Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-21
2002-04-23
Lefkowitz, Edward (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
C340S903000, C340S990000, C340S995190, C342S357490, C342S357490, C342S357490
Reexamination Certificate
active
06377165
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a Mayday system including a Mayday equipment (i.e., communication terminal) mounted on a vehicle, such as an automotive vehicle. In case of emergency (e.g., traffic accident, emergent illness, etc), the Mayday system allows a user to contact with an emergency center, such as a police office, a fire station, a hospital, etc, which administrates this emergency system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a Mayday system equipment which functions in various ways, brings excellent usability and reliability, and also is advantageous in space utility.
In order to accomplish this and other related objects, the present invention provides a Mayday system equipment installable on an automotive vehicle. The Mayday system equipment of the present invention comprises a locator unit for producing vehicle locative information, and a communicator unit for producing emergency report information including the vehicle locative information produced by the locator unit and for transmitting the emergency report information to an emergency center. The locator unit and the communicator unit are separately or detachably arranged.
According to this arrangement, the locator unit and the communicator unit are arranged as independent units. Thus, if the automotive vehicle is already equipped with a car navigation system, it becomes possible to use the car navigation system as the locator unit.
Data/signal transmission between the locator unit and the communicator unit is performed via a cable or by wireless.
It is preferable that the locator unit may include a GPS (i.e., Global Positioning System) receiver which performs communications with a satellite to obtain GPS information representing the present position of the automotive vehicle, a gyro sensor which produces angular information representing the traveling direction of the automotive vehicle, and a distance information analyzer which obtains distance information representing a traveling distance of the automotive vehicle. A differential GPS analyzer may be used to correct an error involved in the information obtained from the satellite based on differential data. Thus, it becomes possible to obtain accurate vehicle locative information.
Meanwhile, it is preferable that the communicator unit includes the means for performing emergency report processing in response to a signal of a Mayday signal generating means (e.g., a Mayday button), and a hands-free system which allows a user to communicate with the emergency center without using a handset. This arrangement brings excellent usability of the Mayday system equipment.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the communicator unit includes an air bag analyzer for detecting activation of an air bag, a memory for storing the data obtained by the air bag analyzer, and means for performing emergency report processing in response to a signal of the air bag analyzer when the air bag is activated. Thus, in case of traffic accident, activation of the air bag can be immediately and automatically reported to the emergency center. Meanwhile, the communicator unit allows a rescue worker or anyone else to output the data stored in the memory to check the activation of the air bag.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the communicator unit includes a rolling sensor for detecting rolling of the automotive vehicle, a memory for storing the data obtained by the rolling sensor, and means for performing emergency report processing in response to a signal of the rolling sensor when the automotive vehicle has rolled. Thus, in case of traffic accident, rolling of the automotive vehicle can be immediately and automatically reported to the emergency center. Meanwhile, the communicator unit allows the rescue worker or anyone else to output the data stored in the memory to check the occurrence of the rolling of the automotive vehicle.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the communicator unit includes a temperature sensor for detecting abnormal temperature increase in the automotive vehicle, a memory for storing the data obtained by the temperature sensor, and means for performing emergency report processing in response to a signal of the temperature sensor when the temperature increases abnormally in the automotive vehicle. Thus, in case of traffic accident, an abnormal temperature increase of the automotive vehicle can be immediately and automatically reported to the emergency center. Meanwhile, the communicator unit allows the rescue worker or anyone else to output the data stored in the memory to check the occurrence of abnormal temperature increase in the automotive vehicle.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the communicator unit includes a collision analyzer for detecting collision of the automotive vehicle, a memory for storing the data obtained by the collision analyzer, and means for performing emergency report processing in response to a signal of the collision analyzer when the automotive vehicle is involved in a traffic accident. Thus, a collision of the automotive vehicle can be immediately and automatically reported to the emergency center. Meanwhile, the communicator unit allows the rescue worker or anyone else to output the data stored in the memory to check the occurrence of collision of the automotive vehicle.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the communicator unit includes a vehicle speed analyzer for detecting a traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, a memory for storing the data obtained by the vehicle speed analyzer, and means for performing emergency report processing to report the traveling condition of the automotive vehicle in an emergency situation. Thus, the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle can be immediately and automatically reported to the emergency center. Meanwhile, the communicator unit allows the rescue worker or anyone else to output the data stored in the memory to check the recorded traveling speed of the automotive vehicle.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the communicator unit includes a braking analyzer for detecting depression of a brake pedal of the automotive vehicle, a memory for storing the data obtained by the braking analyzer, and means for performing emergency report processing to report the traveling condition of the automotive vehicle in an emergency situation. Thus, the application of a braking force in the automotive vehicle can be immediately and automatically reported to the emergency center. Meanwhile, the communicator unit allows the rescue worker or anyone else to output the data stored in the memory to check the depression of the brake pedal of the automotive vehicle.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the communicator unit includes a reverse analyzer for detecting a reverse gear position of a transmission of the automotive vehicle, a memory for storing the data obtained by the reverse analyzer, and means for performing emergency report processing to report the traveling condition of the automotive vehicle in an emergency situation. Thus, the setting of the reverse gear position in the transmission of the automotive vehicle can be immediately and automatically reported to the emergency center. Meanwhile, the communicator unit allows the rescue worker or anyone else to output the data stored in the memory to check the traveling direction of the automotive vehicle.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the communicator unit includes a transmission analyzer for detecting a shift lever position or a gear position of a transmission of the automotive vehicle, a memory for storing the data obtained by the transmission analyzer, and means for performing emergency report processing to report the traveling condition of the automotive vehicle in an emergency situation. Thus, the shift lever position or the gear position of the transmission of the automotive vehicle can be immediately and automatically reported to the emergency center. Meanwhile, the communicator unit allows the rescue worker or anyone else to output the data stored in the memory to check the shift lever position
Nakama Yasutoshi
Yoshioka Kenji
Lefkowitz Edward
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
Woo Louis
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