Patent ID: 6014595
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: E01F,G08G

Abstract:
An apparatus for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the apparatus comprising:at least one vibration sensor, each vibration sensor disposed on a respective location on the vehicle and detecting vibration of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal; anda vibration signal analyzer, operatively coupled to the at least one vibration sensor, for analyzing the respective vibration signal from the at least one vibration sensor to determine a driving situation of the vehicle;wherein the vibration generating structure has a predetermined shape for causing a predetermined effect on the respective vibration signal detected by the at least one vibration sensor to indicate a corresponding driving situation;and wherein the vibration generating structure includes periodic grooves, each groove having a groove length that corresponds to a respective driving situation.