Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

Field of the invention
[0001] The present disclosure relates to traffic assistance systems and more specifically to a system and a method to indicate a path taken by a vehicle while the vehicle is taking a turn.

[0002] Background of the invention

[0003] When long trucks or heavy vehicles with trailers (or a wagon) take a turn or go around a curve, it becomes difficult for the traffic around the said truck/trailer to predict the path followed by the trailer during the course of the turn. Any mis-judgement by the adjacent traffic may cause a collision with the trailer.

[0004] In the prior art CN109720269 A vehicle driving laser auxiliary device is disclosed. The vehicle driving laser auxiliary device comprises a vehicle body and laser projection devices arranged on the two sides in front of the vehicle body. The laser projection devices project light rays of tire advancing tracks of the vehicle body on the ground. By the adoption of the above design, two wheel advancing routes are projected right ahead a vehicle, a driver can clearly know wheel rolling positions, a traveling safety coefficient is greatly increased, a width instruction effect can be achieved, wheel advancing tracks can be definitely marked, a road surface obstacle is effectively avoided, a vehicle advancing route can be visually and accurately judged, the advancing tracks of tires of the vehicle can be clearly known in the traveling process, and a good auxiliary effect on pull-over, lane change and overtaking is achieved.

[0005] Currently there are driver assistance systems to warn the truck driver about the adjacent traffic at blind spots, but there are no warning/indication systems to the adjacent traffic (visual communication to traffic) to indicate the path that will be taken by the truck/trailer so that a safe distance can be maintained by the adjacent traffic. This problem is even more significant in narrow, hilly & curvy roads.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings:
[0006] Figure 1 depicts a system to indicate a path taken by a vehicle while taking a turn.
[0007] Figure 2 depicts a region illuminated by the disclosed system when a vehicle is taking a turn.
[0008] Figure 3 depicts a flow chart for a method to indicate a path taken by a vehicle while taking a turn.

Detailed description of the drawings:

[0009] The present disclosure provides a system integrated into vehicle that actively detects the swivel of the trailer during the course of turn and calculates the probable path followed by the trailer and illuminates it (road surface) using a sharp light source. Thus, the system assists in indicating or warning the adjacent traffic.

[0010] The system functions irrespective of the cabin/truck/vehicle it is attached to as the trailer/wagon can be attached to trucks/cabins of different lengths. Since the region of illumination in the present disclosure depends on the angle of turn as well as the total length of the vehicle, this solution has self-calibrating function and requires no input from the driver.

[0011] Referring to Figure 1, the same depicts a system(100) to indicate a path taken by a vehicle while taking a turn. A processor (1) is disclosed. In an example, the processor maybe situated on a wagon/trailer attached to a vehicle through a 5th wheel assembly and powered by the vehicle to which the said wagon/trailer is attached. The processor executes the stored programs present in the storage unit associated with it. The storage unit of the processor stores the programs, reference values and inputs from the other components of the system to execute the present invention.

[0012] In an example, the processor is in communication with at least one angle sensor (2), at least one camera (3), and a light emitting module (4). Typically, trailers are attached to the cabin/truck using a coupling called fifth wheel coupler. Trailer consists of a cylindrical protrusion called the kingpin which gets coupled to the horseshoe-shaped slot (fifth wheel) provided in the cabin. During a turn, the kingpin rotates inside the fifth wheel. To measure the rotation of the kingpin, an angle measuring sensor is provided at the fifth wheel assembly, hereby referred to as the angle sensor (2). The angle of rotation measured is directly proportional to the steering input so as to measure a turning angle in real time. In an example the angle sensor may be a non-contact type sensor and the signals from the sensor are received as inputs by the processor. In an example, the illumination region is calculated by the processor when the angle of rotation measured by the fifth wheel sensor is above a threshold angle.

[0013] Trailers are attached to trucks/cabins of various types with different lengths. As the angle of swivel depends on the total length, the total vehicle length along with the trailer/wagon is calculated to calibrate the system accurately so that a precise region (to illuminate) can be calculated. The present disclosure implements a completely automated system without any driver input to calculate the combined vehicle length. Hence, the invention uses a camera (3) which is mounted on the trailer such that the combined length of the cabin and the trailer can be measured in an image by the camera image when the vehicle takes a turn.

[0014] The camera with the aid of image recognition helps to identify the type of vehicle and the length subsequently. This information is then given to the processor (1) for calculation.

[0015] Based on the inputs from angle sensor (2) and the camera (3), a predefined mathematical model calculates the illumination region. This is illuminated by a light module(4). In an example, the light module comprises of Laser/Sharp LED source(s) and actuators. In an example, the light module may be rotated using a motor to achieve the desired illumination region.

[0016] The present disclosure provides an optical based (Laser/Sharp LED) indication system to the adjacent traffic that does not mask/hinder the visibility of obstacle(s) in the region of illumination. The Laser/LED source used in this system will not affect the health of human (Skin, eye etc.) in any way.

[0017] Referring again to Figure 1, disclosed is a system (100) to processor indicate a path taken by a vehicle taking a turn, the taking a turn, the vehicle in communication with a wagon through a fifth wheel assembly, the system comprising: at least one angle sensor(2) mounted on at least one fifth wheel ; at least one camera (3) mounted on the wagon; a processor (1) to calculate a region to be illuminated based on the inputs received by the processor from said at least one angle sensor and said at least one camera; and a light emitting module (4) to illuminate the region calculated by the processor.

[0018] The angle of rotation of a fifth wheel is the input received by the processor from the angle sensor (2), said angle sensor being in communication with the processor(1). A combined length of the vehicle and the wagon is measured by the processor based on an input image data received from the camera (3), said camera being in communication with the processor(1). The region to be illuminated is calculated by the processor based on: a threshold angle of rotation of the fifth wheel; and the combined length of the vehicle and the Wagon. The light emitting module (4) in communication with the processor uses at least one light emitting source to illuminate the region calculated.

[0019] Referring to figure2, Figure 2 depicts a region illuminated by the disclosed system when a vehicle is taking a turn. In an example, when the vehicle comprising of a cabin (10) and a trailer (11) takes a turn, the inputs from angle sensor (12) and the camera(13) are sent to the processor (not shown). The processor, based on the inputs received calculates a region (14) to be illuminated and actuates a light emitting module (16) to illuminate light, thereby indicating/warning other vehicle(s) (15) in the vicinity of the path that the combined vehicle (cabin (10) and wagon(11)) will be taking.

[0020] Referring to figure 3, Fig 3 depicts a flow chart for a method to indicate a path taken by a vehicle while taking a turn. Said vehicle is in communication with a wagon through a fifth wheel assembly. In an example, an input from at least one angle sensor is received by the processor (101) and an input from at least one camera is received by the processor (102). Based on the input, a region to be illuminated is calculated by the processor (103). A light emitting module is actuated by the processor (104) to illuminate the region calculated.

[0021] An angle of rotation of a fifth wheel is the input received from the angle sensor, said angle sensor being in communication with the processor. The combined length of the vehicle and the wagon is measured based on an image data received from at least one camera, said camera being in communication with the processor. The region to be illuminated is calculated by the processor based on: a threshold angle of rotation of the fifth wheel; and the combined length of the vehicle and the Wagon.

[0022] The disclosure advantageously assists in warning the nearby traffic of the path taken by a large vehicle with a long trailer attached to the otherwise clueless traffic surrounding said vehicle.

, Claims:
We Claim:
1. A system (100) to indicate a path taken by a vehicle taking a turn, the vehicle in communication with a wagon through a fifth wheel assembly, the system comprising:
-at least one angle sensor(2) mounted on at least one fifth wheel ;
-at least one camera (3) mounted on the wagon;
-a processor (1) to calculate a region to be illuminated based on the inputs received by the processor from said at least one angle sensor (2) and said at least one camera (3); and
-a light emitting module (4) to illuminate the region calculated by the processor.

2. The system(100) as claimed as claimed in claim1, wherein, an angle of rotation of a fifth wheel is the input received by the processor from the angle sensor (2), said angle sensor being in communication with the processor(1).

3.The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, a combined length of the vehicle and the wagon is measured by the processor based on an input image data received from the camera (3), said camera being in communication with the processor(1).

4. The system(100) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, the region to be illuminated is calculated by the processor based on:
-a threshold angle of rotation of the fifth wheel; and
-the combined length of the vehicle and the Wagon.

5. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, wherein, the light emitting module (4) in communication with the processor uses at least one light emitting source to illuminate the region calculated.

6. A method to indicate a path taken by a vehicle taking a turn, said vehicle in communication with a wagon through a fifth wheel assembly, the method characterized by the steps of :
- receiving an input from at least one angle sensor , by a processor (101);
-receiving an input from at least one camera by the processor (102);
-calculating a region to be illuminated by the processor (103); and
-actuating a light emitting module (104), by the processor, to illuminate the region, said light emitting module in communication with the processor.

7. The method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein, an angle of rotation of a fifth wheel is the input received from the angle sensor, said angle sensor being in communication with the processor.

8.The method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the combined length of the vehicle and the wagon is measured based on an image data received from at least one camera, said camera being in communication with the processor.

9. The method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein, the region to be illuminated is calculated by the processor based on:
-a threshold angle of rotation of the fifth wheel; and
-the combined length of the vehicle and the Wagon.