Abstract:
A collision warning system including a vehicle with a first sensor configured to detect an exit condition, a second sensor configured to detect a collision condition, an external warning signal system configured to emit a warning signal to warn a vehicle occupant about the collision condition, the external warning signal system includes at least one warning device configured to emit the warning signal, and a controller configured to communicate with the first and second sensors and to control the at least one warning device in response to the collision condition.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 14/983,617, filed Dec. 20, 2015, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The disclosure generally relates to a collision warning system for a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Vehicles such as cars and trucks are used in a variety of environments. Some of these environments may include dense population centers, low visibility situations, difficult weather conditions, etc. At times, these environments may be challenging for those trying to exit a vehicle while still avoiding other vehicles and pedestrians. For example, in densely populated areas roads may offer limited space for vehicles and pedestrians to travel. Accordingly, accidents may occur when drivers and passengers attempt to exit vehicles during traffic. Traffic accidents may also occur as drivers and passengers exit vehicles in low visibility situations and bad weather. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The embodiments discussed below include a collision warning system capable of warning vehicle occupants and nearby traffic of a possible collision situation between a vehicle occupant exiting a vehicle and nearby traffic passing by. The collision warning system enables detection of a collision condition in a variety of environments using one or more collision sensors. These environments may include dense population centers, low visibility situations, and difficult weather conditions. In some embodiments, the collisions sensors may be complimentary; thus, enabling detection of a hazard condition even when some sensor capabilities are degraded (e.g., low light, bad weather). In order to warn vehicle occupants and/or neighboring traffic of a possible hazard condition, the collision warning system may include an internal warning signal system and/or an external warning signal system. The internal and external warning signal systems include one or more warning devices capable of providing a warning signal to vehicle occupants and nearby traffic. The warning signals may be audio, visual, and/or vibratory. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an embodiment of a vehicle with a collision warning system; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an inside view of an embodiment of a vehicle with a collision warning system; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of an embodiment of a vehicle with a collision warning system; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method illustrating operation of the collision warning system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an embodiment of a vehicle  8  with a collision warning system  10 . While  FIG. 1  illustrates a car as the vehicle  8 , the vehicle  8  may be any number of other vehicles (e.g., car, truck, train, airplane, motorcycle, etc.). In operation, the collision warning system  10  warns vehicle occupants of an approaching hazard  12  before and/or while the vehicle occupants exit the vehicle  8 . Approaching hazards  12  may include other vehicles and/or pedestrians. In some embodiments, the collision warning system  10  may also warn neighboring traffic (e.g., other vehicles and/or pedestrians) that someone is attempting to exit or dismount the vehicle  8 , thus further reducing the risk of a traffic accident. 
         [0010]    The collision warning system  10  includes a variety of components that operate together in order to warn drivers and passengers of a potential hazard(s)  12  as well as neighboring pedestrians, and/or other vehicles that someone is about to or is in the process of exiting the vehicle  8 . These components may include a variety of collision sensors  14  placed at different locations on the vehicle  8 . For example, the collision sensors  14  may couple to the front of the vehicle  8 , the back of the vehicle  8 , on top of the vehicle  8 , sides of the vehicle  8  (e.g., doors  16 ), and/or the side mirrors  18 , etc. In this way, the collision warning system  10  may enable 360 degree collision warning for hazards  12  approaching the vehicle  8 . However, in some embodiments the vehicle  8  may only have collision sensors  14  that enable hazard  12  detection from one direction (e.g., hazards  12  approaching from the rear of the vehicle  8 ). 
         [0011]    The collision sensors  14  may include optical cameras, infrared cameras, motion detectors, radar, lasers, ultrasonic sensors, and/or any other sensor(s). In some embodiments, the collision warning system  10  may include sensor packages  20  that include one or more collision sensors  14  (e.g., optical cameras, infrared cameras, motion detectors, radar, lasers, ultrasonic sensors, etc.). By including a variety of collision sensors  14 , the collision warning system  10  may provide redundant detection of hazards  12  in different environmental conditions. For example, during daylight hours the optical camera may enable hazard  12  detection, but at night or in low light conditions the optical camera may not be able to identify hazards  12 . In these situations, another collision sensor  14 , such as an infrared camera or radar, may then provide hazard  12  detection. In other words, when the capability of one collision sensor  14  is degraded another collision sensor  14  may still detect hazards  12 . Accordingly, the collision warning system  10  may provide continuous or near continuous hazard  12  detection in a variety of conditions such as rain, low light, snow, fog, sand/dust storms, among others. 
         [0012]    In operation, the collision sensors  14  transmit signals (e.g., wirelessly, through wired connections) to a controller  22  (e.g., computer). The controller  22  may include one or more processors  24  that execute instructions stored on one or more memories  26  to process the signals (e.g., data) from the collision sensors  14 . For example, the controller  22  may receive a signal (e.g., data) from an optical camera. The processor  24  may then execute a program stored on the memory  26  that recognizes objects (e.g., cars, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, etc.) in images taken by the optical camera. If the processor  24  detects a hazard  12 , the processor  24  executes instructions to activate an internal warning signal system  28  and/or an external warning signal system  30 . In some embodiments, the controller  22  may continuously receive feedback from the collision sensor  14  enabling the controller  22  to track changes of the potential hazard  12  and determine if the changes alter the hazard condition (e.g., increase the risk of collision, reduce the risk of collision, or remove the risk of collision). These changes may include changes in the speed of the hazard  12 ; changes in the distance between the hazard  12  and the vehicle  8 ; changes in the direction of travel of the hazard  12 ; etc. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the controller  22  may simultaneously receive feedback from multiple collision sensors  14  enabling the controller  22  to more accurately identify a hazard  12  and determine a collision condition situation. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the collision warning system  10  may connect to a remote server  32  that processes the signals from the collision sensors  14 . Indeed, instead of including processor(s)  24  on the vehicle  8  that are capable of processing the feedback from the collision sensors  14 , a remote server  32  with one or more processors  24  may process signals from the collision sensors  14  using instructions (e.g., programs) stored on one or more memories  26 . For example, the collision warning system  10  may include a transmitter/receiver  38  that receives signals either directly from the collision sensors  14  or receives the signals through the controller  22 . The transmitter/receiver  38  then transmits the sensor signals (e.g., through cellular networks, wireless networks, etc.) to the server  32 , which then processes the signals and identifies whether a collision condition exists. If the server  32  identifies a collision condition then the server  32  transmits a signal to the controller  22  to activate the internal warning signal system  28  and/or the external warning signal system  30 . In some embodiments, the controller  22  and the server  32  may redundantly process signals from the collision sensors  14 , or the server  32  may only process feedback from the collision sensor  14  if the controller  22  is unable to do so. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is an inside view of an embodiment of a vehicle  8  with a collision warning system  10 . As explained above, once a hazard condition is identified the controller  22  activates an internal warning signal system  28 . The internal warning signal system  28  may include any number of warning devices  50  that communicate in one or more ways with the vehicle occupants (e.g., visual, audio, vibration). For example, one warning device  50  may be a display (e.g., center console display, dashboard display, seat display, heads-up display) within the vehicle  8  that provides a warning message. For example, the message may be a written message that flashes, scrolls, etc. on the display. In some embodiments, the message may be a picture that illustrates the vehicle  8  and the potential hazard  12  with a symbol (e.g., dot, vehicle symbol, pedestrian symbol). The display may also illustrate the location of the potential hazard  12  with respect to the vehicle  8 . Moreover, in some embodiments, the controller  22  may be able to identify the type of hazard  12  and then display the specific type of hazard  12  (e.g., pedestrian, vehicle, animal) on the display, thus providing the vehicle occupants with more situational awareness. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the internal warning signal system  28  may include one or more warning devices  50  that provide an audio warning signal. For example, one or more warning devices  50  may be audio speakers (e.g., display speakers, vehicle speakers, etc.). These audio speakers may provide a brief audio message that warns the vehicle occupants of the potential hazards  12  outside of the vehicle  8 . The audio message may be a generic warning or a specific warning that gives additional details about the type of hazard  12  (e.g., pedestrian, vehicle, animal, location, etc.). 
         [0016]    The internal warning signal system  28  may also include warning device(s)  50  that are lights. For example, the warning device(s)  50  may be cabin lights, reading lights, lights in the rear view mirror, lights in the side mirrors, lights on doors, lights on the car frame, or any combination thereof. These lights may flash, remain completely on, change colors, etc. For example, if the hazard  12  is a vehicle  8 , the controller  22  may rapidly flash the lights, while slowly flashing the lights if the hazard  12  is a pedestrian. In some embodiments, the controller  22  may increase light intensity, increase flashing, and/or change colors, etc. as the hazard  12  approaches, maintains speed, increases in speed, etc. For example, if the hazard  12  is outside of a threshold distance green lights may slowly flash to advise the vehicle occupant that a hazard  12  is approaching, but is still far enough away that the vehicle occupant may exit the vehicle while avoiding a collision. If the hazard  12  is closer, increases speed, etc. the lights may change from green to yellow flashing lights. If the hazard  12  is close and a collision is imminent or highly likely, the lights may change from yellow to red to indicate that the vehicle occupant should remain in the car until the hazard  12  has passed. Likewise, if the hazard condition changes (e.g., the hazard  12  reduces speed, changes direction, etc.) the lights may decrease in intensity, decrease rate of flashing, and/or change colors, etc. In some embodiments, the controller  22  may activate lights in specific locations in the vehicle  8  depending on the location of the hazard  12  and/or the location where the vehicle occupant will exit the vehicle  8 . For example, if the hazard  12  is on a specific side of a vehicle  8 , lights may be activated only on the side of the vehicle  8  where the hazard  12  may cause a collision. 
         [0017]    In order to assist handicapped individuals, the internal warning signal system  28  may include one or more warning device(s)  50  capable of warning a handicapped individual. As explained above, the internal warning signal system  28  may include visual and/or audio warning devices  50 . However, audio and visual warnings may be ineffective for people that are visually and/or hearing impaired. Therefore, by including vibratory warning devices  50 , the internal warning signal system  28  is able to warn/caution handicapped individuals of potential hazards  12  when exiting a vehicle  8 . The vibrator warning devices  50  may be placed at various locations in the vehicle  8 . For example, vibrator warning devices  50  may be placed on the floor of the vehicle  8 , enabling the occupant to feel the vibration through their feet. The vibrator warning devices  50  may also be placed in the seats, armrests, backrests, door handles, etc. In some embodiments, the controller  22  may change how the vibration warning device  50  operates in response to the hazard condition. For example, if a hazard  12  is outside a threshold distance, the vibration warning device  50  may periodically turn on and off to indicate that there is a hazard  12 , but that the hazard  12  is outside a threshold distance from the vehicle  8 . If the hazard  12  is within a threshold distance, the vibration warning device  50  may activate and remain on, increase intensity, vibrate rapidly, etc. until the hazard condition has passed. 
         [0018]    While the above examples of warning devices  50  have been discussed individually some embodiments of the internal warning signal system  28  may combine all or some of the different types of warning devices  50  together. For example, the internal warning signal system  28  may combine warning devices  50  that provide a visual message (e.g., display and/or lights) with a warning device  50  that provides an audio message. In some embodiments, the internal warning signal system  28  may warn vehicle occupants through warning devices  50  that provide vibratory, visual, and auditory signals. 
         [0019]    In operation, the internal warning signal system  28  may be triggered through feedback from exit sensors  52  and/or the location of the hazard  12 . In order to determine where the vehicle occupant will exit the vehicle, the controller  22  may use one or more exit sensors  52  (e.g., a vehicle occupant sensor). The exit sensors  52  may include motion sensors, optical cameras, seat belt sensors, an ignition sensor, a vehicle motion sensor, weight sensors, a gear sensor, door handle sensors, etc. In some embodiments, the controller  22  may use feedback from the exit sensors  52  and collision sensors  14 , in order to warn all vehicle occupants or tailor the warning signals (e.g., to a subset of the vehicle occupants). For example, the controller  22  may receive signals indicating the location of the vehicle occupant that is about to exit the vehicle  8  (e.g., front seat, back seat, driver&#39;s seat, etc.). In response, the controller  22  may not activate a warning device  50  if the hazard  12  is approaching a right side of the vehicle  8 , and the vehicle occupant is exiting the left side of the vehicle  8 . However, if there is a vehicle occupant exiting on the right side of the vehicle  8  and the hazard condition is on the right side then the controller  22  may activate warning devices  50  located on the right side of the vehicle  8  or throughout the vehicle  8 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of an embodiment of a vehicle  8  with a collision warning system  10 . As mentioned above, the collision warning system  10  may also warn nearby traffic about a vehicle occupant that is about to or is in the process of exiting the vehicle  8  using the external warning signal system  30 . In other words, the collision warning system  10  is capable of warning vehicle occupants of a hazard condition as well as those outside of the vehicle  8 . The collision warning system  10  may do this through warning devices  50  that are either visual, auditory, or through a combination of both visual and auditory signals. As illustrated, an external warning signal system  30  includes warning devices  50 . The warning devices  50  may be lights (e.g., taillights, turn signal lights, headlights, and/or special dedicated lights used by the collision warning system  10 ). These lights may automatically activate when a vehicle occupant triggers one or more exit sensor  52  (e.g., releases a seatbelt, grabs a door handle, stops the car, turns the ignition off, pushes a button, or a combination thereof). In some embodiments, the lights may only turn on when a hazard condition has been identified. 
         [0021]    Once the lights are active, the controller  22  may change/adjust the lights in response to changing conditions around the vehicle, the lights may flash, change color, change intensity, etc. For example, the controller  22  may increase light intensity, increase flashing, and/or change colors as the hazard  12  approaches, maintains speed, increases in speed, etc. For example, if the hazard  12  is outside of a threshold range then lights (e.g., yellow lights) may slowly flash to advise the oncoming traffic about a hazard condition. As the hazard  12  approaches, increases speed, comes within a threshold range of the vehicle  8 , etc., the lights may change from yellow to red, increase intensity, increase in flash frequency, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the controller  22  may activate lights at specific locations on the vehicle  8  depending on the location of the hazard  12  and whether a vehicle occupant will exit the vehicle  8  into the path of or near the hazard  12 . For example, if the hazard  12  is on a specific side of a vehicle  8 , lights may be activated only on the side of the vehicle  8  where the hazard  12  may cause a collision. In some embodiments, warning devices  50  that are part of the internal warning signal system  28  may be part of or assist the external warning signal system  30 . As explained above, the internal warning signal system  28  may include lights that couple to the door  16 . These lights may remain active when the door  16  opens to provide additional warning to neighboring traffic. In some embodiments, the lights on the door  16  may turn on, change colors, change intensity, start flashing etc. when the controller  22  senses that the door is open and traffic is now able to see the lights. 
         [0022]    The warning device  50  of the external warning signal system  30  may also include one or more displays (e.g., heads-up display, monitors, etc.) as the warning device(s)  50 . The display may be within the vehicle  8  or coupled to the exterior of the vehicle  8 . In operation, the display may provide a written message such as “caution” or “warning,” which flashes, scrolls, etc. across the display. In some embodiments, the message may be a symbol such as an arrow, a stop sign, an image of a person exiting a vehicle, etc. In some embodiments, the display may combine a written message with a symbol/picture. For example, the display may alternatingly present the written message and symbol/picture; simultaneously present the written message and symbol/picture; etc. enabling neighboring traffic to more clearly understand the possible hazard condition. 
         [0023]    The external warning signal system  28  may also include audio speakers as the warning device  50 . In operation, the audio speakers may provide a brief audio message that warns traffic near the vehicle  8  that someone is attempting to exit the vehicle  8 . The audio message may be a warning noise (e.g., beeping, honking), a recorded message (e.g., a message that repeats “caution,” “warning”), or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the audio speakers used by the external warning signal system  28  may couple to the doors  16  and are activated when the doors  16  open. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart  70  of an embodiment of a method of operation of the collision warning system  10 . In some embodiments, operation of the collision warning system  10  starts when the controller  22  receives one or more signals from one or more exit sensors  52  (step  72 ). The exit sensors  52  may include a motion sensor, optical camera, seat belt sensor, ignition sensor, vehicle motion sensor, door handle sensor, etc. The controller  22  may then process the signals from the exit sensors  52  to determine whether an exit condition exits (e.g., if an occupant is preparing or is likely to exit the vehicle  8 ) (step  74 ). For example, the controller  22  may receive signals from exit sensors  52  (e.g., vehicle motion sensor, seatbelt sensor) that indicate the vehicle  8  is no longer moving and that a seatbelt was unfastened. In some embodiments, the controller  22  may receive a signal from exit sensors  52  that indicate that the vehicle  8  is now in a park gear and/or the vehicle ignition has been turned off. The controller  22  may then process these signals using a program stored in the memory  26  to determine whether this is an exit condition. If an exit condition exists, the controller  22  activates one or more collision sensors  14  (step  76 ). If not, the controller  22  waits for additional signals from the exit sensors  52  (step  72 ). 
         [0025]    Once the collision sensors  14  are active, the collision sensors  14  begin transmitting to the controller  22  and/or to the server  32  (step  78 ). The controller  22  and/or server  32  receive the signals (e.g., data) from the collision sensors  14  (step  80 ). After receiving the signals, the controller  22  and/or server  32  processes the signals using one or more programs stored in the memories  26  to determine if a hazard condition exists (e.g., whether nearby traffic is capable of contacting the vehicle occupants as they exit the vehicle  8 ) (step  82 ). If no hazard condition exists then the collision sensors  14  may continue to transmit signals from the collision sensors to the controller  22  and/or server for monitoring. In some embodiments, the collision warning system  10  may continue to monitor the collision sensors  14  until all of the vehicle occupants have left the vehicle  8  (e.g., until the vehicle is locked, etc.). For example, the controller  22  may continue to monitor signals from the exit sensors  52  (e.g., weight sensors, motion sensors) until all of the vehicle occupants have left. 
         [0026]    If the controller  22  and/or server  32  detect a hazard condition then the controller  22  activates the internal and/or external warning signal system  28 ,  30  (step  84 ). As explained above, the internal warning signal system  28  may use a variety of warning devices  50  to communicate with vehicle occupants through audio, visual, and/or vibratory signals. Likewise, the external warning signal system  30  communicates with traffic (e.g., other vehicles, pedestrians) through warning devices  50  about a possible hazard condition as someone exits the vehicle  8 . As explained above, the warning devices  50  of the external warning signal system  28  may communicate using visual signals, auditory signals, or a combination of auditory and visual signals. Once activated, the internal and external warning signal systems  28 ,  30  may remain on until the vehicle is locked, until the controller  22  determines there are no more vehicle occupants, until there is no longer a hazard condition, and/or for a specific time period, etc. 
         [0027]    Implementations of the embodiments may be made in hardware, firmware, software, or various combinations thereof. The embodiments may also be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be read and executed using one or more processing devices. In one implementation, machine-readable media may include various mechanisms for storing and/or transmitting information in a form that can be read by a machine (e.g., a computing device). For example, machine-readable storage media may include read-only memory, random access memory, magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, and other media for storing information, and machine-readable transmission media may include forms of propagated signals, including carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, and other media for transmitting information. While firmware, software, routines, or instructions may be described in the above disclosure in terms of specific exemplary aspects and implementations performing certain actions, it will be apparent that such descriptions are merely for the sake of convenience and that such actions in fact result from computing devices, processing devices, processors, controllers, or other devices or machines executing the firmware, software, routines, or instructions. 
         [0028]    Furthermore, aspects and implementations may be described in the above disclosure as including particular features, structures, or characteristics, but it will be apparent that every aspect or implementation may or may not necessarily include the particular features, structures, or characteristics. Further, where particular features, structures, or characteristics have been described in connection with a specific aspect or implementation, it will be understood that such features, structures, or characteristics may be included with other aspects or implementations, whether or not explicitly described. Thus, various changes and modifications may be made to the preceding disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, and the specification and drawings should therefore be regarded as exemplary only, with the scope of the invention determined solely by the appended claims.