Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Relative location – Collision avoidance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-22
2001-05-01
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Relative location
Collision avoidance
C701S200000, C701S023000, C701S026000, C180S411000, C180S422000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226592
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to motor vehicle operation and, in particular, to a system for providing the operator of a motor vehicle with feedback regarding lane boundaries.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The safety of vehicles and highways has been steadily improving over the past few decades to the point that, on an individual basis, fatal accidents are relative rare. In fact, fatal accidents are now less than 1.7 per 100,000,000 miles traveled. This means that further improvements in vehicle design and infrastructure will produce progressively smaller reductions in rates at increasing costs. Put another way, the easy problems have been solved and it is becoming increasingly difficult to realize further improvements.
A recent study by Dupont Health and Safety showed that the numbers of fatalities and lost work days were so small that it was virtually impossible to reduce them further. The recorded injuries showed random casualty, and it was determined that it would be ineffective to work on reducing such random occurrences to any significant degree. The solution, they found, is in reducing near accidents, and particularly in understanding and reducing risk/behavior.
The same principle holds for highway accidents. Namely, that serious injuries and fatalities are usually the probablistic result of repeated patterns of risky behavior. If risky behavior can be reduced, a reduction in all types of accidents may be realized overall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention resides in methods and apparatus for assisting the driver of a motor vehicle to travel within a designated driving lane, thereby helping to curb otherwise random risky behavior. Assuming the driving lane is defined by two or more lane boundaries, a method aspect of the invention includes the steps of sensing the lane boundary as the vehicle moves within the lane, monitoring the position of the vehicle relative to the lane boundary, and effecting the operational characteristics (especially the steering sensation) of the vehicle as a function of the proximity of the vehicle to the lane boundary. In one embodiment, the operation of the vehicle is affected by adjusting the functioning of the steering wheel, preferably by providing tactile feedback which causes the driver to experience a virtual change in lane elevation as the vehicle approaches the lane boundary. In the preferred embodiment, the tactile feedback causes the vehicle operator to experience the lane as having a depression with sloping sidewalls.
In terms of apparatus, a system according to the invention includes a sensor for sensing a boundary defining the lane, processor means for determining the proximity of the vehicle to the lane boundary, and an actuator for affecting the operation of the vehicle as a function of the proximity of the vehicle to the lane boundary. Where the lane boundaries are defined by visual lane markers, the lane-boundary sensor preferably takes the form of a video camera to image the lane markers. If the vehicle includes a rear-view mirror, the video camera may be supported thereon.
In addition to, or apart from, affecting the functioning of the steering wheel as the vehicle approaches the lane boundary the system may also cause a vibration to be felt by the operator or activate a visual and/or audible alarm as the vehicle approaches the lane boundary. In affecting the functioning of the steering wheel, tactile feedback means preferably cause the vehicle operator to experience a resistance to turning the vehicle as the vehicle approaches the lane boundary, thereby creating the sensation that the lane features a virtual depression having raised sidewalls.
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Lougheed Robert
Luckscheiter Kirk
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Gifford Krass Groh Sprinkle Anderson & Citkowski PC
Hernandez Olga
Veridian ERIM International, Inc.
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