Collision warning systems and methods
AssigneeIdealab
InventorWilliam Gross
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automobile collision warning system includes a sensor system configured to generate a sensor signal corresponding to at least a first sensed object in the vicinity of the automobile. A processor is coupled to the sensor system, wherein the processor is configured to determine if a potential collision risk exists based on the sensor signal and to generate a corresponding collision warning signal. A turn signal inhibition apparatus coupled to the processor configured to inhibit movement of a turn signal stalk in response to the collision warning signal, to thereby warn an automobile operator of the potential collision.
Claims21
An automobile collision warning system, comprising;
- a sensor system configured to generate a sensor signal corresponding to at least a first sensed object in the vicinity of the automobile;
- a processor coupled to the sensor system, wherein the processor is configured to determine if a potential collision risk exists based on the sensor signal and to generate a corresponding collision warning signal;
- and
- a turn signal inhibition apparatus coupled to the processor and configured to inhibit movement of a turn signal stalk in response to the collision warning signal, to thereby warn an automobile operator of the potential collision.
A method of warning a vehicle operator of a potential collision, comprising:
- receiving a sensor signal corresponding to at least a first sensed object located to one side of the vehicle;
- determining, based at least in part on the sensor signal, if a collision risk exists;
- generating a collision warning signal at least partly in response to determining that the collision risk exists;
- and
- inhibiting activation of a turn signal indicator at least partly in response to the collision warning signal.
A vehicle collision warning system, comprising;
- a processing system configured to determine if a collision risk is present based on a sensor signal and to selectively generate a collision warning signal at least partly in response to determining that a collision risk is present;
- and
- an actuator that receives the collision warning signal and at least partly in response, inhibits movement of a turn signal control.
A vehicle, comprising;
- a sensor system, including at least a first sensor positioned to monitor objects on the vehicle's left side and the vehicle's right side, and that generates at least a first sensor signal corresponding to at least a first sensed object in the vicinity of the vehicle;
- a processing device coupled to the sensor system, wherein the processor determines that the first sensed object is in the vicinity of the vehicle based on at least in part on the first sensor signal and is configured to generate a corresponding turn signal inhibition signal at least partly in response to determining that the first sensed object is in the vicinity of the vehicle;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the processing device, the actuator configured to inhibit movement of a turn signal control at least partly in response to the turn signal inhibition signal, to thereby notify a vehicle operator of the first sensed object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.