AU9816198A

AU9816198A - Vehicle anti collision system

Info

Publication number: AU9816198A
Application number: AU98161/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Frank Maiolo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-12-23
Filing date: 1998-12-23
Publication date: 1999-07-22

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD

PATENT

Name of Applicant: FRANK MAIOLO Actual Inventor: FRANK MAIOLO Address for Service: Chrysiliou Moore Martin CMC Centre 143 Sydney Road Fairlight Sydney NSW 2094 Invention Title: Vehicle Anti Collision System The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: e:\vb\work\46I.docvb o:\patents\comp\8343.doc VEHICLE ANTI-COLLISON SYSTEM This invention relates to vehicle and anti-collision devices and more particularly to devices which warn of vehicles in adjacent lanes on multi-lane roads.

When travelling on multi-lane roads, it is important when changing lanes that there is not a vehicle occupying the space into which one intends to move or one shortly behind or in front of that space. To do so will cause a collision or an accident, cause the other vehicle to take avoiding action, annoy the other driver of the other vehicle or all of the foregoing.

Whilst vehicles are provided with side mirrors, generally they are usually badly adjusted and even if correctly adjusted cannot provide a full view to the side of the vehicle and so a "blind" spot exists. The vehicle driver cannot determine if there is another vehicle present in a blind spot. Further, even if properly adjusted, it is common for vehicle drivers to not look or to only glance in their side mirrors, and so sometimes miss an adjacent vehicle.

In an attempt to overcome the disadvantages of existing systems, the present invention provides an object detection system for a manually operated land based vehicle, the detection system including: at least one sensor for mounting on the vehicle and for detecting objects adjacent the sensor, the or each of said at least one sensor each generating a first signal upon detection of an object adjacent the respective sensor; and warning means for receiving said first signal or signals and for generating a warning signal in response thereto.

Preferably the system surveys areas to the front and rear of the vehicle as well as to the side of the vehicle.

Preferably the system is operative when the vehicle indicator system is turned on.

Preferably the sensors include first and second sets of sensors, each set for one side of the vehicle.

Preferably only set of sensors is operative at one time.

The sensors may utilise radio, sound or other means for detecting adjacent objects.

0:\patentskcomp\8343.doc The warning means may include an audible or visual alarm, such as a buzzer or warning light respectively, or it may comprise a visual display which schematically indicates the location and size of the located object.

Preferably the area surveyed by the sensing system varies with vehicle speed, so that as vehicle speed increases a larger area to the rear, and optionally to the front is surveyed. Alternatively the sensors may scan the same area but a control unit determines if any object detected is within a safe range.

The invention shall be better understood from the following non-limiting description of an embodiment of the invention and the drawing, which schematically shows a plan view of a vehicle incorporating the sensing system.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a vehicle 10 provided with the sensing system. The system comprises a plurality of transmitters/receivers 12 and 14 mounted along the two sides of the vehicle 10. The sensors 12, 14 are connected to a control unit 16.

The vehicle 10 is shown travelling in the centre lane 18 of a three lane (each way) highway. Thus, there is a left hand lane 20 and a right hand lane 22 on either side of the vehicle in which another vehicle may be travelling. The lanes are delineated by lane lines 24.

Each sensor 12, 14 is preferably a directional transmitter/receiver which may be electronically manipulated to transmit/receive only in a certain direction. The transmitters may transmit radio waves, visible light or infra red light waves. The sensors transmit pluses of waves which are reflected from any object and returned to the respective sensor. The sensors thus act as a solid state radar system any radio waves reflected from an object will be received by the sensor and by direction and timing, its location can be determined relative to the sensor.

As an alternative, these sensors may utilise sound, rather than radio. If sound is utilised it is preferably out of the audible range. Each sensor 12, 14 is controlled to scan over an angle of about 900 as indicated by the sector lines 26, 28, ie, about 450 forward and 450 aft. However, a greater or lesser angle may be scanned by each sensor. Further, depending on the vehicle, the angles fore and aft may be varied. In particular, the amount scanned forward of the vehicle does not need to be great, since this area is visible to the driver.

As an alternative system, each sensor may cover a fixed area. Such sensors usually comprise a visible or infra red light transmitter having a variable width o:\patentsxcomp\8343.doc aperture. Varying the width of the aperture varies the angle of coverage and the distance of coverage. Examples of such sensors are Omron brand photoelectric sensors model range E3S-C which comprise a light emitting diode which emits light at wave lengths of either 880nm or 700nm. These have a sensing range of from 4m downwards, depending on the width of the aperture used.

The area scanned to the rear of the vehicle by the sensors 12c and 14c preferably increases as with vehicle speed, so that a vehicle in the adjacent lane will be sensed if it is less than a safe distance behind the vehicle. This is achieved by inputting a signal from the vehicle's wheels or driveshaft to the control unit 16.

The vehicle is provided with three sensors 12a, 12b, 12c and 14a, 14b and 14c on each side with the coverage of the sensors overlapping and covering most of respective adjacent lane. It will be noted that on each side there are two areas 32, indicated by the cross-hatching, where no coverage by any of the three sensors is provided. However, the majority of each of these two areas will normally lie within the vehicle's own lane, where no other vehicle should be, and only a small portion is in the adjacent lane. The area of this sensor "blind spot" in the adjacent lane is smaller than the size of another vehicle, so any vehicle will be located by the sensors.

In use, when the driver turns on the vehicle's indicators, the appropriate set of sensors 12 or 14 is turned on. If an object is present in the adjacent lane, one or more of the sensors receives reflected radio signals. This information is passed to the control unit 16. If the control unit 16 determines that the object is within a safe distance of the vehicle, the control unit 16 illuminates a warning light or turns on an audible warning buzzer. However, to avoid false alarms, preferably the control unit determines the distance from the vehicle of the object causing reflections.

The width of a road lane is normally 4-5 metres so, for instance, an object more than 5 or 6 metres distance sideways from the vehicle may be ignored. Thus, reflections from embankments and bridges, etc. will not cause false alarms.

Similarly, if there are two or more lanes to one side or the opposing lanes are close by, traffic in lanes other than the lane immediately adjacent will also be ignored.

It will be appreciated that for a passenger car, two rather than three sensors per side may be sufficient whilst for a long vehicle, more than three sensors per side may be necessary to maintain the "blind spots" at an acceptable size.

o:\patents\comp\8343-doc The sensing system may be used for parking to provide an indication of nearby objects, by providing a manual override switch to turn the system on independent of the indicators. When manually turned on this system may ignore objects further away than a set distance, for example, more.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and variations may be made to the embodiment described herein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An object detection system for a manually operated land based vehicle, the detection system including: at least one sensor for mounting on the vehicle and for detecting objects adjacent the sensor, the or each of said at least one sensor each generating a first signal upon detection of an object adjacent the respective sensor; and warning means for receiving said first signal or signals and for generating a warning signal in response thereto.

2. The detection system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle has a direction of travel and at least one sensor mounted on the vehicle to detect objects positioned sideways of the vehicle relative to the direction of travel.

3. The detection system of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the vehicle has a turn indicator system for providing visual or aural indications of the operator's intention to change direction and the detection system is operative when the turn indicator system is providing said indication and is inoperative when the turn indicator system is not providing said indication.

4. The detection system of claim 3 including a first group of at least one sensor and a second group of at least one sensor, said first group mounted on the vehicle for detecting objects positioned to one side of the vehicle relative to the direction of travel and said second group mounted on the vehicle for detecting objects positioned to the other side of the vehicle relative to the direction of travel.

The detection system of claim 4 wherein only one of said first and second groups are operative at any one time.

6. The detection system of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the warning means includes signal processing means for receiving said first signal or signals and for calculating the size and/or distance of any detected object from the vehicle and for outputting said warning signal.

7. The detection system of claim 6 wherein the signal processing means outputs said warning signal only for objects whose calculated size is greater o:\patents\comp\8343.doc than a preset size and are less than a predetermined distance from the vehicle.

8. The detection system of claim 7 wherein the signal processing system receives a speed signal indicative of the speed of the vehicle and varies said predetermined distance with said speed signal.

9. The detection system of claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the signal processing means calculates the distance of the object from the vehicle in the transverse and longitudinal directions relative to the direction of travel and said predetermined distance only varies in the longitudinal direction.

10. A detection system, substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. Dated 22 December, 1998 Frank Maiolo By his Patent Attorneys CHRYSILIOU MOORE MARTIN