Vehicle collision detector

Abstract

A collision prevention detector ( 22 ), and a method therefor, to be mounted on a vehicle ( 10 ), transmits a sequence of transmissions of IR signals. The signals are transmitted in sequences alternating between at least one at the right and to the left positioned LED ( 24, 26, 34, 36 ), when both signals provide a return/reflected signal to IR-receiver an object ( 12 ) is determined as present within the area/zone from the point where the transmitted signals intersect/cross. Sequencing of signals makes it possible to position a return signal from an object ( 12 ), as one of the signals has to confirm the other signal to provide a warning signal. Moreover, a first set of LED's detects objects in a near-field zone ( 40 ) of the vehicle, and a second set detects objects beyond the first field in a far-field zone ( 42 ), whereby at least two sets of the LED's are positioned to the right and to the left.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A collision prevention detector to be mounted on a vehicle, transmitting a sequence of transmissions of IR signals, whereby the signals are transmitted in sequences alternating between at least one at the right and to the left positioned LED, when both signals provide a return/reflected signal to an IR-receiver an object is determined as present within an area from the point where the transmitted signals intersect/cross, whereby the sequencing of signals makes it possible to position a return signal from the object, as one of the signals has to confirm the other signal to provide a warning signal, said detector further comprising:
 at least two sets of said LED's LEDs positioned to the right and to the left, whereby a first set detects objects in a near-field zone of the vehicle, and a second set beyond said first field in a far-field zone, wherein the at least two sets of LEDs are configured to transmit a sequence of transmissions of IR signals alternating between at least one LED to the right and at least one LED to the left; 
 at least one IR receiver configured to receive the sequence of transmissions of IR signals such that receiving both of the alternating IR signals indicates the presence of an object within an area where the transmitted signals cross; 
 a processor connected to said first and second sets for detection of the at least one IR receiver configured to detect the object in the near-field and far-field zones and being provided the vehicle speed; and 
 a comparator connected to or comprised in said associated with the processor, which compares the vehicle speed with configured to compare a vehicle speed with a pre-determined loss of measured distance by measuring how fast the vehicle approaches said the object by closing in from the far-field zone to the near-field zone, whereby an alarm is given through by an indicator device mounted on said vehicle alerting a vehicle driver to pay attention to the closing in of an approaching object. 
 
     
     
       2. A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the detector can be a rear mirror mounted blind spot detector, a vehicle front mounted detector, a vehicle rear mounted detector, a vehicle side mounted detector, and a vehicle roof mounted detector. 
     
     
       3. A detector according to  claim 2 , wherein the detector is mounted within at least one of a headlight and a rear light of said vehicle. 
     
     
       4. A detector according  claim 1 , further comprising further sets of far-zone LED's detecting beyond said second far-zone LED's. 
     
     
       5. A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle is automatically braked controlled by said processor if an object is closing in at a calculated breaking distance for the speed of the vehicle regarding detectors which are vehicle front mounted detectors, or vehicle rear mounted when reversing, thus detecting objects when the vehicle closes in on objects in front of it and when it reverses. 
     
     
       6. A detector according to  claim 5 , wherein said processor is connected to a vehicle road computer providing road temperatures. 
     
     
       7. A detector according to  claim 5 , wherein said processor is connected to a rain sensor, antiskid system, anti-spin system and other like systems providing road condition information utilized to calculate when to brake said vehicle. 
     
     
       8. A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of a search field zone is determined by the optics of the LED's utilized, through the sector angle within a beam of light and the angle between beams of light, and through the power of transmission of a transmitted IR signal. 
     
     
       9. A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein search field zones can be arranged so that warning signals are provided when a vehicle is entering a blind spot area, is within the area, and is leaving the area. 
     
     
       10. A detector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver adapted to adjust the signal strength to the external light conditions and dirt on said LED's whereby a stroger signal is used during daylight conditions and a weaker signal is used during darkness. 
     
     
       11. A method for a collision prevention detector to be mounted on a vehicle, comprising: transmitting a sequence of transmissions of IR signals, whereby the signals are transmitted in sequences alternating between at least one at the right and to the left positioned LED, when both signals provide are turn return/reflected signal to IR-receiver an object is determined as present within an area from the point where the transmitted signals intersect/cross, whereby the sequencing of signals makes it possible to position a return signal from the object, as one of the signals has to confirm the other signal to provide a warning signal, said detector performing the steps of:
 detecting objects in a near-field zone of the vehicle with a first set of LED's LEDs, and detecting objects beyond said first field in a far-field zone with a second set of LED's LEDs, whereby the two sets of said LED's LEDs are positioned to the right and to the left; 
 providing a processor with the vehicle speed and connected to said first and second sets for detection of near- and far-field zones; and 
 using a comparator connected to or comprised in said processor for comparing the vehicle speed with a pre-determined loss of measured distance by measuring how fast said vehicle approaches said object by closing in from the far-field zone to the near-field zone, whereby an alarm is given through an indicator device mounted on said vehicle alerting a vehicle driver to pay attention to the closing in of an approaching object. 
 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the detector can be a rear mirror mounted blind spot detector, a vehicle front mounted detector, a vehicle rear mounted detector, a vehicle side mounted detector, and a vehicle roof mounted detector. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the detector is mounted within at least one of a headlight and a rear light of said vehicle. 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing further sets of far-zone LED's detecting beyond said second far-zone LED's. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said vehicle is automatically braked controlled by said processor if an object is closing in at a calculated breaking distance for the speed of the vehicle regarding detectors which are vehicle front mounted detector, or vehicle rear mounted when reversing, thus detecting objects when the vehicle closes in on objects in front of it and when it reverses. 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said processor is connected to the vehicle road computer providing road temperatures. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said processor is connected to a rain sensor, antiskid system, anti-spin system and other like systems providing road condition information utilized to calculate when to brake said vehicle. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the width of a search field zone is determined by the optics of the LED's utilized, through the sector angle within a beam of light and the angle between beams of light, and through the power of transmission of a transmitted IR signal. 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of arranging search field zones so that warning signals are provided when a vehicle is entering a blind spot area, is within the area, and is leaving the area. 
     
     
       20. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of adapting the signal strength to the external light conditions and dirt on said LED's whereby a stronger signal is used by daylight conditions and a weaker signal is used during darkness. 
     
     
       21. A collision prevention detector comprising:
 a receiver electrically coupled to a processor;   a first emitter electrically coupled to the processor and configured to emit a first beam;   a second emitter electrically coupled to the processor and configured to emit a second beam, wherein the first beam and the second beam are configured to intersect at a first zone;   wherein the processor is configured to sequentially transmit a first message in the first beam and a second message in the second beam and generate a warning signal if the receiver receives the first message and the second message, and wherein the first message and the second message each comprise bits;   a third emitter electrically coupled to the processor and configured to emit a third beam; and   a fourth emitter electrically coupled to the processor and configured to emit a fourth beam, wherein the third beam and the fourth beam are configured to intersect at a second zone;   wherein the processor is further configured to sequentially transmit a third message in the third beam and a fourth message in the fourth beam and generate a second warning signal if the receiver receives the third message and the fourth message.   
     
     
       22. The detector of claim 21, wherein the first emitter is located to a left of the receiver and the second emitter is located to a right of the receiver. 
     
     
       23. The detector of claim 21, further comprising:
 a fifth emitter electrically coupled to the processor and configured to emit a fifth beam;   a sixth emitter electrically coupled to the processor and configured to emit a sixth beam, wherein the fifth beam and the sixth beam are configured to intersect at a third zone;   wherein the processor is further configured to sequentially transmit a fifth message in the fifth beam and a sixth message in the sixth beam and generate a third warning signal if the receiver receives the fifth message and the sixth message.   
     
     
       24. The detector of claim 21, wherein the receiver comprises an infrared receiver, the first emitter comprises a light emitting diode, and the second emitter comprises a light emitting diode. 
     
     
       25. The detector of claim 21, wherein the receiver, the first emitter and the second emitter are located at at least one of: a rear mirror of a vehicle, a front of the vehicle, a rear of the vehicle, a side of the vehicle, a headlight of the vehicle, a rear light of the vehicle, or a roof of the vehicle. 
     
     
       26. The detector of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine a speed of an object based on a detection in the first zone and a detection in the second zone.   
     
     
       27. The detector of claim 26, wherein the processor is configured to:
 compare a speed of a vehicle to the speed of the object; and   automatically brake the vehicle based on the comparison.   
     
     
       28. The detector of claim 21, wherein a size of the first zone is based on first emitter optics, second emitter optics, and an angle between the first beam and the second beam. 
     
     
       29. The detector of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first zone and the second zone comprise a blind spot area. 
     
     
       30. The detector of claim 21, further comprising a detector configured to adjust a power of the first beam and a power of the second beam. 
     
     
       31. The detector of claim 21, wherein each bit comprises a series of pulses. 
     
     
       32. The detector of claim 21, wherein the first message comprises a random sequence. 
     
     
       33. A method of collision detection comprising:
 transmitting a first message in a first beam;   transmitting a second message in a second beam, wherein the first beam and the second beam are configured to intersect at a first zone, and wherein the first message and the second message each comprise bits;   generating a warning signal if the first message and the second message are received;   transmitting a third message in a third beam;   transmitting a fourth message in a fourth beam, wherein the third beam and the fourth beam are configured to intersect at a second zone;   receiving the third message and the fourth message; and   generating a second warning signal if the third message and the fourth message are received.   
     
     
       34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:
 transmitting a fifth message in a fifth beam;   transmitting a sixth message in a sixth beam, wherein the fifth beam and the sixth beam are configured to intersect at a third zone;   receiving the fifth message and the sixth message; and   generating a third warning signal if the fifth message and the sixth message are received.   
     
     
       35. The method of claim 33, wherein the first beam comprises infrared light and the second beam comprises infrared light. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 33, wherein the first beam and second beam are transmitted from at least one of: a rear mirror of a vehicle, a front of the vehicle, a rear of the vehicle, a side of the vehicle, a headlight of the vehicle, a rear light of the vehicle, or a roof of the vehicle. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 33, further comprising:
 determining a speed of an object based on a detection in the first zone and a detection in the second zone.   
     
     
       38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:
 comparing a speed of a vehicle to the speed of the object; and   automatically braking the vehicle based on the comparison.   
     
     
       39. The method of claim 33, wherein a size of the first zone is based on first emitter optics associated with the first beam, second emitter optics associated with the second beam, and an angle between the first beam and the second beam. 
     
     
       40. The method of claim 33, wherein at least one of the first zone and the second zone comprise a blind spot area. 
     
     
       41. The method of claim 33, further comprising adjusting a power of the first beam and a power of the second beam based on environmental conditions. 
     
     
       42. The method of claim 33, wherein each bit comprises a series of pulses. 
     
     
       43. The method of claim 33, wherein the first message comprises a random sequence.