WO2015136456A1

WO2015136456A1 - A method and system to alert a user of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2015136456A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/051763
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ashfaque Ahmed ANSARI; Sagar Sahebrao TIKAR
Original assignee: Tata Motors Limited
Priority date: 2014-03-13
Filing date: 2015-03-11
Publication date: 2015-09-17

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for alerting an user of a vehicle about dis- engaged condition of a parking brakes of a vehicle. A sensor interfaced with a control unit first senses the parking brake dis-engaged condition and thereby generate a first signal. The control unit, upon receiving the first signal identifies the vehicle is turned to OFF condition from ON condition and provide a second signal to an indicator. The indicator upon receiving the second signal alerts the user of the vehicle.

Description

A METHOD AND SYSTEM TO ALERT A USER OF A VEHICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to warning system for a motor vehicle. The embodiments disclose a warning system and a method for alerting a driver when the parking brake is dis-engaged during vehicle OFF condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Generally, parking brake is used when the vehicle is parked i.e. when the vehicle is stationary or not in use. When the parking brake is engaged, the brakes of the vehicle engage. Hence, the vehicle cannot be moved upon application of the parking brakes. This ensures safety of the vehicle by restricting the movement of the vehicle. This is because of the fact that, when the parking brakes are not engaged, there are chances of theft of the vehicle as the vehicle can be towed or moved away easily. Also, when the vehicle is parked in a slope/inclination, there is a possibility of rolling away of the vehicle under its own weight, due to gravity. This creates an accidental situation, which may prone to personal and property damages, especially when the said vehicle is a heavy vehicle such as lorry, truck... etc.

Generally, the vehicles such as but not limiting to cars and lorries are equipped with the warning system which will be activated when the driver turns OFF the ignition of the vehicle without the parking brake being engaged. This alerts the driver to engage the parking brake. However, on many occasions it is desired to leave the engine running for a short time. Hence, in these situations the parking brakes are not engaged as the ignition is still ON. Also, in occasions such as vehicle waiting for traffic signal, traffic jam, it is desired to turn OFF the ignition to save fuel and to reduce exhaust emissions in waiting area. Hence, in these situations it is undesirable for warning signal to be generated as the driver/user is still in the vehicle. Also, when these annoying warning signals are generated in these situations, after some time there are chances that the user will ignore the warning signals. This will in-turn make the user to forget to engage the parking brakes.

A warning system that could alleviate the above-indicated problem of undesired warning signals is previously known from US Pat. No. 4,967, 182. This warning system uses a pressure sensor to sense the pressure on the driver's seat and to close an electric switch whenever the seat is unoccupied. A warning signal is generated if the seat is vacated without the parking brake of the vehicle having been engaged. However, sensors for detecting whether or not the driver's seat is occupied are normally not included as standard components in vehicles, which will make it rather costly to implement this known warning system. Furthermore, existing sensors of this type are in general not very reliable, which may result in annoying warning signals during driving or in the lack of warning signals when the driver leaves the vehicle without having engaged the parking brake.

In view of the above, there is a need to develop a system for alerting the user of a vehicle which overcomes all the limitations stated above and at the same time simple in operation and economical.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure. In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for alerting an user of a vehicle about disengaged condition of a parking brake is provided. The method comprises acts of sensing the parking brake dis-engaged condition by a sensor interfaced to a control unit to generate a first signal. Identifying when the vehicle is turned to OFF condition from ON condition by a control unit to provide a second signal. The second signal is generated to an indicator only after the first signal is generated. Further, alerting the user of the vehicle when the second signal is received by the indicator.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the sensor detects the dis-engaged condition of the parking brakes by sensing dis-engaged position of a parking brake lever.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the indicator is at least one of visual indicator and audio indicator.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for alerting an user of a vehicle about disengaged condition of a parking brake is provided. The system comprises a sensor interfaced with a control unit, to generate a first signal when the parking brake is in dis- engaged condition. A control unit configured to identify when the vehicle is turned to OFF condition from ON condition to provide a second signal, after the first signal is generated. An indicator to alert the user of the vehicle when the second signal from the control unit is received.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control unit is an Electronic Control unit of the vehicle.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the sensor is at least one of optical sensor, light sensor, hall effect sensor, pressure sensor, resistance sensor, and photoelectric sensor.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Figure 1 illustrates parking brake lever of the vehicle in engaged position.

Figure 2 illustrates parking brake lever of the vehicle in dis-engaged position. Figure 3 illustrates block diagram of a system for alerting user of a vehicle about disengaged condition of a parking brake according to present disclosure.

Figure 4 illustrates flow chart showing sequence of steps for alerting user of a vehicle about dis-engaged condition of a parking brake according to present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure.

The present disclosure provides a system for alerting an user of a vehicle when a parking brake of the vehicle is in dis-engaged position, and the when the vehicle is turned OFF. The system alerts the user by providing indication to engage the handbrake before leaving the vehicle. The system broadly comprises a control unit, an indicator, and a sensor. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a sensor is provided proximal to the parking brake lever, and is interfaced with the control unit to generate a first signal when it senses that the parking brake lever is in dis-engaged position. Further, the control unit is configured to identify when the vehicle is turned to OFF condition from ON condition to provide a second signal. The second signal is generated only if the first signal is also generated. Then the control unit is configured to operate an indicator, based on the second signal, to alert the user that the parking brake is in dis-engaged position. The indication provided by the indicator can be visual or audial. Referring now to the drawings wherein the drawings are for the purpose of illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same.

The parking brake also referred as handbrake is provided in the vehicle, and is used to apply brake to vehicle wheels when the vehicle is parked i.e. when the vehicle is stationary or not in use. The parking brake will be generally provided with a parking brake lever (1) in the drivers cabin, and is connected to brakes by at least one the following but not limiting to brake cables, and mechanical linkage. The parking brake lever (1) may be operated by the user to engage or disengage the parking brake. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate schematic representation of the parking brake lever (1) of the vehicle (5) in engaged and dis-engaged position respectively. The parking brake of the vehicle (5) can be engaged by pulling the parking brake lever (1) upwards from dis-engaged/rest position to an engaged position/home position (shown in figure 1). Generally, cables or linkages are extended from the parking brake lever (1) to the brakes of the vehicle (5). Hence, upon actuation of the parking brake lever (1), the cables or linkage connected to the parking brakes are actuated, thereby engaging the parking brakes. In one embodiment upon, engaging the parking brake lever (1), brakes of all the wheels of the vehicle (5) are engaged. This ensures that upon engaging the parking brakes, there is no movement of the vehicle (5) and hence, theft and accidental situations are minimised. Further, the parking brakes of the vehicle (5) may be dis-engaged by releasing the parking brake lever (1) from home position/engaged position to rest position/dis-engaged position (shown in figure 2). Upon dis-engaging the parking brakes, the vehicle (5) is free to move, as all the brakes engaged to the wheels of the vehicle (5) during engaged position of the brake lever (1) are disengaged. Figure 1 and 2 also shows a sensor (3) provided at vicinity of the parking break lever (1). The sensor (3) provides signal to indicate whether the parking break lever (1) is in dis-engaged condition or not. The positioning of the sensor (3) at the parking break lever (1) to sense parking brake dis-engaged condition is on exemplary embodiment. Placing the sensor (3) at different places which is used to sense or indicate the parking brake dis-engaged or engaged condition still falls within the scope of this disclosure.

Figure 3 is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure which illustrates a system (100) for alerting an user of a vehicle about dis-engaged condition of a parking brake. The system (100) comprises components such as but not limiting to a control unit (2), a sensor (3) and an indicator (4). The sensor (3) provided in the system, is configured to sense if the parking brakes are engaged/dis-engaged. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sensor (3) is provisioned proximal to the parking brake lever (1) in the vehicle cabin. In an embodiment, the sensor is selected from at least one of but not limiting to optical sensor, light sensor, hall effect sensor, pressure sensor, resistance sensor and photoelectric sensor. The sensor (3) senses the position of the parking brake lever (1) to decide whether the parking brakes of the vehicle (5) is engaged/dis-engaged. The sensor (3) is interfaced with the control unit (2), and upon sensing the parking brakes of the vehicle (5) in dis-engaged condition, the control unit (2) receives a first signal. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first signal generated by the sensor (3) is processed to the control unit (2). Additionally, the control unit (2) is configured to identify whether the vehicle is in ON condition or OFF condition. After the generation of first signal, when the control unit (2) identifies that the vehicle (5) is turned to OFF condition, the control unit (2) provides a second signal to an indicator. The indicator (4) interfaced with the control unit (2) upon receiving the second signal from the control unit (2) generates warning signal to alert the user of the vehicle (5), that the parking brakes of the vehicle is dis-engaged. Thus, helps the user to engage the parking brakes before the user leaves the vehicle. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the indicator (4) is positioned in the dash board of the vehicle (5). In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the indicator (4) is at least one of visual indicator such as LED displays and audio indicator such as buzzers, speakers and horns. In case of a visual indicator such as LED display, upon receiving the second signal from the control unit (2), the LED's begin to blink/light up, thereby indicating the dis-engaged condition of the parking brakes. In case of an audio indicator like buzzers, speakers and horns, upon receiving the second signal from the control unit (2), the buzzer produces an audio signal, thereby alerting the user of dis-engaged condition of the parking brakes. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control unit (2) upon generating the second signal processes the signal to the indicator (4), so that the indicator (2) can alert the user that the parking brakes are in dis-engaged position. In one embodiment the indicator could be the vehicle key fob. In one embodiment the indicator (4) use to alert the user could be the vehicle (5) in-build indicator lamps which turn ON when the vehicle is tuning either to left or Right. In one embodiment the indicator could be the head lamps of the vehicle. In one embodiment the alert is provided for a predetermined amount of time for example 3 to 15 seconds. Figure 4 illustrates flow chart showing method for alerting user of a vehicle (5) about disengaged condition of a parking brake according to present disclosure. The sensor (3) interfaced with the control unit (2) senses the condition of the parking brakes of the vehicle (5). When the sensor (3) senses that the parking brakes are dis-engaged, the sensor (3) generates a first signal as show in step (401). Further, the control unit (2) identifies the vehicle ON or OFF condition of the vehicle (5). If the control unit (2) identifies that the vehicle is in turned OFF and the first signal is generated, the control unit (2) generates a second signal (2) as shown in step (402). The OFF condition of the vehicle (5) refers to complete switch OFF of the vehicle (5) i.e. the entire vehicle is cut-off from supply of power from the electrical battery. An indicator (4) interfaced with the control unit (2), upon receiving the second signal from the control unit (2) generates a warning signal, thereby alerting the user as shown in step (403). The indicator (4) utilises the power from the vehicle battery to generate warning signal to alert the user. Hence, the indicator (4) alerts the driver only when the first signal and second signal is generated i.e. only when the vehicle is turned OFF from ON condition and the parking brakes of the vehicle is in dis-engaged condition. When the indicator (4) is an audio indicator, upon receiving the second signal from the control unit (2) the audio indicator produces audio signals such that the frequency of the audio signals are audible to the user. Hence, alert the driver about the dis-engaged condition of the parking brakes of the vehicle (5). In one embodiment the alert could be only visual or audio or both. In one embodiment the alert is provided for a predetermined time for example 3 to 15 seconds.

ADVANTAGES

1. The present disclosure provides a warning system for an user of a vehicle to alert about dis-engaged condition of parking brakes of the vehicle, which is simple and economical.

2. The present disclosure provides a warning system which alerts the user only when the user has decided to leave the vehicle.

EQUIVALENTS

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

REFERRAL NUMERALS

100 Warning system

1 Parking brake lever

2 Control unit

3 Parking brake lever

sensor

4 indicator

5 Vehicle

Claims

We claim:

1. A method for alerting an user of a vehicle about disengaged condition of a parking brake, the method comprises acts of:

sensing the parking brake disengaged condition by a sensor (3) interfaced to a control unit (2) to generate a first signal;

identifying when the vehicle (5) is turned to OFF condition from ON condition by a control unit (2) to provide a second signal to an indicator (4) after the first signal is generated; and

alerting the user of the vehicle (5) when the second signal is received by the indicator (4).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor (3) detects the dis-engaged condition of the parking brakes by sensing the dis-engaged position of a parking brake lever (1).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator (4) is at least one of visual indicator and audio indicator.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator (4) alerts the user of the vehicle (5) for a predetermined time.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the indicator (4) alerts the user of the vehicle (5) for about 3 seconds to about 15 seconds.

6. A system (100) for alerting an user of a vehicle about dis-engaged condition of a parking brake, the system (100) comprises:

a sensor (3) interfaced with a control unit (2), to generate a first signal when the parking brake is in dis-engaged condition;

a control unit (2) configured to identify when the vehicle (5) is turned to OFF condition from ON condition to provide a second signal, after the first signal is generated; and

an indicator (4) to alert the user of the vehicle (5) when the second signal from the control unit (2) is received.

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit () is an Electronic Control unit of the vehicle.

8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor () is at least one of optical sensor, light sensor, hall effect sensor, pressure sensor, resistance sensor and photoelectric sensor.