US6768944B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for controlling a vehicle
Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC
•
Filing: 2002-08-09
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Granted: 2004-07-27
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Expires: 2022-08-09
Abstract
Abstract Control system and method for controlling a vehicle or a component of a vehicle in which an inertial reference unit includes accelerometers and gyroscopes which provide data on vehicle motion and a processor processes the data and controls the vehicle or the component of the vehicle based thereon. Movement of the vehicle may be controlled via control over servos, such as a servo associated with the braking system, a servo associated with the drive train or throttle and a servo associated with the steering system. A display to the driver can also be controlled by the processor to provide data on vehicle motion or data or information derived from the data on vehicle motion. Optionally, a Kalman filter is coupled to the processor for optimizing the data on vehicle motion from the inertial reference unit.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Breed
- 👤 Wendell C. Johnson
- 👤 Wilbur E. DuVall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:43
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W40/00; B60W40/02; B60W40/06; B60W2556/00; B60W2556/45; B60W2556/50; B60W30/00; B60W30/08; B60W30/095; G; G01; G01S; G01S19/00; G01S19/01; G01S19/03; G01S19/10; G01S19/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A control system for controlling a warning system of a vehicle, comprising: an inertial reference unit including three accelerometers and three gyroscopes which provide data on vehicle motion; a processor coupled to said inertial reference unit; and a navigation system coupled to said processor and arranged to provide information about a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling from a map database to said processor. said processor being arranged to process the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit and the roadway information provided by said navigation system and control the warning system to provide a warning to the driver upon detection of a potential crash situation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A control system for controlling a warning system of a vehicle, comprising: an inertial reference unit including three accelerometers and three gyroscopes which provide data on vehicle motion; a processor coupled to said inertial reference unit; and a navigation system coupled to said processor and arranged to provide information about a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling from a map database to said processor. said processor being arranged to process the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit and the roadway information provided by said navigation system and control the warning system to provide a warning to the driver upon detection of a potential crash situation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The control system of claim 1 , further comprising a Kalman filter coupled to said processor for optimizing the data on vehicle motion from said inertial reference unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The control system of claim 1 , wherein said processor is structured and arranged to consider the vehicle being about to run off a road, cross a yellow line and run a stop sign as potential crash situations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The control system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for obtaining input on the color of an approaching stoplight, said processor being structured and arranged to consider the vehicle being about to run off a road, cross a yellow line, run a stop sign and run a red stoplight as potential crash situations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The control system of claim 1 , wherein said warning system is at least one of an alarm, a light, a buzzer, an audible noise generator and a simulated rumble strip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control system of claim 1 , wherein said processor is arranged to control the movement of the vehicle based on the data on vehicle motion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control system of claim 1 , wherein said processor is arranged to control a display in the vehicle based on the data on vehicle motion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The control system of claim 1 , further comprising a GPS receiver arranged to receive positioning signals relating to the position of the vehicle, said processor being coupled to said GPS receiver and arranged to process the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit and signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by said GPS receiver and control the warning system based thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The control system of claim 8 , further comprising a Kalman filter coupled to said processor for optimizing the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit and the signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by said GPS receiver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
The control system of claim 8 , wherein said processor is arranged to process the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit, the signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by said GPS receiver and the roadway information provided by said navigation system and control the warning system to provide a warning to the driver upon detection of a potential crash situation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The control system of claim 10 , wherein said processor is structured and arranged to consider the vehicle being about to run off a road, cross a yellow line and run a stop sign as potential crash situations.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The control system of claim 10 , further comprising a sensor for obtaining input on the color of an approaching stoplight, said processor being structured and arranged to consider the vehicle being about to run off a road, cross a yellow line, run a stop sign and run a red stoplight as potential crash situations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The control system of claim 10 , wherein said warning system is at least one of an alarm, a light, a buzzer, an audible noise generator and a simulated rumble strip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The control system of claim 8 , wherein said processor is arranged to control the movement of the vehicle based on the data on vehicle motion and signals relating to the position of the vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The control system of claim 8 , wherein said processor is arranged to control a display in the vehicle based on the data on vehicle motion and signals relating to the position of the vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The control system of claim 1 , wherein a first one of said accelerometers is arranged to sense vehicle acceleration in a latitude direction, a second one of said accelerometers is arranged to sense vehicle acceleration in a longitudinal direction and a third one of said accelerometers is arranged to sense vehicle acceleration in a vertical direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The control system of claim 1 , wherein a first one of said gyroscopes is arranged to sense angular rate about the pitch axis, a second one of said gyroscopes is arranged to sense angular rate about the yaw axis and a third one of said gyroscopes is arranged to sense angular rate about the roll axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
177 words
A control system for controlling a warning system of a vehicle, comprising: an inertial reference unit including three accelerometers and three gyroscopes which provide data on vehicle motion; a GPS receiver arranged to receive positioning signals relating to the position of the vehicle; a processor coupled to said inertial reference unit and to said GPS receiver; a Kalman filter coupled to said processor for optimizing the data on vehicle motion from said inertial reference unit and the signals relating to the position of the vehicle from said GPS receiver; and a navigation system coupled to said processor and arranged to provide information about a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling from a map database to said processor, said processor being arranged to process the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit, the signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by said GPS receiver and the roadway information provided by said navigation system and control the warning system to provide a warning to the driver upon detection of a potential crash situation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
177 words
A control system for controlling a warning system of a vehicle, comprising: an inertial reference unit including three accelerometers and three gyroscopes which provide data on vehicle motion; a GPS receiver arranged to receive positioning signals relating to the position of the vehicle; a processor coupled to said inertial reference unit and to said GPS receiver; a Kalman filter coupled to said processor for optimizing the data on vehicle motion from said inertial reference unit and the signals relating to the position of the vehicle from said GPS receiver; and a navigation system coupled to said processor and arranged to provide information about a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling from a map database to said processor, said processor being arranged to process the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit, the signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by said GPS receiver and the roadway information provided by said navigation system and control the warning system to provide a warning to the driver upon detection of a potential crash situation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The control system of claim 18 , wherein said processor is structured and arranged to consider the vehicle being about to run off a road, cross a yellow line and run a stop sign as potential crash situations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The control system of claim 18 , further comprising a sensor for obtaining input on the color of an approaching stoplight, said processor being structured and arranged to consider the vehicle being about to run off a road, cross a yellow line, run a stop sign and run a red stoplight as potential crash situations.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The control system of claim 18 , wherein said warning system is at least one of an alarm, a light, a buzzer, an audible noise generator and a simulated rumble strip.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The control system of claim 18 , wherein said processor is arranged to control the movement of the vehicle based on the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit and signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by said GPS receiver.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The control system of claim 18 , wherein said processor is arranged to control a display in the vehicle based on the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit and signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by said GPS receiver.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
The control system of claim 18 , wherein a first one of said accelerometers is arranged to sense vehicle acceleration in a latitude direction, a second one of said accelerometers is arranged to sense vehicle acceleration in a longitudinal direction and a third one of said accelerometers is arranged to sense vehicle acceleration in a vertical direction.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
The control system of claim 18 , wherein a first one of said gyroscopes is arranged to sense angular rate about the pitch axis, a second one of said gyroscopes is arranged to sense angular rate about the yaw axis and a third one of said gyroscopes is arranged to sense angular rate about the roll axis.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for controlling a warning system a vehicle, comprising the steps of: arranging an inertial reference unit including three accelerometers and three gyroscopes on the vehicle; obtaining data on vehicle motion from the inertial reference unit; arranging a navigation system on the vehicle including a map database; obtaining information about a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling from the map database; controlling the warning system based on the data on vehicle motion obtained from the inertial reference unit and the roadway information obtained from the map database to provide a warning to the driver upon detection of a potential crash situation.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for controlling a warning system a vehicle, comprising the steps of: arranging an inertial reference unit including three accelerometers and three gyroscopes on the vehicle; obtaining data on vehicle motion from the inertial reference unit; arranging a navigation system on the vehicle including a map database; obtaining information about a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling from the map database; controlling the warning system based on the data on vehicle motion obtained from the inertial reference unit and the roadway information obtained from the map database to provide a warning to the driver upon detection of a potential crash situation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising the step of utilizing a Kalman filter to optimize the data on vehicle motion from the inertial reference unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising the step of determining whether the vehicle is about to run off a road, cross a yellow line and run a stop sign, the warning system being controlled in light of the determination.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising the steps of: obtaining input on the color of an approaching stoplight; and determining whether the vehicle is about to run off a road, cross a yellow line, run a stop sign and run a red stoplight, the warning system being controlled in light of the determination.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising the steps of: arranging a GPS receiver on the vehicle to receive positioning signals relating to the position of the vehicle; and controlling the warning system based on the data on vehicle motion from the inertial reference unit and signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by the GPS receiver.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 30 , further comprising the step of utilizing a Kalman filter to optimize the data on vehicle motion from the inertial reference unit and the signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by the GPS receiver.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
151 words
A control system for controlling a vehicle display, comprising: an inertial reference unit including three accelerometers and three gyroscopes which provide data on vehicle motion; a processor coupled to said inertial reference unit and the display; a GPS receiver arranged to receive positioning signals relating to the position of the vehicle; and a navigation system coupled to said processor and arranged to provide information about a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling from a map database to said processor, said processor being arranged to process the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit, the signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by said GPS receiver and the roadway information provided by said navigation system in order to ascertain potential crash situations and control the display to provide an indication to the driver of the status of the vehicle upon detection of a potential crash situation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
151 words
A control system for controlling a vehicle display, comprising: an inertial reference unit including three accelerometers and three gyroscopes which provide data on vehicle motion; a processor coupled to said inertial reference unit and the display; a GPS receiver arranged to receive positioning signals relating to the position of the vehicle; and a navigation system coupled to said processor and arranged to provide information about a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling from a map database to said processor, said processor being arranged to process the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit, the signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by said GPS receiver and the roadway information provided by said navigation system in order to ascertain potential crash situations and control the display to provide an indication to the driver of the status of the vehicle upon detection of a potential crash situation.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
The control system of claim 32 , wherein said processor is structured and arranged to consider the vehicle being about to run off a road, cross a yellow line and run a stop sign as potential crash situations.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
55 words
The control system of claim 32 , further comprising a sensor for obtaining input on the color of an approaching stoplight, said processor being structured and arranged to consider the vehicle being about to run off a road, cross a yellow line, run a stop sign and run a red stoplight as potential crash situations.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
149 words
A control system for controlling a vehicle component which affects the movement of the vehicle, comprising: an inertial reference unit including three accelerometers and three gyroscopes which provide data on vehicle motion; a processor coupled to said inertial reference unit and the component; a GPS receiver arranged to receive positioning signals relating to the position of the vehicle; and a navigation system coupled to said processor and arranged to provide information about a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling from a map database to said processor, said processor being arranged to process the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit, the signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by said GPS receiver and the roadway information provided by said navigation system in order to ascertain potential crash situations and generates control signals to control the component upon detection of a potential crash situation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
149 words
A control system for controlling a vehicle component which affects the movement of the vehicle, comprising: an inertial reference unit including three accelerometers and three gyroscopes which provide data on vehicle motion; a processor coupled to said inertial reference unit and the component; a GPS receiver arranged to receive positioning signals relating to the position of the vehicle; and a navigation system coupled to said processor and arranged to provide information about a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling from a map database to said processor, said processor being arranged to process the data on vehicle motion provided by said inertial reference unit, the signals relating to the position of the vehicle received by said GPS receiver and the roadway information provided by said navigation system in order to ascertain potential crash situations and generates control signals to control the component upon detection of a potential crash situation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
The control system of claim 35 , wherein said processor is structured and arranged to consider the vehicle being about to run off a road, cross a yellow line and run a stop sign as potential crash situations.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
55 words
The control system of claim 35 , further comprising a sensor for obtaining input on the color of an approaching stoplight, said processor being structured and arranged to consider the vehicle being about to run off a road, cross a yellow line, run a stop sign and run a red stoplight as potential crash situations.
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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) | 2007-07-27 | 2008-01-26 | 2008-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-07-27 | 2012-01-26 | 2012-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-07-27 | 2016-01-26 | 2016-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |