Communications: electrical – External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm – Highway information
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-01
2002-08-06
Trieu, Van (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm
Highway information
C340S933000, C340S995190
Reexamination Certificate
active
06429790
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for increasing traffic safety.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In traffic, all participants at present move without informing the other participants concerning their experiences, present situations, and destinations. Among the few exceptions are, for example, directional signals and the brake lights on motor vehicles.
Information regarding other traffic participants in the possession of all or a portion of the traffic participants would contribute to a significant improvement in the area of traffic flow and traffic safety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This objective is achieved according to the present invention through the fact that objects that can be located on or by the roadway are furnished with transmitters having short transmission ranges, that transmit safety-related data in a form that can be received by receivers in other objects located on or by the roadway.
In contrast to the customary methods for recognizing other traffic participants and/or obstacles, for example, using radar or ultrasound sensors, the device according to the present invention has the advantage that information transmitted by the other object is available earlier than an approximation that is perhaps only measurable in the shortest of ranges, especially that the information present in the other object, for example, the direction of travel or an intention to change lanes, can be received and be taken into account in the reference vehicle even before the actual event occurs to which the reference vehicle must react.
In addition, using the device according to the present invention, objects can be taken into account that can be detected by distance measuring systems only with difficulty or in distorted form. Thus it is entirely possible to furnish pedestrians with a transmitter of the device of the present invention. Trucks having an extremely planar cargo area, for example, empty automobile transporters, can be recognized as such using the device according to the present invention, whereas detection using distance measuring systems frequently “overlooks” the cargo area.
Although devices according to the present invention have their greatest effectiveness if nearly all vehicles and, if possible, other objects are furnished with devices according to the present invention, equipping single groups of traffic participants, for example, drivers of a special automobile model, can be advantageous.
Overall, using the device according to the present invention, increased safety, improved traffic flow, and also greater care for the environment are possible.
One particularly advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention rests in the fact that the objects are motor vehicles and that the safety-related data contain operational data of the specific vehicle. On this basis, it is possible to transmit, especially to other motor vehicles, information from the past, current information, and information concerning the future behavior of the motor vehicle.
In this embodiment, it is advantageously provided that the operational data can be supplied, via a bus system, by at least one other device of the vehicle. Since, in modern vehicles, a substantial portion of the information is exchanged in any case via a bus system, especially via the so-called CAN bus, the expense of the device according to the present invention can be kept extremely low. In the event that individual manufacturers of motor vehicles do not employ standardized data formats in their bus systems, it can be provided, in this context, that a device for converting the data format is arranged between the bus system and the transmitter.
Another advantageous embodiment makes possible a substantial increase in traffic safety as a result of the fact that the operational data include information concerning the specific position of the vehicle and concerning the velocity, preferably with respect to amount and direction. Using this information, it is possible, for example, for the driver of a following vehicle to be made aware of a vehicle traveling slowly in front of him and, optionally, for the following vehicle to be braked automatically. In this context, in transmitting the direction of motion, it is also possible to distinguish between oncoming vehicles and those traveling in the same direction.
In this embodiment, it can be provided that the operational data also contain information regarding changes in the operational data. A change of this type can be, for example, a braking deceleration, to prevent pile-ups.
In addition, it is possible in this embodiment to provide that the operational data contain information regarding operator inputs in the vehicle. In this way, it is possible, if appropriate, to detect changes in the performance of the vehicle in question even earlier.
The above-mentioned embodiment can also be configured such that the operational data contain switching information such as turn signal lights right/left on, lights and fog lights on/off, windshield wipers on/off. This information, on the one hand, can be evaluated by other vehicles and can be read by the respective drivers as a warning or as general information. However, by evaluating information of this type, it is entirely possible, with the assistance of receivers arranged on the roadway, to generate warnings about, for example, fog or heavy rain.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides that the data contain authorization information. This embodiment can be applied in a multitude of ways, for example, for improved recognition of official vehicles (fire department, police, ambulances), or for information concerning special authorizations, e.g., the authorization for using a bus lane or as access authorization for parking places, garages, and private property.
The savings in time until a reaction occurs in a following, transmission-receiving vehicle are particularly large if there is a plurality of other vehicles located between a transmitting vehicle, which, for example, brakes suddenly, and the receiving vehicle. For then it is possible immediately to display a warning, whereas without the device according to the present invention, using a distance measuring system, it is necessary to take into account a delay in the reaction from one vehicle to another, which adds up for the receiving vehicle. This delay can be especially significant if not all vehicles are furnished with automatic distance measuring systems and brake systems. In the device according to the present invention, irrespective of the perhaps quite long reaction time of individual vehicles, a reaction can be initiated if a vehicle traveling relatively far ahead suddenly brakes.
Transmitters of the device according to the present invention can be arranged not only in vehicles but also in stationary objects. Thus, for example, in a further refinement of the device according to the present invention, it is provided that the objects are traffic signals or road signs, the safety-related data containing the position and the specific meaning for traffic participants. Thus, for example, in the case of traffic signals, the position and the specific signal setting, i.e., red, yellow, or green, is transmitted.
In the case of road signs, in addition to an unvarying meaning—for example, a constant speed limit—, it is also possible to transmit changing information, for example, a speed limit of 90 km/h, 100 km/h, or 120 km/h. In this context, information concerning the change can be conveyed to the road sign in the customary manner, for example, via cable or via transmitters of greater transmission range.
One other advantageous embodiment rests in the fact that the objects are stationary traffic guidance devices, the safety-related data containing the position of the specific traffic guidance device. In this manner, beacons, which, for example, border a construction area, and other roadway boundary markers can be safeguarded in a simple manner.
In order that the transmitted information be able to be used in vehicles, it is provided according to a f
Aumayer Richard
Frese Thomas
Kenyon & Kenyon
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Trieu Van
LandOfFree
Device for increasing traffic safety does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for increasing traffic safety, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for increasing traffic safety will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2876197