IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,099,363
Granted Patent B2
US 12,099,363 · App. 18/332,224 · Granted Sep 24, 2024

Autonomous driving system emergency signaling

Inventor: Michael D. Cave (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
G05D1/0214B60Q9/00G05D1/0268H04J3/00H04J3/1682G05D1/0088G06N3/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,099,363
App. No.
18/332,224
Granted
Sep 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicular autonomous driving system includes a time division multiplexed (TDM) bus, an autonomous driving (AD) controller coupled to the TDM bus, and a plurality of AD sensors coupled to the TDM bus. The AD sensors are configured to collect AD data and transmit collected AD data to the AD controller on the TDM bus in an assigned time slot at a first power level. A first AD sensor of the plurality of AD sensors is configured to, based upon collected AD data, detect an AD emergency event. In response to the detection, the first AD sensor is configured to transmit an AD emergency message on the TDM bus in a non-assigned time slot and at a second power level that exceeds the first power level. The AD sensor may transmit the AD emergency message in a particular sub-slot of the non-assigned time slot.

Claims (38)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, first autonomous driving data from at least one autonomous driving sensor of a plurality of autonomous driving sensors in communication with an autonomous vehicle;

transmitting, by the processor, data in assigned time slots at a first power level to a second processor associated with the autonomous vehicle;

detecting, by the processor, an autonomous driving emergency event associated with the autonomous vehicle; and

transmitting, by the processor, an autonomous driving emergency message to the second processor at a second power level that exceeds the first power level.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second processor is in communication with a time division multiplexed (TDM) bus.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second power level is 6 dB greater than the first power level.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

reassigning, by the processor, one or more time slots to the plurality of autonomous driving sensors.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

directing, by the processor, the plurality of autonomous driving sensors to transmit data in reassigned time slots.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collected autonomous driving data is transmitted using a first modulation and the autonomous driving emergency message is transmitted using a second modulation that differs from the first modulation.

7. An autonomous vehicle comprising:

a plurality of autonomous driving sensors configured to collect autonomous driving data; and

a processor in communication with the plurality of autonomous driving sensors, the processor configured to:

receive first autonomous driving data from at least one autonomous driving sensor of the plurality of autonomous driving sensors of the autonomous vehicle;

transmit data in assigned time slots at a first power level to a second processor associated with the autonomous vehicle;

detect an autonomous driving emergency event associated with the autonomous vehicle; and

transmit an autonomous driving emergency message to the second processor at a second power level that exceeds the first power level.

8. The autonomous vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the second processor is in communication with a time division multiplexed (TDM) bus.

9. The autonomous vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the second power level is 6 dB greater than the first power level.

10. The autonomous vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

assign one or more time slots to the plurality of autonomous driving sensors.

11. The autonomous vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

direct the plurality of autonomous driving sensors to transmit data in assigned time slots.

12. The autonomous vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the collected autonomous driving data is transmitted using a first modulation and the autonomous driving emergency message is transmitted using a second modulation that differs from the first modulation.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a set of instructions, that when executed, cause a processor to:

receive first autonomous driving data from at least one autonomous driving sensor of a plurality of autonomous driving sensors in communication with an autonomous vehicle;

transmit data in assigned time slots at a first power level to a second processor associated with the autonomous vehicle;

detect an autonomous driving emergency event associated with the autonomous vehicle; and

transmit an autonomous driving emergency message to the second processor at a second power level that exceeds the first power level.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the second processor is in communication with a time division multiplexed (TDM) bus.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the second power level is 6 dB greater than the first power level.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

assign one or more time slots to the plurality of autonomous driving sensors.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

direct the plurality of autonomous driving sensors to transmit data in assigned time slots.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the collected autonomous driving data is transmitted using a first modulation and the autonomous driving emergency message is transmitted using a second modulation that differs from the first modulation.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2024
From: CAVE, MICHAEL D.
To: TESLA, INC.
Reel/Frame 067558/0025 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17092845 · Nov 9, 2020
Continuation 16142856 · Sep 26, 2018
Provisional Application 62583170 · Nov 8, 2017
Related Publication 20240085915A1 · Mar 14, 2024
Cited By (1)
US 12,662,050