§
Luxuse
Patent Intelligence
Sign In
Patent US4235078A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US6775605B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Remote sensing based pre-crash threat assessment system

Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
•
Filing: 2001-11-29
•
Granted: 2004-08-10
•
Expires: 2021-11-29
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A pre-crash assessment system ( 1 ) includes a host vehicle ( 3 ) in motion and a high frequency sensor ( 4 ), which detects position and relative velocity of a target object in the near zone of the host vehicle ( 3 ). A safety device actuator ( 5 ) is also coupled to the host vehicle ( 3 ). A pre-crash algorithm provides a comparison of a future position prediction of the target object relative to the host vehicle ( 3 ). A safety device controller ( 9 ) is coupled to the host vehicle ( 3 ). The controller ( 9 ) generates a threshold assessment based on the target object future relative position and relative velocity. The controller ( 9 ) also controls the safety device actuator ( 5 ) by providing an actuation signal. The controller ( 9 ) operates through logic designed to estimate whether a potential for crash between the host vehicle ( 3 ) and the target object is within the threshold for the safety device actuator ( 5 ). The controller ( 9 ) activates the safety device actuator 5 when the potential for crash is within the pre-determined threshold and safety device specific deployment criteria are met.

Inventors

  • 👤 Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • 👤 Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante
  • 👤 MD Abul Masrur

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 13:58
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0134; G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S2013/9327; G01S2013/93271

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim 161 words
A pre-crash assessment system, including a first target object in a near zone of a host object in motion, comprising: a remote sensor coupled to the host object for detecting a dynamic characteristic of the first target object in relation to the host vehicle; a first safety device actuator, coupled to the host object, for activating a first safety device; a pre-crash algorithm having a first threshold defined by a comparison of a future position prediction of the first target object relative to the host object and a fraction of a width of the host object; and a safety device controller, coupled to the host object for generating a threshold assessment based on said dynamic characteristic, said controller estimating whether a potential for crash between the host object and the first target object is within said first threshold for said first safety device actuator, said safety device controller further controlling said first safety device actuator in response to said threshold assessment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 161 words
A pre-crash assessment system, including a first target object in a near zone of a host object in motion, comprising: a remote sensor coupled to the host object for detecting a dynamic characteristic of the first target object in relation to the host vehicle; a first safety device actuator, coupled to the host object, for activating a first safety device; a pre-crash algorithm having a first threshold defined by a comparison of a future position prediction of the first target object relative to the host object and a fraction of a width of the host object; and a safety device controller, coupled to the host object for generating a threshold assessment based on said dynamic characteristic, said controller estimating whether a potential for crash between the host object and the first target object is within said first threshold for said first safety device actuator, said safety device controller further controlling said first safety device actuator in response to said threshold assessment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising multiple target objects in the near zone of the host object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said controller further comprises a tracking filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein a pre-arming device for an airbag comprises said first safety device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein a motorized safety belt pre-tensioner comprises said first safety device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein a lidar sensor comprises said remote sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein a radar sensor system comprises said remote sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein a vision system comprises said remote sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein a combination of radar, lidar and vision systems comprise said remote sensor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said first safety device actuator responds to said first threshold in combination with safety device specific deployment criteria.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 108 words
A method for pre-crash threat assessment for a moving host vehicle, comprising: sensing a target vehicle in a near zone of the host vehicle; tracking a current vehicle dynamic of said target vehicle with respect to the host vehicle; calculating a future position of said target vehicle with respect to the host vehicle based on said vehicle dynamic of said target vehicle; calculating a potential for collision by comparing said future position of said target vehicle to a fraction of a width of the host vehicle; and determining whether said potential for collision of the host vehicle and said target vehicle is within a first pre-determined safety threshold.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 108 words
A method for pre-crash threat assessment for a moving host vehicle, comprising: sensing a target vehicle in a near zone of the host vehicle; tracking a current vehicle dynamic of said target vehicle with respect to the host vehicle; calculating a future position of said target vehicle with respect to the host vehicle based on said vehicle dynamic of said target vehicle; calculating a potential for collision by comparing said future position of said target vehicle to a fraction of a width of the host vehicle; and determining whether said potential for collision of the host vehicle and said target vehicle is within a first pre-determined safety threshold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said step of sensing further comprises the step of sensing multiple target vehicles in the near zone of the host vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said step of calculating a future position of said target vehicle further comprises the step of filtering a current position of said target vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said step of estimating further comprises the step of estimating an acceleration of said target vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said step of determining further comprises the step of determining whether said potential for collision of the host vehicle and said target vehicle is within a second pre-determined safety threshold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 53 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of determining whether said potential for collision of the host vehicle and said target vehicle is within a second pre-determined safety threshold further comprises activating a second actuator in response to said second pre-determined safety threshold in combination with safety device specific deployment criteria.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of determining further comprises the step of activating a first safety device actuator in response to said first pre-determined safety threshold in combination with safety device specific deployment criteria.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 219 words
A pre-crash assessment system, including a first target object in a near zone of a host vehicle, comprising: a high frequency remote sensor, coupled to the host vehicle, for detecting a vehicle dynamic of the first target object; a first safety device actuator, coupled to the host vehicle for activating a first safety device; a first pre-crash algorithm having a first threshold determined through a comparison of a future position prediction of the first target object relative to the host vehicle and a fraction of a width of the host vehicle; a second safety device actuator, coupled to the host vehicle, for activating a second safety device; a second pre-crash algorithm having a second threshold determined through a comparison of a future position prediction of the first target object relative to the host vehicle and a fraction of a width of the host vehicle; and a safety device controller, coupled to the host vehicle for generating a threshold assessment based on said vehicle dynamic, said controller estimating whether a potential for crash between the host vehicle and the first target object is within said first threshold for said first safety device actuator and said second threshold for said second safety device actuator, said safety device controller further controlling said first safety device actuator in response to said threshold assessment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 219 words
A pre-crash assessment system, including a first target object in a near zone of a host vehicle, comprising: a high frequency remote sensor, coupled to the host vehicle, for detecting a vehicle dynamic of the first target object; a first safety device actuator, coupled to the host vehicle for activating a first safety device; a first pre-crash algorithm having a first threshold determined through a comparison of a future position prediction of the first target object relative to the host vehicle and a fraction of a width of the host vehicle; a second safety device actuator, coupled to the host vehicle, for activating a second safety device; a second pre-crash algorithm having a second threshold determined through a comparison of a future position prediction of the first target object relative to the host vehicle and a fraction of a width of the host vehicle; and a safety device controller, coupled to the host vehicle for generating a threshold assessment based on said vehicle dynamic, said controller estimating whether a potential for crash between the host vehicle and the first target object is within said first threshold for said first safety device actuator and said second threshold for said second safety device actuator, said safety device controller further controlling said first safety device actuator in response to said threshold assessment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 18 , further comprising multiple target objects in the near zone of the host vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein said controller further comprises a tracking filter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein a pre-arming device for an airbag comprises said first safety device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein a motorized safety belt pre-tensioner comprises said second safety device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 16 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein a lidar sensor comprises said high frequency remote sensor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein a vision system comprises said remote sensor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein a combination of radar, lidar and vision systems comprise said remote sensor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein a radar sensing system comprises said high frequency remote sensor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3514610A Cited
US4257703A Cited
US4381829A Cited
US4623966A Cited
US4638289A Cited
US4673937A Cited
US4833469A Cited
US4916450A Cited
US4969103A Cited
US4992943A Cited
US4994972A Cited
US5040118A Cited
US5063603A Cited
US5162794A Cited
US5166881A Cited
US5182459A Cited
US5526269A Cited
US5249157A Cited
US5091726A Cited
US5905457A Cited
US5173859A Cited
US5230400A Cited
US5234071A Cited
US5604683A Cited
US5307136A Cited
US5502432A Cited
US6168198B1 Cited
US5541590A Cited
US5467283A Cited
US5521580A Cited
US5680097A Cited
US5430432A Cited
US5314037A Cited
US5479173A Cited
US5552986A Cited
US5983161A Cited
US6226389B1 Cited
US5572428A Cited
US5534870A Cited
US5629847A Cited
US5635922A Cited
US5602760A Cited
US5754099A Cited
US6209909B1 Cited
US5574463A Cited
US5594414A Cited
US5751836A Cited
US5745870A Cited
US5689264A Cited
US5771481A Cited
EP0720928A2 Cited
US5749426A Cited
US5748477A Cited
US5847755A Cited
US6044166A Cited
US5646612A Cited
US5684474A Cited
US5710565A Cited
US5699057A Cited
US5847472A Cited
US5963272A Cited
US6087928A Cited
US5699040A Cited
US5955967A Cited
US5751211A Cited
US6049619A Cited
US5779264A Cited
US5808561A Cited
US5959552A Cited
US6044321A Cited
US5936549A Cited
US5815093A Cited
US5999874A Cited
US5948026A Cited
US6031484A Cited
US6097332A Cited
US6191704B1 Cited
US5938714A Cited
US6114951A Cited
US5835007A Cited
US5872536A Cited
US5835873A Cited
US5949366A Cited
US5949918A Cited
US5920345A Cited
US5995037A Cited
US6084508A Cited
US6025797A Cited
US6018308A Cited
US5964822A Cited
US6002983A Cited
US5926126A Cited
US5906393A Cited
US5838228A Cited
US6037860A Cited
US6088639A Cited
US5959569A Cited
US6405132B1 Cited
US6151539A Cited
US6061015A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2007-08-10 2008-02-09 2008-08-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2011-08-10 2012-02-09 2012-08-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2015-08-10 2016-02-09 2016-08-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag