US6014595A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Determination of vehicle assistance from vehicle vibration that results when the vehicle contacts vibration generating structures on the road
Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-12-23
•
Granted: 2000-01-11
•
Expires: 2017-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle assistance system uses vehicle vibration resulting when the vehicle rides over predetermined vehicle vibration generating structures on the road. Each of at least one vibration sensor is disposed on a respective location on the vehicle and generates a respective vibration signal when the vehicle rides over a vehicle vibration generating structure on the road. A vibration signal analyzer determines a driving situation from the respective vibration signal generated by the at least one vibration sensor. The vibration generating structure has a predetermined shape for causing a predetermined effect on the respective vibration signal detected at the at least one location to indicate a corresponding driving situation. The vehicle assistance system of the present invention further includes a warning unit to warn at least one of the driver of the vehicle or another person on the road of the driving situation. In addition, a vehicle control unit may automatically compensate for the driving situation to further enhance vehicle safety.
Inventors
- 👤 Minoru Kobayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:29
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/09; G08G1/0962; G08G1/0967; G08G1/096708; G08G1/096716; E; E01; E01F; E01F9/00; E01F9/50; E01F9/529; G08G1/096733; G08G1/096758; G08G1/096766; G08G1/096783
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the apparatus comprising: at least one vibration sensor, each vibration sensor disposed on a respective location on the vehicle and detecting vibration of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal; and a vibration signal analyzer, operatively coupled to the at least one vibration sensor, for analyzing the respective vibration signal from the at least one vibration sensor to determine a driving situation of the vehicle; wherein the vibration generating structure has a predetermined shape for causing a predetermined effect on the respective vibration signal detected by the at least one vibration sensor to indicate a corresponding driving situation; and wherein the vibration generating structure includes periodic grooves, each groove having a groove length that corresponds to a respective driving situation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the apparatus comprising: at least one vibration sensor, each vibration sensor disposed on a respective location on the vehicle and detecting vibration of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal; and a vibration signal analyzer, operatively coupled to the at least one vibration sensor, for analyzing the respective vibration signal from the at least one vibration sensor to determine a driving situation of the vehicle; wherein the vibration generating structure has a predetermined shape for causing a predetermined effect on the respective vibration signal detected by the at least one vibration sensor to indicate a corresponding driving situation; and wherein the vibration generating structure includes periodic grooves, each groove having a groove length that corresponds to a respective driving situation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a warning unit, operatively coupled to the vibration signal analyzer, for warning at least one of the driver of the vehicle and another person on the road of the driving situation of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the driving situation is one of the vehicle running off a lane, the vehicle approaching an intersection, and the vehicle approaching a curve, and wherein the warning unit provides a respective warning for each driving situation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a vehicle control unit, operatively coupled to the vibration signal analyzer, for automatically controlling the vehicle to compensate for the driving situation of the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the driving situation is one of the vehicle running off a lane, the vehicle approaching an intersection, and the vehicle approaching a curve, and wherein the vehicle control unit controls the vehicle to provide a respective automatic vehicle assist action to compensate for each driving situation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the vehicle control unit allows the driver of the vehicle to override the respective automatic vehicle assist action when the driver manually controls the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving situation is determined at least in part by the respective location of the at least one vibration sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a navigation system input for accepting GPS (Global Positioning System) information for use in determining the driving situation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a roadmap database, operatively coupled to the vibration signal analyzer, which includes vibration generating structure information of the road.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the apparatus comprising: at least one vibration sensor, each vibration sensor disposed on a respective location on the vehicle and detecting vibration of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal; a vibration signal analyzer, operatively coupled to the at least one vibration sensor, for analyzing the respective vibration signal from the at least one vibration sensor to determine a driving situation of the vehicle; and a navigation system input for accepting GPS (Global Positioning System) information for use in determining the driving situation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the apparatus comprising: at least one vibration sensor, each vibration sensor disposed on a respective location on the vehicle and detecting vibration of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal; a vibration signal analyzer, operatively coupled to the at least one vibration sensor, for analyzing the respective vibration signal from the at least one vibration sensor to determine a driving situation of the vehicle; and a navigation system input for accepting GPS (Global Positioning System) information for use in determining the driving situation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a roadmap database, operatively coupled to the vibration signal analyzer, which includes vibration generating structure information of the road.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a warning unit, operatively coupled to the vibration signal analyzer, for warning at least one of the driver of the vehicle and another person on the road of the driving situation of the vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the driving situation is one of the vehicle running off a lane, the vehicle approaching an intersection, and the vehicle approaching a curve, and wherein the warning unit provides a respective warning for each driving situation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a vehicle control unit, operatively coupled to the vibration signal analyzer, for automatically controlling the vehicle to compensate for the driving situation of the vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the driving situation is one of the vehicle running off a lane, the vehicle approaching an intersection, and the vehicle approaching a curve, and wherein the vehicle control unit controls the vehicle to provide a respective automatic vehicle assist action to compensate for each driving situation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the vehicle control unit allows the driver of the vehicle to override the respective automatic vehicle assist action when the driver manually controls the vehicle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the vibration generating structure has a predetermined shape for causing a predetermined effect on the respective vibration signal detected by the at least one vibration sensor to indicate a corresponding driving situation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the driving situation is determined at least in part by the respective location of the at least one vibration sensor.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
269 words
An apparatus for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the apparatus comprising: at least one vibration sensor, each vibration sensor disposed on a respective location on the vehicle and detecting vibration of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal; a vibration signal analyzer, operatively coupled to the at least one vibration sensor, for analyzing the respective vibration signal from each of the at least one vibration sensor and the respective location of each of the at least one vibration sensor to determine a driving situation of the vehicle, wherein the vibration generating structure has a groove length for causing a predetermined effect on each of the respective vibration signal detected by the at least one vibration sensor to indicate a corresponding driving situation: a navigation system input for accepting GPS (Global Positioning System) information for use in determining the driving situation; a roadmap database, operatively coupled to the vibration signal analyzer, which includes vibration generating structure information of the road; a warning unit, operatively coupled to the vibration signal analyzer, for warning at least one of the driver of the vehicle and another person on the road of the driving situation of the vehicle; and a vehicle control unit, operatively coupled to the vibration signal analyzer, for controlling the vehicle with an automatic vehicle assist action to compensate for the driving situation of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle control unit allows the driver of the vehicle to override the automatic vehicle assist action when the driver manually controls the vehicle.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
269 words
An apparatus for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the apparatus comprising: at least one vibration sensor, each vibration sensor disposed on a respective location on the vehicle and detecting vibration of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal; a vibration signal analyzer, operatively coupled to the at least one vibration sensor, for analyzing the respective vibration signal from each of the at least one vibration sensor and the respective location of each of the at least one vibration sensor to determine a driving situation of the vehicle, wherein the vibration generating structure has a groove length for causing a predetermined effect on each of the respective vibration signal detected by the at least one vibration sensor to indicate a corresponding driving situation: a navigation system input for accepting GPS (Global Positioning System) information for use in determining the driving situation; a roadmap database, operatively coupled to the vibration signal analyzer, which includes vibration generating structure information of the road; a warning unit, operatively coupled to the vibration signal analyzer, for warning at least one of the driver of the vehicle and another person on the road of the driving situation of the vehicle; and a vehicle control unit, operatively coupled to the vibration signal analyzer, for controlling the vehicle with an automatic vehicle assist action to compensate for the driving situation of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle control unit allows the driver of the vehicle to override the automatic vehicle assist action when the driver manually controls the vehicle.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the apparatus comprising: means for detecting vibration on at least one location of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal for each of the at least one location of the vehicle; wherein the vibration generating structure includes periodic grooves, each groove having a groove length that corresponds to a respective driving situation; and means for determining said groove length of said vibration generating structure from said respective vibration signal when said vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure to determine said respective driving situation.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the apparatus comprising: means for detecting vibration on at least one location of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal for each of the at least one location of the vehicle; wherein the vibration generating structure includes periodic grooves, each groove having a groove length that corresponds to a respective driving situation; and means for determining said groove length of said vibration generating structure from said respective vibration signal when said vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure to determine said respective driving situation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: means for warning at least one of the driver of the vehicle and another person on the road of the driving situation of the vehicle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: means for automatically controlling the vehicle to compensate for the driving situation of the vehicle.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the method including the steps of: detecting vibration of the vehicle on at least one location of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal for each of the at least location of the vehicle; and analyzing the respective vibration signal from the at least one location of the vehicle to determine a driving situation of the vehicle; wherein the vibration generating structure has a predetermined shape for causing a predetermined effect on the respective vibration signal detected at the at least one location to indicate a corresponding driving situation; and wherein the vibration generating structure includes periodic grooves, each groove having a groove length that corresponds to a respective driving situation.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the method including the steps of: detecting vibration of the vehicle on at least one location of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal for each of the at least location of the vehicle; and analyzing the respective vibration signal from the at least one location of the vehicle to determine a driving situation of the vehicle; wherein the vibration generating structure has a predetermined shape for causing a predetermined effect on the respective vibration signal detected at the at least one location to indicate a corresponding driving situation; and wherein the vibration generating structure includes periodic grooves, each groove having a groove length that corresponds to a respective driving situation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 23, further including the step of: warning at least one of the driver of the vehicle and another person on the road of the driving situation of the vehicle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the driving situation is one of the vehicle running off a lane, the vehicle approaching an intersection, and the vehicle approaching a curve, and wherein the step of warning includes a step of providing a respective warning for each driving situation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23, further including the step of: controlling the vehicle to compensate for the driving situation of the vehicle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 26, wherein the driving situation is one of the vehicle running off a lane, the vehicle approaching an intersection, and the vehicle approaching a curve, and wherein the step of controlling includes a step of compensating for each driving situation with a respective automatic vehicle assist action.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the step of controlling includes a step of allowing the driver of the vehicle to override the respective automatic vehicle assist action when the driver manually controls the vehicle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 23, wherein each of the at least one location corresponding to each of the respective vibration signal determines the driving situation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 23, further including the step of: accepting GPS (Global Positioning System) information for use in determining the driving situation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 30, further including the step of: accepting vibration generating structure information of the road from a roadmap database for use in determining the driving situation.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the method including the steps of: detecting vibration of the vehicle on at least one location of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal for each of the at least location of the vehicle; analyzing the respective vibration signal from the at least one location of the vehicle to determine a driving situation of the vehicle; and accepting GPS (Global Positioning System) information for use in determining the driving situation.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the method including the steps of: detecting vibration of the vehicle on at least one location of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal for each of the at least location of the vehicle; analyzing the respective vibration signal from the at least one location of the vehicle to determine a driving situation of the vehicle; and accepting GPS (Global Positioning System) information for use in determining the driving situation.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 32, further including the step of: accepting vibration generating structure information of the road from a roadmap database for use in determining the driving situation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 32, further including the step of: warning at least one of the driver of the vehicle and another person on the road of the driving situation of the vehicle.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the driving situation is one of the vehicle running off a lane, the vehicle approaching an intersection, and the vehicle approaching a curve, and wherein the step of warning includes a step of providing a respective warning for each driving situation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 32, further including the step of: controlling the vehicle to compensate for the driving situation of the vehicle.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 36, wherein the driving situation is one of the vehicle running off a lane, the vehicle approaching an intersection, and the vehicle approaching a curve, and wherein the step of controlling includes a step of compensating for each driving situation with a respective automatic vehicle assist action.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 37, wherein the step of controlling includes a step of allowing the driver of the vehicle to override the respective automatic vehicle assist action when the driver manually controls the vehicle.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32, wherein each of the at least one location corresponding to each of the respective vibration signal determines the driving situation.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
229 words
A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the method including the steps of: detecting vibration of the vehicle on at least one location of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal for each of the at least one location of the vehicle; analyzing the respective vibration signal from the at least one location of the vehicle to determine a driving situation of the vehicle, wherein the vibration generating structure has a predetermined shape for causing a predetermined effect on the respective vibration signal detected at the at least one location to indicate a corresponding driving situation, and wherein each of the at least one location corresponding to each of the respective vibration signal determines the driving situation; warning at least one of the driver of the vehicle and another person on the road of the driving situation of the vehicle; controlling the vehicle to compensate for the driving situation of the vehicle, wherein the step of controlling includes a step of: allowing the driver of the vehicle to override the respective automatic vehicle assist action when the driver manually controls the vehicle; and accepting GPS (Global Positioning System) information and vibration generating structure information of the road from a roadmap database for use in determining the driving situation.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
229 words
A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle on a road having vibration generating structure, the method including the steps of: detecting vibration of the vehicle on at least one location of the vehicle when the vehicle contacts the vibration generating structure on the road to generate a respective vibration signal for each of the at least one location of the vehicle; analyzing the respective vibration signal from the at least one location of the vehicle to determine a driving situation of the vehicle, wherein the vibration generating structure has a predetermined shape for causing a predetermined effect on the respective vibration signal detected at the at least one location to indicate a corresponding driving situation, and wherein each of the at least one location corresponding to each of the respective vibration signal determines the driving situation; warning at least one of the driver of the vehicle and another person on the road of the driving situation of the vehicle; controlling the vehicle to compensate for the driving situation of the vehicle, wherein the step of controlling includes a step of: allowing the driver of the vehicle to override the respective automatic vehicle assist action when the driver manually controls the vehicle; and accepting GPS (Global Positioning System) information and vibration generating structure information of the road from a roadmap database for use in determining the driving situation.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
74 words
A road having a vehicle driven thereon, the vehicle including a vibration sensor for generating a vibration signal, the road comprising: a plurality of vibration generating structures, each vibration generating structure having respective grooves with each groove having a respective groove length for causing a respective predetermined effect on the vibration signal generated by the vibration sensor when the vehicle contacts said vibration generating structure to indicate a corresponding driving situation of the vehicle.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
74 words
A road having a vehicle driven thereon, the vehicle including a vibration sensor for generating a vibration signal, the road comprising: a plurality of vibration generating structures, each vibration generating structure having respective grooves with each groove having a respective groove length for causing a respective predetermined effect on the vibration signal generated by the vibration sensor when the vehicle contacts said vibration generating structure to indicate a corresponding driving situation of the vehicle.
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