Accident prevention system and a vehicle including the accident prevention system

Abstract

A vehicle 12 having an accident prevention system 10 that is useful for preventing an accident where a vehicle that is reversing at low speed collides with a person, is disclosed. The system 10 includes a sensor arrangement 14 for sending an object within range behind a rear end 38 of the vehicle 12 and generating an object recognition signal. The sensor arrangement 14 includes passive IR sensors 15 or reflected pulse sensors such as sonar or radar sensors 50 on the rear end 38. A controller 20 generates an accident prevention response signal when the sensor arrangement 14 generates an object recognition signal. A brake applicator 26 is operatively coupled to a foot brake 42 to cause the vehicle 12 to stop when the controller 20 generates a response signal. The system also includes an alarm when the controller 20 generates a response signal.

1 . A method for preventing a reversing accident where a vehicle that is reversing at low speed collides with a person in the path of travel of the vehicle, the method comprising:
 sensing an object in the path of travel by means of a sensor arrangement that generates an object recognition signal when the sensor arrangement senses an object satisfying a predetermined condition;   sending the object recognition signal to a controller that is operatively coupled to the sensor arrangement; and   sending an accident prevention response signal from the controller to a brake applicator on receiving the object recognition signal which then applies the brake of the vehicle whereby to resist movement of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . A method for preventing a reversing accident according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement comprises at least one IR sensor on a rear end of the vehicle, and sensing an object comprises passive sensing of IR heat from a mammal with said IR sensor and generating an object recognition signal when it senses an object satisfying the condition that it radiates IR heat corresponding to a mammal 
     
     
         3 . The method for preventing a reversing accident according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a reflected pulse sensor arrangement on a rear end of the vehicle, and sensing an object comprises transmitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end, and sensing return pulses returning to the sensor arrangement, and generating an object recognition signal comprises sensing when an object is within a predetermined range of the rear end of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The method for preventing a reversing accident according to  claim 3 , wherein transmitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle comprises transmitting pulses of sound waves or radio waves or microwaves away from the rear end of the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The method for preventing a reversing accident according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement comprises an IR sensor arrangement and a reflected pulse sensor arrangement that are mounted on the rear end of the vehicle, and sensing an object comprises:
 passive sensing of IR heat from a mammal with said IR sensor and generating an object recognition signal when it senses an object satisfying the condition that it radiates IR heat corresponding to a mammal, and   transmitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle and sensing return pulses returning to the sensor arrangement, and generating an object recognition signal comprises sensing when an object is within a predetermined range of the rear end of the vehicle.   
     
     
         6 . The method for preventing a reversing accident according to  claim 1 , which also includes sending each accident prevention response signal to an alarm which then issues an alarm signal. 
     
     
         7 . The method for preventing a reversing accident according to  claim 1 , wherein applying the brake of the vehicle comprises passing an electric current through a solenoid to displace a cable which is operatively connected to a brake pedal of a foot brake whereby to displace the brake pedal downward to apply the foot brake. 
     
     
         8 . An accident prevention system for use on a vehicle comprising a front end and a rear end, the accident prevention system comprising:
 a sensor arrangement for mounting on the vehicle for sensing an object rearward of the rear end of the vehicle, and that generates an object recognition signal when the sensor arrangement senses an object satisfying a predetermined condition;   a controller that is operatively coupled to the sensor arrangement and that generates an accident prevention response signal on receiving an object recognition signal from the sensor arrangement; and   a brake applicator that is operatively coupled to a brake of the vehicle in use, the brake applicator is operatively connected to the controller and applies the brake of the vehicle when the controller generates the accident prevention response signal whereby to resist movement of the vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the sensor arrangement that comprises at least one IR sensor that is mounted on the rear end of the vehicle that senses heat and generates an object recognition signal when it senses an object satisfying the condition that it radiates IR heat corresponding to a mammal 
     
     
         10 . The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a reflected pulse sensor arrangement that transmits pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle and senses return pulses returning to the sensor arrangement, and the sensor arrangement generates an object recognition signal, when the sensor arrangement senses an object satisfying the condition that the object is within a predetermined range of the rear end of the vehicle, and sends the object recognition signal to the controller. 
     
     
         11 . The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the sensor arrangement comprises:
 an IR sensor arrangement that senses IR heat and that generates an object recognition signal when the IR sensor arrangement senses an object satisfying the condition that it radiates IR heat corresponding to a mammal, and sends it to the controller; and   a reflected pulse sensor arrangement that transmits pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle and senses return pulses returning to the sensor arrangement, and the sensor arrangement generates an object recognition signal, when it senses an object satisfying the condition that it is within a predetermined range of the rear end of the vehicle, and sends the object recognition signal to the controller.   
     
     
         12 . The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein the IR sensor arrangement comprises one or more passive IR sensors and the reflected pulse sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of sonar sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the brake applicator comprises a solenoid that is operatively connected to the controller, a brake mounting member for operatively mounting to a foot brake of the vehicle in use, and a cable operatively coupling the brake mounting member to the solenoid. 
     
     
         14 . The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to  claim 8 , further comprising an alarm that is operatively connected to the controller, and wherein the alarm issues an alarm signal on receiving an accident prevention response signal from the controller. 
     
     
         15 . The accident prevention system for use on a vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein the controller is a central processing unit contained within a control housing, and wherein the CPU is wired to the sensor arrangement and the CPU is wired to the brake applicator and to the alarm. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle comprising an accident prevention system installed thereon, comprising:
 a vehicle body comprising a front end and a rear end mounted on ground engaging formations that permit the vehicle body to travel across a surface, the vehicle comprising at least one brake for stopping the vehicle;   a sensor arrangement mounted on the vehicle for sensing an object rearward of the rear end of the vehicle, and that generates an object recognition signal when the sensor arrangement senses an object satisfying a predetermined condition;   a controller that is operatively coupled to the sensor arrangement and that generates an accident prevention response signal on receiving an object recognition signal from the sensor arrangement; and   a brake applicator that is operatively coupled to a brake, and the brake applicator is operatively connected to the controller and applies the brake when the controller generates the accident prevention response signal whereby to resist movement of the vehicle.   
     
     
         17 . A vehicle comprising an accident prevention system installed thereon according to  claim 16 , wherein the sensor arrangement comprises an IR sensor arrangement that senses IR heat and that generates an object recognition signal when it senses an object satisfying the condition that it radiates IR heat corresponding to a mammal, and sends it to the controller. 
     
     
         18 . A vehicle comprising an accident prevention system installed thereon according to  claim 16 , wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a reflected pulse sensor arrangement that transmits pulses of electromagnetic radiation away from the rear end of the vehicle and senses return pulses returning to the sensor arrangement, and the sensor arrangement generates an object recognition signal when the sensor arrangement senses an object satisfying the condition that the object is within a predetermined range of the rear end of the vehicle, and sends the object recognition signal to the controller. 
     
     
         19 . A vehicle comprising an accident prevention system installed thereon according to  claim 18 , wherein the reflected pulse sensor arrangement comprises one or more reflected pulse sensors that are positioned on the rear end of the vehicle, and wherein the reflected pulse sensor arrangement generates an object recognition signal when the reflected pulse sensor arrangement identifies objects within a range that is a distance of between 0.5 meters and 2.0 meters from the rear end of the vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . A vehicle comprising an accident prevention system installed thereon according to  claim 19 , wherein the one or more reflected pulse sensors comprises sonar sensors that pulse sound waves, or radar sensors that pulse radio waves, or microwave sensors that pulse microwaves, and the sensors sense when the reflected waves return to the sensor arrangement.