Vehicle safety system and method with automatic accident reporting

• US 8,239,102 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gold Charm Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Ga-Lane
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US12/511,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/46, 701/47, 701/412, 340/438, 340/903, 180/271, 280/734, 280/735
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0027 Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/00 Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles B60R22/00; devices, apparatus or methods for life-saving in general A62B; safety devices for propulsion unit control specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles B60K28/00; seats constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats, B60N2/42; energy-absorbing arrangements for hand wheels for steering vehicles B62D1/11; energy-absorbing arrangements for vehicle steering columns B62D1/19; harnessing in aircraft B64D25/00

Abstract

A vehicle safety system includes a motion detecting device, a control module, a positioning module, and a wireless transmitting module. The motion detecting device is configured for sensing the motion of a vehicle and recording corresponding motion data. The control module is configured for analyzing the motion data and judging whether an accident has occurred to the vehicle based upon the analysis. The positioning module is configured for obtaining position coordinates of the vehicle. The wireless transmitting module is configured for automatically making contact with and reporting the position coordinates of the vehicle to a remote service station when an accident has occurred to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety system comprising:

a motion detecting device configured for sensing the motion of a vehicle and recording corresponding motion data, the motion detecting device comprising a gyroscope configured for sensing an angular momentum of the vehicle, and an accelerometer attached in the vehicle and configured for sensing an acceleration of the vehicle;

a control module configured for analyzing the motion data and judging whether an accident has occurred to the vehicle based upon the analysis;

a radio frequency identification system configured for providing wireless communication between the motion detecting module and the control module;

the radio frequency identification system comprising a first recorder mechanically and electrically connected to the gyroscope and a second recorder mechanically and electrically connected to the accelerometer, such that the sensed angular momentum is capable of being written into the first recorder, and the sensed acceleration is capable of being written into the second recorder;

a positioning module configured for obtaining position coordinates of the vehicle; and

a wireless transmitting module configured for automatically making contact with and reporting the position coordinates of the vehicle to a remote service station when an accident has occurred to the vehicle.

2. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, wherein the control module comprises a memory configured for storing predetermined conditions, and a judging unit configured for judging whether the obtained motion data satisfy the predetermined conditions.

3. The vehicle safety system of claim 2, wherein the motion detecting device is capable of being attached to a chassis of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle safety system of claim 2, wherein the judging unit is configured for judging whether the sensed angular momentum satisfies the predetermined condition.

5. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, wherein the judging unit is configured for judging whether the sensed acceleration satisfies the predetermined condition.

6. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification system further comprises a reader mechanically and electrically connected to the control module and configured for receiving the sensed angular momentum and the sensed acceleration from the first recorder and the second recorder respectively using radio signals.

7. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, wherein the positioning module comprises a Global Positioning System receiver.

8. A vehicle safety method comprising:

sensing the motion of a vehicle and recording corresponding motion data, the motion data comprising an angular momentum of the vehicle and an acceleration of the vehicle;

writing the sensed angular momentum and the sensed acceleration, and outputting the sensed angular momentum and sensed acceleration, wirelessly;

analyzing the motion data and judging whether an accident has occurred to the vehicle based upon the analysis;

obtaining position coordinates of the vehicle; and

automatically making contact with and reporting the position coordinates of the vehicle to a remote service station when an accident has occurred to the vehicle.

9. The vehicle safety method of claim 8, wherein the analyzing comprises judging whether the motion data satisfies one or more predetermined conditions.