US6498972B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for operating a pre-crash sensing system in a vehicle having a countermeasure system
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
•
Filing: 2002-02-13
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Granted: 2002-12-24
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Expires: 2022-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A control system ( 10 ) for an automotive vehicle ( 50 ) has a remote object sensor ( 18 ) that generates an object signal in the presence of an object. A vehicle trajectory sensor ( 34 ) generates a signal indicative of the vehicle traveling on a curved road. A vehicle speed sensor ( 32 ) generates a speed signal corresponding to the longitudinal speed of the vehicle. A controller ( 12 ) is coupled to the object sensor ( 18 ), the vehicle trajectory sensor, and the vehicle speed sensor. When the remote object sensor ( 18 ) indicates the presence of an object with a minimum cross section in a pre-defined decision zone meeting pre-defined relative velocity criteria, and when the vehicle speed is above a first threshold and below a second threshold, and when said vehicle trajectory signal indicates the vehicle traveling on a curved road with a radius of curvature above a threshold value, a vehicle safety countermeasure system ( 40 ) is deployed.
Inventors
- 👤 Manoharprasad K. Rao
- 👤 Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante
- 👤 Gary Steven Strumolo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:44
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/46; B60Q1/34; B60Q1/38; B60Q1/381; B60W; B60W30/00; B60W30/08; B60W30/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system having a countermeasure system comprising: establishing a first speed threshold and a second speed threshold; generating a speed signal corresponding to a vehicle speed; disabling the countermeasure system when the vehicle speed is below the first threshold; and disabling the countermeasure system when the vehicle speed is above said second threshold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system having a countermeasure system comprising: establishing a first speed threshold and a second speed threshold; generating a speed signal corresponding to a vehicle speed; disabling the countermeasure system when the vehicle speed is below the first threshold; and disabling the countermeasure system when the vehicle speed is above said second threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a vehicle trajectory signal having a curved road indication; and wherein disabling comprises disabling the countermeasure system when the vehicle speed is below the first threshold, above said second threshold or in response to said curved road indication.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising detecting a vehicle yaw rate signal and vehicle speed signal; and wherein the curved road indication is a function of said vehicle yaw rate signal and vehicle speed signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising detecting a steering wheel angle signal; and wherein the curved road indication is a function of said steering wheel angle signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising detecting a vehicle yaw rate signal and vehicle speed signal; detecting a steering wheel angle signal; and wherein the curved road indication is a function of said vehicle yaw rate signal, vehicle speed signal and steering wheel angle signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising establishing a decision zone in front of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein establishing a decision zone in front of the vehicle comprises establishing a decision zone in front of the vehicle as a function of the first longitudinal threshold and the second longitudinal threshold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein establishing a decision zone in front of the vehicle comprises establishing a decision zone in front of the vehicle as a function of the first longitudinal threshold, the second longitudinal threshold and a lateral threshold which is a function of vehicle width.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 6 further comprising detecting an object within the decision zone; and activating a countermeasure in response to detecting the presence of an object in the decision zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein activating the countermeasure comprises pre-arming or deploying airbags, pre-tensioning a motorized belt pre-tensioner, and selectively changing a bumper height by activating a bumper height adjustment means in response to vehicle classification information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
143 words
A control system for an automotive vehicle having a vehicle body and a countermeasure system, said system comprising: a remote object sensor generating an object signal in the presence of an object; a vehicle trajectory sensor generating a signal indicative of the presence of a curved road; a vehicle speed sensor generating a speed signal corresponding to the longitudinal speed of the vehicle body; and a controller coupled to remote object sensor, said vehicle trajectory sensor and said vehicle speed sensor, when said remote object sensor indicates the presence of an object with a minimum cross section in a predefined decision zone meeting pre-defined relative velocity criteria, and said vehicle speed is above a first threshold and below a second threshold, and said vehicle trajectory sensor indicates a curved road with a radius of curvature above a threshold value, activating a countermeasure system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
A control system for an automotive vehicle having a vehicle body and a countermeasure system, said system comprising: a remote object sensor generating an object signal in the presence of an object; a vehicle trajectory sensor generating a signal indicative of the presence of a curved road; a vehicle speed sensor generating a speed signal corresponding to the longitudinal speed of the vehicle body; and a controller coupled to remote object sensor, said vehicle trajectory sensor and said vehicle speed sensor, when said remote object sensor indicates the presence of an object with a minimum cross section in a predefined decision zone meeting pre-defined relative velocity criteria, and said vehicle speed is above a first threshold and below a second threshold, and said vehicle trajectory sensor indicates a curved road with a radius of curvature above a threshold value, activating a countermeasure system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A control system as recited in claim 11 wherein said vehicle trajectory sensor comprises a yaw rate sensor generating a yaw motion signal corresponding to a yaw motion of the vehicle body and a vehicle speed sensor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A control system as recited in claim 11 wherein said vehicle trajectory sensor comprises a steering wheel angle sensor generating a steering wheel angle signal corresponding to a steering wheel angle position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A control system as recited in claim 11 wherein said remote object sensor is selected from the group consisting of radar, lidar and vision systems.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for an automotive vehicle having a countermeasure system comprising: establishing a decision zone relative to the vehicle; detecting an object within the decision zone; establishing a first speed threshold and a second speed threshold; generating a vehicle speed signal corresponding to a vehicle speed; disabling the countermeasure system when the vehicle speed signal is below the first threshold or above said second threshold; generating an object relative velocity signal corresponding to an object relative velocity within the decision zone; disabling the countermeasure system when the object relative velocity signal is greater than a pre-established threshold; generating a vehicle trajectory signal corresponding to a radius of curvature of the vehicle trajectory; establishing a curved road signal threshold; disabling the countermeasure system when the vehicle trajectory signal is less than the pre-defined curved road signal threshold; and activating the countermeasure system in response to the controller actuation signal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for an automotive vehicle having a countermeasure system comprising: establishing a decision zone relative to the vehicle; detecting an object within the decision zone; establishing a first speed threshold and a second speed threshold; generating a vehicle speed signal corresponding to a vehicle speed; disabling the countermeasure system when the vehicle speed signal is below the first threshold or above said second threshold; generating an object relative velocity signal corresponding to an object relative velocity within the decision zone; disabling the countermeasure system when the object relative velocity signal is greater than a pre-established threshold; generating a vehicle trajectory signal corresponding to a radius of curvature of the vehicle trajectory; establishing a curved road signal threshold; disabling the countermeasure system when the vehicle trajectory signal is less than the pre-defined curved road signal threshold; and activating the countermeasure system in response to the controller actuation signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising determining countermeasure activation distance as a function of closing velocity; determining an object distance; and, disabling the countermeasure system when the object distance is greater than the countermeasure activation distance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 16 further comprising determining an object cross-sectional area; establishing a object cross-sectional area minimum threshold; and, disabling the countermeasure system when the object cross-sectional area is less than the threshold value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 17 wherein determining an object cross-sectional area comprises determining the object cross-sectional area with a vision system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 17 wherein determining an object cross-sectional area comprises determining the object cross-sectional area with a scanning radar or lidar system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as recited in claim 15 wherein generating a vehicle trajectory signal comprises generating a first radius of curvature signal from a yaw sensor and vehicle speed sensor; generating a second radius of curvature signal from a steering wheel angle sensor; establishing the vehicle trajectory signal as the lower of the first radius of curvature or the second radius of curvature signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-23 | 2006-06-24 | 2006-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-23 | 2010-06-24 | 2010-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-23 | 2014-06-24 | 2014-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |