SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ALERTS RELATIVE TO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT

Abstract

An airbag deployment alert system comprises an alert triggering system at least partially disposed in electrical communication with an airbag triggering system of the vehicle configured to broadcast an alert message concurrent to activation of said airbag triggering system. Upon sensing a collision, the accelerometer assembly of the airbag triggering system generates and electrical signal which is used to inflate the airbag. The same signal may also be utilized to activate the airbag deployment alert system and broadcast an alert message to other vehicles so equipped.

Claims

1. An airbag deployment alert system: an alert triggering system at least partially disposed in electrical communication with an airbag triggering system of the vehicle configured to broadcast an alert message concurrent to activation of said airbag triggering system.

2. The airbag deployment alert system as recited in claim 1 wherein said alert triggering system is configured to broadcast an alert message directly to each of a plurality of other vehicles

3. The airbag deployment alert system as recited in claim 1 wherein said alert triggering system is further disposed in electrical communication with an accelerometer sensor of the airbag triggering system of the vehicle.

4. The airbag deployment alert system as recited in claim 3 wherein said alert message is broadcast concurrent to generation of an electrical signal by said accelerometer sensor sufficient to activate the airbag triggering system of the vehicle.

5. The airbag deployment alert system as recited in claim 1 wherein said alert message is broadcast directly from a first vehicle to each other vehicle of said plurality of vehicles.

6. The airbag deployment alert system as recited in claim 1 wherein said alert message is broadcast from a mobile device disposed within said first vehicle directly to at least one other mobile device disposed in each of said plurality of vehicles.

7. The airbag deployment alert system of a vehicle as recited in claim 16 wherein said alert message is broadcast concurrent to generation of an electrical signal by said accelerometer sufficient to activate the airbag triggering system of the vehicle.

8. A method of alerting drivers in the vicinity of an airbag deployment event comprising: providing an alert triggering system in electrical communication with an airbag triggering system of a vehicle; the alert triggering system disposed to generate and broadcast an alert upon receiving a signal sufficient to activate the airbag triggering system.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the alert is broadcast directly to the drivers.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the alert is broadcast to authorities operating in the vicinity of the airbag deployment event.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the alert comprises an audible component, audible to the drivers in the vicinity of the airbag deployment event.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the alert comprises a visual component, visually perceptible by the drivers in the vicinity of the airbag deployment event.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the alert includes data associated with a position of the airbag deployment event.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the alert is broadcast to a mobile device associated with the drivers in the vicinity of the airbag deployment event.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic depicting operative elements of an airbag deployment alert system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic depicting operative elements of an airbag deployment alert system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a schematic depicting operative elements of an airbag deployment alert system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 4 is depiction of a vehicle cabin equipped with the airbag deployment alert system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a depiction of an accident scene in which the airbag deployment alert system may be utilized according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a schematic depicting operative elements of an airbag deployment alert system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] With reference to FIG. 1, the airbag deployment alert system is depicted in three blocks delimited by dashed lines, for better explanation of its functionalities when an impact (3) from the outside is detected by the accelerometer sensor.

[0030] Thus, Block A (1) comprises the primary stage of the airbag deployment alert system, from now referred to as ADAS (2), depicting the accelerometer sensor (2a) responsible for the activation of the two joint triggering systems, namely, the Airbag Triggering System (2a1), and the Alert Triggering System (2a2), along with the Airbag Relay (2b1) aimed to serve the inflation process of the airbag, and the Alert Relay (2b2) that is exclusively connected to the alert broadcasting set of the present invention.

[0031] Block B (4) depicts the inflation process of the empty airbag (5) upon receiving a command or signal from the relay (2b1) causing the airbag's inflation unit (6) to inflate the airbag (5) until fully inflated (5a).

[0032] Block C (7) discloses how the relay (2b2) activates the transceiver (2c) to broadcast an alert, such as a warning message or audible alert such as ATTENTIONAIRBAG DEPLOYED NEARBY, which will be received by all vehicles that are fitted with ADAS (2) and located within a certain distance from the accident.

[0033] Accordingly, when the VEHICLE 0 (8) that is fitted with ADAS (2) and that supposedly has entered in an emergence situation, as exemplified in FIG. 5, the alert (15) generated will be received by all recipient vehicles (9) that are also equipped with ADAS (2).

[0034] Recipient vehicles (9) in the present illustration are represented by VEHICLE 1 up to VEHICLE N which located in the vicinity of the accident involving VEHICLE 0 (8) and that, as they are also fitted with ADAS (2), will consequently capture the message or signal sent by the transceiver (2c) existing in VEHICLE 0 (8). Recipient vehicles (9) may also be outside a vicinity of the accident, but nevertheless traveling on a route that will pass the accident scene.

[0035] FIG. 2 depicts the broadcasting stage of ADAS (2) in two possible situations. In the present embodiment, the broadcasting function of ADAS (2) is subdivided in two blocks to illustrate how it moves from the idle phase shown in Block C1 (10), to the actuating phase shown in Block C2 (11). p On Block C1 (10) that illustrates the idle phase of the system when there is no accident to be reported by VEHICLE 0 (8), all the electric circuits (12) through which the electricity from the vehicle's battery (13) is transferred up to the switch (14) are open (12a), causing the switch (14) to stay motionless, without any actuation of its lever (14a) over the transceiver (2c).

[0036] The alternative scenario however is depicted by Block C2 (11) in which the complete broadcasting routine for spreading an alert message is accomplished due to the perception by the accelerometer sensor (2a) of collision (3) with VEHICLE 0 (8).

[0037] In this case it is noted that all electric circuits (12) were closed (12a) due to the passage of an electric pulse sent by the accelerometer sensor (2a) up to the switch (14) that has also reacted by closing its electric connection with the transceiver (2a) through the lever (14a) which caused the broadcasting og the alert 15.

[0038] It will be noted that the switches and relays depicted herein are depicted as mechanical devices for purposes of ease of disclosure, but that suitable digital equivalents may also be utilized.

[0039] As such, a comprehensive view of the actuation routine of the airbag deployment alert system is disclosed on Block C2 of FIG. 2, since the moment of a collision to a given vehicle up to the announcement of this accident to all drivers in the vicinity.

[0040] Thus, the first step for triggering the whole system starts when a collision occurs of sufficient intensity to deploy the airbags of a given vehicle, in this example represented by VEHICLE 0 (8), either due to a collision between one or more vehicles, objects or animals, or even when a rollover of a vehicle occurs, provided that at least one of those vehicles involved in the accident is fitted with the ADAS (2).

[0041] From one side, there will be the stimulation of the airbag system which will cause the airbags to be instantly inflated, aiming to protect the vehicle's occupants from grave injuries.

[0042] And from the other side, the operational routine conceived for broadcasting instant alerts aimed to notify drivers in advance will start whenever a potential risk to them at any point of the route is detected, being the above mentioned routine commonly triggered by the airbag triggering system.

[0043] Once the airbag deployment alert system was set in motion as from the accelerator sensor (2a) with electric power supplied by the vehicle's battery (13) or even by an independent dedicated battery, the related relay is immediately activated aiming to change from OFF to ON the lever (14a) position of the switch command (14) conjugated to the transceiver (2c), causing the alert to be instantly transmitted to all nearby drivers, remotely and wirelessly in the format of an audible or visual component.

[0044] In the Block C2 of the flowchart shown on FIG. 2 therefore, the emitting VEHICLE 0 (8) is fitted with ADAS (2), an antenna (16) and uses the assistance of the vehicle's battery (13) to broadcast warning messages to all nearby recipient vehicles (9).

[0045] Block C2 discloses, therefore, the steps to be followed by ADAS (2) to broadcast wireless alerts (15) through the antenna (16), right after an accident has happened to the emitting VEHICLE 0 (8).

[0046] In this case, all electric elements of ADAS (2) are instantly activated when the accelerometer sensor (2a) perceives an impact (3) to the vehicle's structure forcing the electric circuit (12) existing between the sensor and the relay to close (12b) and permit the passage of an electric signal addressed to the broadcasting relay (2b2) and to the switch (14) in order to move its lever (14a) from OFF to the ON position, triggering therefore the broadcasting of the alert message to all recipient vehicles (9).

[0047] In accordance with the fundamentals of the present invention, the routine described above is performed simultaneously to the triggering process of the airbag for the protection of the passengers on VEHICLE 0 (8) meaning that there will be a common and simultaneous reaction in both systems.

[0048] Through the algorithm outlined in FIG. 3, an overview of the principles by which the system is operative is described.

[0049] According to the step (17) a vehicle experiencing a sufficient collision will lead to an enquiry whether a the vehicle is equipped with an Airbag Automatic Deployment System, on step (18) or the Airbag deployment alert systemADAS (2), on step (19).

[0050] If the answer for both systems is NO, then they go to an end and are halted, as in step (20).

[0051] If otherwise the answer is YES which means that the vehicle is fitted with Airbag Automatic Deployment System and with the Airbag deployment alert systemADAS (2), the accelerometer sensor (2a) is instantly activated to capture the shock perceived and simultaneously pass it on ahead in the format of computable data as follows:

[0052] To the airbag's relay, as on step (21), which will cause the airbag to be instantly deployed and filled in to protect the vehicle's occupants from injuries, when this routine is considered fully accomplished or simultaneous to this routine;

[0053] To the broadcasting relay, as on step (22), and then to the switch on step (23), will turn on the transceiver (2c) that will broadcast an alert to all recipient vehicles (9) fitted with ADAS.

[0054] With reference to FIG. 4, a frontal view of the vehicle's panel (25) is given, in which the operational interface between the vehicle's occupants and the ADAS (2) is represented, including firstly a screen (26) in which the alert messages sent in writing and orally ratified will appear and that preferably should be located in an easy visual position for the driver, such as ATTENTIONAIRBAG DEPLOYED NEARBY.

[0055] That message might also include the vehicle's position where the accident happened, plotted by GPS technology, pre-recorded information such as identification of the driver or the vehicle or any other desired information.

[0056] Secondly, a speaker (27) that can be commonly shared with the vehicle's own sound system and capable to reproduce the audible component of the alert.

[0057] And thirdly a button (280, preferably disposed in proximity to the driver's hands, through which the driver can either interfere and cancel an unintentional alert message wrongly broadcasted when actually he has not suffered any accident, or even manually replicate an alert warning coming from injured drivers and that was sent via the ADAS (2), in the event that he has not been involved in a crash but is momentarily passing by the accident scene.

[0058] Upon receiving the broadcasted alert, the drivers in the vicinity whose vehicles are equipped with ADAS (2) will be given an immediate notification which may be in the form of a blinking light, a voice message, or any other sort of advice that will be displayed in their vehicle's panel (25) for example, as better explained in FIG. 4, in such a way that those drivers will be given notice to take the necessary precautions before arriving at the accident scene.

[0059] To be transmitted remotely and wirelessly, the signal must be sent from the transmission point to the receiving point via the proper carrier type.

[0060] Wireless communication generally refers to the transfer of information between various transmitting and receiving remote points not connected by cables and is usually made via radio waves, reaching distances that may vary from meters to kilometers and encompasses many types of fixed, mobile and portable devices including wireless networking.

[0061] Radio waves will be used here just as an exemplary tool for better explanation of the present invention's operation, without any limitation for the use of any other plausible method.

[0062] Thus, any other technologies that might be available by the state of the art such as but not limited to electromagnetic wireless communication or any other wireless services performed by wireless equipment that might include, for example infrared and ultrasonic devices, LMRLand Mobile Radio, cellular and pagers which provide connectivity for portable and mobile applications, Global Positioning System (GPS) which is a position detecting circuit that allows drivers of all kind of vehicles to ascertain their location anywhere on earth are also included in the scope of the present patent under submission.

[0063] One of the best-known examples of wireless technology is the mobile phone that is ubiquitous, and that uses radio waves to enable their users to make phone calls from many locations worldwide, which is better elaborated in FIG. 6.

[0064] Turning to FIG. 5, a general view of a roadway in an accident situation is given, or an accident scene, wherein VEHICLE 0 (8) suffered a rollover and subsequently has been hit by VEHICLE 1 (8a) and VEHICLE 2 (8b), consequently closing both ways of the road for the traffic, exposing therefore VEHICLE 3 (8c) and VEHICLE 4 (8d) of being involuntarily involved in a possible chain-reaction crash that could be possibly avoided if they had received beforehand an alert from VEHICLE 0 (8) according the system of the present invention.

[0065] With reference to FIG. 6, similarly to the alert warning process already disclosed above by the present patent, the ADAS (2) can be used in combination with the mobile telephone (28) and within the range reached by them aiming to send urgent alert messages or signals, whenever a risk situation is faced by one of said drivers.

[0066] Cellular data service offers coverage within a range of 10-15 miles from the nearest cell site and may be used when ADAS (2) is not available in a nearby recipient vehicle.

[0067] If however the driver of VEHICLE 0 shown on FIG. 6 is carrying the cell phone 0 (28) fitted with, for example, Bluetooth (30) technology, and if VEHICLE 0 is also fitted with the same facility, then it will be possible to exchange data between ADAS (2) and the cell phone 0 (28) which will relay the received data to all cell phones in the vicinity, depicted in FIG. 6 as CELL PHONE 1 (29b), CELL PHONE 2 (29c), through CELL PHONE N (29d).

[0068] In this case, a dedicated software application to properly process the alerts should be loaded to the mobile phones (28) being used by the drivers. In the moment of an accident, the alert will be relayed by the mobile phones (28).

[0069] It may also be noted that the airbag deployment alert system can also exist independently of an airbag deployment system, to accomplish the same objectives described herein, but in the event that a vehicle is not equipped with an airbag deployment system.

[0070] Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

[0071] Now that the invention has been described,