Abstract:
An automobile collision warning system includes a sensor system configured to generate a sensor signal corresponding to at least a first sensed object in the vicinity of the automobile. A processor is coupled to the sensor system, wherein the processor is configured to determine if a potential collision risk exists based on the sensor signal and to generate a corresponding collision warning signal. A turn signal inhibition apparatus coupled to the processor configured to inhibit movement of a turn signal stalk in response to the collision warning signal, to thereby warn an automobile operator of the potential collision.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/457,823, filed Mar. 25, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to reducing the incidence of collisions involving a vehicle, and in particular, to methods and systems for providing a vehicle operator with information relating to potential collisions.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Various vehicular collision avoidance systems have been developed in an effort to reduce accidents and better manage traffic flow. With some conventional systems, cars or trucks are equipped with radar, laser, or other detection systems, that are used to determine the location of the objects. The object location information is provided to the driver, often by depicting the information on a CRT or LCD display using direction vectors or the like. The driver is then theoretically able to use the object location information to determine the positions and relative motions of the objects and to avoid collisions with other vehicles.  
         [0006]     Disadvantageously, the amount of object location-related information can be overwhelming to a driver. Thus, rather than helping the driver avoid a collision, often the driver either ignores the information, or is so distracted by the information that the driver becomes more collision-prone. Further, conventional collision detection displays are often expensive, complex, and can be unreliable in very hot or cold environments.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention is directed to methods and systems for providing a vehicle operator with information relating to potential collisions. In contrast to expensive and distracting collision display systems, one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a common vehicle control mechanism, such as a turn signal stalk, to warn the vehicle operator of a potential collision.  
         [0008]     For example, in one embodiment objects in the vicinity of the vehicle are detected using a conventional detection sensor and collision prediction system, such as one based on a radio frequency (RF) radar, a laser radar (LIDAR), or using an imaging camera. By way of illustration, if an object, such as a car, is in an adjacent lane and is directly parallel to, or slightly behind or ahead of the vehicle, the vehicle might collide with the object if the driver attempts to change into that lane. If the detection sensor detects such an object, a collision prediction system inhibits the vehicle&#39;s turn signal stalk from being moved by the driver, thereby preventing the driver from signaling a lane change. The driver will thus be warned not to change lanes at this time. Once the detection sensor system determines the danger has passed, the driver will be allowed to appropriately signal a lane change.  
         [0009]     An actuator coupled to the collision prediction system can be used to inhibit the movement of the turn signal stalk. The actuator may be, by way of example, a solenoid, that when activated inserts a plunger or the like into a corresponding bore, slot or notch in the base or mounting plate of the turn signal stalk, thereby preventing the movement of the turn signal stalk.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment, rather than always preventing the turn signal stalk from moving in either an up or down direction when a collision risk exists on either side of the vehicle, the turn signal stalk movement is only inhibited from signaling movement in the direction of the object that is source of the collision risk. In yet another embodiment, rather then preventing movement entirely, the force or pressure that the driver needs to apply to move the turn signal stalk in the “risky” direction will be increased to thereby warn the driver.  
         [0011]     Embodiments of the present invention can be used with other collision warning systems, including without limitations, collision warning displays and the like. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     These and other features of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings summarized below. These drawings and the associated description are provided to illustrate example preferred embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates one example embodiment of a vehicle system incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example embodiment of a turn signal movement inhibitor mechanism.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example embodiment of turn signal movement inhibitor process. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     The present invention is directed to methods and systems for warning a vehicle operator of a potential collision. Advantageously, one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a common driver interface device, such as a turn signal control stalk, to warn the driver of a potential collision.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates one example of a vehicle system  100  incorporating an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, it will be assumed that the vehicle is a car, though in other embodiments the vehicle can be a truck, bus, boat, or the like. The car  100  includes a detection system  102  used to detect objects in the environment around all or portions of the car. For example, the detection system  102  can detect vehicles in lanes adjacent to the lane that the car  100  is in.  
         [0018]     The detection system  102  can be active and/or passive. If the detection system  102  is active, the detection system  102  emits energy and detects the reflected or returned energy from objects, such as other cars. If the detection system  102  is passive, the detection system  102  does not radiate energy towards other objects, but instead detects objects by monitoring energy, such as infrared energy resulting from heat, emitted by the objects, or by detecting or capturing ambient light reflected by the objects. For example, the detection system  102  can include a radio frequency (RF) radar, a laser radar (LIDAR), an infrared sensor, and/or a camera. The detection system  102  can include multiple sensors, mounted on the front, rear, and/or sides of the vehicle  100 .  
         [0019]     The detection system  102  is coupled to a collision prediction system  104 , which receives detection signals from the detection system  102 . In addition, the collision prediction system  104  receives information regarding vehicle speed and acceleration from conventional vehicle sensors or a vehicle computer. The collision prediction system  104  also receives information on the direction of motion of the car  100  using a compass, GPS or other well-known direction finding devices. Based on the detection signals, the car&#39;s speed, acceleration and direction, the collision prediction system  104  determines the physical relationship or placement of the detected objects relative to the car  100 , as well as the speed and acceleration of the car relative to the objects.  
         [0020]     The collision prediction system  104  is coupled to a driver interface, in this example, to a turn signal inhibitor  106 , which is in turn coupled to a turn signal control, such as a turn signal stalk  108 . When the collision prediction system  104  determines that there is an object, such as another car, a truck, motorcycle, stationary object, or the like, in an adjacent lane and parallel to, or slightly behind or ahead of the vehicle, the collision prediction system  104  activates the turn signal inhibitor  106 . The turn signal inhibitor  106  prevents the driver from moving the turn signal stalk  108  in a direction that would signal movement in the direction of the object at issue.  
         [0021]     For example, if another vehicle is adjacent to, and in the lane to the right of the car  100 , the turn signal inhibitor  106  would prevent the driver from pushing the turn signal stalk  108  in the downwards direction, as would normally be done to activate the right turn light to notify others that the driver intends to move into the right lane. Thus, the driver would be warned by his or her inability to so push the turn signal stalk that a collision might result if the driver changes into the right lane at this time. Once the risk of collision has passed, the turn signal inhibitor  106  would allow the turn signal stalk to be moved in the normal manner.  
         [0022]     In another embodiment, rather then preventing movement entirely, the turn signal inhibitor  106  significantly increases the force needed to move the turn signal stalk  108  in the “risky” direction to thereby warn the driver that the car might collide with another object if the driver attempts to change into that lane. However, the driver would still be able to move the stalk  108 , albeit with increased force than would normally be needed. By way of example, a cam requiring a certain amount of force to turn, can engage the turn signal stalk  108 . Similarly, if the driver interface being used to warn the driver of a potential collision is a steering wheel, the force needed to turn the steering wheel in the dangerous direction can be increased using a pressure plate appropriately applied.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example embodiment of a turn signal movement inhibitor mechanism. The turn signal stalk  108  is mounted to a plate or fixture  202 , which is in turn moveably coupled to a steering wheel column. The fixture  202  includes a curved slot  204  opened on the top and bottom. Two actuators, including plungers or posts  206 ,  208  are positioned beneath the slot  204 .  
         [0024]     The posts  206 ,  208  may form part of a solenoid or other actuator type, by way of example. A solenoid is an electromagnet tube that can be used to move a piece of metal linearly. In this example, each post  206 ,  208  is a cylindrical permanent magnet. The magnetic posts  206 ,  208  are moved in and out by changing the direction of the magnetic field in the solenoid. In this example, each post  206 ,  208  can be separately raised into the slot  204  and withdrawn from the slot  204 . In other embodiments, rather than using a slot  204 , one or more bores, notches, or other engagement mechanisms can be used. In addition, rather than using posts, or other engagement devices, such as gears, hooks, or the like can be used to selectively and fixedly engage the fixture  202 .  
         [0025]     In the illustrated example, in order to prevent the driver from signaling movement to the right, the movement of the turn signal stalk  108  in the downward direction is prevented by raising the post  206  into the slot  204 . The post  206  will then block the fixture  202 , and hence the turn signal stalk  108 , from rotating downward. Similarly, in order to prevent the driver from signaling movement to the left, the movement of the turn signal stalk  108  in the upward direction is prevented by raising the post  208  into the slot  204 . In order to prevent movement of the turn signal stalk  108  in either the upward direction or the downward direction, both posts  206 ,  208  would be raised into the slot  204 . If there is no collision risk, both posts  206 ,  208  can be lowered to allow the turn signal stalk  108  to be moved in either the upward direction or the downward direction.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example embodiment of turn signal movement inhibitor process  300  that can be used with the example systems and apparatuses illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Beginning at Start state  302 , the process  300  proceeds to state  304 . At  304  a sensor scans the vehicle vicinity for the purposes of determining if there are obstacles which may be potential collision risks. Proceeding to state  306 , a determination is made as to whether there is an obstacle in a lane to the left of, and in the vicinity of the vehicle. If there is such an obstacle, the process  300  proceeds to state  308 , where the turn signal stalk movement is inhibited from activating the vehicle&#39;s left turn signal light. Otherwise, the process  300  proceeds directly from state  306  to state  310 . At state  310 , a determination is made as to whether there is an obstacle in a lane to the right of, and in the vicinity of the vehicle. If there is such an obstacle, the process  300  proceeds to state  312 , where the turn signal stalk movement is inhibited from activating the vehicle&#39;s right turn signal light, then the process  300  proceeds to End state  314 . Otherwise, the process  300  proceeds directly from state  310  to End state  314 .  
         [0027]     Thus, in contrast to expensive and distracting conventional collision display systems, embodiments of the present invention advantageously utilize a common vehicle control mechanism, such as a turn signal control, to efficiently warn the vehicle operator of a potential collision.  
         [0028]     Various embodiments of the invention have been described above. Although this invention has been described with reference to these specific embodiments, the descriptions are intended to be illustrative of the invention and are not intended to be limiting. Various modifications and applications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.