Centralized control and management system for automobiles

• US 7,162,370 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Auto Director Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/214,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/93, 701/96, 701/116, 701/117, 340/901, 340/903, 340/435, 340/436
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

In a control and management system for automobiles, a central processor in the system connects traditionally unrelated vehicle subsystems together to realize synergistic functions such as smart driving, automatic parking, etc. A master interface having a display is employed in the system to help a user control and manage the vehicle functions.

Claims

1. A method for use in a system in a vehicle, the system including a display element, the method comprising:

providing at least one indicator on the display element;

allowing a manipulation of the indicator on the display element to define a separation between the vehicle and a detectable object outside the vehicle, the defined separation being indicated on the display element, the manipulation of the indicator being restricted from defining the separation to be smaller than a reference separation, the reference separation being a function of at least a current speed of the vehicle;

determining whether a current separation between the vehicle and a detectable object outside the vehicle is maintained at at least the defined separation; and

providing an alert when it is determined that the current separation is not maintained at at least the defined separation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the defined separation is measured from the front of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the defined separation is measured from the back of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the defined separation includes a specified distance.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the specified distance is a spatial measurement.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the spatial measurement is measured from a side of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the detectable object includes a second vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the reference separation is also a function of a current speed of the second vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is in motion.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a second alert when it is determined that the current separation is not maintained at at least the reference separation.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference separation comprises a minimum separation selectable by a user.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the defined separation is indicated in relation to the reference separation.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the alert includes an alarm to prompt a user to take an action to avoid a collision.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the alert is provided on the display element.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the current separation is measured using radar technology.

16. A system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a display element, at least one indicator being provided on the display element;

a device for manipulating the indicator on the display element to define a separation between the vehicle and a detectable object outside the vehicle, the defined separation being indicated on the display element, a manipulation of the indicator being restricted from defining the separation to be smaller than a reference separation, the reference separation being a function of at least a current speed of the vehicle; and

a processor configured to determine whether a current separation between the vehicle and a detectable object outside the vehicle is maintained at at least the defined separation, an alert being provided when it is determined that the current separation is not maintained at at least the defined separation.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the defined separation is measured from the front of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the defined separation is measured from the back of the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the defined separation includes a specified distance.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the specified distance is a spatial measurement.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the spatial measurement is measured from a side of the vehicle.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the detectable object includes a second vehicle.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the reference separation is also a function of a current speed of the second vehicle.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein the vehicle is in motion.

25. The system of claim 16 wherein a second alert is provided when it is determined that the current separation is not maintained at at least the reference separation.

26. The system of claim 16 wherein the reference separation comprises a minimum separation selectable by a user.

27. The system of claim 16 wherein the defined separation is indicated in relation to the reference separation.

28. The system of claim 16 wherein the alert includes an alarm to prompt a user to take an action to avoid a collision.

29. The system of claim 16 wherein the alert is provided on the display element.

30. The system of claim 16 wherein the current separation is measured using radar technology.

31. A method for use in a system in a vehicle, the system including a display element, the method comprising:

providing at least one indicator on the display element;

allowing a manipulation of the indicator on the display element to set a separation between the vehicle and a detectable object outside the vehicle, the set separation being indicated on the display element in relation to a base separation, the manipulation of the indicator being restricted from setting the separation to be smaller than the base separation, the base separation being a function of at least a current speed of the vehicle;

monitoring a current separation between the vehicle and a detectable object outside the vehicle; and

generating an alert as a function of at least the current separation and the set separation.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the set separation is measured from the front of the vehicle.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the set separation includes a set distance.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the set distance is a spatial measurement.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the detectable object includes a second vehicle.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the base separation is also a function of a current speed of the second vehicle.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the base separation comprises a minimum separation selectable by a user.

38. The method of claim 31 wherein the alert includes an alarm to prompt a user to take an action to avoid a collision.

39. The method of claim 31 wherein the alert is provided on the display element.

40. The method of claim 31 wherein the current separation is measured using radar technology.

41. The method of claim 31 wherein the alert is generated when the current separation is not realizable to be greater than the set separation.

42. A method for use in a system in a vehicle, the system including a display element, comprising:

providing at least one indicator on the display element;

allowing a manipulation of the indicator on the display element to set an interval separating the vehicle from a detectable object outside the vehicle, the manipulation of the indicator being restricted from setting the interval to be smaller than a minimum interval, wherein the minimum interval is selectable by a user, and is a function of at least a speed of the vehicle;

monitoring a separation between the vehicle and a detectable object outside the vehicle; and

generating an alert as a function of at least the separation and the set interval.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the set interval is measured from the front of the vehicle.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein the set interval includes a set distance.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the set distance is a spatial measurement.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein the detectable object includes a second vehicle.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the minimum interval is also a function of a speed of the second vehicle.

48. The method of claim 42 wherein the alert includes an alarm to prompt a user to take an action to avoid a collision.

49. The method of claim 42 wherein the alert is provided on the display element.

50. The method of claim 42 wherein the separation is measured using radar technology.

51. The method of claim 42 wherein the alert is generated when the separation is not realizable to be greater than the set interval.

52. A system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a display element, at least one indicator being provided on the display element;

a device for manipulating the indicator on the display element to set a separation between the vehicle and a detectable object outside the vehicle, the set separation being indicated on the display element in relation to a base separation, a manipulation of the indicator being restricted from setting the separation to be smaller than the base separation, the base separation being a function of at least a current speed of the vehicle;

a detection element for monitoring a current separation between the vehicle and a detectable object outside the vehicle; and

a processor configured to generate an alert as a function of at least the current separation and the set separation.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein the set separation is measured from the front of the vehicle.

54. The system of claim 52 wherein the set separation includes a set distance.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein the set distance is a spatial measurement.

56. The system of claim 52 wherein the detectable object includes a second vehicle.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the base separation is also a function of a current speed of the second vehicle.

58. The system of claim 52 wherein the base separation comprises a minimum separation selectable by a user.

59. The system of claim 52 wherein the alert includes an alarm to prompt a user to take an action to avoid a collision.

60. The system of claim 52 wherein the alert is provided on the display element.

61. The system of claim 52 wherein the detection element incorporates radar technology.

62. The system of claim 52 wherein the alert is generated when the current separation is not realizable to be greater than the set separation.

63. A system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a display element, at least one indicator being provided on the display element;

a device for manipulating the indicator on the display element to set an interval separating the vehicle from a detectable object outside the vehicle, a manipulation of the indicator being restricted from setting the interval to be smaller than a minimum interval, wherein the minimum interval is selectable by a user, and is a function of at least a speed of the vehicle;

a detection element for monitoring a separation between the vehicle and a detectable object outside the vehicle; and

a processor configured to generate an alert as a function of at least the separation and the set interval.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein the set interval is measured from the front of the vehicle.

65. The system of claim 63 wherein the set interval includes a set distance.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein the set distance is a spatial measurement.

67. The system of claim 63 wherein the detectable object includes a second vehicle.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein the minimum interval is also a function of a speed of the second vehicle.

69. The system of claim 63 wherein the alert includes an alarm to prompt a user to take an action to avoid a collision.

70. The system of claim 63 wherein the alert is provided on the display element.

71. The system of claim 63 wherein the detection element incorporates radar technology.

72. The system of claim 63 wherein the alert is generated when the separation is not realizable to be greater than the set interval.