IP Library Granted Patent US 9,481,295
Granted Patent B2
US 9,481,295 · App. 14/611,883 · Granted Nov 1, 2016

Emergency vehicle maneuver communications

Inventors: Brian Bennie (Sterling Heights, MI); Brad Alan Ignaczak (Canton, MI); Randy Michael Freiburger (Novi, MI); Thomas Lee Miller (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60Q1/2611B60Q1/38B60Q1/44B60Q1/50B60W10/06B60W10/10B60W10/18B60W10/20G01S13/931G01S15/66G01S17/66G07C5/008G08G1/166B60W2710/06B60W2710/10B60W2710/18B60W2710/20B60W2750/40G01S13/72G01S2013/9364G01S2013/9367G07C5/085
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,481,295
App. No.
14/611,883
Granted
Nov 1, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Improved vehicle emergency lighting control may be implemented in a vehicle computer. Data may be collected related to a pursuit of a second vehicle. The collected data can be used to determine at least one of an action of the first vehicle and an action of the second vehicle. An emergency light in the first vehicle can be controlled based on the at least one determined action.

Claims (26)

1. A system for improved vehicle emergency lighting control, comprising a computer deployable in a first vehicle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is programmed to:

collect data related to a pursuit of a second vehicle;

use the collected data to identify a turn of at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and

control an emergency light in the first vehicle based on the at least one determined turn.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the collected data includes at least one of a position, speed, acceleration, deceleration, and turning of the first vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the collected data includes at least one of a position, speed, acceleration, deceleration, and turning of the second vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the collected data includes at least one of ultrasonic, image, radar, lidar, global positioning system (GPS), and infrared data.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the collected data includes data from at least one of a steering controller, a brake controller, an engine controller, and a transmission controller.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the emergency light in the first vehicle faces a rear portion of the first vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to detect activation of a pursuit switch before executing the control of the emergency light in the first vehicle based on the at least one determined action.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control of the emergency light in the first vehicle is provided according to a communication sent via a controller area network (CAN) bus in the first vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control of the emergency light in the first vehicle is provided according to a communication sent via a discrete communication.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to provide an audible indication of the determined action.

11. A method for improved vehicle emergency lighting control, comprising, in a computer in a first vehicle:

collecting data related to a pursuit of a second vehicle;

using the collected data to identify a turn of at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and

controlling an emergency light in the first vehicle based on the at least one determined action.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the collected data includes at least one of a position, speed, acceleration, deceleration, and turning of the first vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the collected data includes at least one of a position, speed, acceleration, deceleration, and turning of the second vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the collected data includes at least one of ultrasonic, image, radar, lidar, global positioning system (GPS), and infrared data.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the collected data includes data from at least one of a steering controller, a brake controller, an engine controller, and a transmission controller.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the emergency light in the first vehicle faces a rear portion of the first vehicle.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising detecting activation of a pursuit switch before executing the control of the emergency light in the first vehicle based on the at least one determined action.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the control of the emergency light in the first vehicle is provided according to a communication sent via a controller area network (CAN) bus in the first vehicle.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the control of the emergency light in the first vehicle is provided according to a communication sent via a discrete communication.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing an audible indication of the determined action.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2015
From: BENNIE, BRIAN; IGNACZAK, BRAD ALAN; FREIBURGER, RANDY MICHAEL; MILLER, THOMAS LEE
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 034867/0762 →
Continuity (5)
Provisional Application 61969126 · Mar 22, 2014
Provisional Application 61969122 · Mar 22, 2014
Provisional Application 61969123 · Mar 22, 2014
Provisional Application 61969124 · Mar 22, 2014
Related Publication 20150266411A1 · Sep 24, 2015