GB2418513A - A device for ensuring a safe exit from a vehicle - Google Patents

A device for ensuring a safe exit from a vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2418513A
GB2418513A GB0421072A GB0421072A GB2418513A GB 2418513 A GB2418513 A GB 2418513A GB 0421072 A GB0421072 A GB 0421072A GB 0421072 A GB0421072 A GB 0421072A GB 2418513 A GB2418513 A GB 2418513A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vehicle
microprocessor
processing unit
image
image processing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0421072A
Other versions
GB0421072D0 (en
Inventor
Shih-Hsiung Li
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0421072A priority Critical patent/GB2418513A/en
Publication of GB0421072D0 publication Critical patent/GB0421072D0/en
Publication of GB2418513A publication Critical patent/GB2418513A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B77/00—Vehicle locks characterised by special functions or purposes
    • E05B77/02—Vehicle locks characterised by special functions or purposes for accident situations
    • E05B77/12—Automatic locking or unlocking at the moment of collision
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R21/013—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
    • B60R21/0134—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle, e.g. using radar systems
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05F15/00—Power-operated mechanisms for wings
    • E05F15/40—Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
    • E05F15/42—Detection using safety edges
    • E05F15/43—Detection using safety edges responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
    • E05F2015/434—Detection using safety edges responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound with cameras or optical sensors
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05F15/00—Power-operated mechanisms for wings
    • E05F15/40—Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
    • E05F15/42—Detection using safety edges
    • E05F2015/483—Detection using safety edges for detection during opening
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2201/00—Constructional elements; Accessories therefor
    • E05Y2201/20—Brakes; Disengaging means; Holders; Stops; Valves; Accessories therefor
    • E05Y2201/218—Holders
    • E05Y2201/22—Locks
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2400/00—Electronic control; Electrical power; Power supply; Power or signal transmission; User interfaces
    • E05Y2400/10—Electronic control
    • E05Y2400/52—Safety arrangements associated with the wing motor
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2800/00—Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2800/00—Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
    • E05Y2800/25—Emergency conditions
    • E05Y2800/252—Emergency conditions the elements functioning only in case of emergency
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
    • E05Y2900/50—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for vehicles
    • E05Y2900/53—Type of wing
    • E05Y2900/531—Doors

Landscapes

  • Image Processing (AREA)
  • Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)

Abstract

A vehicle having at least one door is provided with four image receiving devices 21, 22, 23, 24. An image processing unit 20 processes images received from the image receiving devices to detect any object moving towards the vehicle and the dimensions and velocity of the object. The unit 20 thereby determines if the approaching object (e.g. another vehicle) is a threat to a passenger leaving the vehicle. A microprocessor 30 monitors the vehicle doors to determine if they are about to be opened and locks the door if a threat is identified by the image processing unit. The microprocessor also sounds a buzzer 32.

Description

ONBOARD MONITORING DEVICE TO ENSURE SAFE
DISEMBARKATION OF A TRANSPORTATION MEANS
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an onboard monitoring device, and more particularly to an onboard monitor device that ensures safe disembarkation from a transportation means.
2. Description of Related Art
The slogan "Safety Comes First" normally means that the driver should develop good driving habits and obey the traffic regulations. Under the influence of the slogan, various onboard warning devices are invented to keep on warning the drivers to watch the road while driving. That is, people think most traffic accidents happen when the vehicle is moving on the road.
However, according to recent research, records show that the number of people stepping off a vehicle and getting hit by a passing vehicle is increasing and sometimes the number is even higher than the amount of people injured in highway accidents.
Drivers tend to think that when the vehicle has pulled over, the people onboard are safe from other vehicles. However, when the vehicle has pulled over, one side of the vehicle is still adjacent to the driving lane so that if a person gets off the vehicle without first checking if there is any passing vehicle, the person might easily be hit by the vehicle. Further, if the vehicle has not fully pulled over in a narrow road, small transportation devices such as scooters or motorbikes may easily pass the space between the vehicle and the shoulder. Under such a scenario, if a person gets off the vehicle without checking whether there is any passing vehicle, the person may easily be struck and injured.
Even when the person trying to get off a vehicle does check for passing vehicles, the person's vision is limited by the structure of the vehicle and can only peer out the rear window.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an improved onboard monitoring device to mitigate the aforementioned problems.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved onboard monitoring device to ensure safe disembarkation from a transportation means.
In order to accomplish the aforementioned objective, the onboard monitoring device has least one image receiving unit for receiving any incoming image with respect to the image receiving units, an image processing unit to process the image signal from the image receiving units, a microprocessor for receiving signals from the image processing unit and sending signals to at least one monitor and a linkage device to alternatively activate the door lock of the vehicle.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the work flow of the onboard monitoring device of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing the locations where the image receiving devices are mounted on a vehicle; Figs. 3 and 4 are schematic views showing images of incoming vehicles with respect to the image receiving devices; Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing how the images of incoming vehicles are adopted in relation to the image receiving devices of the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing the danger of a pulled-over vehicle if the vehicle is not fully on the shoulder.
With reference to Fig. 1, it is noted that the onboard monitoring device in accordance with the present invention has at least one and as shown in the embodiment four image receiving devices (21,22,23,24), an image processing unit (20) for receiving and processing image signals from the image receiving devices (21,22,23,24), at least one monitor (25) in connection to the output of the image processing unit (20) to present an image processed by the image processing unit (20) for reference by passengers onboard the vehicle, a microprocessor (30) for receiving the processed image signal from the image processing unit (20) to determine whether there is any approaching object and the speed of the object, a linkage unit (31) operateably connected to the microprocessor (30) for alternatively activating door locks of the vehicle and a buzzer (32) operateably connected to the output of the microprocessor (30) to selectively send out a warning signal to the onboard passenger(s).
The image processing unit (20) is to process the image signals from the image receiving devices (21,22,23,24) to determine whether there is any object moving toward the image receiving devices (21,22,23,24). That is, after the image processing unit (20) is connected to the output of the image receiving devices (21,22,23,24) and if there is a rear approaching object with respect to the image receiving devices (21,22,23,24), according to the enlargement rate of the image in the image receiving devices (21,22,23,24), the incoming object's velocity is determined and thus the potential danger rate to the opening of the vehicle door is also determined. Thereafter, the judgement by the image processing unit (20) is sent to the microprocessor (30) and the monitor (25). The monitor (25) shows the incoming vehicle for reference to the onboard passenger(s) and the microprocessor (30), after receiving the signal from the image processing unit (20), alternatively activates the vehicle locking system to lock the vehicle doors to prevent the onboard passenger(s) getting off the vehicle when there is a high speed approaching object (vehicle) so as to ensure the safety of the onboard passenger Also, the microprocessor (30) sends a signal to the buzzer (32) to give off an alarm to the onboard passenger to not open the vehicle door.
With reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 it is noted that two image receiving devices (21,22) are respectively mounted on two rearview mirrors (11,12) of a vehicle (10) and two more image receiving devices (23,24) are mounted on the vehicle's rear bumper (not numbered). Thus when the vehicle is stationary, an image received by the image receiving devices (2 1,22,23,24) within a very short period of time is still. In order to determine the difference between a moving object and a still object, the image processing unit (20) divides the image into frames such as what is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Thereafter, different frames are compared with themselves at different time intervals.
Because the frames containing still objects, such as buildings, ads, trees, etc. corresponding to and being matched with one another continually, the frames containing still objects are deleted and only the frames with moving objects are retained, as shown in Fig. 5, for further processing.
The remaining frames are compared with one another in the image processing unit (20) to determine the dimension and velocity of the moving object(s) according to the image enlargement rate within a specified time interval. That is, if the dimension of the moving object is small, the moving object is not a threat to the opening of the vehicle door. However, if the image dimension change rate of the moving object is big, the signal that shows the moving object is approaching the image receiving devices (21,22,23,24) at high speed, such that opening the vehicle door might become dangerous and the passenger might be injured by the incoming vehicle, the image processing unit (20) sends out this message to the microprocessor (30).
The microprocessor (30) examines the vehicle door status at all times. After the microprocessor (30) receives the signal from the image processing unit (20), the buzzer (32) and the linkage device (31) are activated to send out a warning signal to the passenger and locks the vehicle lock respectively only when the threat is confirmed and sent by the image processing unit (20). As previously described, the microprocessor (30) monitors the vehicle doors at all times. That is, when any of the vehicle doors is about to be opened, the linkage device (31) mechanically sends out a signal to the microprocessor (30) to indicate that the vehicle door is about to be opened. While the microprocessor (30) is receiving the signal from the image processing unit (20), the microprocessor (30) compares the signals from the image processing unit (20) and the linkage device (31) to determine whether the timing for opening the vehicle's door has potential harm to the passenger.
From the aforementioned description, it is noted that due to the variation mounting locations of the image receiving devices (21,22,23,24), blind spots are eliminated while viewing the rear of the vehicle such that the onboard passenger is able to have sufficient information to determine whether the timing for opening the vehicle door is dangerous. Furthermore, with the work done by the image processing unit (20), the microprocessor (30) and the linkage device (31), the safety of the passenger trying to open the vehicle door is safely guarded.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims (1)

  1. CLAIMS: 1. An onboard monitoring device to ensure safe disembarkation of a
    transportation means having at least one door, the monitoring device comprising: at least one image receiving device (21,22, 23, 24) for receiving images coming from a rear of the transportation means; an image processing unit (20) operably connected to the at least one image receiving device (21,22,23,24) to receive signals from the at least one image receiving device (21,22,23,24) for analyzing the images so as to determine dimension change rate of the images based on velocities of the images; and a microprocessor (30) operably connected to the image processing unit (20) so as to receive image signals from the image processing unit (20) to determine a locking status of the at least one vehicle door.
    2. The onboard monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a buzzer (32) operably connected to the microprocessor (30) so that after the microprocessor (30) receives the signal from the image processing unit (20) to indicate that timing for opening the at least one vehicle door is inappropriate, the buzzer (32) sends out a warning signal.
    3. The onboard monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further comprising a linkage device (31) operably connected to the microprocessor (30) to be controlled by the microprocessor (30) such that the microprocessor (3G) is able to control opening status of the at least one vehicle door via the linkage device (31).
    4. The onboard monitoring device as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one monitor (25) is operably connected to the microprocessor (30) to indicate the image signals from the image processing unit (20).
    6. The onboard monitoring device as claimed in claim 5, wherein there are at least four image receiving devices.
GB0421072A 2004-09-22 2004-09-22 A device for ensuring a safe exit from a vehicle Withdrawn GB2418513A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0421072A GB2418513A (en) 2004-09-22 2004-09-22 A device for ensuring a safe exit from a vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0421072A GB2418513A (en) 2004-09-22 2004-09-22 A device for ensuring a safe exit from a vehicle

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0421072D0 GB0421072D0 (en) 2004-10-27
GB2418513A true GB2418513A (en) 2006-03-29

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010114748A1 (en) * 2009-03-30 2010-10-07 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Safety detection apparatus for exiting a vehicle
DE102010053293A1 (en) * 2010-12-02 2012-06-06 Valeo Schalter Und Sensoren Gmbh Driver assistance system for motor vehicle, particularly safety vehicle, comprises sensor for detecting sensor data of environment of motor vehicle
CN104847211A (en) * 2015-03-24 2015-08-19 江苏科技大学 Auxiliary system for safety of platform safety doors and train door sections and implementation method thereof
EP3173294A1 (en) * 2015-11-24 2017-05-31 Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited Collision warning system
US10343601B2 (en) 2015-11-24 2019-07-09 Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited Collision warning system
EP3584119A4 (en) * 2017-02-20 2020-08-19 Alpha Corporation Vehicular monitoring device

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2268024A (en) * 1992-06-20 1993-12-22 Transportation Systems & Marke Rail platform observation system.
JP2001239832A (en) * 2000-02-29 2001-09-04 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Device for warning in opening vehicle door
WO2002044505A1 (en) * 2000-12-01 2002-06-06 Safenet I Harads Ab Camera supervised motion safety system
US20040150513A1 (en) * 2003-01-31 2004-08-05 Chung-Tsai Cheng Vehicle with alighting passenger signaling capability
WO2004071815A1 (en) * 2003-02-17 2004-08-26 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for preventing injuries and material damage caused by motor vehicle doors

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2268024A (en) * 1992-06-20 1993-12-22 Transportation Systems & Marke Rail platform observation system.
JP2001239832A (en) * 2000-02-29 2001-09-04 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Device for warning in opening vehicle door
WO2002044505A1 (en) * 2000-12-01 2002-06-06 Safenet I Harads Ab Camera supervised motion safety system
US20040150513A1 (en) * 2003-01-31 2004-08-05 Chung-Tsai Cheng Vehicle with alighting passenger signaling capability
WO2004071815A1 (en) * 2003-02-17 2004-08-26 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for preventing injuries and material damage caused by motor vehicle doors

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010114748A1 (en) * 2009-03-30 2010-10-07 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Safety detection apparatus for exiting a vehicle
DE102010053293A1 (en) * 2010-12-02 2012-06-06 Valeo Schalter Und Sensoren Gmbh Driver assistance system for motor vehicle, particularly safety vehicle, comprises sensor for detecting sensor data of environment of motor vehicle
DE102010053293B4 (en) 2010-12-02 2023-12-07 Valeo Schalter Und Sensoren Gmbh Driver assistance system for a motor vehicle, in particular a security vehicle, motor vehicle and method for operating a driver assistance system in a motor vehicle
CN104847211A (en) * 2015-03-24 2015-08-19 江苏科技大学 Auxiliary system for safety of platform safety doors and train door sections and implementation method thereof
EP3173294A1 (en) * 2015-11-24 2017-05-31 Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited Collision warning system
US10059261B2 (en) 2015-11-24 2018-08-28 Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited Collision warning system
US10343601B2 (en) 2015-11-24 2019-07-09 Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited Collision warning system
EP3584119A4 (en) * 2017-02-20 2020-08-19 Alpha Corporation Vehicular monitoring device
US11198392B2 (en) 2017-02-20 2021-12-14 Alpha Corporation Vehicle monitoring device

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Publication number Publication date
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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)