Vehicle pre-impact sensing and control system with driver response feedback

• US 7,253,724 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Prakah-Asante, Kwaku O., Rao, Manoharprasad K.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/982,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20060109094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/436, 340/479, 340/435, 340/903, 340/575, 340/576, 340/432, 340/427, 340/467
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/182 Brake pressure, e.g. of fluid or between pad and disc
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4029 Pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/802 Longitudinal distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/182 Brake pressure, e.g. of fluid or between pad and disc
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A vehicle pre-impact sensing and control system generates tailored adaptive warning signals as a function of driver vehicle use. The tailored signals are used in a vehicle controller for determining appropriate driver warning or safety device activations.

Claims

1. A method for pre-impact sensing and control for a vehicle and vehicle driver comprising:

tracking vehicle operation characteristics of the driver;

tuning at least one of driver warning intensity or driver warning time as a function of said vehicle operation characteristics and a driver category;

warning the driver of potential collisions as a function of said tuning; and

monitoring, as a function of brake operation, driver response characteristics to said warning;

wherein said step of tuning further comprises tuning said warning intensity or said driver warning time for an aggressive driver, a passive driver, an elderly driver, an average drive, or an inexperienced driver;

wherein said step of tuning further comprises determining which driver category the driver belongs as a function of at least one of consistent hard-braking or consistent aggressive accelerator operation.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating occupant safety systems as a function of said driver response characteristics to said warning.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating or assisting driver braking in response to driver response characteristics.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein warning the driver of potential collisions as a function of said tuning further comprises sensing a target object in an operational path of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein warning the driver of potential collisions as a function of said tuning further comprises determining kinematics of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein warning the driver of potential collisions as a function of said tuning further comprises predicting future positions of the vehicle and said target object.

7. A safety system for a host vehicle and a driver comprising:

at least one of an acceleration pedal or a brake pedal generating control device signals as a function of host vehicle operation;

at least one remote sensor coupled to the host vehicle and sensing an object in a direction of travel of the host vehicle and generating a sensor signal in response thereto;

a driver response feedback unit comprising predetermined adaptive warning level, said feedback unit further comprising logic tracking driver behavior over time as a function of said control device signals, said feedback unit comparing said driver behavior over time with said predetermined adaptive warning levels and generating a driver response signal as a function of said comparison; and

a decision-making computation controller comprising logic generating potential collision warning signal for the driver as a function of said driver response signal and host vehicle and target object kinematics, said logic further monitoring, as a function of brake operation, driver response characteristics to said warning signals, said controller activating vehicle safety systems as a function of said driver response characteristics and activating or assisting driver braking as a function of a driver accelerator release rate; and

wherein said controller logic comparing said driver behavior over time with said predetermined adaptive warning levels further comprises determining an aggressive driver, a passive drive, an elderly driver, an average driver, or an inexperienced driver;

wherein said controller logic comparing said driver behavior over time with said predetermined adaptive warning levels further comprises determining which driver category the driver belongs as a function of at least one of consistent hard-braking, consistent soft-braking, consistent aggressive accelerator operation, consistent moderate accelerator operation, or consistent passive accelerator operation.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said controller activates or assists driver braking as a function of brake position, adaptive warning levels, and tunable gains.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said controller further determines whether a safety countermeasure is required and which countermeasure may be required.

10. The system of claim 7 further comprising a control switch, operable by the driver, setting vehicle response as a function of driver characteristics.