The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 20, 2008
Filed:
Dec. 08, 2005
Uzmaa H. Balbale, Canton, MI (US);
Pamela I. Labuhn, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Charles A. Green, Canton, MI (US);
Osman D. Altan, Northville, MI (US);
William J. Chundrlik, Jr., Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Uzmaa H. Balbale, Canton, MI (US);
Pamela I. Labuhn, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Charles A. Green, Canton, MI (US);
Osman D. Altan, Northville, MI (US);
William J. Chundrlik, Jr., Rochester Hills, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system for use on a vehicle comprises a rear obstacle detector that is coupled to the vehicle and measures the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle's rear, a speed sensor that determines vehicle speed, an alert generator that notifies an occupant of the vehicle of a rear obstacle, and a processor that is coupled to the rear obstacle detector, the speed sensor, and the alert generator. The processor causes the generation of a first alert when the vehicle's speed is less than a threshold speed and the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle's rear is less than a first distance determined in accordance with a first function of speed vs. distance. Additionally, the processor causes the generation of a second alert when the vehicle's speed is greater than the threshold speed and the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle's rear is less than a second distance determined in accordance with second function of speed vs. distance.