DESC:This application is based on and derives the benefit of Indian Provisional Application 201641012735, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] Embodiments herein relate to vehicle systems, and more particularly to providing safety related alerts for vehicles.

BACKGROUND
[002] Automobiles are equipped with many warning systems to prevent accidents. One such warning system is about warning the rear vehicles during panic braking so that the driver of the approaching vehicle could manoeuver the vehicle to avoid accidents. Some vehicles use triangular reflective plates, which have to be placed manually. Also, some other vehicle warning system uses permanent stickers or decals, which can obstruct the view of the driver.
[003] Adaptive brake system in existing vehicles only use brake light flashing and hazard (turn indicator) lights flashing. This causes irritation to other road users, since both the tail lamp and turn indicator lights are flashed for some period of time. This need not convey the hazardous situation in a clear manner. This creates panic and confusion to other vehicles.
[004] One current approach uses mechanical linkage support and installing a warning triangle manually on the third braking light. This has to be done manually and is not user friendly.

OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of embodiments as disclosed herein is to provide methods and systems for providing alerts by a vehicle, wherein the alert comprises of flashing the hazard warning lights of the vehicle and projecting a symbol onto the rear portion of the vehicle.
[006] Another object of embodiments as disclosed herein is to provide methods and systems for providing alerts by a vehicle, wherein the alert comprises of flashing the brake lights of the vehicle and projecting a symbol onto the rear portion of the vehicle, on the driver of the vehicle pressing the brakes.
[007] Another object of embodiments as disclosed herein is to provide methods and systems for providing alerts by a vehicle, wherein the alert comprises of flashing the brake lights of the vehicle and projecting a symbol onto the rear portion of the vehicle, on a user of the vehicle putting ON the hazard lights.
[008] Another object of embodiments as disclosed herein is to provide methods and systems for providing alerts by a vehicle, wherein the alert comprises of flashing the brake lights of the vehicle and projecting a symbol onto the rear portion of the vehicle, when the vehicle is in an emergency situation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[009] Embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a system for providing alerts by a vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0011] FIG. 2 depict an example positioning of the projector in a vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0012] FIG. 3 depicts an example projector, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting the process of providing alerts by a vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting the process of providing alerts, on the vehicle performing emergency braking, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting the process of providing alerts, on a user of the vehicle putting on the hazard lamps, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting the process of providing alerts, on the vehicle being in a crash, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0018] The embodiments herein provide methods and systems for providing alerts by a vehicle, wherein the alert comprises of flashing the hazard warning lights and/or the brake lights of the vehicle and projecting a symbol onto the rear portion of the vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 7, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[0019] Embodiments herein provide methods and systems for providing alerts by a vehicle, wherein the alert comprises of flashing the hazard warning lights and/or the brake lights of the vehicle and projecting a symbol onto the rear portion of the vehicle. Embodiments herein provide methods and systems for providing alerts by a vehicle, wherein the alert comprises of flashing the brake lights of the vehicle and projecting a symbol onto the rear portion of the vehicle, on the driver of the vehicle pressing the brakes. Embodiments herein provide methods and systems for providing alerts by a vehicle, wherein the alert comprises of flashing the brake lights of the vehicle and projecting a symbol onto the rear portion of the vehicle, on a user of the vehicle putting ON the hazard lights. Embodiments herein provide methods and systems for providing alerts by a vehicle, wherein the alert comprises of flashing the brake lights of the vehicle and projecting a symbol onto the rear portion of the vehicle, when the vehicle is in an emergency situation. In an embodiment herein, the symbol can be a hazard symbol. Embodiments herein are explained using the hazard symbol as an example, but it can be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to use any other symbol for providing alerts.
[0020] FIG. 1 depicts a system for providing alerts by a vehicle. The system 100, comprises of a projector 101, and an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) 102. The projector 101 is placed in the vehicle, such that a symbol can be projected onto the rear portion of the vehicle. Examples of the placement of the projector 101 can be, but not limited to, the backdoor trim of the vehicle, the parcel tray of the vehicle, below the high mounted stop lamp of the vehicle, near the rear windshield wiper, and so on. FIG. 2 depicts an example positioning of the projector system in a vehicle. FIG. 2 also depicts the Point of View (POV) of a person, who will be behind the vehicle. In the example depicted, the symbol is the hazard warning triangle and the symbol is projected onto the rear windshield of the vehicle.
[0021] The ECU 102 is an electronic control unit responsible for monitoring and controlling various electronic accessories in the body of the vehicle. Typically in a vehicle, the ECU 102 controls the power windows, power mirrors, air conditioning, immobilizer system, central locking, and so on. The ECU 102 can be connected to other modules in the vehicle, such as the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) 103, the crash sensor 104, the hazard switch 105, and so on. The ECU 102 can also be connected to the hazard lamps 106 and the brake lights 107 present in the vehicle.
[0022] The projector 101 can receive data from the ECU 102, using a suitable means such as a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. The CAN bus is a vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other in applications without a host computer. It is a message-based protocol, designed originally for multiplex electrical wiring within automobiles, but is also used in many other contexts.
[0023] The ECU 102 can continuously monitor the data received from the various modules connected to it, such as the ESP 103, the crash sensor 104, the hazard switch 105, and so on. On detecting a pre-defined event (such as the vehicle decelerating rapidly, the hazard lamps being turned on, the vehicle being in a crash, and so on), the ECU 102 can provide a first indication to the projector 101, such that the projector 101 will project the symbol onto the rear windshield of the vehicle. The ECU 102 can also provide a second indication to the hazard lamps 106, such that the hazard lamps 106 start flashing at a pre-determined rate (such as two flashes per second, and so on). If the vehicle is braking, the ECU 102 can also provide a third indication to the brake lights 107, such that the brake lights turn on. On determining that the vehicle has resumed normal driving (based on inputs from the connected modules), the ECU 102 can provide indications to the projector 101, the hazard lamps 106 and the brake lights 107 (if required) to be turned off.
[0024] FIG. 3 depicts an example projector. In the example herein, the projector 101 can be a laser projector. The projector 101 as depicted comprises of a controller 301, a laser 302, a phosphor plate 303, a photo detector 304, at least one heat sink 305, a mirror 306, a lens 307, and a motion sensor 308. The projector 101 can also be connected to at least one power source in the vehicle.
[0025] The controller 301 can receive data from the ECU 102 using the CAN bus. On receiving an indication from the ECU 102, the controller 301 can project the symbol onto the rear windshield using the laser 302, the phosphor plate 303, the mirror 306, and the lens 307. The lens 307 can be adjusted to project the symbol clearly onto the rear windshield. The controller 301 can be configured to change the symbol, if required.
[0026] The motion sensor 308 can provide a signal to the controller 301 to shut off the projector 101, on the motion sensor 308 detecting motion in the projection path to avoid direct projection on eye. In an embodiment herein, the motion sensor 308 can be an integrated Passive Infrared (PIR) motion sensor.
[0027] The heat sink 308 can enable the projector 101 to dissipate heat generated in the projector 101.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting the process of providing alerts by a vehicle. The ECU 102 continuously monitors (401) the data received from the various modules connected to it, such as the ESP 103, the crash sensor 104, the hazard switch 105, and so on. On detecting (402) a pre-defined event (such as the vehicle decelerating rapidly, the hazard lamps being turned on, the vehicle being in a crash, and so on), the ECU 102 provides (403) a first indication to the projector 101, such that the projector 101 will project the symbol onto the rear windshield of the vehicle. The ECU 102 also provides (404) a second indication to the hazard lamps 106, such that the hazard lamps 106 start flashing. The various actions in method 400 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 4 may be omitted.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting the process of providing alerts, on the vehicle performing emergency braking. The ECU 102 monitors (501) the speed and the brake status of the vehicle. When a driver of the vehicle presses (502) the brake pedal, the ECU 102 determines (503) whether the braking is normal or panic/emergency. The ECU 102 can determine whether the braking is normal or panic/emergency by calculating the rate of deceleration by performing second differentiation of velocity-time curve. If the slope of a curve of the rate of deceleration is greater than a slope threshold, the ECU 102 can determine that the braking is panic/emergency braking. If the slope of the curve is not greater than a slope threshold, the ECU 102 can determine that the braking is normal braking. On the ECU 102 determining that the braking is panic/Emergency braking, the ECU 102 provides (504) a first indication to the projector 101, such that the projector 101 will project the symbol onto the rear windshield of the vehicle. The ECU 102 also provides (505) a second indication to the hazard lamps 106, such that the hazard lamps 106 start flashing. The ECU 102 also provides (506) a third indication to the brake lights 107, such that the brake lights turn on. The various actions in method 500 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 5 may be omitted.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting the process of providing alerts, on a user of the vehicle putting on the hazard lamps. When a driver of the vehicle presses (601) the switch 105 for the hazard lamps 106, the ECU 102 provides (602) a first indication to the projector 101, such that the projector 101 will project the symbol onto the rear windshield of the vehicle. The ECU 102 also provides (603) a second indication to the hazard lamps 106, such that the hazard lamps 106 start flashing. The various actions in method 600 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 6 may be omitted.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting the process of providing alerts, on the vehicle being in a crash. The ECU 102 receives (701) an indication from the crash sensor 104 that vehicle is in a crash. The crash can be at least one of a collision, a rear collision, a front collision, a side collision, or any other crash that can affect the body of the vehicle. The ECU 102 provides (702) a first indication to the projector 101, such that the projector 101 will project the symbol onto the rear windshield of the vehicle. The ECU 102 also provides (703) a second indication to the hazard lamps 106, such that the hazard lamps 106 start flashing. The various actions in method 700 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 7 may be omitted.
[0032] Embodiments herein eliminate the need to manually install a physical hazard signboard, in cases of emergencies. Since embodiments herein use projection technology, this will not affect rear visibility through IRVM (Internal Rear View Mirror) while not in operation thus ensuring safety of the occupants and also to other vehicles.
[0033] The embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented through at least one software program running on at least one hardware device and performing network management functions to control the network elements. The network elements shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 include blocks which can be at least one of a hardware device, or a combination of hardware device and software module.
[0034] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
,CLAIMS:STATEMENT OF CLAIMS
We claim:
1. A method for providing at least one alert by a vehicle, the method comprising
detecting at least one pre-defined event occurring by the ECU (102) based on data received from at least one module (103, 104, 105);
providing a first indication to the projector (101) by the ECU (102), on detecting the at least one pre-defined event;
projecting a symbol onto the rear windshield of the vehicle by the projector (101), on receiving the first indication; and
flashing the hazard lamps (106) by the ECU (102), on detecting the at least one pre-defined event.

2. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre-defined event can be at least one of the vehicle decelerating rapidly; the hazard lamps being turned on; and the vehicle being in a crash.

3. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises turning on the brake lights (107) by the ECU (102) on detecting panic/emergency braking.

4. The method, as claimed in claim 3, wherein detecting panic/emergency braking comprises
calculating a rate of deceleration by performing second differentiation of velocity-time curve by the ECU (102), on detecting braking of the vehicle; and
determine that the braking is panic/emergency braking by the ECU (101), if a slope of a curve of the rate of deceleration is greater than a slope threshold.

5. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises turning off the projector (101) and the hazard lamps (106) by the ECU (102), on detecting that the vehicle has resumed driving.

6. A system (100) in a vehicle for providing at least one alert, the system comprising of an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (102) configured for
detecting at least one pre-defined event occurring, based on data received from at least one module (103, 104, 105);
providing a first indication to the projector (101) for projecting a symbol onto the rear windshield of the vehicle by the projector (101), on detecting the at least one pre-defined event; and
flashing the hazard lamps (106), on detecting the at least one pre-defined event.
7. The system, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pre-defined event can be at least one of the vehicle decelerating rapidly; the hazard lamps being turned on; and the vehicle being in a crash.

8. The system, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the ECU (102) is further configured for turning on the brake lights (107) on detecting panic/emergency braking.

9. The system, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ECU (102) is further configured for detecting panic/emergency braking by
calculating a rate of deceleration by performing second differentiation of velocity-time curve, on detecting braking of the vehicle; and
determine that the braking is panic/emergency braking, if a slope of a curve of the rate of deceleration is greater than a slope threshold.

10. The system, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the ECU (102) is further configured for turning off the projector (101) and the hazard lamps (106), on detecting that the vehicle has resumed driving.

11. A projector (101) in a vehicle configured for projecting a pre-defined symbol onto a rear windshield of the vehicle, on receiving an indication from an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (102) that a pre-defined event has occurred.

12. The projector, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the projector (101) is a laser projector.

13. The projector, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pre-defined event can be at least one of the vehicle decelerating rapidly; the hazard lamps being turned on; and the vehicle being in a crash.

14. The projector, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the projector (101) further comprises a motion sensor (308), wherein the projector (101) is configured to turn off on detecting motion in a path of the projection of the projector (101).