1491 results about "Motor vehicle crash" patented technology

A method is provided for preventing a collision between a motor vehicle and a pedestrian. The method uses a camera and a processor mountable in the motor vehicle. A candidate image is detected. Based on a change of scale of the candidate image, it may be determined that the motor vehicle and the pedestrian are expected to collide, thereby producing a potential collision warning. Further information from the image frames may be used to validate the potential collision warning. The validation may include an analysis of the optical flow of the candidate image, that lane markings prediction of a straight road, a calculation of the lateral motion of the pedestrian, if the pedestrian is crossing a lane mark or curb and / or if the vehicle is changing lanes.

In a method for checking a first ultrasonic sensor of a motor vehicle for an occlusion, a measuring signal of the first ultrasonic sensor is acquired by an evaluation unit, and from the measuring signal, a decay time of a natural oscillation of the diaphragm of the first ultrasonic sensor, brought about by an excitation pulse, is ascertained. From the measuring signal of either the first ultrasonic sensor or a second ultrasonic sensor, an echo produced by an object located in a sensing range of the first ultrasonic sensor is ascertained, and a distance value of the object is determined on the basis of the echo. An occlusion is signaled if the decay time is less than a predetermined threshold value which would be exceeded if ice and / or dirt were to adhere directly to the diaphragm, and if the distance value is less than a predetermined maximum value.

A personal traffic congestion avoidance system for drivers of motor vehicles traveling on roadways in motor vehicles with GPS-based navigational systems. The system includes a GPS-based navigational system that includes a GPS receiver connected to a visual display, a map database and a wireless communication device for communicating with a remote computer over a wireless communication network. The GPS-based navigation system continuously determines the motor vehicle exact physical location in a region that is intermittently or continuously uploaded to a remote computer via the wireless communication network. The remote computer is connected to a traffic monitoring database or service that provides current traffic affecting events in the region thereto. When a traffic affecting event is located in the designated vicinity of the current location of the motor vehicle, on the current roadway used by the motor vehicle, or on a roadway that may affect the traffic on the current roadway, an alert warning is generated and delivered to the GPS-based navigational system and displayed on the visual display. The driver may ignore the warning or take an alternative route to avoid the traffic congestion.

A method for guiding a motor vehicle in a parking facility encompasses steps of ascertaining, externally to the motor vehicle, a trajectory in the parking facility from a starting position to a destination position; transmitting at least a segment of the trajectory to the motor vehicle via a communication network; and monitoring the motor vehicle, by way of a monitoring system external to the motor vehicle, as the segment is traversed, to determine a deviation, the trajectory being ascertained as a function of a property of the motor vehicle. Also described are a corresponding apparatus, a parking system, and a computer program.

A computer-assisted inspection system provides computer architectures and software controlled algorithms to automatically provide vehicle inspections and repair recommendations including estimated repair time and cost of depression type damage such as dents. Features provided by a handheld wireless touchscreen based inspection device include flat car part picking, auto grading including seller grading, and automatic calculation of body and bumper dent repair parameters and directions.

An automatic “photo booth” for capturing images of objects including but not limited to motor vehicles provides consistent and rapid image capture from multiple viewpoints. Ultrasonic sensors or other positional sensing devices are used to both position the object with the photo booth enclosure and calculate field of view parameters controlling digital cameras to provide appropriate image scaling / cropping at time of image capture. The enclosure provides automatic entry / exit door opening / closure and a controlled interior space to provide a controlled environment for image capture. Captured images may be rapidly uploaded to a server for electronic distribution over the World Wide Web or other appropriate network.

A motor vehicle crash sensor system for activating an external safety system such as an airbag in response to the detection of an impending collision target. The system includes a radar sensor carried by the vehicle providing a radar output related to the range and relative velocity of the target. A vision sensor is carried by the vehicle which provides a vision output related to the bearing and bearing rate of the target. An electronic control module receives the radar output and the vision output for producing a deployment signal for the safety system.

A computer-assisted inspection system provides customized workflow based on different types of inspections and other factors. The system can provide different rules that can be activated in response to valuation / pricing, rule-based validation and automatic grading. Features include flat car part picking, easy to use, inspectors can be geographically separated, and system is installable over the internet to provide efficient installation to far-flung install sites.

A roadside control device for checking the correct operation of a toll apparatus which is installed in a motor vehicle passing the control device and exhibiting an identifying license plate. The toll apparatus performs a satellite-supported electronic toll deduction and being equipped with the following facilities:a) a communication device,b) a classification device,c) a trigger device,d) an evaluating device, ande) a recording device.

A driver alert system is carried by a motor vehicle and alerts a driver that he has committed or is about to commit a driving or parking violation, or that the driving conditions are liable to result in damage to a motor vehicle or person.

A radar sensor for a motor vehicle has at least one antenna arrangement for transmitting and receiving radar signals and a controller for controlling the operation of the antenna arrangement. The controller evaluates the received radar signals. The controller also operates the antenna arrangement to transmit and / or receive messages in a car-to-car communication.

Disclosed are an system and method of regulating mobile device communications while operating a motor vehicle. One example method may include determining a speed event indicating that a speed of the motor vehicle has performed at least one of exceeded a first threshold above which mobile device usage restriction policies are invoked and fallen below a second threshold allowing the mobile device restriction policies to be removed. The first threshold may be equal to or greater than the second threshold. As a result of obtaining the speed event, the method may also provide transmitting the speed event to a remote edge gateway server located remotely from the motor vehicle, which stores the speed event for reference purposes when determining a policy for routing a particular mobile device call, text message and / or mobile data session.

An improved monitoring system for use with motor vehicles having a plurality of sensors for measuring the performance of the vehicle and a memory for storing information specifying data derived from the sensors. The invention includes a wireless communication link for transmitting the information to a terminal that is proximate to the vehicle. The terminal communicates information processed by the terminal to the operator of the vehicle. The present invention can be implemented by installing a connector into the standard scanner port on the vehicle. The connector includes a wireless link that emulates a connection to a conventional vehicle scanner by generating control signals on the appropriate conductors on the scanner port.

A motor vehicle includes an instrument panel, a steering column defining a longitudinal axis, and a steering wheel arranged on the steering column in a region of the instrument panel. The steering wheel is configured for movement in relation to the instrument panel in a direction of the longitudinal axis towards the instrument panel from a first position to a second position. The steering column is also constructed to enable the steering wheel to move from the second position to the first position when the motor vehicle is subjected to a force caused by an accident.

A computer-assisted inspection system including an integrated software suite provides vehicle inspection services for various clients. The system provides customized workflow based on different inspection clients, different types of inspections and other factors. Different clients may have different inspection needs. Some clients may not care about certain defects that other clients want to know about. The system can provide, on the inspection appliance, different rules that can be activated in response to which client the inspection is being provided for and / or other factors for inspection criteria, valuation / pricing, rule-based validation and automatic grading. The resulting rule-driven user interface is thus customized—allowing the inspector to be more efficient in gathering the precise data desired at the time of data collection. Features include flat car part picking, highly client-customizability, easy to use, ability to run in an environment where the inspector has no constant connectivity to the network (no guaranteed access to the internet, full data replication, intermittent connectivity, synch back up), inspectors can be geographically separated (e.g., all over the country), system is installable over the internet to provide efficient installation to far-flung install sites.

A vehicle with a primary driveline that is configured to distribute rotary power to a first set of vehicle wheels, a power transmitting device and a secondary driveline that is configured to distribute power to a second set of vehicle wheels. The power transmitting device has an input member, which is driven by the primary driveline, and an output member that is selectively coupled to the input member to receive rotary power therefrom. The secondary driveline has a propshaft, an axle input, a pair of axle shafts and at least one torque transfer device. The propshaft transmits rotary power between the output member of the power transmitting device and the axle input. The axle shafts are rotatably coupled to an output of the differential and configured to transmit rotary power to the second set of vehicle wheels. The at least one torque transfer device is configured to selectively inhibit torque transmission between the axle input and the second set of vehicle wheels.

A motor vehicle door arrangement with at least one motor vehicle door and a drive for motorized movement of the motor vehicle door from the closed position into the open position and from the open position into the closed position and with a control for triggering the drive, the control being assigned an optionally actuatable mobile part which the user generally carries and which interacts with the control means over a wireless transmission link when the user approaches the motor vehicle, enhanced actuation automatically carrying out opening and / or a closing as triggered by a predetermined process of use and without the necessity of actuating the mobile part. With respect to enhanced actuation, the control means, especially with the vehicle stopped, can be moved into the activated and deactivated states, and can be triggered by the predetermined usage process exclusively when the control means is in the activated state.

A method and device for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle during a driving maneuver during which longitudinal guidance and / or lateral guidance is / are performed in an automated manner. A trajectory for performing the driving maneuver being determined and the vehicle being guided with automatic control along the trajectory, while the surroundings of the vehicle is being monitored during the driving maneuver. If the driver intervenes in the steering while lateral guidance is being performed or if the driver operates the accelerator while longitudinal guidance is being performed or if the driver intervenes in the steering or operates the accelerator while longitudinal guidance and lateral guidance are being performed, the control of the vehicle is returned to the driver. In the case of an imminent endangerment to the surroundings, control is not transferred to the driver.

A safety device for motor vehicles is provided having a sensor system for locating objects in the area in front of the vehicle and at least in the lateral surroundings of the vehicle, a prediction unit for detecting a risk of collision with an object coming from the side, a detection unit for detecting an area in front of the vehicle which is clear of potential collision objects, and a control unit which is configured to suppress braking of the host vehicle when a risk of collision with an object coming from the side is detected and when the area in front of the vehicle is recognized as being clear if this would presumably make a collision with the object coming from the side avoidable. A method for intervening in the longitudinal guidance of a motor vehicle is also provided.

The present invention essentially relates to a communication system comprising a communication device mounted in a motor vehicle and at least one mobile device (SP, CID, smart watch), said communication system being intended for providing a data exchange between the communication device and the at least one mobile device (SP, CID, smart watch), characterized in that: the communication device comprises a low-frequency communication interface (BF) and a wireless communication interface (11) using the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol in “advertising” state; and in that the communication device is capable of communicating with said at least one mobile device either in low-frequency mode using the BLE protocol or using only the BLE protocol.

An intelligent navigation system navigates a motor vehicle according to real-time road conditions and maneuverability conditions. The intelligent navigation system predicts and corrects potential route deviations before they actually occur. The intelligent navigation system interacts with the maneuverability of a motor vehicle, such that it can navigate the motor vehicle with very little to no human intervention. The intelligent navigation system may embody a method comprising the steps of receiving, from an input device, destination information related to a destination to be reached by the motor vehicle; receiving, from a positioning device, initial location information related to an initial location of the motor vehicle; determining, using a processor, a task for maneuvering the motor vehicle from the initial location to the destination; and instructing, using the processor, a vehicle maneuver controller to implement the task.

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle which includes at least one digital projector (4) for projecting image or text information (8; 16) and a monitoring circuit, wherein the projector (4; 15) is connected with the monitoring circuit, in order to project the information measured by the monitoring circuit in real time into the image or the text information (8).

The invention relates to a remote control system which activates a motor vehicle (1) through an instruction and is connected with a central station (13) through wireless data communication. The central station (13) is configured to transmit a requirement of remote monitoring and / or remote controlling the motor vehicle and a proposal of implementing remote control of the motor vehicle from a personal data terminal (14a) far away from the central station (13), and after receiving the proposal, provides a data communication link between the motor vehicle (1) and the personal data terminal (14a) which makes the proposal. In addition, each personal data terminal is configured to provide remote monitoring and / or remote control of the motor vehicle (1) over the data communication link in the form of driving simulation computer games.

A lane-change assistant for motor vehicles, having a sensor system to locate vehicles on adjacent lanes in the rear space of the own vehicle, a decision module to decide whether a vehicle located in the rear space is on an immediately adjacent lane, and a driver interface to output the decision result, characterized in that a determination module is provided to determine the lane on which the own vehicle is traveling, and the decision module is designed to make the decision as a function of the result of the determination module.

A system and method includes sensors configured to measure conditions of a vehicle. A monitoring module is configured to evaluate the conditions input thereto from the sensors. The monitoring module is further configured to determine a state of a mobile device located within the vehicle. Based upon a combination of the conditions of the vehicle and the state of the mobile device, a determination of improper use of the mobile device is made.

A steering column for a motor vehicle, which is at least adjustable in its longitudinal direction, includes a support unit connectable with the chassis of the motor vehicle, a setting unit disposed between side jaws of the support unit, and a clamping mechanism in the opened state of which the setting unit is displaceable with respect to the support unit at least in the longitudinal direction of the steering column and, in the closed state of which, the set position of the setting unit is secured in position with respect to the support unit and which comprises a clamp bolt which penetrates openings in the side jaws of the support unit and during the opening and closing of the clamping mechanism is rotated about its axis. At least one securement part is provided between the side jaws of the support unit and displaced through the rotation of the clamp bolt during the opening and closing of the clamping mechanism, which in the closed state of the clamping mechanism engages into a counter-securement part connected with the setting unit, or at least during the dislocation, beginning in the event of a motor vehicle crash, of the setting unit with respect to the support unit, comes into engagement with the counter-securement part and which, in the opened state of the clamping mechanism is spaced apart from the counter-securement part. The counter-securement part is disposed on a wall, parallel to the axis of the clamp bolt, of the setting unit or is formed by it.

A method for selecting and controlling massage functions of a motor vehicle seat having a control system comprising the steps of: switching the system to a selection mode and starting the selection mode; providing a menu list having options for querying the user's requirements during the massage; selection of an option by the user and providing predefined responses to the respective query and selection of the response by the user and if necessary repeating the steps for further queries; and terminating the selection mode and automatically determining suitable massage settings on the basis of the user's selection and controlling the massage actuators in the motor vehicle seat on the basis of determined massage settings to perform the massage function.

A system and method in combination with a nationwide alliance of professional car care enterprises for remarketing privately owned motor vehicles. Consumers register with the system. Successfully registered consumers present their motor vehicles at a participating professional car care enterprise for processing into the system. The computer-implemented system employs a method based on three-dimensional facial image technology in combination with personal relational identifiers to monitor, identify, isolate, ban, and enforce the express prohibition of used car dealer, used car broker, and curbstoner participation within the system, in any fashion. The service is national in its reach while local in its execution, and provides a national platform for green-marketing the benefits of professional car care versus individual car care alternatives.

The present invention is directed toward a data acquisition and display system for vehicles that includes a GPS receiver and connects to the vehicle's on-board computer(s) via a data link connector. The system includes a display module suitable for permanent or temporary attachment within the interior of a vehicle. The display module includes a display computer including a suitable processor, operating system, software and tangible data storage media to allow multiple user configurable functions for display on a full color monitor that also functions as a touch screen for inputting commands to the computer. The display module collects information from the GPS receiver via direct electrical communication and / or vehicle via multiple busses and senders through the data link connector and displays the information on the screen of the display module in a user configured graphics format. The direct connection between the display module and the data link facilitates bi-directional communication with the vehicle's on-board computer(s) for diagnostics as well as reprogramming of the on-board computer(s) which may be accomplished in real-time.