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US 6,642,839 B1Granted
System and method of providing scalable sensor systems based on stand alone sensor modules
AssigneeAltra Technologies Incorporated
InventorsRichard A. Gunderson, David Thiede, Michael A. Parisi, R. Jeffrey Nelson
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Abstract
A stand alone sensor module having built in intelligence that provides object detection for a both a vehicle and stationary applications. The system includes a processor connected to a sensor and a signal interface. The processor receives signals from the sensor and the signal interface and generates a status signal based on the signals received from the sensor and the signal interface. The processor drives the status signal to the signal interface.
Claims20
A collision avoidance system, comprising:
- a first stand alone sensor module comprising:
- a first sensor adapted to wirelessly detect an object within a first field of view;
- a first vehicle condition input;
- a first signal interface having a first output;
- a first processor connected to the first sensor, the first signal interface, and the first vehicle condition input, wherein the first processor receives a first sensor signal from the first sensor and a first vehicle condition signal from the first vehicle condition input and transmits a first status signal using the first signal interface, the first status signal generated based on the first sensor signal and the first vehicle condition signal;
- and
- a second stand alone sensor module coupled to the first stand alone sensor module comprising:
- a second sensor adapted to wirelessly detect an object within a second field of view;
- a second vehicle condition input;
- a second signal interface having a second output;
- a second processor connected to the second sensor, the second signal interface, and the second vehicle condition input, wherein the second processor receives a second sensor signal from the second sensor and a second vehicle condition signal from the second vehicle condition input and transmits a second status signal using the second signal interface, the second status signal generated based on the second sensor and the second vehicle condition signal;
- and
- a display module coupled to the first output and the second output and adapted for displaying information representative of the first status signal and the second status signal.
10 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving a vehicle condition signal at a portable module, the portable module having a housing with a sensor, a processor, and a signal interface coupled to the housing;
- wirelessly transmitting a detection signal from the module;
- receiving a return of the transmitted detection signal;
- generating a status signal based on the return and the vehicle condition signal wherein generating the status signal includes determining a time-to-impact for a detected object;
- transmitting the status signal from the module to a remote device;
- and
- determining a distance and closing rate to the object.
4 more elements
A method of detecting an object with a stand alone sensor module, including:
- receiving vehicle condition signals;
- performing a built-in-test;
- sending a first signal to an information device, when a failure is detected in the built-in-test;
- sending a second signal to the information device, when no failure is detected in the built-in-test;
- transmitting a detection signal;
- receiving a return of the transmitted detection signal;
- determining whether a hazard exists based on the return of the transmitted detection signal and the vehicle condition signals;
- and
- transmitting a vehicle status signal to the information device.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving a vehicle condition signal at a portable module, the portable module having a housing with a sensor, a processor, and a signal interface coupled to the housing;
- wirelessly transmitting a detection signal from the module;
- receiving a return of the transmitted detection signal;
- generating a status signal based on the return and the vehicle condition signal wherein generating the status signal includes generating the status signal based on a detected object, generating time-to-impact data based on the return or generating a closing rate based on the return;
- and
- transmitting the status signal from the module to a remote device.
3 more elements
A method of detecting an object with a stand alone sensor module, including:
- receiving a vehicle condition signal;
- performing a built-in-test;
- sending a first signal to an information device, when a failure is detected in the built-in-test;
- sending a second signal to the information device, when no failure is detected in the built-in-test;
- generating image data based on a detected object within a predetermined range;
- determining whether a hazard exists based on the image data and the vehicle condition signals;
- and
- transmitting a vehicle status signal to the information device.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.