Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

• US 8,000,871 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Alfred S., Braunberger, Beau M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US12/434,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20090216418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/70, 701/79, 701/91, 340/425.5, 340/426.18, 340/435, 340/438, 340/439, 180/170, 180/197
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/447 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing the shape or intensity of the indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/14 by making use of gyroscopes gyroscopes per se G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A communication system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a parameter correlated to the speed of the vehicle, an acceleration monitoring system, a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle, an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, and a control device. The acceleration monitoring system is configured to compute the acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the parameter of the periodic function of the vehicle speed sensor and to output a deceleration status of the vehicle. The control device is coupled to the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the alerting device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a. a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect a rotation of a moving part;

b. an acceleration monitoring system configured to calculate the acceleration of the vehicle;

c. a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle;

d. an alerting device that is configured to respond to a deceleration of the vehicle; and

e. a control device coupled to the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector and the alerting device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed sensor is one of the following:

an aftermarket add-on and an original vehicle system installed by the vehicle manufacturer.

3. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the vehicle speed sensor is further configured to detect ferrous metal.

4. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle speed sensor further comprises a coil, wherein when voltage is applied to the coil a magnetic flux field is produced around the coil and further, wherein the vehicle speed sensor detects ferrous metal passing through the magnetic flux field.

5. The communication system of claim 4, wherein the disturbance created by ferrous metal passing through the magnetic flux field is used to produce a square wave with a parameter correlated to the speed of the vehicle and the acceleration monitoring system is configured to compute the acceleration of the vehicle form variations in the parameters of the square wave and output a deceleration status of the vehicle.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the alerting device is capable of responding at one or more of a constant rate, a variable rate, and a variable rate correlated to a rate of deceleration.

7. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the alerting device emits visible light.

8. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the alerting device emits non-visible radiation.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the non-visible radiation is one of the following:

infrared and radio frequency.

10. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a. a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect ferrous metal and produce a square wave with a parameter correlated to the speed of the vehicle;

b. an acceleration monitoring system configured to calculate the acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the square wave parameters and output a deceleration status of the vehicle;

b. a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle;

c. an alerting device that is configured to respond to a deceleration of the vehicle; and

d. a control device coupled to the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector and the alerting device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle.

11. The communication system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle speed sensor is one of the following:

an aftermarket add-on and an original vehicle system installed by the vehicle manufacturer.

12. The communication system of claim 10, wherein the alerting device is capable of responding at one or more of a constant rate, a variable rate, and a variable rate correlated to a rate of deceleration.

13. The communication system of claim 12, wherein the alerting device emits visible light.

14. The communication system of claim 12, wherein the alerting device emits non-visible radiation.

15. The communication system of claim 14, wherein the non-visible radiation is one of the following:

infrared and radio frequency.

16. A method of alerting drivers in proximity to a vehicle of deceleration and braking of the vehicle, comprising;

a. sensing the speed of the vehicle by measuring the parameter of a square wave produced by the rotation of ferrous metal throughout a magnetic flux field;

b. determining a rate of acceleration of the vehicle based on variations in the parameters of the square wave;

c. detecting a braking status of the vehicle;

d. detecting a throttle status of the vehicle; and

e. if the vehicle is decelerating, emitting a response from an alerting device to indicate that the vehicle is decelerating, wherein the response varies depending on the rate of deceleration, the braking status, and the throttle status of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the alerting device is capable of responding at one or more of a constant rate, a variable rate, and a variable rate correlated to a rate of deceleration.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the alerting device emits visible light.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the alerting device emits non-visible radiation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the non-visible radiation is one of the following:

infrared and radio frequency.