Granted Patent B2

US 7,830,243 · App. 12/022,191 · Granted Nov 9, 2010

Abstract

Claims (38)

1. A proximity sensor system for a vehicle comprising:

a zone detection module that switches a first remote sensor from a first mode corresponding to a near zone rearward of the vehicle to a second mode corresponding to a far zone rearward of the vehicle, wherein said near zone includes an area of coverage wider and shorter in range than an area of coverage of said far zone; and

a response module that responds to first objects in said near zone and that selectively responds to second objects in said far zone when said second objects are in motion and that does not respond to said second objects when said second objects are stationary.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said first remote sensor comprises at least one of a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, and a visual sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a number of said first objects correspond to a number of said second objects.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising said first remote sensor, and

a second remote sensor, wherein said zone detection module switches said second sensor between near and far zone detection.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising an object tracking module that tracks position information for first objects in said near zone and second objects in said far zone.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising an estimation module that estimates a threat of impact between the vehicle and at least one of said first objects and said second objects based on signals from said tracking module.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said response module selectively responds to said second objects based on signals from said estimation module.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising a kinematics module that generates position and angular direction signals of the vehicle, wherein said estimation module generates said threat of impact based on kinematics module signals.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a control area network communication bus, wherein said kinematics module communicates through said control area network communication bus.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a parking notification module that generates a notification signal based on response module signals.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising left and right side mirror indicators that selectively display icons based on said notification signal indicating an event on at least one of left and right sides, of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising a parking display that indicates a relative distance of the vehicle to said first and second objects based on said notification signal.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said parking display comprises at least one of a Parksense visual display and Parktronics module.

14. The system of claim 10 further comprising an audible alert device that comprises at least one of a chime and a buzzer that activates based on response module signals.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a vehicle radio wherein said response module mutes said radio based on notification module signals indicating that said audible alert device will be activated.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising an override module that overrides said response module.

17. A proximity sensor system for a vehicle in reverse comprising:

a first remote sensor comprising a first near zone mode and a first far zone mode;

a second remote sensor comprising a second near zone mode and a second far zone mode;

a zone detection module that switches said first and second remote sensors from said first and second near zone modes to said first and second far zone modes as the vehicle moves in a rearward direction, wherein said first and second near zone modes cover areas rearward of the vehicle that have are wider and shorter in range than areas of coverage of said first and second far zone modes;

an object tracking module that tracks position information for first objects in said first and second near zones and second objects in said first and second far zones;

a response module that selectively responds to said second objects based on signals from said object tracking module indicating that said second objects are moving toward the vehicle and that does not respond to stationary second objects and that responds to all of said first objects;

a visual alert device that activates based on response module signals; and

an audible alert device that activates based on response module signals.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said response module selectively responds to said second objects by activating both said visual alert device and said audible alert device based on said signals from said object tracking module indicating that at least one of said second objects will cross a path of the vehicle within a predetermined time threshold.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said visual alert device remains active when said at least one of said second objects stops moving.

20. A control method for a remote sensor system for a vehicle comprising:

moving the vehicle in a rearward direction;

switching first and second remote sensors from near zone detection to far zone detection, wherein said near zone detection includes a wider field of view than said far zone detection and wherein said far zone detection detects areas more distant from the vehicle than said near zone detection;

tracking position information for first objects based on said near zone detection;

tracking position information for second objects based on said far zone detection;

selectively responding to said second objects based on signals indicating that said second objects are moving toward the vehicle and not responding to said second objects when said second objects are stationary;

responding to all of said first objects;

generating a visual alert based on said first and second objects; and

generating an audible alert based on said first and second objects.

Assignments (14)