FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to a system and a
method driver for assistance in a vehicle to avoid collision, and in particularly, 5 to
a method and a system to detect movement of primary other vehicle towards
subject vehicle and indicate a collision warning on a warning display device of the
subject vehicle.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
10 [002] Background description includes information that may be useful in
understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the
information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed
subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior
art.
15 [003] In automobile, there are high chances that a vehicle may change the lane
without identifying any coming vehicle in the same direction due to which there
are chances of rear side collision. There are some existing systems that assist the
driver when subject vehicle is driving in forward direction. One well known and
conventional system is rear view mirror (IRVM or ORVM) that has convex mirror
20 to capture wide view of rear side. The convex mirror shows the object or coming
vehicle farther than actual. Also, the OVRM or IVRM are not effective during
night and foggy conditions. Further, there are some blind spots in the vehicle
where rear view mirror cannot show coming vehicle. Another disadvantage
associate with the rear view mirror is that driver has to judge the distance and
25 speed of the approaching vehicle which is not correct mostly. So there are high
chances of rear side collision.
[004] Other existing systems are lane departure warning system that works
when driver deviates from the lane marking based on camera information. In the
lane departure warning system, if driver steers the vehicle for lane change and any
3
vehicle is detected, the system provides an audio or visual indication. However,
there is no information based on the distance of the approaching vehicle.
[005] In other existing system, vehicles are equipped with blind spot detection
system that are designed to provide a warning based on time to collision of the
approaching vehicle or primary other vehicle with respect to subject vehicle5 .
[006] However, the above mentioned blind spot detection system is not effective
on the congested roads where number of vehicles are high and driving habits are
not good. In the present scenario of congested roads, the existing blind spot
detection system will always generate warning signals based on the time to
10 collision (TTC) of the approaching vehicle or primary other vehicle with respect
to subject vehicle. However, in some situations, estimation of distance between
the subject vehicle and primary other vehicle gives accurate judgement of
implementing collision, and, in other situations, estimation of time to collision
(TTC) between the subject vehicle and primary other vehicle gives accurate
15 judgement of impending collision.
[007] Therefore, a system is required that can work effectively on the congested
roads to provide actual and correct warnings based on real time scenario.
Therefore, a system is required that can give correct warnings based on either
estimation of distance between subject vehicle and primary other vehicle, or
20 estimation of time to collision (TTC) between the subject vehicle and primary
other vehicle, whichever is suited according to the situation.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[008] The principal object of the present invention is to provide a system and a
method for warning potential collision of subject vehicle with primary other
25 vehicle.
[009] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a system and a
method for generating visual warning in different colors based on different values
of relative distance and time to collision (TTC) between the subject vehicle and
the primary other vehicle.
4
[0010] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a method and a
system to issue visual warning on right hand side, left hand side and inside rear
view mirror of the vehicle.
[0011] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a system and a
method to generate warning when primary other vehicle is in danger zone, i.5 e.,
very close to the subject vehicle.
[0012] Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide a system and
a method to generate warning when time to collision is less than the threshold
time to collision.
10 [0013] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a
preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
15 [0014] This summary is provided to introduce concepts relating to a system and a
method to generate warning of collision. 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.
20 [0015] In an embodiment the present subject matter relates to a vehicle collision
warning apparatus to detect movement of primary other vehicle with respect to
subject vehicle and issues warning when there a is possibility of collision between
them. The vehicle collision warning apparatus comprises a plurality of sensors
configured to transmit a transmission signal and generate a reception signal based
25 on the reflection signal of the transmission on the Primary Other Vehicle (POV).
The vehicle collision warning apparatus further comprises a vehicle rear collision
warning system that is coupled with plurality of sensors through an interface and a
processor. The vehicle rear collision warning system comprises a distance
measuring unit, a speed measuring unit, a time to collision measuring unit and a
5
warning generating unit. The distance measuring unit is configured to measure
distance (d) between a subject vehicle (SV) and a primary other vehicle (POV)
based on the reception signal of the plurality of sensors and the warning
generating unit is configured to generate a warning signal (S1) when the measured
distance (d) is less than the pre-stored threshold distance 5 ce (Dred).
[0016] In an aspect, the speed measuring unit is configured to measure relative
speed (Vr) between the subject vehicle (SV) and the primary other vehicle (POV).
The time to collision (TTC) unit is configured to measure time to collision (TTC)
when the measure relative speed (Vr) is more than pre-stored threshold relative
10 speed (Vth) and the warning generating unit is configured to generate a warning
signal (S2) when the measured time to collision (TTC) is less than pre-stored
threshold (Tth) time to collision.
[0017] In an aspect, the speed measuring unit is configured to measure relative
speed (Vr) between the subject vehicle (SV) and the primary other vehicle (POV)
15 and the distance measuring unit configured to measure distance (d) between the
subject vehicle (SV) and the primary other vehicle (POV) when the measure
relative speed (Vr) is less than pre-stored threshold relative speed (Vth). The
warning generating unit is configured to generate a warning signal (S3) when the
measured distance (d) is less than pre-stored threshold distance (Dth).
20 [0018] In an aspect, the vehicle rear collision warning system receives vehicle
speed (Vs) of the subject vehicle (SV) from electronic control unit (ECU) of the
vehicle.
[0019] In an aspect, the distance measuring unit measures distance based on the
reception signal and the speed measuring unit measures speed (Vp) of the primary
25 other vehicle (POV) based on the reception signals.
[0020] In an aspect, the time to collision (TTC) measuring unit measures the time
to collision (TTC) based on the measured distance (d) and the measured relative
speed (Vr).
6
[0021] In an aspect, the warning generating unit sends the warning signals (S1,
S2, S3) to a warning display device.
[0022] In an aspect, the warning display device is Outer Rear View Mirror
(ORVM) or Inside Rear View Mirror 5 (IRVM).
[0023] In an aspect, the warning signals (S1, S2, S3 can be indicated in different
colors based upon different values of relative distance and time to collision (TTC).
[0024] In an aspect, the plurality of sensors are positioned on left, right and rear
side of the vehicle.
10 [0025] In an embodiment, the present subject matter relates to a method to
provide warning of vehicle collision. The method includes measuring distance (d)
between subject vehicle (SV) and a primary other vehicle (POV) based on a
reception signal (R1) generated by a plurality of sensor and generating a warning
signal (S1) by a warning generating unit when measured distance (d) is less than a
15 pre-stored threshold distance (Dred).
[0026] In an aspect, the method further includes calculating relative speed (Vr)
between the subject vehicle (SV) and the primary other vehicle (POV) when the
measured distance (d) is more than the pre-stored threshold distance (Dred) and
calculating time to collision (TTC) when the measured relative speed (Vr) is more
20 than a pre-stored threshold relative speed (Vth). Generating a warning signal (S2)
when the measured time to collision (TTC) is less than pre-stored threshold (Tth)
time to collision.
[0027] In an aspect, the method further includes generating a warning signal (S3)
when the measured relative speed (Vr) is less than pre-stored threshold relative
25 speed (Vth) and the measured distance (d) is less than pre-stored threshold
distance (Dth).
[0028] In an aspect, the vehicle speed (Vs) of the subject vehicle (SV) is received
from electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle.
7
[0029] In an aspect, the distance (d) and speed (Vp) of the primary other vehicle
(POV) is measured based on the reception signals.
[0030] In an aspect, the time to collision (TTC) is measured based on the
measured distance (d) and the measured relative speed (Vr).
[0031] In an aspect, the warning signals (S1, S2, S3) are sent to a warning 5 rning display
device, where the warning signals (S1, S2, S3) indicates different colors on the
warning display device for warning indication.
[0032] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of
the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with
10 reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative
only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only
typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be
15 considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally
effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the
accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number
identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same
numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and
20 components. Some embodiments of system or methods in accordance with
embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example,
and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0034] Fig. 1 illustrates block diagram of vehicle collision warning apparatus
having a vehicle collision warning system, in accordance with an embodiment of
25 the present subject matter;
[0035] Fig. 2 illustrates a method for generating a warning in different scenarios,
in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0036] Fig. 3a, 3b, and 3c illustrate different scenarios for generating warning, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
8
[0037] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the
purposes of 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 here5 in.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0038] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the
disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It
should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to
10 clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided
herein 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.
15 [0039] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that,
although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the
present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects,
and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are
intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
20 [0040] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As
used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the
plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be
further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or
25 “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence
or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
components and/or groups thereof.
9
[0041] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the
functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example,
two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may
sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts
involve5 d.
[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific
terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further
understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should
10 be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the
context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly
formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0043] Definition of Blind spot: A blind spot in a vehicle is an area around the
vehicle that cannot be directly observed by the driver while at the controls, under
15 existing circumstances. Blind spots may occur in the front of the driver when the
A-pillar (also called the windshield pillar), side-view mirror, or interior rear-view
mirror block a driver’s view of the road.
[0044] Various embodiments and/or implementations described herein relates to
an apparatus and a method for detecting possibility of collision of subject vehicle
20 with primary other vehicle on roads. In an embodiment represented in Fig. 1, a
vehicle collision warning apparatus 100 (hereinafter may be referred as apparatus
100) comprises a plurality of sensors 113. In an aspect, the plurality of sensors
113 are positioned on left side, right side, and rear side of the vehicle. The
plurality of sensors 113 may be radar based sensors, or any other distance
25 measuring sensors, that send a transmission signal in positioned direction and
generate a reception signal based on the reflection signal of the transmission
signal by a primary other vehicle (POV). Further, working and use of radar based
sensor are well known in the art. Therefore, to avoid ambiguity in the present
subject matter, description of radar based is limited. Further, the apparatus 100
30 includes a vehicle collision warning system 101 that is coupled with the plurality
10
of sensors 113 to receives the reception signal and information from speedometer
of the subject vehicle to receive speed of the subject vehicle (SV). The vehicle
collision warning system 101 may be implemented as standalone device or in
integration with other existing devices, such as telematics device or electronic
control unit (ECU) in the vehicle. In any implementation, the vehicle collis5 ion
warning system 101 is coupled with the ECU of the subject vehicle through
hardware interface 103 to communicate with other components of the vehicle.
Further, the vehicle collision warning system 101 sends the generated warning to
a warning display device 115 through the ECU or directly. The warning display
10 device 115 may be any display device in the subject vehicle to indicate or alert
driver about the warning generated by the vehicle collision warning system 101.
To provide better indications of warning to the driver, it is preferred that warning
display device 115 can be right side or left side Outer Rear View Mirror (ORVM)
or Inside Rear View Mirror (IRVM). The warning display device 115 includes a
15 plurality of LEDs of different color to provide different color indications based on
different values of warning signals issued by
the vehicle collision warning system 101. The vehicle collision warning system
101 is provided on the subject vehicle to monitor movement of the primary other
vehicle (POV) and to detect possibility of collision between the subject vehicle
20 (SV) and the primary other vehicle (POV) and issues warning to the driver of the
subject vehicle when there is possibility of collision when the subject
vehicle departs from its intentional path towards the primary other vehicle (POV)
path.
[0045] The vehicle collision warning system 101 may be coupled with turn
25 indicator, steering angle sensor, vehicle velocity sensor, GPS sensor, steering
torque sensor, yaw rate sensor via interface 103 to receive their corresponding
input. The turn indicator, the steering angle sensor, the vehicle velocity sensor, the
steering torque sensor, and the yaw rate sensor are peripheral devices which are
coupled with the system to provide plurality of real time or inputs, such as turn
30 Indication ON or OFF, steering angle value, vehicle velocity, steering torque
11
value, and yaw rate of the vehicle. Based on these received real time inputs, the
vehicle collision warning system 101 processes the inputs to detect
possibility of collision with the primary other vehicle (POV) when vehicle is
turning its lane and warn the driver when there is possibility of collision.
[0046] The interface 103 may include a variety of software and 5 hardware
interfaces, for example, interfaces for peripheral device(s), such as sensors,
actuators, and an external memory. The hardware interface 103 is suitable for
interfacing with the sensors as referred above. The interface(s) 103 may include a
variety of interfaces, for example, interfaces for data input and output devices,
10 referred to as I/O devices, storage devices, network devices, and the like. The
interface(s) 103 facilitate communication between the vehicle collision warning
system 101 and various sensors and audio/video units connected in the vehicle.
The interface(s) 103 may also provide a communication pathway for one or more
components of the vehicle collision warning system 101 (herein after can be
15 referred as system 101 interchangeably).
[0047] The system 101 further includes one or more processor(s) 104, units 105,
and data. The one or more processor(s) 104 may be implemented as one or more
microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors,
central processing units, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate data
20 based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the one or more
processor(s) 104 are configured to fetch and execute computer-readable
instructions stored in a memory 102 of the system 101. The memory 102 may
store one or more computer-readable instructions or routines, which may be
fetched and executed to detect possibility of collision of the subject vehicle (SV)
25 with the primary other vehicle (POV). The memory 102 may include any nontransitory
storage device including, for example, volatile memory such as RAM,
or non-volatile memory such as EPROM, flash memory, and the like
[0048] The units(s) 105 may be implemented as a combination of hardware and
programming (for example, programmable instructions) to implement one or more
30 functionalities of the unit(s) 105. In implementations described herein, such
12
combinations of hardware and programming may be implemented in several
different ways. For example, the programming for the unit(s) 105 may be
processor executable instructions stored on a non-transitory machine-readable
storage medium and the hardware for the unit(s) 105 may include a processing
resource (for example, one or more processors), to execute such instructions. I5 n
the present implementations, the machine-readable storage medium may store
instructions that, when executed by the processing resource, implement unit(s)
105. In such examples, the system 101 may include the machine-readable storage
medium storing the instructions and the processing resource to execute the
10 instructions, or the machine-readable storage medium may be separate but
accessible to system 101 and the processing resource. In other examples, the
unit(s) 105 may be implemented by electronic circuitry.
[0049] The data includes data that is either stored or generated as a result of
functionalities implemented by any of the unit(s) 105. In an aspect, the units 105
15 includes a distance measuring unit 106, a speed measuring unit 107, a time to
collision measuring unit 108, and a warning generating unit 109. The distance
data 110 includes the measured distance by the distance measuring unit 106.
Further, the speed and time data 111 stores the measured speed data by the speed
measuring unit 107 and time to collision (TTC) data measured by the time to
20 collision (TTC) unit 108. The other data 112 may include pre-stored data, such as
threshold distance (Dth), danger distance (Dred), threshold relative speed (Vth),
and threshold time to collision (TTC) Tth to be used by the units 105 during
processing.
[0050] The system 101 is implemented in the vehicle and works in tandem with
25 the electronic control unit (ECU). When the subject vehicle (SV) intends to
change its lane, the system 101 detects the primary other vehicle (POV) to detect
possibility of collision.
[0051] In operation, the plurality of sensors 113 sends transmission signal in all
directions, such as right side, left side, and rear side of the subject vehicle (SV)
30 and generates reception signal based on the reflection signal of the transmission
13
signal by the primary other vehicle (POV). In first scenario where, referring to fig.
3a, the subject vehicle (SV) and the primary other vehicle (POV) are close, i.e.,
close proximity zone, the distance measuring unit 106 measures distance ‘d’
between the SV and the POV based on the reception signal and stores the
measured distance ‘d’ in the distance data 110 for further processing by 5 other
units. When the measure distance ‘d’ is less than the pre-stored threshold distance
‘Dred’ which indicates that SV and the POV are very close and in danger zone,
the warning generating unit 109 generates a warning signal ‘S1’ and send the
generated signal ‘S1’ to the warning display device 115. The warning signal ‘S1’
10 activates the plurality of LEDs or any other illuminating device may
corresponding to “RED” color to warn the driver about high possibility of
collision if vehicle turns in lane of the POV. The close proximity zone may be
blind zone of the SV.
[0052] If the POV is in right side of the SV, the warning generating unit 109
15 sends the warning signal ‘S1’ to the right side warning display device 115. If the
POV is in left side of the SV, warning generating unit 109 sends the warning
signal ‘S1’ to the left side warning display device 115.
[0053] In another implementation, when the measured distance ‘d’ is more than
the threshold distance ‘Dred’, the speed measuring unit 107 receives speed ‘Vs’ of
20 the subject vehicle (SV) form the EC and the speed measuring unit 107 measures
relative speed ‘Vr’ between the subject vehicle (SV) and the primary other vehicle
(POV) based on the reception signal The distance between the subject vehicle
(SV) and the primary vehicle (POV) is equal to speed of light multiplies by time
delta between the transmission and receiving of the electro-magnetic wave by the
25 distance sensor. This distance is calculated at two different time instances placed
close by each other. The relative speed between the subject vehicle (SV) and
primary other vehicle (POV) is equal to change in the distance divided by the time
interval. The speed measuring unit 107 compares the measured relative speed ‘Vr’
with pre-stored threshold speed ‘Vth’ stored in the other data 112. When the
30 measured relative speed ‘Vr’ is more than the threshold speed ‘Vth’, the time to
14
collision unit 108 measures the time to collision (TTC) between the SV and the
POV based on the relative speed and the measured distance ‘d’ and stores the
measured TTC in the speed and time data 111.
[0054] The warning generating unit 109 generates a warning signal ‘S2’ when the
measured TTC is less than pre-stored threshold time to collision ‘Tth’ stored 5 in
the other data 112. The warning generating unit 109 sends the warning signal ‘S2’
to the left side warning display device 115 when the POV is in left side blind spot
of the SV and sends the warning signal ‘S2’ to right side of the warning display
device 115 when the POV is in right side blind spot of the SV. The warning signal
10 ‘S2’ may activate ‘Red’ color illuminating LEDs to indicate RED color on the
warning display device. In an implementation, if the TTC is more than Tth, the
warning generating unit 109 may activate other color like orange or green on the
warning display device. In another implementation, when the POV is not range of
the plurality of sensors 113, no color indication may be provided by the warning
15 generating unit 109.
[0055] In another implementation, referring fig. 3c, when the measured distance
‘d’ is more than the threshold distance ‘Dred’, the speed measuring unit 107
receives speed ‘Vs’ of the subject vehicle (SV) from the ECU and the speed
measuring unit 107 measures relative speed ‘Vr’ between the subject vehicle (SV)
20 and the primary other vehicle (POV) based on the reception signal. The distance
between subject vehicle (SV) and primary other vehicle (POV) is equal to speed
of light multiplied by time delta between the transmission an receiving of the
electro-magnetic wave by the distance sensor. This distance is calculated at two
different time instances placed closed by each other. The relative speed between
25 the subject vehicle(SV) and primary other vehicle(POV) is equal to change in the
distance divided by the time interval. The speed measuring unit 107 compares the
measured relative speed ‘Vr’ with pre-stored threshold speed ‘Vth’. When the
measured relative speed ‘Vr’ is less than the threshold speed ‘Vth’, the warning
generating unit 109 generates a warning signal ‘S3’ when the measured distance
30 ‘d’ is less than pre-stored threshold distance ‘Dth’. The warning generating unit
15
109 sends the warning signal ‘S3’ to the left side warning display device 115
when the POV is in left side blind spot of the SV and sends the warning signal
‘S2’ to right side of the warning display device 115 when the POV is in right side
blind spot of the SV.
[0056] In an implementation, if the measured distance ‘d’ is more than th5 e
threshold Dth, the warning generating unit 109 may activate other color like
orange or green on the waring display device. In another implementation, when
the POV is not range of the plurality of sensors 113, no color indication may be
provided by the warning generating unit 109.
10 [0057] Referring to fig. 2 which describes a method for detecting the primary
other vehicle (POV) and generating warning signals upon detection collision
possibility between the SV and the POV, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present subject matter. The method 200 discloses how present system works to
detect possibility of collision between the SV and the POV based on distance and
15 time to collision. The order in which the method is described is not intended to be
construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks can be
combined in any order to implement the method 200 or any alternative methods.
Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the method without departing
from the scope of the subject matter described herein.
20 [0058] At the step 202, the method 200 includes measuring distance ‘d’ between
the SV and the POV. The distance measuring unit 106 measures the distance ‘d’
based on the reception signal generated by the plurality of sensors 113
[0059] At step 206, the method 200 generates a warning signal ‘S1’. The warning
generating unit 109 generates the warning signal ‘S1’ when the measured distance
25 ‘d’ is less than pre-stored threshold distance ‘Dred’ and send the warning signal
‘S1’ to the warning display device 115. When the measured distance ‘d’ is more
than the pre-stored threshold distance ‘Dred’, the method proceeds to block X.
[0060] At step 208, the method 200 includes measuring relative speed ‘Vr’
between the SV and the POV. The speed measuring unit 107 receives speed ‘Vs’
16
of the SV from the ECU and measures speed ‘Vp’ of the POV based on the
reception signal and measured distance. At step 210, the speed measuring unit 107
compares the relative speed ‘Vr’ with pre-stored threshold speed ‘Vth’. If the
relative speed ‘Vr’ is more than the threshold speed ‘Vth’, the method proceeds to
step 212 and else proceed to 5 o step Y.
[0061] At step 212, the method 200 includes measuring time to collision (TTC)
between the SV and the POV based on the relative speed ‘Vr’ and the measured
distance For example, the radar send signals once in time t1. At first instant,
when the radar has sent the signal and has received it back after time t2, the
10 distance D between subject vehicle (SV) and primary other vehicle (POV) is
(c*t2)/2 where c is the speed of light. Similarly distance D between subject
vehicle (SV) and primary other vehicle (POV) is calculated after time t1. The
change in the distance between subject vehicle (SV) and primary other vehicle
(POV) is D. The relative speed between subject vehicle and primary other
15 vehicle is (D/t1). The time to collision (TTC) is D/(D/t1)
[0062] At step 214, the warning generating unit 109 compare the TTC with the
pre-stored time to collision ‘Tth’. If the measured TTC is less than the threshold
‘Tth’, the method proceeds to step 216, else move back to step 212.
[0063] At step 216, when the TTC is less than the threshold ‘Tth’, the method 200
20 includes generating warning signal ‘S2’ and sending the same to the warning
generating unit 115.
[0064] At step 218, the method 200 includes comparing the measured distance ‘d’
with the pre-stored threshold distance ‘Dth’. The warning generating unit 109
generates a warning signal ‘S3’ when the measured distance ‘d’ is less than the
25 pre-stored threshold distance ‘Dth’.
[0065] The present system detects all possibility of collisions on congested roads
as well as non-congested roads. Further, the present system even works efficiently
with different driving habits.
17
[0066] The term “vehicle” as used throughout this detailed description and in the
claims refers to any moving vehicle that is capable of carrying one or more human
occupants and is powered by any form of energy. The term “vehicle” is a motor
vehicle which includes, but is not limited to: cars, trucks, vans, minivans,
hatchback, sedan, MUVs, and SUVs5 .
[0067] The above description does not provide specific details of the manufacture
or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with
such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques,
known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed.
10 Those in the art can choose suitable manufacturing and design details.
[0068] It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar terms are to
be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient
labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent
from the discussion herein, it is appreciated that throughout the description,
15 discussions utilizing terms, such as “measuring,” or “transmitting,” or the like,
refer to the action and processes of an electronic control unit, or similar electronic
computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical
(electronic) quantities within the control unit’s registers and memories into other
data similarly represented as physical quantities within the control unit memories
20 or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.
[0069] Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. It
will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and
functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or
25 applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives,
modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by
those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure
as encompassed by the following claims.
[0070] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended,
30 encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and
18
substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein,
including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for
example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0071] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other
features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many 5 other
different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated
alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be
subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be
encompassed by the following claims.

We claim:
1. A vehicle collision warning apparatus (100), the vehicle collision warning
apparatus (100) comprising:
a plurality of sensors (113) configured to transmit a transmission
signal and generate a reception signal based on a reflection signal of 5 f the
transmission signal by a Primary Other Vehicle (POV);
a vehicle collision warning system (101) coupled with plurality of
sensors (113) through an interface (103) and a processor (104), the vehicle
collision warning system (101) comprises:
10 a distance measuring unit (106) configured to measure distance
(d) between a subject vehicle (SV) and a primary other vehicle (POV);
and
a warning generating unit (109) configured to generate a
warning signal (S1) when the measured distance (d) is less than
15 threshold distance (Dred).
2. The vehicle collision warning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the vehicle collision warning system (101) further comprises:
a speed measuring unit (107) configured to measure relative speed
(Vr) between the subject vehicle (SV) and the primary other vehicle (POV);
20 a time to collision (TTC) unit (108) configured to measured time to
collision (TTC) when the measure relative speed (Vr) is more than prestored
threshold relative speed (Vth); and
the warning generating unit (109) configured to generate a warning
signal (S2) when the measured time to collision (TTC) is less than pre25
stored threshold (Tth) time to collision.
3. The vehicle collision warning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the vehicle collision warning system (101) further comprises:
a speed measuring unit (107) configured to measure relative speed
(Vr) between the subject vehicle (SV) and the primary other vehicle (POV);
20
the distance measuring unit (106) configured to measure distance (d)
between the subject vehicle (SV) and the primary other vehicle (POV) when
the measure relative speed (Vr) is less than pre-stored threshold relative
speed (Vth); and
the warning generating unit (109) configured to generate a warn5 ing
signal (S3) when the measured distance (d) is less than pre-stored threshold
distance (Dth).
4. The vehicle collision warning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the vehicle collision warning system (101) receives vehicle speed
10 (Vs) of the subject vehicle (SV) from electronic control unit (ECU) of the
subject vehicle.
5. The vehicle collision warning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the distance measuring unit (106) measures distance based on the
reception signal and the speed measuring unit (107) measures speed (Vp) of
15 the primary other vehicle (POV) based on the reception signals.
6. The vehicle collision warning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the time to collision (TTC) unit (108) measures the time to collision
(TTC) based on the measured distance (d) and the measured relative speed
(Vr).
20
7. The vehicle collision warning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or
3, wherein the warning generating unit (109) sends the warning signals (S1,
S2, S3) to a warning display device (115).
25 8. The vehicle collision warning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 7,
wherein the warning display device (115) is Outer Rear View Mirror
(ORVM) or Inside Rear View Mirror (ORVM).
9. The vehicle collision warning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 7,
30 wherein the warning signals (S1, S2, S3) indicates different colors on the
warning display device (115) for warning indication.
21
10. The vehicle collision warning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the plurality of sensor (113) are positioned on left, right and rear
side of the vehicle.
11. A method (200) to provide warning in vehicle rear collision, the met5 hod
(200) comprising:
measuring (202) distance (d) between subject vehicle (SV) and a
primary other vehicle (POV) based on a reception signal (R1) generated by
a plurality of sensor (113);
10 generating (206) a warning signal (S1) by a warning generating unit
(109) when:
measured distance (d) is less than a pre-stored threshold distance
(Dred).
12. The method (200) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the method (200) further
15 comprises:
measuring (208) relative speed (Vr) between the subject vehicle (SV)
and the primary other vehicle (POV) when the measured distance (d) is
more than the pre-stored threshold distance (Dred);
measuring (212) time to collision (TTC) when the measured relative
20 speed (Vr) is more than a pre-stored threshold relative speed (Vth); and
generating (216) a warning signal (S2) when the measured time to
collision (TTC) is less than pre-stored threshold (Tth) time to collision.
13. The method (200) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the method (200) further
comprises:
25 generating (220) a warning signal (S3) when:
the measured relative speed (Vr) is less than pre-stored
threshold relative speed (Vth); and
the measured distance (d) is less than pre-stored threshold
distance (Dth).
22
14. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed (Vs) of
the subject vehicle (SV) is received from electronic control unit (ECU) of
the subject vehicle.
15. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance (d) and speed
(Vp) of the primary other vehicle (POV) is measured based on the recep5 tion
signals.
16. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time to collision
(TTC) is measured based on the measured distance (d) and the measured
relative speed (Vr).
10
17. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the warning signals (S1,
S2, S3) are sent to a warning display device (115), where the warning
signals (S1, S2, S3) indicates different colors on the warning display device
(115) for warning indication.