US 8,106,755 B1Granted

Triple-function vehicle safety sensor system

AssigneeEpsilon Lambda Electronics Corp.

InventorRobert M. Knox

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Abstract

A vehicle safety sensor system (VSSS) includes driver-side and passenger-side sensor means. The VSSS implements multiple safety functions as forward collision warning (or avoidance) and side/rear object detection. Subsystems of both sensor means are placed in the location normally occupied by side-view mirrors providing the driver an unobstructed view of both sensor means. The VSSS includes: (1) driver-side and passenger-side three-dimensional forward radar sensor; driver-side and passenger-side forward two dimensional video sensor; (2) driver-side and passenger-side side/rear two-dimensional radar sensor; driver-side and passenger-side side/rear two-dimensional video sensor; (3) data processor combining four outputs from the radar sensor and video sensor on driver-side and the passenger-side using data fusion for forward hazardous obstacle detection and validation; data processor also combining two outputs from the radar sensor and video sensor on driver side and passenger side using data fusion for side/rear hazardous obstacle detection and validation on respective sides of the vehicle.

A method of operating a system for providing safety for a driver of a vehicle using a low cost vehicle safety system, said method comprising the steps of:

a. said system detecting and redundantly validating by means of multiple sensors including radar, video and multi-mode signal processing, objects and potential hazards ahead of the vehicle using three-dimensional radar and video imaging and providing a report of such hazards for driver response,
b. said system detecting and redundantly validating, by means of multiple sensors including radar, video, and multi-mode signal processing, objects and potential hazards in lanes of traffic adjacent to said vehicle using two-dimensional radar and video imaging and providing a report of such hazard for driver response, and
said system for providing safety for said driver of said vehicle comprising driver-side sensor means and passenger-side sensor means including,
three-dimensional millimeter radar transmitter/receiver subsystem means having object location capability to a range of at least 150 meters forward of said vehicle,
two-dimensional video subsystem means having object location capability forward of said vehicle to the range of at least 150 meters,
two-dimensional millimeter wave radar transmitter/receiver system means having object location capability to a range of at least 20 meters to the side/rear of said vehicle,
two-dimensional video subsystem means having object location capability to the range of at least 20 meters to the side/rear of said vehicle,
video display screen operatively connected to said driver-side sensor means to present to said driver views of said roadway to the side/rear of the vehicle on driver-side of said vehicle as provided by said driver-side two-dimensional video subsystem, and
video display screen operatively connected to said passenger-side sensor means to present to said driver views of said roadway to the side/rear of said vehicle on passenger-side of said vehicle as provided by said passenger-side two-dimensional video subsystem.

6 more elements

Facts

Application

12/069,927Filed 14 Feb 2008

Granted

31 Jan 2012

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

B60Q 9/008
Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling: for…
B60R 1/23
For viewing an area outside the vehicle, e.g. the exterior of the vehicle: with a predetermined field of view
G01S 7/03
Of systems according to group G01S13/00: details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
G01S 7/032
Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver: constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems

Abstract

Claims8