US Patent No: 6,040,916

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Process and apparatus for determining the condition of a road surface

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

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Abstract

In a process for determining the condition of a road surface, light is beamed onto the road surface and backscattered light is detected and spectrally analyzed. The light beam contains two light fractions, one having wavelength range which is not significantly absorbed by water/ice and another having a wavelength range which is significantly absorbed by these materials. The first light fraction contains light of several different wavelengths and the spectral analysis includes the determination of an approximation reference curve for the spectral plots of the backscattered light when the road is dry. This is accomplished by using the spectral data of the backscattered light fraction in the wavelength range without significant absorption, and the determination of the difference between the spectral data of the backscattered-light fraction in the other wavelength range and the corresponding data of the approximation reference curve for at least one wavelength. A typical use, for example, is for continuous qualitative and quantitative determination of the condition of the road surface on which a road vehicle is driving.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
DAIMLERCHRYSLER AGSTUTTGART1720

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Griesinger, Manfred Leonberg, DE 8 103

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
ALFILL GETRANKETECHNIK GMBH (1)
5,459,313 Method of and apparatus for optically testing radiation transmitting containers 18 1994
 
DAIMLER-BENZ AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (1)
5,489,982 Method for determining a visual range 6 1994
 
HANS SPIES (1)
5,163,319 Method and a device for recognizing the condition of a road 68 1990
 
Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. (1)
4,690,553 Road surface condition detection system 92 1980
 
Vaisala Oy (1)
5,801,647 Method and apparatus for measuring road surface conditions 66 1996
 
Other [Check patent profile for assignment information] (1)
5,808,734 Method and apparatus for detecting impurities on plate surface 9 1996

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC (35)
6,631,317 Attitude sensing system for an automotive vehicle 54 2001
6,556,908 Attitude sensing system for an automotive vehicle relative to the road 80 2002
6,718,248 System for detecting surface profile of a driving road 42 2002
6,684,140 System for sensing vehicle global and relative attitudes using suspension height sensors 19 2002
6,834,218 Roll over stability control for an automotive vehicle 36 2003
7,136,731 System for determining vehicular relative roll angle during a potential rollover event 4 2003
7,233,236 Passive wheel lift identification for an automotive vehicle using operating input torque to wheel 7 2003
7,132,937 Wheel lift identification for an automotive vehicle using passive and active detection 10 2003
7,109,856 Wheel lifted and grounded identification for an automotive vehicle 8 2003
6,904,350 System for dynamically determining the wheel grounding and wheel lifting conditions and their applications in roll stability control 14 2003
7,194,351 System and method for determining a wheel departure angle for a rollover control system 2 2003
7,085,639 System and method for characterizing the road bank for vehicle roll stability control 5 2003
7,003,389 System and method for characterizing vehicle body to road angle for vehicle roll stability control 3 2003
7,085,642 Method and system for correcting sensor offsets 7 2003
7,430,468 System and method for sensitizing the activation criteria of a rollover control system 2 2003
6,941,205 System and method for deteching roll rate sensor fault 2 2003
7,027,902 Enhanced system for yaw stability control system to include roll stability control function 6 2003
7,239,949 Integrated sensing system 21 2004
7,079,928 System and method for determining a wheel departure angle for a rollover control system with respect to road roll rate and loading misalignment 12 2004
7,653,471 Active driven wheel lift identification for an automotive vehicle 7 2004
RE40496 Attitude sensing system for an automotive vehicle relative to the road 0 2004
7,308,350 Method and apparatus for determining adaptive brake gain parameters for use in a safety system of an automotive vehicle 2 2004
7,451,032 System and method for determining desired yaw rate and lateral velocity for use in a vehicle dynamic control system 4 2004
7,640,081 Roll stability control using four-wheel drive 2 2004
7,668,645 System and method for dynamically determining vehicle loading and vertical loading distance for use in a vehicle dynamic control system 3 2004
7,715,965 System and method for qualitatively determining vehicle loading conditions 1 2004
7,660,654 System for dynamically determining vehicle rear/trunk loading for use in a vehicle control system 1 2004
RE40268 Wheel lift identification for an automotive vehicle 0 2004
7,130,735 Roll over stability control for an automotive vehicle 5 2005
7,480,547 Attitude sensing system for an automotive vehicle relative to the road 7 2005
7,120,528 System and method for operating a rollover control system in a transition to a rollover condition 9 2005
7,590,481 Integrated vehicle control system using dynamically determined vehicle conditions 29 2005
7,136,730 Enhanced system for yaw stability control system to include roll stability control function 10 2005
8,121,758 System for determining torque and tire forces using integrated sensing system 0 2005
7,600,826 System for dynamically determining axle loadings of a moving vehicle using integrated sensing system and its application in vehicle dynamics controls 3 2005
 
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (14)
8,442,720 Integrated vehicle control system using dynamically determined vehicle conditions 0 2009
8,352,143 Integrated vehicle control system using dynamically determined vehicle conditions 0 2009
8,346,452 Integrated vehicle control system using dynamically determined vehicle conditions 0 2009
8,311,706 Integrated vehicle control system using dynamically determined vehicle conditions 0 2009
8,005,592 System for dynamically determining axle loadings of a moving vehicle using integrated sensing system and its application in vehicle dynamics controls 0 2009
8,219,282 System for dynamically determining vehicle rear/trunk loading for use in a vehicle control system 0 2009
8,005,596 System for dynamically determining vehicle rear/trunk loading for use in a vehicle control system 0 2009
8,050,857 System and method for dynamically determining vehicle loading and vertical loading distance for use in a vehicle dynamic control system 0 2010
7,877,178 System and method for dynamically determining vehicle loading and vertical loading distance for use in a vehicle dynamic control system 1 2010
7,877,199 System and method for dynamically determining vehicle loading and vertical loading distance for use in a vehicle dynamic control system 0 2010
7,877,200 System and method for dynamically determining vehicle loading and vertical loading distance for use in a vehicle dynamic control system 1 2010
7,877,201 System and method for dynamically determining vehicle loading and vertical loading distance for use in a vehicle dynamic control system 1 2010
7,899,594 System and method for qualitatively determining vehicle loading conditions 2 2010
8,346,433 System for dynamically determining vehicle rear/trunk loading for use in a vehicle control system 0 2012
 
FORD MOTOR COMPANY (4)
6,961,648 System and method for desensitizing the activation criteria of a rollover control system 9 2003
7,302,331 Wheel lift identification for an automotive vehicle 11 2003
7,096,103 System and method for operating a rollover control system during an elevated condition 10 2005
7,277,787 System and method for desensitizing the activation criteria of a rollover control system 1 2005
 
CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION (1)
7,159,472 Apparatus for determining fluid flow 1 1995
 
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC (1)
8,306,712 Road surface condition identification based on statistical pattern recognition 0 2009
 
VOLVO CAR CORPORATION (1)
6,963,797 System and method for determining an amount of control for operating a rollover control system 10 2003
 
Other [Check patent profile for assignment information] (1)
8,248,256 Non-contact flood and moisture detector 0 2009