CA2446159A1

CA2446159A1 - Graduated alert system

Info

Publication number: CA2446159A1
Application number: CA002446159A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Dia Helmy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-17
Filing date: 2003-10-17
Publication date: 2005-04-17

Abstract

The method of the invention and the apparatus of the invention have the advantage over the prior art that vehicle driver as well as surrounding vehicles are clearly alerted of unsafe traveling speed which is dynamically determined using a satellite-based positioning system and referring to speed limits ordinances.

Description

Description Graduated Alert System SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0001] The vehicle safety speeding condition is dynamically computed and imparted to the driver from a single point in a clear, concise and graduated way.

[0002] The vehicle operating speed, acceleration, inclination and traveling distance are continuously calculated based on the Times and Positions that are furnished by the satellite-based positioning system.

[0003] An optimum vehicle safe speed range is dynamically determined in a three step computation: First determine the vehicle position and time of day using a satellite-based positioning system. Second, supplement this information with measurements from previous measurements and Sensors readings such as light conditions, wet road surface, proximity to obstacles, etc. Third, looking up the applicable Speed Limits Ordinance based on the collected information.

[0004] The vehicle .speed safety level is determined by first checking whether the vehicle current speed is within the calculated optimum safe speed range. If the vehicle is operating outside the safe speed range, then the vehicle speed safety level is calculated by the amount of time the vehicle has been operating outside the safe speed range.

[0005] When the vehicle speed safety level approaches unsafe speeding condition, the vehicle driver is alerted in a series of clear and concise messages using acoustical, visual and haptic forms.

[0006] When the vehicle speed safety level reaches an unsafe speeding condition, surrounding vehicles are also alerted and a log of the speeding violation is generated and stored.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] Fig (1) shows the Graduated Alert System components which can all be built into a vehicle (1). The system includes the following devices and connections:

[0008] a Logic Unit (7) device which collect, process and display system data [0009] a device for furnishing speed limits ordinance (9) which is coupled by data exchange line (8) to a Logic Unit (7).

[0010] Sensors (5) to collected road condition information which is coupled by data exchange line (6) to a Logic Unit (7).

[0011] The GPS unit (4) is coupled by data lines (12) to the Logic Unit (7) to continuously supply the vehicle position and time.

[0012] The Internal Display (3) receives its data from the Logic Unit (7) over the data lines (10).

[0013] The External Display (2) receives its data from the Logic Unit (7) over the data lines (11).

[0014] The Violation Log (13) is connected to the Logic Unit (7) over the data lines (14) [0015] Fig (2) shows the Internal Display (3) components which can all be built into the existing vehicle dashboard or on separate devices.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The vehicle position is determined using a satellite-based positioning system such as global positioning system (GPS).
The GPS unit (4) is coupled by data lines (12) to the Logic Unit (7) to continuously supply the vehicle position and time.

[0017] The traveling conditions Sensors (5) collect information about the road conditions such as vehicle proximity to obstacles, road wetness and daylight. These Sensors are installed, for instance, in the region of the windshield or in the bumper region in front or rear of the vehicle. These sensors supply the collected road condition information to the Logic Unit (7) over data lines (6).

[0018] The safety indicator of traveling speed is presented to the driver on an Internal Display (3). This display is composed of for instance Visual Display (15), Acoustic Display (16) and Haptic Display (20).

[0019] The Visual Display (15) is made of a illumination where brightness and intensity increase progressively as the vehicle approaches an unsafe speed that is slower or faster than the optimum Safe Speed range.

[0020] Visual Display (15) which is composed of three markers identifying three regions with different sizes and shape to reflect the vehicle speed safety condition: Safe Speed (17), slow and fast Fringe Speed (18) and Unsafe Speed (19). Examples of Visual Display (15) operation are:

[0021] 1-When Logic Unit (7) determines that the vehicle is traveling in safe speed, the Visual Display (15) provide this indication to the driver by illuminated the small portion of the display of Safe Speed (17) range.

[0022] 2-When Logic Unit (7) determines that the vehicle is traveling outside the region of safe speed a Fringe Speed (18) marker is illuminated on the Visual Display (15). Six markers are defined in the Fringe Speed (18) range: two of which to warn of speed that is slower than the Safe Speed region and four markers to warn of speeds higher than the Safe Speed. The graduated illumination of additional Fringe Speed markers is determined by the Logic Unit (7) based on for instance the time spent in the Fringe Speed (18) range and, or difference between the Safe and the current driving speed.

[0023] 3-When Logic Unit (7) determines that the vehicle is traveling outside the region of safe speed excessively for instance long time in the Fringe Speed range, the Unsafe Speed (19) marker is illuminated on the Visual Display (15). To complement the visual warning to the driver, the Logic Unit (7) triggers the Audio Display (16) with sound that is high in pitch and intensity. In addition, in reaching unsafe speed, the Logic Unit (7) triggers the External Display (2).

[0024] The Acoustic Display (16) is similar in operation to the Visual Display (15), a speaker is used to generate acoustic signal for instance a tone whose volume and pitch increases progressively as the vehicle approaches an unsafe speed. To complement the visual warning to the driver when the vehicle is operating in Fringe Speed (18) range, the Logic Unit (7) triggers an escalating sound on the Audio Display (16) which progressively increases in pitch and intensity based on for instance the time spent in the Fringe Speed (18) range and or difference between the optimum safe driving and the current operating conditions.

[0025] The Haptic Display (20) is similar in operation to the Visual Display (15), a vibrator is used when the vehicle is operating in Fringe Speed (18) range o shake the driver's hand whose discomfort level increases progressively as the vehicle approaches an unsafe speed.

[0026] When the Logic Unit (7) determines that the vehicle is traveling at an unsafely fast driving speed, it logs relevant information, for instance: the time, position and traveling distance on the Violation Log (13) which is, or instance, storage device.

[0027] The Graduated Alert System components are either distributed over the vehicle, partially combined or totally integrated. For instance, all Devices 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 13 can be totally integrated into a single unit.

Claims

Claims [c1] a method to continuously determine the vehicle time, location, speed, acceleration, deceleration and inclination using a satellite-based positioning system for instance GPS unit (4) and supplying this information to the Logic Unit (7) [c2] a method to determine the vehicle trip distance and total driving distance (odometer) using a satellite-based positioning system for instance GPS unit (4) [c3] a method to dynamically and continuously determine the safe speed range for a particular location by combining information obtained from satellite-based positioning system for instance GPS Unit (4) such as longitude, latitude, altitude, time with road driving conditions supplied by Sensors (5) such as proximity to obstacles, Road surface wetness and Road darkness and referring to Speed Limits Ordinance (9) which is available on a storage device or obtained from remote location wirelessly [c4] a method to continuously compute in the Logic Unit (7) whether the vehicle is operating within a safe speed range by combining time with inputs defined in claim (1) and Claim (3) [c5] a method to provide feedback to the driver for instance visually, acoustically and haptic forms based on Claim (4) if Logic Unit (7) determined that the vehicle is approaching an unsafe slow or fast driving speed in a graduated manner using for instance the Internal Display (3) [c6] a method to provide alert to surrounding vehicles for instance acoustically and visually based on Claim (4) if the vehicle is determined to be in an unsafe fast driving speed using the External Display (2) [c7] a method to log unsafe driving speed information for instance position, time, speed and odometer based on claim (1), claim (2), claim (3) and Claim (4) to a Violation Log (13) [c8] a method to increase driver awareness of speed safety condition and to reduce driver distraction by providing clear and simple cues on Internal Display (3) instead of drivers currently having to monitor several cues for instance the vehicle speedometer, road signs and road conditions