating between approximately 5 GHz and 6 GHz.

25. A vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to initiate an action if the determined headlight status of the vehicle indicates that the headlights of the vehicle are off and the received headlight status of a predetermined number of other vehicles indicates that the headlights of the predetermined number of other vehicles are on.

26. A vehicle according to claim 25, wherein the predetermined number of other vehicles is three vehicles.

27. A vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to initiate an action if the determined headlight status of the vehicle indicates that the headlights of the vehicle are off and the received headlight status of a predetermined percentage of the at least one other vehicle indicates that the headlights of the predetermined percentage of the at least one other vehicle are on.

28. A vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the communication area corresponds to an area surrounding the vehicle in which the receiver is capable of receiving status information from another vehicle.

29. A vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the status information of the at least one other vehicle further includes a location and a velocity.

30. A vehicle according to claim 29, wherein the status information of the at least one vehicle further includes vehicle dimensions.

31. A vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising:

a transmitter that transmits status information from the vehicle to at least one other vehicle located in a communication area surrounding the vehicle, the transmitted status information including the determined headlight status of the vehicle.

32. A vehicle configured to control a headlight status, comprising:

headlights configured to be on or off;

a receiver that receives status information from at least one other vehicle located in a communication area surrounding the vehicle, the status information including a headlight status of the at least one other vehicle; and

a processor configured to initiate an action based on the received status information of the at least one other vehicle.