Patent Application
20060106538
The present invention relates to features in a vehicle for identifying objects and, more particularly, to a system for positively identifying the type of an object, assessing the relationship between the object and the vehicle, and deploying vehicle responsive devices according to certain situations.
Examples of typical vehicle responsive devices include inflatable air bag systems, seat belt systems with pyrotechnic pretensioners, bumper systems, knee bolster systems and the like. These systems can be resettable, meaning that deployment does not affect their continued operability, and non-resettable, meaning that once deployed, replacement is necessary. Vehicle responsive devices that require activation or deployment are generally triggered by, and thus during, an actual physical impact event itself. That is, many vehicles utilize deploy systems that include impact sensors which are sensitive to abrupt changes in vehicle inertia or momentum, such as, for example, coil spring sensors, magnet-and-ball sensors, or micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) devices including capacitive and/or piezoresistive accelerometer sensors, to activate or deploy vehicle responsive devices.
Predictive collision sensing systems include multiple line-of-sight sensors that sense the close-range position and relative velocity of an object that is within a particular distance from the sensor. Such sensors can be utilized, for example, to activate a braking system and/or to pre-arm an airbag system just prior to a collision impact. In making the actual decision to activate and/or pre-arm such vehicle responsive devices, the position and velocity of the object relative to the vehicle, as determined by the system sensors may be utilized. A short coming of such a system is that a prediction of the severity of an imminent collision based only upon the relative position and velocity of the object, without identifying the nature of the object itself, can be inaccurate.
One aspect of the invention is a method of predicting severity of a potential collision of a vehicle and an object. The method includes determining a probability of the potential collision. An elicitation signal is directed and transmitted to the object from the vehicle when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value. A response signal is received onboard the vehicle from a device situated on the object in response to the elicitation signal. The response signal includes a type associated with the object. A severity level of the potential collision is predicted based on the type.
Another aspect of the invention is a method of predicting severity of a potential collision of a vehicle and an object. The method includes determining a probability of the potential collision. An electromagnetic radio-frequency communication linkage is established between at least one global positioning system satellite and a global positioning system device onboard the vehicle to obtain real time vehicle position data from the satellite for use onboard the vehicle when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value. A sensor is utilized to obtain real time object position data regarding the real time position of the object with respect to the vehicle. The real time vehicle position data and the real time object position data are utilized to determine whether digital map data accessed by the global positioning system device provides information positively identifying the type of the object. A severity level of the potential collision is predicted in response to the global positioning system positively identifying the type of the object with input to the predicting including the type.
Another aspect of the invention is a computer program product for predicting severity of a potential collision of a vehicle and an object. The computer program product includes a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes determining a probability of the potential collision. An elicitation signal is directed and transmitted to the object from the vehicle when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value. A response signal is received onboard the vehicle from a device situated on the object in response to the elicitation signal. The response signal includes a type associated with the object. A severity level of the potential collision is predicted based on the type.
A further aspect of the invention is an apparatus for predicting severity of a potential collision of a vehicle and an object. The apparatus includes a transmitter and a receiver. The apparatus also includes a microprocessor in communication with the transmitter and the receiver, and the microprocessor includes instructions to implement a method. The method includes determining a probability of the potential collision. An elicitation signal is directed and transmitted to the object from the vehicle, via the transmitter, when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value. A response signal is received, via the receiver, onboard the vehicle from a device situated on the object in response to the elicitation signal. The response signal includes a type associated with the object. A severity level of the potential collision is predicted based on the type.
Referring to the exemplary drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES:
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for deploying responsive devices in a vehicle, such as an automobile, in anticipation of a potential collision with an object. The type of object may include, for example, a large tree, a small tree, a mailbox, a sign, a fire hydrant, a post, a pole, a fence, a guardrail, a building structure, or another vehicle. In deploying vehicle responsive devices, the present invention anticipates an imminent or nearly imminent potential collision with an object so that vehicle responsive devices may be activated, deployed, or pre-armed. In addition, the nature, or type, of the object may be identified so that potential collision severity can be predicted and so that individual vehicle responsive devices can be selectively deployed based on predicted collision severity.
The sensor 28 is preferably situated at or near the lateral perimeter of the vehicle to thereby facilitate optimal line-of-sight position sensing when an object comes close to the vehicle perimeter. Although only one position sensor 28 is illustrated in
Alternative exemplary embodiments of the present invention utilize one or more sensors 28 that cover a full three hundred and sixty degrees around the vehicle to cover all possible angles of approach. In addition to increasing visibility to possible potential collisions, this may also be utilized to coordinate the deployment of vehicle responsive devices for the predicted impacts. When possible impacts involving multiple objects are detected as being imminent or nearly imminent, the individual impact events may be ordered in terms of predicted timing and severity. A prioritization selection process is then utilized to deploy those vehicle responsive devices determined to have the greatest overall effect. Other embodiments include deploying vehicle responsive devices early which may allow them to be deployed less aggressively. Vehicle responsive devices may also be deployed for a longer period of time than in events in which only a single impact is predicted, in order to cover the full duration of the multiple impacts. Further, additional vehicle responsive devices may be armed (i.e., a control set on the device) and/or extra deployment capacity may be reserved to cover instances where there is a possibility of a second impact subsequent to, and possibly resulting from, the occurrence of the first impact.
In addition, the prediction capability may be extended to predicting the vehicle trajectory after impact and thus the prediction of additional subsequent impacts (including for example a rollover) resulting from the change in trajectory due to the first impact. For example, calculation of the potential collision related change in vehicle trajectory is within the capability of commercially available accident reconstruction programs.
Referring to
The T/R device 30 of the computer assembly 22 includes both a transmitter 32 and a receiver 34 which are electrically connected to a directional-type antenna 36. The transmitter 32 may be implemented by a transmitter such as a wideband radio-frequency type transmitter capable of transmitting, via the antenna 36, electromagnetic radio-frequency (RF) signals over a wide band of signal frequencies. The directional antenna 36 is used for both directing and transmitting an electromagnetic radio-frequency signal to the object and also for receiving a signal from the object. During transmission, the directional antenna 36 produces a substantially unidirectional radiation pattern which is directed toward the object. It is to be understood, however, that two separate antennas, one dedicated for directional transmission and one dedicated for receiving, may alternatively be used instead of the single directional antenna 36. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the T/R device 30 is designed, such that if it survives a collision, it retains the ability to communicate in the event of a second subsequent impact.
The vehicle collision computer 26 of the computer assembly 22 is dedicated to predicting the severity level of any imminent or nearly imminent potential collision between the vehicle and an object so that vehicle responsive devices can be selectively deployed according to the predicted severity level. To facilitate such predicting, the vehicle collision computer 26 is electrically connected to the vehicle dynamics computer 24 via electrical conductor connection 38, electrically connected to both the transmitter 32 and the receiver 34 of the T/R device 30 via electrical conductor connection 40, and electrically connected to the position sensor 28 via an electrical conductor connection 42. As illustrated in
In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the dynamics data for the vehicle is sent from the vehicle dynamics computer 24 to the vehicle collision computer 26 for use in determining if the probability of a potential collision between the vehicle and an object is over a threshold value. The threshold value may be pre-selected or varying based on driver, environmental and/or vehicle characteristics. The probability being over the threshold indicates that a collision is imminent or nearly imminent. If the probability of the potential collision is over the threshold value, then the vehicle collision computer 26 generates an elicitation or interrogation signal via the T/R device 30 to initiate communication with the object.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a method of predicting the severity of a potential collision of a vehicle and an object. A probability of a potential collision is compared to a threshold value to determine, or detect, when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value. The determination is made by the vehicle collision computer 26 in response to input data from the T/R device 30, the position sensor 28 and the vehicle dynamics computer 24. The threshold value may be a threshold representing an imminent potential collision, a nearly imminent potential collision or alternatively that an object is within a pre-selected or varying radius of the vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a potential collision is imminent when the estimated percentage chance, or probability, that the potential collision will occur is greater than a first threshold value (e.g., 90%, 99%, 99.9%) and the potential collision is nearly imminent when the probability is greater than a second threshold value (e.g., 70%, 80%, 90%).
By determining if a potential collision is nearly imminent, the amount of lead-time between the prediction of a potential collision and the actual collision may be increased. This may allow for more actions to be taken to mitigate the impact of the potential collision, but may also lead to a greater number of false collision predictions (i.e., more instances where the collision does not occur after being predicted). The determination that a potential collision is nearly imminent may be utilized by the vehicle collision computer 26 to prepare vehicle responsive devices for the possibility of a potential collision. Based on knowledge about the nearly imminent potential collision (e.g., predicted severity, possible places of impact), controls on vehicle responsive devices may be set to particular values (e.g., select airbag inflation level) and/or deployed (e.g., change knee bolster position) in response to receiving the prediction of a nearly imminent potential collision. Additional reversible protection devices and irreversible protection devices may then be deployed when (and if) a determination is made that the potential collision is imminent. This may be implemented by having more than one threshold value with different events occurring based on which threshold value has been exceeded by the probability of the potential collision. Any implementation that allows different actions to be initiated based on the probability of the potential collision may be utilized by exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
Various algorithms may be utilized to determine the probability of the potential collision occurring. The probability of the potential collision increases as the distance between the vehicle and an object decreases and as the estimated time until the potential collision decreases. Input to calculating the probability includes data collected by the vehicle dynamics computer 24 as well as position sensor 28 data. Input to calculating the probability may also include driver state data such as the estimated alertness of the driver, the attentiveness of the driver (e.g., is driver tuning radio and/or talking on a phone) and the gaze direction of the driver. The probability of the potential collision may be increased or decreased based on the driver state data. In addition, the probability of the potential collision may be increased or decreased based on environmental data. Any data that is available to the vehicle collision computer 26 may be utilized in calculating the probability. Input to determining that the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value may include the probability of the potential collision occurring and/or a rate of change of the probability of the potential collision occurring. A high rate of change (increase) of the probability may indicate that the potential collision is imminent or nearly imminent. In addition, it may be determined that the probability is greater than the threshold value if the vehicle is less than a particular distance from an object, and/or the estimated time until the potential collision is less than a pre-determined amount of time.
As described previously, data from the vehicle dynamics computer 24 may include data such as tire inflation pressure, tire wear state, road friction, anti-lock brake system operation, vehicle stability enhancement system operation, braking pressure, amount of vehicle pitch and roll, yaw, engine status, engine operation data, environmental data, and any other available information that could be useful to predicting the severity or probability of a potential collision. Environmental data may include information such as time of day, outside air temperature, current weather conditions, rain, and slush covered pavement surface. Time of day may be utilized to indicate whether the outside light level is daylight, nighttime or dusk.
In addition, the vehicle responsive devices may be controlled based on driver and/or passenger (front and back) characteristics such as position, size, weight and seat belt buckle status. In an alternate exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the estimated probability of the potential collision may be broadcast to other vehicles within a pre-specified radius or to a mobile application service (e.g., an ONSTAR system that is commercially available from General Motors Corporation, where ONSTAR is a registered trademark of General Motors Corporation) to alert them of the impending potential collision.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be modified to utilize Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved bands for vehicle to object communication and for vehicle to infrastructure communication.
With regard to the lamp post 78 as a first potential object of collision, the system 20 in this particular case includes an active transponder 82 with an antenna 84 situated and mounted on the lamppost 78. The transponder 82 is basically a small microprocessor device having a receiver circuit and a transmitter circuit electrically connected to the antenna 84. Except for the antenna 84, the microprocessor device of the transponder 82 is enclosed within a small protective box or container mounted on the object, in this case, the lamppost 78. Although the microprocessor device may operate with electrical power derived from the same power source used to illuminate the lamp light in the lamp post 78, the microprocessor device is preferably powered by rechargeable batteries which are periodically charged with an external energy collector such as, for example, a solar collector.
During operation, if the vehicle 74 veers away from the drive path 76 and moves toward the lamp post 78 such that the lamp post 78 comes within a predetermined sensing range (for example, 20 meters) of the sensor 28 onboard the vehicle 74, then the sensor 28 will sense the real time position of the lamp post 78 relative to the vehicle 74 and communicate real time object position data to the vehicle collision computer 26 of the computer assembly 22 via connection 42. At generally the same time, relevant real time vehicle dynamics data from the vehicle dynamics computer 24 is communicated to the vehicle collision computer 26 via connection 38. Using both the real time object position data and the real time vehicle dynamics data, the vehicle collision computer 26 then determines if the probability of a collision between the vehicle 74 and the lamp post 78 is over a threshold value.
If the probability of a collision is over the threshold value, the vehicle collision computer 26 initiates an elicitation or interrogation signal via connection 40 within the T/R device 30 such that the elicitation signal is directed and transmitted via the transmitter 32 and the directional antenna 36 toward the lamp post 78. The elicitation signal, as transmitted from the antenna 36, is an electromagnetic, modulated radio-frequency type signal which has a wide frequency bandwidth. In general, the same elicitation signal is transmitted to each object with which the vehicle 74 faces an imminent or nearly imminent collision. The elicitation signal generally serves to prompt an object, in this case, the lamp post 78, to provide information which will positively identify the nature, or type, of the object to the vehicle 74. Alternatively, or in addition, to providing a type, the object may provide actual object size data that may be utilized in determining a predicted severity. The directional nature of the antenna 36 helps ensure that the elicitation signal is not inadvertently transmitted to another object (for example, the tree 80) instead of, or in addition to, the lamppost 78. In this way, only the object with which a potential collision is imminently or nearly imminently is prompted for positive identification information of the object type.
After transmission via the directional antenna 36, the elicitation signal is then received by the antenna 84 and the receiver circuit of the transponder 82 which is mounted on the lamppost 78. Once the elicitation signal is received, a response signal is immediately initiated and transmitted from the transmitter circuit and the antenna 84 of the transponder 82 toward the vehicle 74. The response signal, as transmitted from the antenna 84, is an electromagnetic radio-frequency type signal having a narrow, predetermined bandwidth of signal frequencies. This object-type-specific predetermined response signal generally serves to provide the vehicle 74 with information which positively identifies the nature, or specific type, of the object. More particularly, the predetermined frequency bandwidth of the response signal transmitted from the lamp post 78 serves to positively identify the first object (the lamp post 78) as a particular object type (i.e., as a lamp post). Alternatively, or in addition, to providing a type, the object may provide actual object size data that may be utilized in determining a predicted severity. According to the present invention, in other situations involving other types of objects, different objects will transmit different response signals having different narrow, predetermined frequency bandwidths. In this way, each object is differentiated and positively identified by the vehicle 74 according to object type by the particular frequency bandwidth of the respective response signal produced by the object.
After being transmitted from the transponder 82 mounted on the lamppost 78, the response signal is received by the antenna 36 and the receiver 34 of the T/R device 30 onboard the vehicle 74. The receiver 34 includes at least one electronic filter circuit for processing the response signal to thereby obtain information positively identifying the type of object from the response signal in the form of a predetermined digital code. Once obtained, the predetermined digital code is communicated to the vehicle collision computer 26 via connection 40. When the predetermined digital code is received by the vehicle collision computer 26, object-type-specific object size data which is pre-stored in a memory associated with the vehicle collision computer 26 is looked up and accessed by the vehicle collision computer 26 by using the predetermined digital code. The object size data for a particular type of object may include, for example, data relating to one or more of the width, height, depth, or mass of the object.
Once the object-specific object size data is obtained, the vehicle collision computer 26 then uses and processes known vehicle size data, real time vehicle dynamics data communicated from the vehicle dynamics computer 24, real time object position data communicated from the sensor 28, and the obtained object size data to predict the degree of severity or the severity level of the identified imminent or nearly imminent collision between the vehicle 74 and the lamp post 78.
The known vehicle size data used in determining the severity level may include, for example, data relating to one or more of the width, height, depth, or mass of the vehicle 74. When a frontal impact is predicted, the relevant vehicle size data may include data such as front bumper height, vehicle height, height of the vehicle center of gravity, frame height, and the load distribution on the face of a rigid barrier in a frontal impact, where the load distribution is determined based on a simulation or actually measured in a crash test. When a rear impact is predicted, the relevant vehicle size data may include data such as rear bumper height, vehicle height, height of the vehicle center of gravity, frame height, and the load distribution on the face of a rigid barrier in a rear impact, where the load distribution is determined based on a simulation or actually measured in a crash test. When a side impact is predicted, the relevant vehicle size data may include data such as rocker height, door beam height, and lateral stiffness of the vehicle corresponding to an estimated bumper location of a striking vehicle, where the lateral stiffness is obtained through a simulation or actually measured in a crash test.
Once a prediction of the severity level of the imminent or nearly imminent collision is made, the vehicle collision computer 26 then selectively deploys and/or pre-sets one or more responsive device onboard the vehicle 74 according to the predicted severity level. That is, in other words, depending upon the predicted severity level, the vehicle collision computer 26 then decides, for each individual vehicle responsive device, whether or not the vehicle responsive device will be pre-set (i.e. controls set on the device) and/or deployed. In general, if the predicted severity level is high, then the vehicle collision computer 26 is more likely to deploy most, if not all, of the vehicle responsive devices. On the other hand, if the predicted severity level is low, then the vehicle collision computer 26 is more likely to deploy fewer vehicle responsive devices. For example, if the vehicle 74 anticipates an imminent or nearly imminent collision with a building structure at fifty kilometers per hour, then the inflatable airbag 58, the pre-tensionable seat belt 60, the extendable/retractable bumper 62, and the extendable/retractable knee bolster device 64 are all likely to be deployed by the vehicle collision computer 26. In contrast, if the vehicle 74 anticipates an imminent or nearly imminent collision with a building structure at only ten kilometers per hour, then only the pre-tensionable seat belt 60 and the extendable/retractable bumper 62 are likely to be deployed by the vehicle collision computer 26.
In selectively deploying the vehicle responsive devices, the vehicle collision computer 26 selectively communicates a deploy signal to the vehicle responsive devices 58, 60, 62, and 64. For the vehicle responsive devices which are resettable, such as the pre-tensionable seat belt 60, the extendable/retractable bumper 62, and the extendable/retractable knee bolster device 64, the deploy signal serves as an activation signal for activating the vehicle responsive devices prior to collision impact. For any vehicle responsive device which is non-resettable, such as the inflatable airbag 58, the deploy signal serves as a pre-set or enabling signal for readying the activation of the vehicle responsive device upon collision impact. In a particular case where the predicted severity level of the collision is extremely high, such as in a case where the closing speed of the vehicle 74 toward a significant object as determined by the position sensor 28 is very fast, the deploy signal may instead serve as an actual activation signal for activating (in contrast to merely pre-setting or enabling) any non-resettable vehicle responsive device just prior to collision impact. If, by chance, a predicted collision fails to actually occur or if the collision is of minimal severity, the vehicle collision computer 26 then communicates deactivation signals to the resettable vehicle responsive devices after a predetermined delay time has passed from the anticipated time of collision impact.
In light of the above, the method of deploying responsive devices in a vehicle in anticipation of a collision with an object, according to the present invention, can be generalized to include the process set forth in the flow diagram of
Further in
Thus, during operation, if the vehicle 74 veers away from the drive path 76 and moves instead toward the tree 80 such that the tree 80 comes within the predetermined sensing range of the sensor 28, then an elicitation signal will instead be directed and transmitted toward the tree 80 when the anticipated collision between the vehicle 74 and the tree 80 is identified by the vehicle collision computer 26 and has a probability of occurring that is greater than a threshold (i.e., is imminent or nearly imminent). In the case where a reflector is situated on the tree 80, when the transmitted elicitation signal is received by the antenna 88, the reflector merely fashions a response signal having a narrow, predetermined frequency bandwidth which is object-specific from the elicitation signal having a wide frequency bandwidth. In essence, the fashioned response signal comprises a reflected, narrow bandwidth portion of the elicitation signal. Once the response signal is successfully generated or fashioned by the passive transponder or reflector 86, the response signal is sent via the antenna 88 to the vehicle 74 where the response signal is received by the antenna 36 and the receiver 34 of the T/R device 30. As explained previously herein, the receiver 34 uses at least one electronic filter circuit to process the response signal to thereby obtain information positively identifying the type of object from the response signal in the form of a predetermined digital code. Once obtained, the predetermined digital code is then communicated to the vehicle collision computer 26 for predicting collision severity and ultimately deploying vehicle responsive devices in accordance therewith.
Despite the particular exemplary collision scenario described hereinabove with regard to
In
Examples of different response signals fashioned from the elicitation signal 100 by different reflectors on various different objects are graphically illustrated in
Thus, in practice, each one of the particular response signals illustrated in
Incorporating the GPS device 106 within the computer assembly 122 of the hardware system 120 is desirable for at least the following two reasons. First, the GPS device 106 enables a vehicle to obtain real time vehicle position data (for example, longitude and latitude) from at least one (for example, three) GPS satellite to thereby help precisely determine where the vehicle is positioned on or near a particular roadway. Second, recent advances in GPS technology have now yielded GPS devices utilizable with digital map data containing very detailed information concerning both the identity and position of various objects situated along or near roadways. Some of these objects may include, for example, signs, poles, fire hydrants, barriers, bridges, bridge pillars, and overpasses. In addition, the digital map data utilized with and/or provided by such recent GPS devices is easily updateable via remote transmissions (for example, via a cell phone) from GPS customer service centers so that detailed information concerning both the identity and position of even temporary signs or blocking structures set up during brief periods of road-related construction is available as well. Thus, by incorporating the GPS device 106 in the computer assembly 122 of the hardware system 120 onboard a vehicle, the hardware system 120 then has additional means, as compared to the system 20 in the first embodiment, for positively identifying the type of an object with which the vehicle anticipates an imminent or nearly imminent collision.
Further in
During operation, the GPS device 106 is first activated or turned on by an operator, such as the human driver of the vehicle 74, to establish electromagnetic radio-frequency communication linkage between the vehicle 74 and at least one (for example, three) global positioning system satellite 116. In this way, real time vehicle position data from the satellite 116 is obtained via the antenna 110 and the receiver 108 of the GPS system device 106 so that the vehicle position data, along with the digital map data, can be timely communicated when necessary to the vehicle dynamics computer 24 and/or the vehicle collision computer 26 via connection 112 and/or connection 114.
Next, if the vehicle 74 veers away from the drive path 76 and moves toward the abutment of the bridge 118 such that the abutment comes within a predetermined sensing range (for example, 20 meters) of the sensor 28 onboard the vehicle 74, then the sensor 28 will sense the real time position of the abutment of the bridge 118 relative to the vehicle 74 and communicate real time object position data to the vehicle collision computer 26 of the computer assembly 122 via connection 42. At about the same time, relevant real time vehicle dynamics data from the vehicle dynamics computer 24 is communicated to the vehicle collision computer 26 as well via connection 38. Using both the real time object position data and the real time vehicle dynamics data, the vehicle collision computer 26 then predicts a time until collision impact. If the predicted time until collision impact becomes equal to or less than a predetermined imminency threshold time (i.e., the probability of a collision is greater than a threshold value), the vehicle collision computer 26 will then deem and identify the predicted collision as an imminent or nearly imminent collision.
Once an imminent or nearly imminent potential collision is identified, real time object position data provided by the sensor 28 via connection 42 and both real time vehicle position data and digital map data provided by the GPS device 106 are used by the vehicle collision computer 26 to determine whether the digital map data provides information positively identifying the type of object. If the object type is successfully positively identified based on the digital map data provided (or utilized) by the GPS device 106, then this information is used by the vehicle collision computer 26 to predict the severity level of the imminent or nearly imminent collision and to selectively deploy and/or pre-set each of the vehicle responsive devices accordingly. In this case, the object specific size data come directly from the GPS device 106 or alternatively, it may be pre-stored in a memory associated with the vehicle collision computer 26 as described previously.
If, on the other hand, the object type is not successfully positively identified based on the digital map data provided by or utilized with the GPS device 106, then the vehicle collision computer 26 initiates an elicitation signal via connection 40 so that the elicitation signal is directed and transmitted via the transmitter 32 and the antenna 36 of the T/R device 30 toward the abutment of the bridge 118. The elicitation signal is then received by the reflector 124 mounted on the abutment of the bridge 118 via the antenna 126. Once the elicitation signal is received, a response signal comprising a reflected, narrow, predetermined bandwidth portion of the elicitation signal is immediately sent from the reflector 124 via the antenna 126 toward the vehicle 74. As generally explained earlier herein with regard to the first embodiment, the predetermined frequency bandwidth of the response signal sent from the abutment of the bridge 118 enables the vehicle collision computer 26 onboard the vehicle 74 to positively identify the type of the object (i.e., a bridge) and to predict the severity of the imminent or nearly imminent collision. Once this is done, the vehicle collision computer 26 then proceeds, as also generally explained earlier herein, to selectively deploy or pre-set the vehicle responsive devices 58, 60, 62, and 64 according to the predicted severity.
In light of the above, with regard to the system 120, the method of deploying responsive devices in a vehicle in anticipation of a collision with an object, according to the present invention, can be generalized to include the process set forth in the flow diagram of
With further regard to the method in
In contrast to the method in
Referring to
According to the question at block 162, if the digital map data does provide information positively identifying the type of object, then block 164 is performed before executing the process in blocks 166 and 168. Block 164 cross-checks, for validation, the positive type identification information obtained from the digital map data with the positive type identification information obtained from the object. If, on the other hand, the digital map data does not provide information positively identifying the type of object, then block 164 is skipped, and block 166 using the positive identification information to predict a severity level of the imminent or nearly imminent collision and block 168 selectively deploying at least one responsive device onboard the vehicle according to the predicted severity level are thereafter performed.
With further regard to the method in
A method of and apparatus for predicting the severity of an imminent or nearly imminent potential collision between a vehicle and an object is described above. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the prediction of severity is early enough so that the timing and extent of deployment of vehicle responsive devices can be controlled in accordance with the predicted potential collision severity and the expected time (e.g., imminent, nearly imminent) of the potential collision.
As described above, the embodiments of the invention may be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. Embodiments of the invention may also be embodied in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. An embodiment of the present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.
