BACKGROUND

[0001] Vehicles are associated with various information. In certain situations, such as a vehicle stop by law enforcement, the information associated with a vehicle needs to be provided to a secondary vehicle. However, current vehicles are lacking with respect to providing such information to each other. Accordingly, room for improvement exists in current vehicles, and related components, to provide information associated with one vehicle to another vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of components of an example communications system for a vehicle;

[0003] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a host vehicle and law enforcement vehicle having the system of FIG. 1; and

[0004] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of an example process for operating the system of

FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

[0005] A communications system 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) provides a hardware and software infrastructure to provide information associated with a host vehicle 200 to a second vehicle 210, e.g., a law enforcement vehicle, when the second vehicle 210 requests the host vehicle 200 to stop. The system 20 provides a solution to the problem of the needing to provide information associated with the host vehicle 200 to the second vehicle 210. Accordingly, a computer 30 of the system 20 in the host vehicle 200 is programmed to detect a stop request from the second vehicle 210 to the host vehicle 200, and to transmit host vehicle 200 information to the second vehicle 210 in response. [0006] The computer 30 may detect the stop request based on a vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communication, sent from the second vehicle 210 to the host vehicle 200. The computer 30 may, additionally or alternatively, detect the stop request based on a visual output, such as a patterned flashing of a light 215 supported on the second vehicle 210, detected by sensors 35 and/or an imaging device 60.

[0007] In addition to sending the vehicle 200 information, the computer 30 may bring the vehicle 200 to a stop. Bringing the vehicle 200 to the stop may include steering the vehicle 200 out of a lane of travel and slowing the host vehicle 200 to the stop. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the computer 30 may navigate the vehicle 200 to an identified stop location.

[0008] In the following description, relative orientations and directions (by way of example, top, bottom, forward, rearward, front, rear, back, outboard, inboard, inward, outward, lateral, left, right) are from the perspective of an occupant seated in a driver seat, facing a dashboard of a vehicle.

SYSTEM

[0009] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a communications system 20 for a vehicle 200 includes a computer 30 in communication with one or more sensors 35, a steering 40, a powertrain 45, a navigation device 50, a transceiver 55 and an imaging device 60.

[0010] The computer 30 is a computing device that includes a processor 32 and a memory

34.

[0011] The processor 32 is implemented via circuits, chips, or other electronic components and may include one or more microcontrollers, one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), one or more application specific circuits (ASICs), one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), one or more customer integrated circuits, etc. The processor 32 is programmable to process data and communications received via the memory 34, the sensors 35, the steering 40, the powertrain 45, the navigation device 50, the transceiver 55, and the imaging device 60. Processing the data and communications may include processing to transmit host vehicle 200 information to a second vehicle 210 in response to detecting a stop request from the second vehicle 210. As described below, the processor 32 instructs vehicle 200 components to actuate based on the communications and data. [0012] The memory 34 is implemented via circuits, chips or other electronic components and can include one or more of read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, electrically programmable memory (EPROM), electrically programmable and erasable memory (EEPROM), an embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC), a hard drive, or any volatile or nonvolatile media etc. The memory 34 may store instructions for performing the processes described herein, and data collected from sensors and communications.

[0013] The computer 30 is in electronic communication with one or more input devices such as are known (and therefore not shown in the drawings) for providing data to the computer 30 and one or more output devices such as are known for receiving data and/or instructions from the computer 30 e.g., to actuate an output device. Exemplary input devices include: human machine interfaces (HMIs) such as a switch or graphical user interface (GUI); imaging devices such as LiDAR, still and/or video cameras, infrared sensors, the steering 40, the powertrain 45, the navigation device 50, the transceiver 55, the imaging device 60. etc., as well as other sensors and/or electronic control units (ECUs) that are known to provide data, e.g., on a vehicle communications bus or network, such as, radar, ultrasonic sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, thermometers, barometers, altimeters, current sensing devices, voltage sensing devices, microphones, light sensors, etc. etc. Exemplary output devices that may be actuated by the computer 30 include: warning light and audible subsystems; HMIs, the steering 40, the powertrain 45, the navigation device 50, the transceiver 55, the braking 65, etc.

[0014] The sensors 35 collect and send data to the computer 30 via a vehicle network, e.g. a communication bus or the like. The sensors 35 may detect internal states of the vehicle 200, for example, wheel speed, wheel orientation, and motor, engine, and/or transmission variables. The sensors 35 may detect the position and/or orientation of the vehicle 200, for example, global positioning system (GPS) sensors; accelerometers such as piezo-electric or microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); gyroscopes such as rate, ring laser, or fiber-optic gyroscopes; inertial measurements units (IMU); and magnetometers. The sensors 35 may detect the external world, for example, light measurement sensors, photometers, wind speed measurement sensors, radar sensors, scanning laser range finders, light detection and ranging (LIDAR) devices, and image processing sensors such as cameras.

[0015] The steering 40 is in communication with the computer 30 via the vehicle network.

Upon actuation by the computer 30, the steering 40 alters and/or maintains a steering angle of one or more tires of the vehicle 200. For example, the steering 40 controls known electric and hydraulic systems in the vehicle 200 which affect the steering angle of one or more tires of the vehicle 200.

[0016] The powertrain 45 is in communication with the computer 30 via the vehicle network. Upon actuation by the computer 30, the powertrain 45 provides a torque to wheels of the vehicle 200, propelling the vehicle 200 forward. The powertrain 45 may include an electric motor, a battery pack and a charging system, such as known solar and wind powered charging systems. The powertrain 45 may alternatively or additionally include an internal combustion engine. The battery pack can be connected to the electric motor and the charging system. In a conventional electric powertrain, the electric motor is rotationally coupled to the transmission. In a conventional internal combustion powertrain, the engine is rotationally coupled to the transmission. In a conventional hybrid powertrain, the electric motor is coupled to the transmission and transmits rotational kinetic energy to the transmission, and the internal-combustion engine may be coupled to the electric motor or to the transmission. The transmission transmits the kinetic energy from the electric motor and/or the internal-combustion engine to a drive axle and ultimately to wheels of the vehicle 200, while applying a gear ratio allowing different tradeoffs between torque and rotational speed.

[0017] The navigation device 50 is in communication with the computer 30 via the vehicle network. The navigation device 50 determines a location of the vehicle 200 relative to stored map data. Map data may include roads and related data, such as a number of lanes and availability of a shoulder, parking lot, and public rest area locations, etc. To determine the location, the navigation device 50 may rely on information from a global navigation satellite system, distance data from sensors 35 attached to a drivetrain of the vehicle 200, a gyroscope, and/or an accelerometer. The map data may be stored locally, such as on the memory 34, or on the navigation device 50. Additionally or alternatively, the map data may be stored on a remote computer or network, accessible via the transceiver 55. Exemplary navigation devices 50 include known GPS (global positioning system) navigation devices, personal navigation devices, and automotive navigation systems.

[0018] The transceiver 55 is in communication with the computer 30 via the vehicle network. The transceiver 55 transmits and receives information wirelessly from other transceivers, enabling signals, data and other information to be exchanged with other computer and network systems. Exemplary transceivers 55 include known Wi-Fi systems, radio transmitters and receivers, telecommunications systems, Bluetooth systems, cellular systems and mobile satellite transceivers. The transceiver 55 communicates with other vehicles, such as by using known vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) techniques and/or products. Additionally, the transceiver 55 may communicate with a transportation infrastructure, e.g. an intersection controller, a toll booth, etc., such as by using known vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) techniques and/or products.

[0019] The imaging device 60 is in electronic communication with the computer 30 via the vehicle network. Imaging devices 60 can include one or more of a digital (still and/or video) camera, and/or other sensor. As is known, a camera can capture image data comprising two- dimensional digital images and/or video comprised of pixels. In general, the image device 60 captures conventional images in the visible light spectrum. The captured images are converted to electronic data to be transmitted and stored in the memory 34 of the computer 30, e.g., as a file. Additionally or alternatively, the image data may be sent to the computer 30 to be processed in real time. As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging device 60 may be supported on the vehicle 200 and oriented to capture a view of the area behind the vehicle 200.

[0020] The braking 65 is a vehicle system in communication with the computer 30 that, upon actuation, resists the motion of the vehicle to thereby slow and/or stop the vehicle 200. Exemplary known braking 65 vehicle systems include friction brakes such as disc brakes, drum brakes, band brakes, and so on; regenerative brakes; engine brakes; any other suitable type of brakes; or a combination thereof.

PROCESS

[0021] Referring to FIG. 3, the process 300 begins based on the computer 30 in a vehicle

200 receiving an instruction to begin the process 300, or by generating its own instruction to begin the process 300. For example, the computer 30 may receive an input from a user through a HMI associated with the computer 30, such as when the user places the vehicle 200 in an autonomous control mode. In another example, the computer may self-determine that the instruction to begin should be generated, for example, as part of a vehicle start/power up procedure.

[0022] Next, at a block 310, the computer 30 detects a stop request. A stop request is a request sent from another vehicle, such as the second vehicle 210, to the host vehicle 200 indicating a desire for the host vehicle 200 to slow down, pull over to a location outside of a lane of travel, and come to a complete stop. The stop request may be a wireless message received by the transceiver 55 of the host vehicle 200. The stop request may, alternatively or additionally, be a visual output, e.g. flashing lights 215, detected by the imaging device 60, or other sensors 35, of the host vehicle 200. The stop request may contain information regarding the sender of the request, such as an identification of the sender as the second vehicle 210.

[0023] At a block 315, the computer 30 receives a request for host vehicle 200 information.

A request for host vehicle 200 information is a request sent from another vehicle, such as the second vehicle 210, to the host vehicle 200 indicating a desire for the host vehicle to transmit host vehicle 200 information. The vehicle 200 information may include insurance information, such as carrier, policy number, expiration date, coverage details, etc., associated with the host vehicle. The vehicle 200 information may include registration information, such as a make, model, year, vehicle identification number, state of registration, expiration of registration, etc., associated with the host vehicle. The request for host vehicle 200 information may include information identifying a sender of the request. The request for host vehicle 200 information may be a wireless message received by the transceiver 55 of the host vehicle 200, such as a wireless vehicle-to-vehicle communication from the second vehicle 210.

[0024] At a block 320, the computer 30 determines if the stop request is from the second vehicle 210. The computer 30 determines if the stop request is from a law enforcement vehicle or other authorized second vehicle 210 based at least on the detection of the stop request. When the stop request is detected by receiving a wireless message via the transceiver 55, the received signal may contain identifying information associated with a sender of the signal. The identifying information contained in the signal may identify the sender as a second vehicle 210. When the stop request is detected as a visual output by the imaging device 60, the computer 30 may identify the stop request is from the second vehicle 210 based on specific characteristics of the visual output. For example, the visual output may be identified as coming from the second vehicle 210 where a flashing of the lights 215 supported on the second vehicle 210 occurs at a specific pattern. The specific flash pattern may include a series of light flashes of specific duration, which may repeat. For example, the light flashes may occur in a long-short-short-long pattern, or some variation thereof, similar to that used for Morse code. The detected flash pattern may be compared to flash patterns on a lookup table stored as a file on the computer 30, where the lookup table contains various flash patterns associated with various vehicle types, e.g. law enforcement vehicles, fire and rescues vehicles, ambulances, etc. [0025] At a block 325, the computer 30 sends the requested host vehicle 200 information.

The host vehicle 200 information may be sent by the transceiver 55. The computer 30 may cause the host vehicle 200 information to be sent in response to the request for host vehicle 200 information received at the block 315. The host information may be sent in response to the computer 30 determining that the stop request was from the second vehicle 210 at the block 320.

[0026] At a block 330, the computer 30 identifies a stop location. The stop location is a location where the vehicle 200 can stop outside of a lane of travel, minimizing the disruption of traffic flow caused by the vehicle 200 stopping. Example stop locations include a shoulder of a road and/or off ramp of an expressway, a parking lot, a rest area, a side street or alley, etc. The stop location area may be identified by the computer 30 based on the map data stored on the navigation device 50, e.g., according to geo-coordinates such as are known, a street address, etc.

[0027] At a block 335, the computer 30 causes the host vehicle 200 to stop. The computer

30 may cause the host vehicle 200 to stop by actuating the steering 40, the powertrain 45, and the braking 65. The computer 30 may use information from the sensors 35 and/or the navigation device 50. For example, the computer 30 may actuate the steering 40, the powertrain 45, and the braking 65 to navigate the vehicle 200 to the stop location identified in the block 330 based on data received from the navigation device 50. Alternatively, the computer may actuate the steering 40, the powertrain 45, and the braking 65 to move the vehicle 200 onto the shoulder where the vehicle 200 is slowed to a stop. The shoulder is typically located to the right of the lane on travel, however, this varies based on local traffic rules and norms. The shoulder may be identified by computer 30 using data from the sensors 35, such as by using forward facing imaging sensors along with known image processing algorithms.

[0028] The process 300 ends following the block 335. CONCLUSION

[0029] Computing devices as discussed herein generally each include instructions executable by one or more computing devices such as those identified above, and for carrying out blocks or steps of processes described above. Computer-executable instructions may be compiled or interpreted from computer programs created using a variety of programming languages and/or technologies, including, without limitation, and either alone or in combination, Java™, C, C++, Visual Basic, Java Script, Perl, HTML, etc. In general, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) receives instructions, e.g., from a memory, a computer-readable medium, etc., and executes these instructions, thereby performing one or more processes, including one or more of the processes described herein. Such instructions and other data may be stored and transmitted using a variety of computer-readable media. A file in the computing device 105 is generally a collection of data stored on a computer readable medium, such as a storage medium, a random access memory, etc.

[0030] A computer-readable medium includes any medium that participates in providing data (e.g., instructions), which may be read by a computer. Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, etc. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes a main memory. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can read.

[0031] With regard to the media, processes, systems, methods, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of systems and/or processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments, and should in no way be construed so as to limit the disclosed subject matter.

[0032] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present disclosure, including the above description and the accompanying figures and below claims, is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to claims appended hereto and/or included in a non-provisional patent application based hereon, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the arts discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the disclosed subject matter is capable of modification and variation.