Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6606027?dq=3798359
Timestamp: 2014-10-26 09:29:30
Document Index: 158164588

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 4', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 9', 'art 10']

Patent US6606027 - Vehicle safety sensor system - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA vehicle safety sensor allows a vehicle operator such as a truck driver to detect the presence of adjacent objects in order to avoid collision with same. In one embodiment, three detection ranges providing feedback with various lights and sounds can be used with separate sensors, with some sensors automatically...http://www.google.com/patents/US6606027?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6606027 - Vehicle safety sensor systemAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6606027 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/718,105Publication dateAug 12, 2003Filing dateNov 21, 2000Priority dateSep 14, 1998Fee statusLapsedPublication number09718105, 718105, US 6606027 B1, US 6606027B1, US-B1-6606027, US6606027 B1, US6606027B1InventorsMichael J. Reeves, Ronda K. ReevesOriginal AssigneeMichael J. Reeves, Ronda K. ReevesExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (18), Referenced by (13), Classifications (24), Legal Events (7) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetVehicle safety sensor systemUS 6606027 B1Abstract A vehicle safety sensor allows a vehicle operator such as a truck driver to detect the presence of adjacent objects in order to avoid collision with same. In one embodiment, three detection ranges providing feedback with various lights and sounds can be used with separate sensors, with some sensors automatically made �live� upon reversing or turning of the vehicle, and some sensors being manually activated, such as when a overpass is encountered.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit and priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/395,433 filed Sep. 14, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,778, which itself claimed priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/100,207, filed Sep. 14, 1998.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to moving vehicles, and particularly relates to a sensor and method of using same which allows a vehicle operator to avoid potential accidents through the avoidance of obstacles which might otherwise go unseen.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When a vehicle operator, particularly a large vehicle operator such as a truck driver, operates his or her particular vehicle, of paramount concern is the avoidance of accidents due to collision of the vehicle with other moving or stationary objects. While the prior art has attempted to address such concerns, there is always room for improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes deficiencies in the prior art by providing a method and apparatus for providing visual and/or auditory warning to a vehicle operator to allow same to avoid collisions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of a display configuration such as would be used in a display device in a conventional tractor-trailer environment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference is now made to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views.
For purposes of this discussion, the �energizement� or �activation� of a sensor means it is being turned on so that sensing is possible; deactivation or �de-energizement� means it is being turned off so that sensing is not possible.
Individual features of the overall invention will now be discussed, generally grouped in �parts�.
Part 1�This is a bead of blinking lights for the top of the trailer. These lights are yellow and red and come on when the sensors are manually activated and the top of the trailer is within a predetermined distance of an object. The yellow lights represent a caution, and is accompanied by a voice warning, alerting the driver of the object in the path of the top of the trailer. The red lights represent danger zone, and are accompanied by a voice command, alerting the driver to stop the vehicle before contact with the object.
Part 2�This is a digital display of the distance between the top of the trailer and the object being measured. The method of measurement can be variably determined in design, and can as known in the art.
Part 3�This represents the on and off switch for manual control for the sensors on the top of the trailer. This switch allows for selective manual control of the top sensors. The sensors can be placed on the top of the trailer as desired, but can be on the top front face, middle top face, and rear top face.
Part 4�This represents a bead of red and green blinking lights. When the driver turns on his or her indicators to change lanes, the sensor on the side being turned to and the rear sensors will be activated. If all is clear, all of the green lights 40G (or, alternately, the half of the green lights on the side the driver is turning) will light up and blink with normal blinking sound. If there is an object in the predetermined zone, all of the red lights 40R (or alternately the half of the red lights on the side the driver is turning) will light up and blink rapidly and a voice command will alert the driver not to change lanes.
Part 5�This represents a red and green blinking arrow for each side of the tractor and trailer. When the driver turns on his or her indicator to change lanes, the sensors will be activated, if all is clear, the green arrow will blink with normal blinking sound. If there is an object in the predetermined zone, the red arrow will blink rapidly along with a rapid low pitch beeping sound, and a voice command will alert the driver not to change lanes. This works in conjunction with Part 4.
Part 6�While maneuvering the truck through cities, an automatic city mode will be activated at a predetermined speed. When the turning indicators are turned on, city mode will detect objects on the side of the trailer in which the vehicle is turning. This will deactivate the previous voice command that detects objects while changing lanes on interstate at high speeds. Voice warning in conjunction with the red arrows 40RR and 40LR and red lights 40R will be activated when objects enter the red zone. The screen will automatically come on to show the driver the objects in the red zone. These objects will appear in red, in the lights 101, and digital display 21 will show the distance the closest remote object is from the trailer. When the vehicle accelerates to a predetermined speed, city mode will deactivate and voice command will reactivate for lane changing.
Part 7�Before maneuvering the vehicle in tight places, press the manual switch 90 on the bottom of the screen to activate all sensors around the vehicle and turn the screen on. It may be noted that this time is the only time all the side sensors (not the top sensors) come on. Lights representing the object will appear in yellow and red as they enter the predetermined distance for each zone. These lights/objects will show individual digital distance by the digital display 21. When objects enter the yellow zone, the yellow light 80 at the bottom of the screen will also come on. When objects on the screen enter the red zone the voice warning will alert the driver that objects are in the red zone. At a predetermined distance, red objects will rapidly blink and voice command will alert the driver to stop the vehicle. The red light 85 at the bottom of the screen will come on when the objects enter the red zone, and will also begin to blink rapidly when the object/lights blink.
Part 8�Built in VSS will be memory for storing information concerning the voice command mode. Once an object enters the voice command mode, VSS will document the speed, time, date, drivers code #, and place of possible impact.
The device will work in conjunction with on-board computers such as those that so many companies are using to log their driver as well as with satellite systems used therewith. When a vehicle or object causes voice command mode, the �VSS� will send a signal to the trucks computer, that will log information such as but not limited to the time, date, mileage, location on the trailer and the drivers employee # (which will already be in the computer).
Part 9�When the vehicle is placed in reverse, the rear sensors will automatically be activated and the screen will come on. It may be noted that this and during the �tight places� mode and during �stop and go� mode and during �parking mode� and �squaring mode� are times these sensors come on. When an object enters a predetermined zone, a voice warning will alert the driver that objects are in the rear. Objects/lights will appear in red on the screen and the digital display 21 will show individual digital distance. If the objects enter a predetermined distance, voice command will alert the driver to stop, and will document the event into the VSS memory.
Part 10�When the vehicle slows to a predetermined speed to zero mph, the sensors will be activated, voice warning will occur twice if an object is in the rear, within a certain distance. If the vehicle moves after stopped, or if the distance of the object behind changes, voice warning will occur again. This will eliminate the problem commercial vehicle drivers have while letting their foot relax on the brake while stopped on an up grade. The screen will automatically come on and display the object and it's digital distance when voice warning is activated. After the vehicle exceeds it's predetermined speed, the screen and the sensors will then go off. This will keep the driver aware of what is behind him in slow traffic areas.
As will be readily understood, when the operator of the vehicle is backing the vehicle up to a loading dock or back to a wall, it is often desirable to know how straight the trailer is being backed in relative to the flat surface typically presented by the dock or wall. The present invention provides an indicator which provides some visual indication of the extent of the angle of the trailer that may be off from the desired �square� orientation. The squaring mode contemplates using at least two rearwardly-facing sensors, and comparing the distances of the two relative to an obstacle having a flat surface needed to �square� to (such as a wall, loading dock, etc.).
The trailer outline includes proximate lights such as 211LR and 211RR, and they will be green. The lights will blink in accordance with the angle of the line 221 inside the circle 222 of the squaring indicator 220. If the left side is coming in to soon, both lights 211LR, 211RR will blink slow to fast, depending on the severity of the angle (high angle, fast blinking). If lights are solid (no blinking) the trailer is at least substantially �square�.
It should be understood that other outlines besides the circle outline may be used (square or rectangular for example). The outline may not be used at all, only the variably inclined line, with or without a reference �horizon�-type line.
As shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the variable inclination line (a.k.a. the squaring indication line) is level in the circle when the trailer is �square� as shown in FIG. 5A. If the right side is coming in too steep the line will tilt as shown in FIG. 5B, and vice versa with respect to FIG. 5C. The inclination of the line will vary with the severity of the angle of the trailer, but the exact angle of the line 221 may or may not be the trailer's angle to the rear wall/surface.
The purpose of this mode it to protect the operator (a.k.a. �driver�) from being falsely accused of an accident or hit and runs by other vehicles. This is used when the driver is not going to be in or working around the truck, otherwise it would pick him up. This mode promotes safety by pulling both brakes and using fourways when parked. Before the driver leaves the truck, he must first pull both brakes then his fourways, then press parking mode. All sensors around the truck will be activated just as maneuvering mode but the truck will not be moving. This mode will monitor starting at a predetermined distance and will appear on the LCD screen when an object appears in the possible impact zone. VSS can record and replay the possible impact, location on the truck of the possible impact, and the drivers employee or ID#. VSS can also alert the driver with voice warning via a personal device such as a cell phone, pager, radio, or other suitable wireless device carried by the driver. There can be used a few second delay before notifying the driver of a possible impact, which can prevent false alarms.. In other words, possible impact will have to be recognized for a predetermined period of time (e.g. 15 seconds) before the operator will be notified. However the VSS will always be recording information.
Top of Trailer�yellow zone, 6-12 inches. Red zone, 0-6 inches.
Lane Changing�6 feet range for all sensors on the turning side of the trailer, and the sensors on the back side of the tractor. If there is no object in the 6 feet zone, the green lights will appear. If there is an object in the 6 feet zone, red lights, accompanied by voice command will alert the driver not to change lanes.
City Mode�Red zone, 3 feet.
Maneuvering�Yellow zone, 6 feet. Red zone, w/voice warning 4 feet Red zone, w/voice command 18 inches.
Backing�Red zone w/voice warning, 8 feet. Red zone w/voice command 3 feet.
Stop and Go�Red zone w/voice warning 6 feet.
Examples The following are some examples of operating of the application.
Top of Trailer Example�Driver is coming upon an overpass, to safely judge the distance between the top of the trailer and the overpass, he manually activates the top sensors by turning them on (top sensor switch 30). The sensors will then measure the distance between the overpass and the top of the trailer, for the length of the trailer up to 12 inches. If the overpass is in the 12 inch zone, the yellow lights will come on, accompanied by a voice warning cautioning the driver of the object in the path of the trailer. At the same time, the driver will see the actual inches (from 12 to 1 inch) between the top of the trailer and the overpass on the digital display 20. As the driver proceeds under the overpass, if he comes within a 6 inch zone, the red lights will light up, accompanied by a voice command, alerting the driver of the possibility of contact if he precedes. At this point, if the driver proceeds, the computer will register a possible event on the top of the trailer. However, the driver still has a 6 inch clearance after the voice command, which can be monitored by the digital display 20.
Lane Changing Example�Driver is traveling interstate, he turns on his right indicator. At this point, the sensors for the right side of the truck are activated. If there is no object in the 6 foot zone, the green bead of lights, and the green blinker light on the right side of the screen will blink with normal blinking sound, if there is an object in the 6 foot zone, the red bead of lights, and the red blinker on the right side will light up accompanied by a low pitched beeping and voice command alerting the driver not to change lanes.
Backing Example�Driver is backing into a loading dock or door. When the driver places the vehicle in reverse, the sensors on the back of the truck, the sensors will be activated. When the driver comes within 8 feet of the dock or door, the screen will come on, showing a red light or diode in the rear of the truck, (which represents the object being measured) and the digital display 21 will show the footage from the truck to the dock or door. A large blinking light at the bottom of the screen will also come on. As the driver continues to approach the dock or door, when he comes within 3 feet of the dock or door, he will then see a red diode or light that represents the dock or door at 3 feet and will hear a voice command alert him to stop the truck before contact is made. He may then monitor footage by the digital display 21.
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