WO1994005525A1

WO1994005525A1 - Vehicle alarm system

Info

Publication number: WO1994005525A1
Application number: PCT/US1993/008193
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dani Ben Lulu
Original assignee: Yron, Michael
Priority date: 1992-09-02
Filing date: 1993-09-01
Publication date: 1994-03-17
Also published as: AU4842193A; IL103024A0; EP0659128A4; EP0659128A1

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for the automatic detection of dangerous objects in the left and right hand sides of a vehicle and in its back space which includes ultrasound transmitters (4) activated by generators (6) with a defined angle of radiation emitting ultrasound waves continuously, pulsed or modulated. Ultrasound receivers (14) are connected to an analyser for determination of intensity, speed of change, Doppler frequency change and the angle of fall of the received signal which determines the road situation. Dangerous objects are detected to the left and right of the driver and an alarm or signal is then given to the driver.

Description

VEHICLE ALARM SYSTEM

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of technical vision for

objects detection, and, more particularly to systems for providing an alarm

when a vehicle is present in the dead zone of driver's view (Fig. 1) at the

left or right side of the vehicle, especially when the driver tries to move to

one side or the other, as when changing lanes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus

for the automatic detection of dangerous objects in the left and right sides

of vehicle and in its back space comprising: ultrasound transmitters (4)

activated by generators (6) with defined angle of radiation emitting

ultrasound waves continuously or pulsed or modulated; ultrasound receivers

(14) connected to an analog or digital analyzer for determination of

intensity, speed of change, Doppler's frequency change and angle of fall

of the received signal that determines road situation; amplifiers (16), signal

analyzer (18) includes time and frequency discriminators for speed and

distance determination, received returned signal from amplifiers and

standard signal from generator, control and signal from amplifiers and

standard signal from generator, control and calculation unit with condition

inputs like vehicle speed (10) and turn signal (12), commutation unit, alarm or display unit for communication with driver, communication to other vehicle systems that detects dangerous objects presence into the pre-defined

area limited by lines of driver's direct view, borders of left and right

adjacent lines of traffic and predetermined distance back and provides

alarm or signalization to vehicle driver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with

reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 contains basic drawing of driver's field of view where αl is

a front view, α2 - view through left side mirror, α3 - view through right

side mirror, α4 - panorama mirror view, βl and β2 angles defining "dead

area" of drivers view. R and L are areas where detection of another

vehicle is needed. Those areas includes two lines (in the left and right

sides) limited by αl angle lines forward and same distance back from

vehicle (about 10-15 meters). Dashed line shows dangerous object may

occur in those areas.

Fig. 2 shows functional division of dangerous places on the left and

right sides. Distance A is comparable with vehicle length. Distance B is

additional length that dangerous object may arrive from. Fig. 3 presents a basic embodiment of the apparatus, according to

the present invention which includes: radiation sources (4), radiation

receivers (14), amplifiers (16), signal analyzer (18), control and calculation

unit (8) with conditions inputs turn signal (12) and vehicle state of moving

(10), terminals (20) like computer interface, alarm and/or signalization.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 presents the borders of vehicle driver's view. Direct view

angle αl in addition with back view throw the left side mirror α2, back

view through right side mirror α3 and back view through panorama mirror

α4 remains open space in angle β l in left β2 in right side of drawing

vehicle. Non detected vehicle may appear in dead area. Danger state

occurs when driver tries to move to the left or right path of the road for

overcoming preceding low speed vehicle or any object on the left or right.

An accident may occur. For prevention of accident driver must have alarm

when another vehicle is moving in the dead area or comes near for

overcame his own vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide appropriate solutions

for detection of a vehicle appeared in the dead field of drivers view or in

every place in the right or left side and in questionable areas back of them.

Proposed problem solution based on ultrasound location of the dangerous area R and L defined on Figs. 1 and 2. The ultrasound waves emitted

from transmitters 4 to the dangerous area are reflected back from the

overtake or moving parallel vehicle 2 and receiver 14. Amplified by

amplifiers 16 signal goes to signal analyzer 18 for place determination of

place and speed of vehicle in this area. Control and calculation unit 8

takes into account a number of useful signals like its own speed and state

of turn signal. The proposed system is preferably activated if two

conditions are presented: vehicle moves (speed signal 10) and driver

intends to change line left or right (turn signal 12), but may also be

activated continuously without regard to the turn signal 12 being activated.

When the vehicle is stationary it may be desirable to increase the zone of

hazard in order to take into account the greater differential speed between

the stationary vehicle and the nearby moving vehicles. In the terminals set

computer interface is available for communication with more complete and

complicated systems of vehicle electronics. Other terminals are different

systems of alarming and signalization.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus activates if only two

conditions are present: speed of vehicle is not equal to zero - vehicle

moves: turn signal is turned on indicating that the driver intends to move

left or right.

There is a difference among distances A and B. An object in areas

R and L into the region A is always dangerous. Vehicle in region B is dangerous only if distance among the two vehicles decreases. An

apparatus actions defined for those two regions is different.

For regions L and R on distance A alarm or signalization will be

activated only if an overcoming vehicle will be detected in those areas.

For regions L and R on distance B alarm or signalization will be

activated in case when the speed of the detected vehicle is more than the

detector's carrier speed. The negative or positive difference of speed can

be defined by use of Doppler Effect.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited

number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations,

modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus for the automatic detection of dangerous objects in

the left and right sides of vehicle and in its back space comprising:

ultrasound transmitters (4) activated by generators (6) with defined angle

of radiation emitting ultrasound waves continuously or pulsed or

modulated; ultrasound receivers (14) connected to an analog or digital

analyzer for determination of intensity, speed of change, Doppler's

frequency change and angle of fall of the received signal that determines

road situation; amplifiers (16), signal analyzer (18) includes time and

frequency discriminators for speed and distance determination, received

returned signal from amplifiers and standard signal from generator, control

and signal from amplifiers and standard signal from generator, control and

calculation unit with condition inputs like vehicle speed (10) and turn

signal (12), commutation unit, alarm or display unit for communication

with driver, communication to other vehicle systems that detects dangerous

objects presence into the pre-defined area limited by lines of driver's direct

view, borders of left and right adjacent lines of traffic and predetermined

distance back and provides alarm or signalization to vehicle driver.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 where emitted and received

signal is a sound, ultrasound or electromagnetic radiation.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 installed on the external left

and/or right side of vehicle.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 installed on the top part of

vehicle.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 includes for easy and simple

installation a non wire communication channel among different parts of

claimed apparatus.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 with addition for

individualizing of signals for each vehicle prevent vehicles signals

interference.