Patent Application
20210380035
The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus to provide an auxiliary lighting system for a motor vehicle, wherein the auxiliary lighting system is responsive to an acceleration or deceleration action, even where the deceleration action is due to idling or an inaction.
Car crashes are the leading cause of death for American children (according to a 2016 study). Cars are multi-ton machines capable of driving at high speeds that can only be stopped with effective brakes and fast reflexes by their drivers. Even a driver with fast reflexes is subject to human limitations. These limitations can be ameliorated by technology, such as brake lights on a car in front of the driver indicating that that car is in the process of braking, and therefore the driver should himself prepare to brake. But brake lights are binary and therefore serve as poor indicators of how quickly braking is necessary.
Brake lights, like many vehicle safety issues, are governed by strict regulations in many countries. In the United States, commercial vehicle safety is regulated by 49 C.F.R. Chapter III, Subchapter B, and in particular Part 393, which regulates “Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation”. Passenger vehicle safety is regulated by 49 C.F.R. Chapter V, and in particular Part 571, which regulates “Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards”. For example, 49 C.F.R. § 571.108 specifies manufacturer-installed lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment, including brake lights. Moreover, there is currently no requirement for lamps or other indicators to indicate that a car is idling or performing an engine break, even though these actions may also result in deceleration.
U.S. federal regulations specify macroscopic features of brake lights (e.g., color, minimum number of lights and their placement), but do not specify specific features such as shape of indicators or visible operation much beyond a simple on/off when brakes are applied. However, the effect of braking is more complex than can be described by a simple on/off indicator. For example, braking may be applied with a range of force, from a light tap that barely slows a vehicle, to a very hard press in a panic stop that may cause a skid even on dry pavement or activate an anti-lock brake system if installed. Different forces within this range have dramatically different effects upon vehicle deceleration, and consequently upon reactions that a driver in a vehicle behind the braking vehicle must make to try to avoid a collision.
However, a simple on/off indicator as in the known art provides no indication of a rate of deceleration to a following driver in a vehicle behind the braking vehicle. This may tend to cause dangerous situations. For example, a driver of the following vehicle may react too late to take evasive maneuvers, or may not brake soon enough or hard enough to avoid a collision. Conversely, a driver of the following vehicle may overreact by slowing too much or by taking unnecessary evasive maneuvers, thereby causing a collision with a third vehicle. Therefore, what is needed is one or more auxiliary lights that provides an indication of a rate of acceleration or of deceleration from braking, which lights are compatible with applicable safety regulations.
Accordingly, the present disclosure supplies methods and apparatus for an auxiliary lighting system. According to the present disclosure, auxiliary lights are used to generate a lighting pattern, color, or pulse frequency to indicate the relative rate of deceleration, acceleration, or idleness.
Embodiments following the present disclosure provide a brake indicator responsive to a detected rate of deceleration, applied brake pressure, or idling action. In some embodiments, the method and apparatus may use a sense of pressure applied to a brake pedal as an indication of a rate of deceleration or applied brake pressure. In some embodiments, the brake indicator responsive to a rate of deceleration or applied brake pressure may be provided as an auxiliary brake light that is added in addition to a manufacturer-installed brake light. In some embodiments, the light may be operative to indicate a rate of acceleration, or an indicator that the motor vehicle is idle or coasting.
The systems are intended to improve driving safety by adding to the functionality of automotive rear lights, which are typically used to identify braking and turning functions. The additional features described herein may allow the rear lighting to change displays when a vehicle is accelerating or decelerating, as well as to indicate the rate of speed change. In some embodiments, it can also display a neutral color (such as amber) when the vehicle is in idle, neutral mode, or coasting. This allows drivers behind the car to better anticipate the car's prospective movements.
Accordingly, the present invention improves road safety by giving more confidence to drivers in vehicles with the lighting systems described herein and assurance and additional information to other drivers on the road. While trailing drivers currently only know if the brake is being applied, such drivers—when following vehicles equipped with this invention—will know a rate of braking or deceleration due to coasting, thus reducing rear-end collisions and tailgating.
The accompanying drawings, that are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure:
The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless clearly indicated otherwise. Dimensions, where shown, are typical dimensions in units of inches.
In the following sections, detailed descriptions of examples and methods of the disclosure will be given. The description of both preferred and alternative examples though thorough are exemplary only, and it is understood that to those skilled in the art, variations, modifications, and alterations may be apparent. It is therefore to be understood that the examples do not limit the broadness of the aspects of the underlying disclosure.
As used herein, deceleration is a negative change in speed over time, and acceleration is a positive change in speed over time. Although the following description generally discusses the present invention in terms of braking, deceleration, and brake lights, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the invention also covers acceleration or idling actions, such as coasting. Additionally, while the following description generally discusses the braking or acceleration mechanisms in terms of brake pedals and gas pedals, respectively, it is to be understood that the pedals are not meant to limit the invention. Any suitable means for acceleration or deceleration of the motor vehicle may be used in this invention (e.g., hand rear brake/clutch assemblies or software integrated with the motor vehicle, as well as coasting/idling or engine braking).
In
Embodiments include a sensor 104 (e.g., a pressure sensor) to detect a level of force (e.g., in units of pounds or Newtons) applied to brake pedal 103. Although a pressure sensor coupled to brake pedal 103 may be used to directly determine the magnitude of pressure applied, this type of sensor may be susceptible to being kicked or dislodged inadvertently during usage. Therefore, other types of sensors may be used. For example, sensor 104 may measure a travel distance of brake pedal 103 (e.g., in units of millimeters), measuring travel distance with an appropriate sensor such as an ultrasonic or optical range finder, and calculate a force from the amount of travel of brake pedal 103. In another embodiment, sensor 104 may measure an angular rotation of brake pedal 103 with an appropriate sensor, such as a gyroscope. Measurement of travel of brake pedal 103 by distance or angular movement may be affected by factors such as level of wear of brake pads and/or rotors, brake fluid level, and so forth. In other embodiments, work performed (i.e., force multiplied by distance) may be measured.
In other embodiments, a sensor may be coupled directly to one or more brake calipers to measure a level of force applied by the caliper to the brake pads. Similarly, for drum-style brakes, a sensor may be coupled to the brake shoe mechanism.
System 100 further includes a control module 105, which detects and processes signals from sensor 104. Control module 105, upon detection of a braking event, may include a transmitter or transponder to transmit a signal (e.g., radiofrequency (RF) signal 106) to a compatible receiver or transponder coupled to auxiliary lights 107. An RF signal 106 may have a frequency between around 20 kHz and around 300 GHz. RF signal 106, if used, may include security features to avoid snooping, spoofing, or interference from similarly-equipped adjacent vehicles on a highway. For example, an RF transponder in control module 105 may be paired via a secured protocol (e.g., Bluetooth) with an RF transponder coupled to auxiliary lights 107. The secured protocol may include privacy features such as encryption, spread spectrum, and so forth.
However, an RF signal may be susceptible to a hostile transmission environment arising from steel of vehicle 102 causing blockage or multi-path interference, or from interference caused by objects within vehicle 102. Therefore, a dedicated hardwired communication link may be used in place of RF signals 106. Although a dedicated hardwired communication link initially may be harder to install, a further advantage is that the communication link may be incorporated with or as part of voltage lines used to deliver a DC voltage (e.g., 12 volts) that lights up auxiliary lights 107. If a low-power lighting technology is used (e.g., LED lamps operating at 5 volts or 3.3 volts rather than incandescent lamps operating as 12 volts), auxiliary lights 107 may be direct-wired through the communication link to control module 105, without necessarily a need for separate DC voltage lines or a separate LED driver interface. In some embodiments, auxiliary lights 107 may include an LED driver interface, to generate LED driving signals from pattern instructions received from control module 105. Forward voltage from the LED driver may be based on the rate of deceleration, as measured by a sensor. For example, control module 105 may issue a pulse pattern command at a rate of 50% of maximum rate, and the LED driver interface would generate individual signals for each LED in auxiliary lights 107 to achieve an overall pulse pattern. In some embodiments, the LED signals may emit differently colored light, or light of a different intensity, to indicate the degree of braking.
On this note, in the embodiments of this invention capable of also indicating acceleration or idling, various well-known colors may be used to better indicate such motion, along with various dimming or pulsing effects to indicate a magnitude of the motion. For example, when the car is in neutral, idle, shifting gears (including engine braking), or coasting, the light may be a separate color from the traditional red, green, or white, such as yellow or amber (the standard caution light color). This amber light may be incorporated as the dominant light in auxiliary lights 107, or simply as a separate, thin, strip light installed horizontally from a first brake light to a second brake light along a tailgate, trunk gate, or bumper. This light would be activated in a manner similar to the brake light embodiment discussed above (for example, it could be based on a sensor associated with a brake pedal/mechanism, a gas pedal, or other acceleration mechanism (for example, if neither pedal is engaged or both pedals are engaged), an accelerometer, or a rangefinder).
The indicator that the motor vehicle is coasting may provide a binary indication that the motor vehicle is coasting (e.g., an amber light that is illuminated when neither a gas pedal or a brake pedal is engaged, and ceases illumination when a gas pedal or brake pedal is engaged, especially in embodiments in which a different light illuminates when the gas or brake pedal is engaged). (In some embodiments, a minimal engagement of the gas or brake may suffice to actuate the coasting indicator.) In some embodiments, the luminosity, color, hue, shade, or other attribute of the indicator may vary based upon an impact to the motor vehicle's velocity or acceleration of the coasting or based on a time of coasting. For example, if the indicator is a light, then upon the initiation of a coasting event, the light may become gradually more illuminated. This may occur through regenerative braking or by placing an accelerometer in logical connection with the brake and gas pedals. This could be achieved by, for example, bridging the gap between the accelerometer and the pedals with a XNOR gate or an AND gate to detect when either none of the pedals are being pressed or both pedals are. This is shown in
Although in most circumstances, brake pressure is highly correlated with deceleration (e.g., greater brake pressure provides greater deceleration), this relationship may not hold in extreme circumstances such as if vehicle 107 is hydroplaning, or is skidding on snow/ice, or if vehicle 107 is going up or down a steep incline. In such circumstances, signals from an accelerometer may be used instead to estimate the deceleration. For example, generally readings from an accelerometer will be correlated to some degree with input on the gas or brake pedals. An accelerometer should behave within a predictable tolerance when the gas pedal is pushed or released, or the brake pedal is pushed or released. If the accelerometer displays a sufficiently anomalous reading, this may be an indication that the car is hydroplaning or skidding.
In some embodiments, this may occur by a sensor reading indicative of an anticipated coasting or braking action. For example, the vehicle may include one or more detection systems 108, such as lidar systems, radar systems, cameras, or a combination of each to facilitate autonomous braking. These systems may indicate the presence of another vehicle or other obstacle in the vehicle's path, such that it would be advantageous to begin a deceleration action. For example, lidar works by emitting pulsed light waves into the surrounding environment. Based upon receipt of a return light wave, a distance to an approaching obstacle may be calculated. Upon detection of such an obstacle within a certain distance threshold, the sensors (or combinations thereof) may engage an LED driver to activate auxiliary lights 107, as discussed herein. The distance threshold may be based upon a speed of the vehicle, as measured by a speedometer or other means. Since one of the purposes of this system is to indicate to other drivers that the vehicle may soon begin a coasting or deceleration action, the distance threshold may be 200 feet if the vehicle is traveling at a speed of less then 40 miles per hour, and higher for increased speeds. Thus, auxiliary lights 107 may be operative to alert other drivers of an anticipated braking or coasting action.
Communication link 209 may be, for example, a controller area network (CAN) that interfaces with a vehicle's on-board diagnostic (OBD) system or detection systems 108. Control module 205 may include a physical interface and programming to support communication via communication link 209. In other respects, vehicle 202, RF signal 206 and auxiliary lights 207 may be substantially similar to vehicle 102, RF signal 106 and auxiliary lights 107, respectively.
In another embodiment, the EL display may be configured such that the circles or arcs as a whole form a display that has a characteristic correlating with the monitored parameter. For example, a light deceleration or idling/coasting may be indicated by a repeated slow progression loop of only the central EL portion being lit, to the two innermost EL circles or arcs being lit, to all EL circles or arcs being lit. The loop would be repeated while the light deceleration is still taking place. Increasing levels of the monitored parameter (e.g., deceleration) may be indicated by progressively faster progressions of the loop.
In another embodiment, the circles or arcs may be configured to simulate a spinning display. A rate of apparent spin may be positively correlated with the monitored parameter.
In another embodiment, the EL display may be configured such that the bars as a whole form a display that has a characteristic depending upon the monitored parameter. For example, a light deceleration (especially due to coasting) may be indicated by a repeated slow progression loop beginning with only the shortest bar being lit, with each shortest unlit bar being successively lit, to all EL bars being lit. The loop would be repeated while the light deceleration is still taking place. Increasing levels of the monitored parameter (e.g., deceleration) may be indicated by progressively faster progressions of the loop.
In other embodiments not tied to any specific display shape or technology, the monitored parameter may be an acceleration (i.e., a positive change in speed over time). For example, auxiliary lights 107 may have a green color when indicating acceleration, with a parameter of the green auxiliary lights 107 positively correlated with a parameter of the acceleration.
Next, process 500 transitions to step 503, at which a control signal correlated with the monitored parameter is generated. For example, step 503 may normalize the control signal from step 501 into a control signal having standard range, such as 0% to 100%, producing a normalized control signal. The normalized control signal may be further converted into a parameter of a control signal, such as a normalized control signal of 40% being converted into 40% of auxiliary lights being lit, or a normalized control signal of 50% being converted into 50% of a maximum rate of pulsation, and so forth. This may be done by relating a quality (such as signal strength or frequency) of the control signal to the forward voltage transmitted by the LED driver.
In some embodiments, this quality affecting the voltage transmitted by the LED driver may relate to a sensor reading indicative of an anticipated coasting or braking action. For example, the vehicle may include one or more sensors, such as lidar systems, radar systems, cameras, or a combination of each to facilitate autonomous braking. These systems may indicate the presence of another vehicle or other obstacle in the vehicle's path, such that it would be advantageous to begin a deceleration action. Upon detection of such an obstacle, the sensors (or combinations thereof) may engage the LED driver to activate auxiliary lights 107.
Next, process 500 transitions to step 505, at which the control signal from step 503 is used to drive auxiliary lights 107. For example, if a pulsation rate of 50% of the maximum rate is desired, step 505 may provide electrical driving signals to each of LEDs 301 such that the overall LED display (e.g., one of
Referring now to
Optionally, neutral light 702 may be located on the rear of semitruck 700 as well. As described generally above, neutral light 702 may illuminate when a coasting event occurs. In some embodiments, the LED driver may cause neutral light 702 to illuminate in patterns or color intensities corresponding to the magnitude of the coasting event or the resultant speed. For example, when a driver of semitruck 700 stops pressing down on the gas pedal, neutral light 702 may initially illuminate dimly. As the coasting event persists, neutral light 702 may illuminate with increasing intensity. In some embodiments, this may also be correlated to a speed of semitruck 700 such that neutral light 702 illuminates approximately as brightly as a maximum illumination of brake lights 701 when semitruck 700 is idle. Similarly, neutral light 702 may illuminate in a pulsating pattern, as described above, with an increasing frequency or intensity as the coasting event persists. Similarly, if semitruck 700 is placed in a neutral gear, then neutral light 702 may also illuminate.
To comply with applicable law, neutral light 702 should not illuminate in a red color (or a color similar to that of the brake lights). In exemplary embodiments, neutral light 702 will illuminate in an amber or yellow color, although any color is within the scope of this disclosure.
Neutral light 702 may be similar in shape in size to brake lights 701, or it may have distinctive characteristics. In exemplary embodiments, neutral light 702 may be round, square, or rectangular. It may be approximately 24 inches in diameter or other lateral dimension, although the appropriate size may depend upon the surface of the vehicle on which neutral light 702 is installed. In some embodiments, a round, square, or rectangular fixture may be affixed to semitruck 700, and a smaller neutral light 702 may be installed. In exemplary embodiments, near a center of neutral light 702, a letter or other symbol (such as “N” for neutral) may be placed and may or may not illuminate together with neutral light 702.
A number of embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. While this specification contains many specific implementation details, there should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any disclosures or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of the present disclosure. While embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein by way of example using several illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood the drawings and the detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the present disclosure to the form disclosed, but to the contrary, the present disclosure is to cover all modification, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present disclosure.
The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description. As used throughout this application, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.
The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.
The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted the terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be used interchangeably.
Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in combination in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.
Similarly, while method steps may be depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in a sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.
Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in combination in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.
Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.
Thus, particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order show, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/851,168, entitled Auxiliary Lighting System and Method for Providing an Indicator of a Brake Magnitude on a Vehicle, and filed on Apr. 17, 2020, which application in turn was a continuation in part of U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/448,625, entitled Auxiliary Lighting System and Method for Providing an Indicator of a Brake Magnitude on a Vehicle, and filed on Jun. 21, 2019, which in turn claimed the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/525,264, entitled Method and Apparatus for an Auxiliary Lighting System, and filed on Jun. 27, 2017, and U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/688,443, entitled Method and Apparatus for an Auxiliary Lighting System, and filed on Jun. 22, 2018. The contents of each of these applications are relied upon and incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62688443 | Jun 2018 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16851168 | Apr 2020 | US |
| Child | 17404569 | US | |
| Parent | 16448625 | Jun 2019 | US |
| Child | 16851168 | US |
