Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

• US 8,532,896 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Alfred S., Braunberger, Beau M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amin, Bhavesh V
• Application Number:
  US11/821,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,273 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 340/426.32, 340/435, 340/436, 340/453, 340/468, 340/479
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01908 Acceleration or inclination sensors characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/28 Gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/044 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0124 Roll-over conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• 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: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/36 Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/06 Active Suspension System
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/171 Detecting parameters used in the regulation; Measuring values used in the regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/905 the sensor being an xyz axis sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/182 Brake pressure, e.g. of fluid or between pad and disc
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 : Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 : Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 : Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/22 : Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/226 : Damping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/107 : Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/109 : Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/11 : Pitch movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/18 : Stabilised platforms, e.g. by gyroscope
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 : with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/14 : by making use of gyroscopes gyroscopes per se G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 : in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 : Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/072 : Ionosphere corrections
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 : whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/53 : Determining attitude

Abstract

A method of and system for detecting absolute acceleration along various axes relative to a desired movement vector while moving relative to a gravity source includes steps of determining a vertical acceleration, perpendicular to the desired movement vector and substantially anti-parallel to a gravitational acceleration due to the gravity source; determining a longitudinal acceleration, parallel to the desired movement vector and to output at vertical acceleration signal and a longitudinal acceleration signal; determining an inclination of the desired movement vector relative to the gravitational acceleration; and processing the vertical acceleration signal, the longitudinal acceleration signal, and the inclination signal to produce an absolute vertical acceleration signal and an absolute longitudinal acceleration signal.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a. an absolute deceleration detector including an accelerometer, a gyroscope configured to sense an inclination of a movement vector relative to the gravitational acceleration, and a control logic and configured to determine an absolute deceleration status of the vehicle;

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

c. an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle; and

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

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the alerting device comprises lamps on the vehicle that are capable of flashing.

3. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the lamps are capable of flashing only at a constant rate.

4. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the lamps are capable of flashing at a variable rate, and further wherein the control device is configured to flash the lamps at a rate correlated to a rate of deceleration.

5. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the lamps are one of the following:

conventional signaling lamps and conventional brake lamps.

6. The communication system of claim 5, wherein the control device further comprises a control system for the conventional brake lamp system, whereby the communication system is an integrated control and circuitry system for all brake lamps.

7. The communication system of claim 5, wherein the existing control system for the conventional brake lamp system is substantially unmodified, and wherein the control device communicates with the conventional brake lamp system in a substantially separate manner.

8. The communication system of claim 5, wherein the control device is an addition to a control system for the conventional brake lamp system.

9. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the lamps are in addition to conventional brake lamps and conventional signaling lamps.

10. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the control device receives signals from the deceleration detector, a throttle engagement detector, and the braking system engagement detector in cycles.

11. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising an input device coupled to the control device.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the input device comprises a throttle engagement detector configured to relay a throttle status to the control device.

13. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the input device comprises a clutch engagement detector configured to relay a clutch status to the control device.

14. The communication system of claim 1, wherein once the braking system is engaged, a conventional brake lamp system is activated and the communication system is de-activated.

15. The communication system of claim 14, wherein once the braking system is disengaged, the communication system is re-activated.

16. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a. an absolute deceleration detector including an accelerometer, a gyroscope configured to sense an inclination of a movement vector relative to the gravitational acceleration, and a control logic and configured to determine an absolute deceleration status of the vehicle;

b. an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle; and

c. a control device coupled to the absolute deceleration detector and the alerting device, wherein the deceleration detector sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the absolute deceleration status of the vehicle.

17. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the alerting device comprises lamps on the vehicle that are capable of flashing.

18. The communication system of claim 17, wherein the lamps are capable of flashing only at a constant rate.

19. The communication system of claim 17, wherein the lamps are capable of flashing at a variable rate, and further wherein the control device is configured to flash the lamps at a rate correlated to a rate of deceleration.

20. The communication system of claim 16, further comprising an input device coupled to the control device.

21. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the input device comprises a throttle engagement detector configured to relay a throttle status to the control device.

22. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the input device comprises a clutch engagement detector configured to relay a clutch status to the control device.

23. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a. an absolute deceleration detector including an accelerometer, a gyroscope configured to sense an inclination of a movement vector relative to the gravitational acceleration, and a control logic and configured to determine an absolute deceleration status of the vehicle;

b. an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, wherein the alerting device comprises lamps on the vehicle that are capable of flashing;

c. a control device coupled to the absolute deceleration detector and the alerting device, wherein the deceleration detector sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the absolute deceleration status of the vehicle; and

d. an input device coupled to the control device.

24. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the lamps are capable of flashing only at a constant rate.

25. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the lamps are capable of flashing at a variable rate, and further wherein the control device is configured to flash the lamps at a rate correlated to a rate of deceleration.

26. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the input device comprises a throttle engagement detector configured to relay a throttle status to the control device.

27. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the input device comprises a clutch engagement detector configured to relay a clutch status to the control device.

28. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a. an absolute deceleration detector including an accelerometer, a gyroscope configured to sense an inclination of a movement vector relative to the gravitational acceleration, and a control logic and configured to determine an absolute deceleration status of the vehicle;

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

c. an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle; and

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

wherein the control logic uses the inclination of movement vector to determine the absolute deceleration status.

29. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a. an absolute deceleration detector including;

i. an accelerometer for determining an acceleration of the vehicle;

ii. a gyroscope for determining a deviation from a plane perpendicular to earth'"'"'s gravity,

wherein an absolute deceleration of the vehicle is determined based on a signal from the accelerometer and a signal from the gyroscope;

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

c. an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle; and

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