US5734336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collision avoidance system
Assignee: Collision Avoidance Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1995-05-01
•
Granted: 1998-03-31
•
Expires: 2015-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A system for preventing collisions between a vehicle and other objects, the vehicle having a blind side, an opposite driver side, a from end and an opposite rear end, has side ranging capability that determines the distance from the blind side of the vehicle to an object in a lane immediately adjacent to the blind side while the vehicle is in the process of moving into a traffic lane immediately adjacent to the blind side. Rear ranging capabilities are employed to determine the distance from the rear side to an object behind the vehicle while the vehicle is in the process of backing up. A calculating capability, responsive to the side ranging capability and the rear ranging capability, determines when an object is in a lane immediately adjacent to the blind side while the vehicle is in the process of moving into the lane immediately adjacent to the blind side and also determines when an object is behind the vehicle while the vehicle is in the process of backing up. An indicating capability, responsive to the calculating means, indicates that an object is in the lane immediately adjacent to the blind side while the while the vehicle is in the process of moving into the lane immediately adjacent to the blind side and indicates that an object is behind the vehicle while the vehicle is in the process of backing up.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart B. Smithline
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/93; G01S15/931; B; B60; B60Q; B60Q9/00; B60Q9/008; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S2013/9315; G01S2013/9317; G01S2013/9324
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
A system for preventing collisions between a vehicle and other objects, the vehicle having a blind side, an opposite driver side, a front end and an opposite rear end, the system comprising: a. side ranging means, disposed along the blind side of the vehicle, for determining the distance from the blind side to an object in a lane immediately adjacent to the blind side while the vehicle is in the process of moving into a traffic lane immediately adjacent to the blind side; b. rear ranging means, disposed along the rear side of the vehicle, for determining the distance from the rear side to an object behind the vehicle while the vehicle is in the process of backing up, said rear ranging means comprising a general hazard transducer and a close range transducer, the general hazard transducer for detecting an object that is greater than a preselected distance behind the vehicle and the close range transducer for determining a distance to an object that is less than the preselected distance, the close range transducer having a precision between one-fourth inch to one-eight inch; c. calculating means, responsive to said side ranging means and said rear ranging means, for determining when an object is in a lane immediately adjacent to the blind side while the vehicle is in the process of moving into the lane immediately adjacent to the blind side and for determining when an object is behind the vehicle and a distance to the object while the vehicle is in the process of backing up; and d. indicating means, responsive to said calculating means, for indicating that an object is in the lane immediately adjacent to the blind side while the while the vehicle is in the process of moving into the lane immediately adjacent to the blind side and for indicating that an object is behind the vehicle while the vehicle is in the process of backing up.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
320 words
A system for preventing collisions between a vehicle and other objects, the vehicle having a blind side, an opposite driver side, a front end and an opposite rear end, the system comprising: a. side ranging means, disposed along the blind side of the vehicle, for determining the distance from the blind side to an object in a lane immediately adjacent to the blind side while the vehicle is in the process of moving into a traffic lane immediately adjacent to the blind side; b. rear ranging means, disposed along the rear side of the vehicle, for determining the distance from the rear side to an object behind the vehicle while the vehicle is in the process of backing up, said rear ranging means comprising a general hazard transducer and a close range transducer, the general hazard transducer for detecting an object that is greater than a preselected distance behind the vehicle and the close range transducer for determining a distance to an object that is less than the preselected distance, the close range transducer having a precision between one-fourth inch to one-eight inch; c. calculating means, responsive to said side ranging means and said rear ranging means, for determining when an object is in a lane immediately adjacent to the blind side while the vehicle is in the process of moving into the lane immediately adjacent to the blind side and for determining when an object is behind the vehicle and a distance to the object while the vehicle is in the process of backing up; and d. indicating means, responsive to said calculating means, for indicating that an object is in the lane immediately adjacent to the blind side while the while the vehicle is in the process of moving into the lane immediately adjacent to the blind side and for indicating that an object is behind the vehicle while the vehicle is in the process of backing up.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a. means for determining the location of an object relative to the blind side of the vehicle; and b. means, responsive to said determining means, for displaying the location of the object relative to the blind side of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said displaying means comprises: a. a plate having a top plan image of the vehicle; b. a plurality of light emitting diodes spaced apart along a side of said image corresponding to the blind side of the vehicle; and c. means for illuminating a selected one of said light emitting diodes corresponding to the location of the object relative to the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle has an external mirror mounted on the blind side and the indicator means comprises a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes, disposed adjacent the mirror, the number of said light emitting diodes illuminated indicating the distance from the vehicle to an object immediately adjacent to the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle has an external mirror mounted on the driver side and the indicator means comprises: a. a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes, disposed adjacent the mirror, the number of said light emitting diodes illuminated indicating the distance from the vehicle to an object behind the vehicle; and b. an alpha-numeric multi-segment display, disposed adjacent the minor, that displays the distance from the rear side of the vehicle to an object behind the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising means, responsive to said calculating means, for periodically recording the speed of the vehicle and the distance from the vehicle to an object, thereby preserving data for use in accident reconstuction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said calculating means comprises a digital microprocessor and said recording means comprises a nonvolatile digital memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said calculating means further comprises means for periodically performing a diagnostic test of a set of system components to ensure correct operation of the system, and for notifying an operator of a malfunction of a system component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said general heard transducer and said close range transducer comprise piezoelectric transducers, disposed on the rear side of the vehicle, each producing an acoustic signal directed toward the object and each receiving an acoustic signal reflected back toward said transducer from the object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said side ranging means comprises: a. a plurality of spaced-apart piezoelectric transducers, disposed along the blind side of the vehicle, each of which produces an acoustic signal directed toward the object; and b. a plurality of means, each disposed adjacent one of said transducers, for receiving a signal reflected back toward said transducer from the object.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4803488A
Cited
US5122796A
Cited
US4694295A
Cited
US4943796A
Cited
USD340903S
Cited
US5303205A
Cited
US5373482A
Cited
US5463384A
Cited
US5235316A
Cited
US5598164A
Cited
US5581464A
Cited
US5581464B1
Cited
US5528217A
Cited
US5521579A
Cited
US5515341A
Cited
US5594413A
Cited
US5594414A
Cited
US5604590A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-30 | 2001-09-29 | 2002-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-30 | 2005-09-29 | 2006-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-30 | 2009-09-29 | 2010-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |