Vehicle—mounted transducer

• US 9,522,627 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven Schraga
• Original Assignee: Steven Schraga
• Inventors: Schraga, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl
• Application Number:
  US13/887,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20130242103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/904, 340/436, 340/435, 340/932.2, 701/301
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9317 Driving backwards
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4017 of HF systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08

Abstract

A communication system, including an apparatus, method and program, is provided for communicating a message from a vehicle to a location. The communication system detects a distance to an object that is located at the location and a speed of the vehicle. A target distance is then calculated on the basis of the detected distance to the object and the detected speed of the vehicle. A determination is made as to whether the object is configured for communication with the vehicle. According to the determination, a message is communicated to the object from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A blind spot image detector for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one transducer structured and arranged to be selectively positionable in a detector position to detect objects in a blind spot of the vehicle and in a retracted position in a body of the vehicle;

a casing structured and arranged to selectively be flush with the body of the vehicle when the transducer is in the retracted position and not flush with the body of the vehicle when the transducer is in the detector position;

a display structured to issue an alert to a driver to the object in the blind spot of the vehicle.

2. The blind spot image detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer is part of a retractable mirror system, which further includes a mirror.

3. The blind spot image detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer and the casing are part of a retractable mirror system, which further includes a mirror.

4. The blind spot image detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer comprises a transducer array.

5. The blind spot image detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer is structured and arranged to retract into a panel of the vehicle.

6. The blind spot image detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer is structured and arranged to retract into a hood of the vehicle.

7. The blind spot image detector according to claim 1, further comprising an extending system structured and arranged to extend the at least one transducer outward from the body of the vehicle.

8. The blind spot image detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer comprises a transducer array and the transducer array and casing are part of a retractable mirror system, which further includes a mirror.

9. The blind spot image detector according to claim 8, further comprising an extending system structured and arranged to extend the retractable mirror system outward from the body of the vehicle.

10. The blind spot image detector according to claim 9, further comprising an automatic mechanism structured and arranged to control of the extending system.

11. The blind spot image detector according to claim 9, further comprising an manual mechanism structured and arranged to control of the extending system.

12. The blind spot image detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer is automatically positionable into the detector position.

13. The blind spot image detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer is manually positionable into the detector position.

14. The object detection system according to claim 1, further comprising a transducer fault detection process to determine whether the at least one transducer is not properly functioning.

15. The object detection system according to claim 1, wherein at least one transducer comprises a transducer structured to perform a self-diagnosis and issue a health status signal.

16. An object detection system for a vehicle having a front and rear end, comprising:

at least one transducer array mounted on at least one side of the vehicle, the transducer array being arranged to detect an object located in a detection area laterally to the at least one side of the vehicle; and

a display structured to issue an alert to a driver to the object in the detection area.

17. The object detection system according to claim 16, wherein the display is further structured and arranged to display images of the object in the detection area.

18. The object detection system according to claim 16, further comprising a notifier structured and arranged to generate a signal that varies according to a distance to the object.

19. The object detection system according to claim 16, wherein the signal generated is an audible signal that increases in frequency as the distance to the object decreases.

20. The object detection system according to claim 16, further comprising a transducer fault detection process to detect whether any of the transducers of the at least one transducer array are not properly functioning.

21. A driving control for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one transducer array mounted on at least a front end of the vehicle, the transducer array being arranged to detect an object located in a detection area ahead the front end of the vehicle;

a transducer controller coupled to the transducers to determine a distance between the object and the transducer array;

a range finder structured and arranged to determine a speed at which the object is traveling;

a controller structured and arranged to obtain a speed of the vehicle and to determine a target distance to be maintained between the vehicle and the object;

a comparator for comparing the determined distance with the target distance;

wherein, when the target distance is greater than the determined distance, the controller directs at least one of an alert to a driver of the vehicle and automated remedial action.

22. The driving control according to claim 21, wherein the at least one of the alert to the driver of the vehicle and automated remedial action is taken until the target distance is less than or equal to the determined distance.

23. The driving control according to claim 21, wherein the automated remedial action comprise at least one of activating a braking system of the vehicle, deactivating a speed control system of the vehicle, temporarily setting a speed control system of the vehicle to a coast mode, adjusting a speed control system of the vehicle.

24. The driving control according to claim 21, wherein the alert to the driver of vehicle comprises at least one of a visual and an audible warning.

25. The driving control according to claim 24, wherein the visual warning includes at least one of textual messages, visual indicators, and lights and the audible warning includes at least one of an audio message and sounds.

26. The driving control according to claim 24, wherein, when the determined distance is less than the target distance and decreasing, the at least one of the visual and audible warning will increase in at least one of intensity, frequency, duration.

27. A driving control for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one transducer array mounted on at least a rear end of the vehicle, the transducer array being arranged to detect an object located in a detection area behind the rear end of the vehicle;

a transducer controller coupled to the transducers to determine a distance between the object and the transducer array;

a range finder structured and arranged to determine a speed at which the object is traveling;

a controller structured and arranged to obtain a speed of the vehicle and to determine a target distance to be maintained between the vehicle and the object;

a comparator for comparing the determined distance with the target distance;

a notifier structured and arranged to that, when the target distance is greater than the determined distance, the notifier directs at least one of a visual and an audible alert outside of the vehicle.

28. The driving control according to claim 27, wherein the notifier includes a display one of mounted on or in place of a rear window of the vehicle to direct the visual alert toward the object.

29. A control device in a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one transducer array mounted on a portion of the vehicle located at a rear end portion of the vehicle, the transducer array being structured and arranged to detect an object located in a detection area, the detection area being in a region facing the transducer array;

a transducer controller coupled to the transducers to determine a distance between the object in the region facing the transducer array and the transducer array; and

a system structured and arranged to react to a signal from the transducer controller in response to determining that the object is within a minimum distance to the portion of the vehicle on which the at least one transducer array is mounted.

30. The control device according to claim 29, wherein the at least one transducer array is mounted on a rear surface of the vehicle that, under normal driving conditions, faces in a direction behind a driver'"'"'s back.

31. The control device according to claim 29, wherein the at least one transducer array is mounted on a rear fender.

32. The control device according to claim 31, wherein the at least one transducer array comprises transducers mounted on the vehicle that are oriented toward at least one side of the vehicle.

33. The control device according to claim 29, wherein, when the vehicle is stationary, the transducer controller is configured to detect objects approaching the at least one transducer array.

34. The control device according to claim 33, wherein the transducer controller is configured to transmit a signal to the system when it is determined that the object is coming close to contact with the portion of the vehicle on which the at least one transducer array is mounted.

35. The control device according to claim 29, wherein the system comprises an alarm system.

36. The control device according to claim 29, wherein the control device comprises an auto-response mode, whereby the controller is configured to execute remedial actions to respond to the detected condition.