[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to a brake light intensity control system of a motor vehicle by providing method and system for avoiding the chances of collision between the two vehicles running one behind the other by increasing or decreasing the brake light intensity. The brake light intensity is varied based on rate of change of brake fluid pressure in brake system and the speed of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Insufficient spacing between two vehicles is the cause of one of the costliest and serious types of traffic accidents, the rear-end collision. Rough estimates conservatively indicate that it accounts for more than one-third of all traffic accidents and one-half of the resulting injuries. Driving too close to a leading vehicle is the most basic driving error. Tailgating produces the deadliest damage, ranking the number one cause of auto accidents and injuries on the highway. Not only do such accidents result in loss of life and injuries which causes human suffering to persons and their families, but such accidents often require expensive repairs and cause insurance premiums to increase.
[0003] Rear-end collisions can often be prevented. Generally, such collisions are the direct result of drivers trailing so closely or tailgating, that they cannot stop in time. When the forward vehicle stops quickly or slows down instantly, the driver of the trailing vehicle often fails to stop his vehicle on time due to numerous factors: e.g., the driver's reflexes, reaction time, age, eyesight, physical condition, awareness of other vehicles, attentiveness and concentration on driving, sobriety, as well as the velocity of the vehicle, condition, and grade of the road, weather conditions, visibility, type and weight of the vehicle, operating condition of the vehicle, and especially its tires and brakes. Conditions also vary between daytime and night-time driving and the amount of ambient light available. It is often difficult to quickly determine the minimum safe distance required between cars because of the numerous factors involved.
[0004] One safety organization recommends one car length for every 10 kilometers per hour of the speed of the trailing vehicle. Improving a driver's awareness and reaction time is important. For example, providing an improvement of awareness or reaction time of even 1/10th of a second not previously available gives an additional three feet of stopping distance at 20 kilometers per hour, six feet at 40 kilometers per hour, and as much as nine feet at 60 kilometers per hour. This extra distance can be the difference between a safe stop and a rear-end collision. Even 1/10th of a second of improvement in awareness or reaction time is of considerable significance.
[0005] Significantly, motor vehicle accidents involving rear-end collisions comprise about one-third of the total accidents in India. Indeed, the severity of this problem prompted the Indian Government to mandate the use of high-mounted, third brake lights on all post-1985 Indian delivered automobiles. Through various tests, it has been found that such central high-mounted brake lights provide greater and improved recognition factors to the driver of the trailing vehicle and improves the reaction time of the driver by about 1/10th of a second in a braking condition, i.e. where the leading vehicle has activated its brakes.
[0006] Over the years, various conventional vehicle lighting and signalling devices, and methods of their construction and use, have been suggested. For example, one of the prior art discloses a warning and brake light arrangement such that an amber warning light is associated with a high-mounted brake light with the warning light being illuminated continuously except when the braking system is activated. With brake light illumination, the warning light is extinguished. This lighting arrangement is not very effective since the warning light only communicates when the braking system is inactive.
[0007] Another conventional vehicle lighting device discloses a safe distance signal light, such as with four illuminated areas located in four quadrants of a rectangular grid system. As the distance between vehicles increase, various sized opaque spaces between the quadrants progressively disappear, and fewer lights are seen.
[0008] These conventional vehicle lighting and signalling devices, and methods, have met with varying degrees of success, but generally do not achieve the advantages of the present invention. Furthermore, while these prior art patents and foreign patent applications, disclose various types of rear-end, lighting systems and methods of their construction, none of them, whether taken singularly or in combination, discloses the specific details, structural elements, and process steps of the present invention as specified in the claims of this patent application.
[0009] It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved brake signalling system and method which overcomes most, if not all of these problems, to help decrease accidents and increases the safety of the driver and passengers.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0011] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a system and method that detects a rate of change of brake fluid pressure in the braking system.
[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a system and method that identifies the speed of the vehicle during brake application.
[0013] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a system and method that determines the rate of change of brake fluid pressure in the brake system and the speed of the vehicle and accordingly increases or decreases the intensity of brake light.
[0014] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a system and method that helps a driver of trailing vehicle in judging the vehicle braking sensitivity based on the intensity of brake light and take necessary action.
[0015] It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a low cost and efficient system and method that helps in avoiding collision between two vehicles running one behind the other.
[0016] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0017] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a method and system for increasing or decreasing intensity of a brake light installed at rear-end of a vehicle based on a rate of change of brake fluid pressure exerted in a brake system and speed of the vehicle during an application of a brake. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0018] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides an adaptive brake light system comprising a receiving unit to receive a brake fluid pressure from a pressure sensor implemented in a brake system and a vehicle speed from a wheel speed sensor, a processing unit to process the brake fluid pressure to determine a rate of change of brake fluid pressure in the brake system, and a light intensity control unit to adapt the intensity of the rear brake light based on the rate of change of brake fluid pressure and vehicle speed.
[0019] In an aspect, the proposed system determines the rate of change of brake fluid pressure exerted due to braking, the processing unit is to ascertain one of the following rates of change of brake fluid pressure conditions, whether the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is less than a first predefined pressure value, whether the rate of change of brake fluid pressure lies between the first predefined pressure value and a second predefined pressure value, or whether the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is more than the second predefined pressure value, and process the vehicle speed to determine one of three predefined speed bands in which the vehicle speed lies during the ascertained rate of change of brake fluid pressure condition.
[0020] In an aspect, the first predefined pressure value of the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is less than the second predefined pressure value.
[0021] In an aspect, a light intensity control unit is provided to adapt the brake light intensity based on the rate of change of brake fluid pressure and the determined vehicle speed band.
[0022] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the system in which three predefined vehicle speed bands include a first predefined speed band, a second predefined speed band, and a third predefined speed band. In an example, the first predefined speed band for vehicle speed ranges from 0 to 20 kmph, the second predefined speed band for vehicle speed ranges from 20 to 60 kmph, and the third predefined speed band for vehicle speed lies above 60 kmph. However, the speed ranges are based on experimental data and can vary from vehicle to vehicle.
[0023] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling an adaptive brake light system. The method includes a step of receiving at a receiving unit, a brake fluid pressure value from a pressure sensor implemented in a brake system and a vehicle speed from a wheel speed sensor, processing by a processing unit the brake fluid pressure value to determine a rate of change of brake fluid pressure exerted due to brake application and adapting intensity of the rear brake light by a light intensity control unit based on the rate of change of brake fluid pressure and the vehicle speed.
[0024] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method which helps in determining the rate of change of brake fluid pressure after applying brakes, the processing unit is provided to ascertain one of the following rate of change of brake fluid pressure conditions whether the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is less than a first predefined pressure value, whether the rate of change of brake fluid pressure lies between the first predefined pressure value and a second predefined pressure value, or whether the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is more than the second predefined pressure value, and processing the vehicle speed to determine one of three predefined speed bands in which the vehicle speed lies during the ascertained rate of change of brake fluid pressure condition.
[0025] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the method that helps in adapting the brake light intensity by the light intensity control unit and is based on the rate of change of brake fluid pressure and the determined speed band.
[0026] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the method in which the first predefined pressure value of the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is less than the second predefined pressure value.
[0027] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the method in which the three predefined speed bands include a first predefined speed band, a second predefined speed band, and a third predefined speed band.
[0028] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0030] FIG.1 illustrates a block diagram of an adaptive brake light system of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG.2 illustrates a functional block diagram of the adaptive brake light system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates a method for controlling an adaptive brake light system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0033] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0035] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0036] As per the conventional system, when brakes are applied, rear brake light glows and trailing driver judges a vehicle braking sensitivity (low braking or high braking) based on a vehicle decelerating speed and experience only.
[0037] To overcome the issues related to the existing system, the present disclosure herein provides a system and a method that changes the intensity of a rear brake light. Moreover, a driver of a trailing vehicle can judge the vehicle braking sensitivity and take necessary action based on the intensity of the rear brake light.
[0038] The present disclosure aims to solve the technical problem of the prior arts by changing the intensity of rear brake light based on a rate of change of brake fluid pressure exerted in the brake system and the speed of the vehicle. The brake fluid pressure is determined by a pressure sensor placed in a braking system and the speed of the vehicle is determined by a wheel speed sensor of the vehicle. Also, the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is determined based on change in values of brake fluid pressure measured at different instances by the pressure sensor. The present disclosure clearly explains the system and the mechanism of working of the system in the below-mentioned explanation of figures.
[0039] FIG.1 illustrates a block diagram of an adaptive brake light system 100 of a vehicle and the connection between various components present inside the adaptive brake light system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0040] In the adaptive brake light system 100, a brake system 102 includes a pressure sensor 104 to measure brake fluid pressure corresponding to an amount of load applied on a brake pedal to stop the vehicle and sends this data to a receiving unit 106. Simultaneously, a wheel speed sensor 108 senses the speed of the vehicle during the stoppage of the vehicle on the application of brakes and sends this data to an ECU (Engine Control Unit) 110 which further transfers the data to the receiving unit 106. After receiving both the data that is related to the brake fluid pressure and the vehicle speed, the receiving unit 106 transfers the data to a processing unit 112 which analyses the data. Based on the analysed data, the processing unit 112 instructs the light intensity control unit 114 to control the intensity of one or more brake lights 116A, 116B which helps a driver of a trailing vehicle to judge a vehicle braking sensitivity and take necessary action accordingly.
[0041] The complete mechanism of working of the adaptive braking system is mentioned with reference to FIG. 2.
[0042] FIG. 2 illustrates a step by step operation of the various components of the adaptive brake light system 100 of the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0043] The adaptive braking system 100 is provided in the vehicle that alerts the driver of the trailing vehicle by increasing or decreasing the intensity of brake light to stop his vehicle accordingly. When a driver of front vehicle presses the brake pedal, the pressure sensor 104 installed in the brake system 102 measures the brake fluid pressure and sends the data regarding the brake fluid pressure to the receiving unit 106. On the other hand, wheel speed sensor 108 installed in the vehicle measures the speed of the vehicle during the application of brake and sends data to the ECU 110 that sends the data to the receiving unit 106. The receiving unit 106 sends both the data, i.e., the brake fluid pressure, and the speed of the vehicle, to the processing unit 112 which instructs the light control unit 114 to control the intensity of one or more brake lights 116A, 116B.
[0044] Also, the processing unit 112 calculates rate of change of brake fluid pressure based on the brake fluid pressure values measured by the pressure sensor 104 and compares the rate of change of brake fluid pressure with the predefined pressure values of the brake fluid pressure that are based on experimental data. The predefined brake fluid pressure values are mainly divided into two parts, a first predefined pressure rate and a second predefined pressure rate. In an example, the first predefined pressure rate is 5 bar/sec and the second predefined pressure rate is 13 bar/sec. However, the values of brake fluid pressure rate varies from vehicle to vehicle based on the vehicle brake system configuration. The comparison between the data measured and the predefined data are used to define three different conditions that are used to increase or decrease the intensity of brake light. For example, when the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is less than the first predefined pressure rate, then it falls under a first category. When the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is more than the first predefined pressure rate and less than the second predefined pressure rate, then it falls under a second category. When the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 102 is more than the second predefined pressure rate, then it falls under a third category.
[0045] On the other hand, wheel speed sensor 108 detects the speed of the vehicle and sends to processing unit 112. This measured vehicle speed is compared with the speed ranges fixed based on the experimental data. The fixed speed ranges are divided under three predefined speed bands. For example, a first predefined speed band defines the speed less than 20 kmph which is similar to traffic to traffic condition, a second predefined speed band defines the speed more than 20 kmph but less than 60kmph which is similar to city roads and semi urban roads, and a third predefined speed band defines the speed more than 60kmph which is similar to highway driving conditions. However, vehicle driving speed and vehicle driving behaviour pattern varies from one driver to another.
[0046] An exemplary implementation of the adaptive braking system 100 is described in detail in the description hereinafter.
[0047] In a first case, when the rate of change of brake fluid pressure determined by the processing unit 112 is less than the first predefined pressure rate and the vehicle speed is in first predefined speed band, then the light intensity control unit 114 adapts a low-intensity of the brake lights 116A, 116B.
[0048] In a second case, when the rate of change of brake fluid pressure determined by the processing unit 112 is less than the first predefined pressure rate and the vehicle speed is in second predefined speed band, then the light intensity control unit 114 again adapts a low-intensity of the brake lights 116A, 116B.
[0049] In a third case, when the rate of change of brake fluid pressure determined by the processing unit 112 is less than the first predefined pressure rate and the vehicle speed is in third predefined speed band, then the light intensity control unit 114 adapts a medium-intensity of the brake lights 116A, 116B.
[0050] In a fourth case, when the rate of change of brake fluid pressure determined by the processing unit 112 is more than the first predefined pressure rate and less than the second predefined pressure rate and the vehicle speed is in first predefined speed band, then the light intensity control unit 114 again adapts a medium-intensity of the brake lights 116A, 116B.
[0051] In a fifth case, when the rate of change of brake fluid pressure determined by the processing unit 112 is more than the first predefined pressure rate and less than the second predefined pressure rate and the vehicle speed is in second predefined speed band, then the light intensity control unit 114 again adapts a medium-intensity of the brake lights 116A, 116B.
[0052] In a sixth case, when the rate of change of brake fluid pressure determined by the processing unit 112 is more than the first predefined pressure rate and less than the second predefined pressure rate and the vehicle speed is in third predefined speed band, then the light intensity control unit 114 adapts a high-intensity of the brake lights 116A, 116B.
[0053] In a seventh case, when the rate of change of brake fluid pressure determined by the processing unit 112 is more than the second predefined pressure rate, and the vehicle speed is in first predefined speed band, then the light intensity control unit 114 adapts a high-intensity of the brake lights 116A, 116B.
[0054] In an eighth case, when the rate of change of brake fluid pressure determined by the processing unit 112 is more than the second predefined pressure rate and the vehicle speed is in second predefined speed band, then the light intensity control unit 114 adapts a high-intensity of the brake lights 116A, 116B.
[0055] In a ninth case, when the rate of change of brake fluid pressure determined by the processing unit 112 is more than the second predefined pressure rate and the vehicle speed is in third predefined speed band, then the light intensity control unit 114 adapts a high-intensity of the brake lights 116A, 116B.
[0056] FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 for controlling an adaptive brake light system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The order in which the method 300 is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks can be combined in any appropriate order to carry out the method 300, or alternative methods. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the method 300 without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein.
[0057] At block 302, the method 300 includes receiving at a receiving unit 106, a brake fluid pressure from a pressure sensor 104 implemented in a brake system 102 and a vehicle speed from a wheel speed sensor 108.
[0058] At block 304, the method 300 includes processing the brake fluid pressure by a processing unit 112 to determine a rate of change of brake fluid pressure exerted in the brake system 102.
[0059] At block 306, the method 300 includes adapting the intensity of the rear brake light 116 by a light intensity control unit 114 based on the rate of change of brake fluid pressure determined by the processing unit 112 and the vehicle speed.
[0060] Thus, with the system and the method described herein the present disclosure, various technical problems of the state of the art are resolved. Also, although a number of exemplary method options are described herein, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the system and the method that helps in informing the driver of the trailing vehicle about the vehicle braking sensitivity and take necessary action accordingly, without deviating from the scope of the subject matter of the present disclosure. The major function of the present disclosure is to reduce the chance of a collision as it provides increased alertness to the trailing vehicle driver at higher speed as can be shown in Fig. 2.
[0061] Further, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its scope.
[0062] Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Also, the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments.
[0063] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

Claims:1. An adaptive brake light system (100) comprising:
a receiving unit (106) to receive a brake fluid pressure from a pressure sensor (104) implemented in a brake system (102) and a vehicle speed from a wheel speed sensor (108);
a processing unit (112) coupled to the receiving unit (106), wherein the processing unit (112) is to process the brake fluid pressure to determine a rate of change of brake fluid pressure; and
a light intensity control unit (114) coupled to the processing unit (112), wherein the light intensity control unit (114) is to adapt an intensity of the rear brake light (116) based on the rate of change of brake fluid pressure determined by the processing unit (112) and the vehicle speed determined by the wheel speed sensor (108).
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (112) is to:
ascertain one of the following rate of change of brake fluid pressure conditions:
whether the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is less than a first predefined pressure value,
whether the rate of change of brake fluid pressure lies between the first predefined pressure value and a second predefined pressure value, or
whether the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is more than the second predefined pressure value, and
process the vehicle speed to determine one of three predefined speed bands in which the vehicle speed lies during the ascertained rate of change of brake fluid pressure condition.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light intensity control unit (114) is to adapt the intensity of the brake light (116) based on the determined speed band.
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first predefined pressure value of the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is less than the second predefined pressure value.
5. A method (300) for controlling an adaptive brake light system (100), the method (300) comprising:
receiving at a receiving unit (106), a brake fluid pressure from a pressure sensor (104) implemented in a brake system (102) and a vehicle speed from a wheel speed sensor (108);
processing the brake fluid pressure by a processing unit (112) to determine a rate of change of brake fluid pressure; and
adapting an intensity of the rear brake light (116) by a light intensity control unit (114), based on the rate of change of brake fluid pressure determined by the processing unit (112) and the vehicle speed determined by the wheel speed sensor (108).
6. The method (300) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the method further comprising:
ascertaining, by the processing unit (112), one of the following rate of change of brake fluid pressure conditions:
whether the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is less than a first predefined pressure value,
whether the rate of change of brake fluid pressure lies between the first predefined pressure value and a second predefined pressure value, or
whether the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is more than the second predefined pressure value, and
processing, by the processing unit (112), the vehicle speed to determine one of three predefined speed bands in which the vehicle speed lies during the ascertained rate of change of brake fluid pressure condition.
7. The method (300) as claimed in claim 6, wherein adapting of the intensity of the brake light (116) by the light intensity control unit (114) is based on the determined speed band.
8. The method (300) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first predefined pressure value of the rate of change of brake fluid pressure is less than the second predefined pressure value.