Patent ID: 6014601
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: B60Q,G01S,G08G

Abstract:
A driver alert system for installation in a vehicle, the system comprising:a. a transmission means for transmitting a signal to an object;b. a reception means for receiving the signal transmitted by the transmission means, after the signal is reflected from the object;c. a first control and driving means configured to control and drive the transmission means and the reception means;d. a processing means comprising a processing unit and a memory unit, the processing means configured to receive data from the reception means regarding time durations between transmission and reception of multiple ones of the signals;e. the processing means configured to calculate a relative speed of the object with respect to the vehicle, a distance from the object to the vehicle, and a relative acceleration of the object with respect to the vehicle, based on time durations between transmission and reception of multiple ones of the signals;f. the processing means further configured to calculate a collision time as a function of the relative speed of the object, the distance from the object to the vehicle, and the relative acceleration of the object, and to establish an output signal based on the collision time;g. a collision time display;h. an output device;i. an output control and driving means configured to display the collision time on the collision time display, and to control the operation of the output device based on the output signal received from the processing means;j. the processing means further configured to transmit collision time data to the output control and driving means, and to transmit the output signal to the output control and driving means.