Collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9718405-B1
Application number	US-201615078183-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 23, 2016
Priority date	Mar 23, 2015
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system for a large passenger vehicle such as commuter bus, which includes one or more exterior and/or interior sensing devices positioned strategically around the exterior and interior of the vehicle for recording data, method for avoiding collisions and/or detecting pedestrians, and features/articles of manufacture for improving same, is described herein in various embodiments. The sensing devices may be responsive to one or more situational sensors, and may be connected to one or more interior and/or exterior warning systems configured to alert a driver inside the vehicle and/or a pedestrian outside the vehicle that a collision may be possible and/or imminent based on a path of the vehicle and/or a position of the pedestrian as detected by one or more sensing devices and/or situational sensors.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system for a large passenger vehicle, comprising:
a first sensor comprising at least one of a speed sensor, a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, an accelerometer, and a gyro sensor and sensing first data regarding at least one of a location and a driving characteristic of the vehicle; and
a first detection system comprising:
a first housing configured to be mounted to the exterior surface of the vehicle;
a first exterior sensing device comprising a first image sensor and enclosed in the first housing and configured to sense a first hazard in a first field of view responsive to first predetermined criteria; and
a first interior driver warning system connected to the first exterior sensing device and including a first driver warning display mounted inside the vehicle generating at least one of a driver visual warning and a driver audible alarm configured to alert the driver when the first hazard is detected by the first detection system,

wherein the first exterior sensing device is one of: sensitivity adjusted, engaged or disengaged responsive to the first sensor determining that the vehicle is traveling one of: in the forward direction or at, above or below a predetermined speed.

2. The collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system of claim 1 , wherein the first detection system further comprises:
a first exterior pedestrian warning system connected to the first exterior sensing device and generating at least one of a pedestrian visual warning and a pedestrian audible alarm configured to alert the pedestrian when the first hazard is detected by the first exterior sensing device responsive to the first data sensed by said first sensor.

3. The collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second sensor comprising at least one of a speed sensor, a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, an accelerometer, and a gyro sensor and sensing second data regarding at least one of a location and a driving characteristic of the vehicle; and
a second detection system comprising:
a second housing configured to be mounted to the exterior surface of the vehicle;
a second exterior sensing device comprising a second image sensor and enclosed in the second housing and configured to sense a second hazard in a second field of view responsive to second predetermined criteria;
a second interior driver warning system connected to the second exterior sensing device and including a second driver warning display mounted inside the vehicle generating at least one of a driver visual warning and a driver audible alarm configured to alert the driver when the second hazard is sensed by the second exterior sensing device; and
a second exterior pedestrian warning system connected to the second exterior sensing device and generating at least one of a pedestrian visual warning and a pedestrian audible alarm configured to alert the pedestrian when the second hazard is sensed by the second exterior sensing device responsive to the second data sensed by said second sensor.

4. The collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a third sensor comprising at least one of a speed sensor, a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, an accelerometer, and a gyro sensor and sensing third data regarding at least one of a location and a driving characteristic of the vehicle; and
a third detection system comprising:
a first adjustable mount configured to be mounted to an interior surface of the vehicle;
a first interior sensing device comprising a third image sensor and configured to sense a third hazard in a third field of view responsive to third predetermined criteria;
a third interior driver warning system connected to the first interior sensing device and including a third driver warning display mounted inside the vehicle generating at least one of a driver visual warning and a driver audible alarm configured to alert the driver when the third hazard is sensed by the first interior sensing device; and
a third exterior pedestrian warning system connected to the first interior sensing device and generating at least one of a pedestrian visual warning and a pedestrian audible alarm configured to alert the pedestrian when the third hazard is sensed by the first interior sensing device responsive to the third data sensed by said third sensor.

5. The collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system of claim 4 , wherein the first exterior sensing device comprises a left rear exterior sensing device, the second exterior sensing device comprises a right rear exterior sensing device, and the first interior sensor device comprises a front center interior sensing device.

6. The collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system of claim 1 , wherein said first detection system further comprises a first processor controlling said first interior driver warning system and said first exterior pedestrian warning system responsive to detection of the first hazard by said first detection system and the first data.

7. The collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system of claim 3 , wherein said second detection system further comprises a second processor controlling said second interior driver warning system and said second exterior pedestrian warning system responsive to detection of the second hazard by said second detection system and the second data.

8. The collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system of claim 4 , wherein said third detection system further comprises a third processor controlling said third interior driver warning system and said third exterior pedestrian warning system responsive to detection of the third hazard by said first interior sensing device and the third data.

9. The collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system of claim 4 , wherein said first, second, and third detection systems operate independently of each other.

10. The collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system of claim 4 , wherein said first, second, and third detection systems comprise overlapping fields of view.

11. The collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system of claim 4 , wherein a severity of the driver visual warning, the driver audible alarm, the pedestrian visual warning, and the pedestrian audible alarm issued by each of said first, second, and third detection systems is configured to be responsive to a severity of the hazard detected by the associated sensing device.

12. The collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a fourth sensor comprising at least one of a speed sensor, a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, an accelerometer, and a gyro sensor and sensing fourth data regarding at least one of a location and a driving characteristic of the vehicle; and
a fourth detection system comprising:
a second adjustable mount configured to be mounted to an interior surface of the vehicle; and
a second interior sensing device comprising a fourth image sensor and configured to detect a fourth hazard in a fourth field of view responsive to fourth predetermined criteria,

said first interior driver warning system connected to the second interior sensing device and configured to alert the driver when the fourth hazard is detected by the second interior sensing device; and
said first exterior pedestrian warning system connected to the second interior sensing device and configured to alert the pedestrian when the fourth hazard is detected by the second interior sensing device responsive to the fourth data sensed by said fourth sensor.

13.

Assignees

• Rosco Inc

Inventors

• Englander Benjamin
• Serer Julian

Classifications

• B60R2300/105

  using multiple cameras · CPC title

• B60R2300/301

  combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision · CPC title

• B60Q9/008 Primary

  for anti-collision purposes · CPC title

• B60R2300/8033

  for pedestrian protection · CPC title

• B60R2300/404

  triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode · CPC title