Externally activated non-negative acceleration system

• US 7,151,992 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vrbia Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vrbia Incorporated
• Inventors: Dort, David Bogart
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/803,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20050165537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/213, 701/96, 701/301, 701/115, 701/35, 340/995.13, 340/905, 340/933, 340/919, 340/928, 340/935, 340/941, 340/903, 180/169, 180/170, 180/178, 180/287
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

The present invention is designed to complement the existing transportation infrastructure in order to alleviate ever-worsening traffic congestion in problematic areas by minimizing the impact of driver “bunching” habits and/or external events that lead to congestion problems. Events alleviated by the present invention may happen at naturally occurring roadway infrastructures such as merges, lane shifts, and exits, and under conditions like rush hour, accidents, stand-stills, and HOV lane activation times. Further, vehicles allowing their speed and spacing to be controlled should have access to high-flow lanes. This invention will best and most safely be implemented at low speeds when congestion is most problematic and bunching habits prevent the dissipation of gridlock. In particular embodiments, the invention will regulate multiple vehicle accelerations (non-negative acceleration) once a low threshold speed has been reached through the transmission of signals to receivers in properly equipped vehicles. The exclusive non-negative acceleration control system simplifies the manufacturing, safety and redundancy necessary for implementing such a system and is commercially viable.

Claims

1. A non-negative acceleration control system for use in vehicles comprising an external transmitter, and an internal non negative acceleration control

wherein said external transmitted emits a positive acceleration limitation signals when the speed of a vehicle reaches zero,

wherein said internal non-negative acceleration control receives said positive acceleration limitation signals and is operatively coupled with acceleration system in a vehicle, wherein said non-negative acceleration control system is not capable of causing negative acceleration in said vehicle, and

wherein said vehicle cannot accelerate beyond a threshold velocity, when a positive acceleration limitation signal is transmitted.

2. The non-negative acceleration control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control system is activated by receiving a signal from a transmitter located externally to said vehicle.

3. The control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said internal acceleration control is continuously activated until said vehicle exits a traffic congestion control zone or a traffic event has subsided.

4. The control system as recited in claim 3, wherein said traffic event is an average spacing between vehicles.

5. The control system as recited in claim 3, wherein said traffic event is a low threshold velocity of a number of vehicles.

6. The control system as recited in claim 3, wherein said traffic event is a low threshold velocity of a number of vehicles in combination with an average spacing between vehicles.

7. The control system as recited in claim 3, wherein said traffic event is an externally detected event.

8. A method for dissipating vehicular gridlock along a stretch of roadway comprising:

detecting a traffic event that requires non-negative acceleration control in a number of vehicles that are located in a control zone;

sending a signal to at least one vehicle of said number of vehicles, said at least one vehicle having reached a threshold velocity of zero and said vehicle equipped with a non-negative acceleration governor;

said configured to limit the velocity of said at least one vehicle to less than that of another vehicle in front of said at least one vehicle,

wherein said signal cannot reduce the velocity of said at least one vehicle.