Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-13
2004-06-29
La, Anh V. (Department: 2636)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
C340S426100, C340S429000, C340S539100, C342S457000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06756884
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modular traffic information system and more particularly pertains to receiving and analyzing signals in a vehicle and generating a message in audible and viewable form in response to the analyzed signals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of traffic systems of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, traffic systems of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of analyzing signals and generating messages by known methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,977,884 to Ross discloses a radar detector responsive to vehicle speed. Additionally, Japanese Patent Number JP09027096 to Shinichi discloses a speed excess alarming device. The subject matter of these patents is incorporated herein by reference.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a modular traffic information system that allows receiving and analyzing signals in a vehicle and generating a message in audible and viewable form in response to the analyzed sensor readings.
In this respect, the modular traffic information system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of receiving and analyzing signals in a vehicle and generating a message in audible and viewable form in response to the analyzed signals.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved modular traffic information system which can be used for receiving and analyzing signals in a vehicle and generating a message in audible and viewable form in response to the analyzed signals. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of traffic systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved modular traffic information system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved modular traffic information system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a front patch box. The front patch box is positionable in the motor compartment of a vehicle. The front patch box has a plurality of disconnectable forwardly facing sensors. The sensors are adapted to receive a wide range of signals. The wide range of signals includes a radio wave sensors in a horizontal plane and a radio wave sensor in a vertical plane. The wide range of signals further includes optical sensors at different angles. A plurality of disconnectable extension sensors and transmitters are provided. The sensors include a temperature sensor and a shock/vibration sensor. Also included is a plurality of disconnectable forwardly facing transmitters. The transmitters are adapted to send a wide range of signals. The wide range of signals includes an optical transmitter and a radio frequency/microwave transmitter. A rear patch box is provided next. The rear patch box is positionable in the trunk of a vehicle. The rear patch box has a plurality of disconnectable rearwardly facing sensors. The sensors are adapted to receive a wide range of signals. The wide range of signals includes a radio wave sensor in a horizontal plane and a radio wave sensor in a vertical plane. Optical sensors at different angles are also included. Further provided is a plurality of disconnectable extension sensors and transmitters. The sensors include a temperature sensor and a shock/vibration sensor. Also included is a plurality of disconnectable rearwardly facing transmitters. The transmitters are adapted to send a wide range of signals. The wide range of signals includes an optical transmitter and a radio frequency/microwave transmitter. Next provided is a driver compartment patch box. The driver compartment patch box is positionable in a vehicle. The driver compartment patch box has a plurality of disconnectable supplemental electronic components. The electronic components include but are not limited to a mobile modem, a sound processor, a position system receiver, a mass storage device and extra extensions. The position system receiver is a global positioning system (GPS), a Loran or the like. The mobile modem includes a mobile phone modem adapted to receive and transmit data to a central information center. In this manner easy updating of the data storage units of a sound processor unit and the central processing unit and the display unit is allowed. The mobile phone modem is also adapted to allow easy transfer of information of the plurality of sensors and transmitters and supplemental electronic components to the central processing unit. The transferred information is in “real time” as well as from stored information out of one of the data storage units. A central processing unit is provided. The central processing unit is positionable in a vehicle. The central processing unit has a data storage unit. A front bus is coupled to the front patch box. A rear bus is coupled to the rear patch box. A driver bus is coupled to the driver compartment patch box. The central processing unit is adapted to process signals from the plurality of sensors and transmitters and supplemental electronic components. The central processing unit is further adapted to analyze the processed signals and make decisions based on the results of the combination of sensor readings and operator selections. The decisions made by the central processing unit are adapted to result in one or more of the following actions: storage of data, generating an audible message, generating a viewable message, starting an optical transmission, starting a radio transmission, and the like. The central processing unit is further adapted to manipulate any analyzed signal in a way as programmed and requested by a user. The central processing unit is further adapted to store and use stored information from the data storage unit of the central processing unit with the information adapted to be transferred from and to the data storage unit of the display unit. The central processing unit is even further adapted to auto-detect and use all of the sensors and transmitters and supplemental electronic components coupled to the front bus and rear bus and driver bus independent of which bus and which devices are connected. Further provided is a viewable display unit. The viewable display unit is positionable in a vehicle. The viewable display unit is adapted to act as a user interface between the central processing unit and an operator. The display unit makes use of a menu structure and so called “soft-keys” to allow easy and flexible configuration and use of the system. The display unit is adapted to show the received radio signals in a graphical form from which a user may witness the strength and frequency of received signals. The viewable form includes graphical information, alphanumeric representations of the graphical information and text messages, such viewable display also has a graphical representation with the y-axis representing the strength of any received signal and the x-axis representing the frequency of any received signal. The display unit is further adapted to store information and to use stored information from the data storage unit of the display unit. Such information is adapted to be transferred to and from the data storage unit of the central processing unit and adapted to be transferred t
Dijkstra Patrick
La Anh V.
Moser Patterson & Sheridan LLP
LandOfFree
Modular traffic information system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Modular traffic information system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modular traffic information system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3339399