Communications: electrical – External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm – Highway information
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-15
2001-07-10
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm
Highway information
C340S435000, C340S437000, C340S901000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259374
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of vehicle occupant notification systems. More particularly, the invention relates to driver notification systems having a road mounted component.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Traveling on interstate highways requires a constantly high level of driver attention to reduce the risk of an accident. There are specific periods during which the opportunity for driver error and the potential for an accident is above average. Alerting the driver to the presence of hazardous conditions could reduce the risk or severity of an accident. Entering and exiting from interstate are especially hazardous periods, which require an alert and informed driver.
Run-off-the-road accidents are among the most frequent types of highway accidents. Tired, sleepy or inattentive drivers often fail to guide their vehicles within the proper lane, and almost every driver, on some occasion, has been distracted enough to run off the edge of the road onto the shoulder. A means is needed to warn such a driver of deviation from the intended path before the excursion becomes an accident.
Unfortunately, there are not enough reliable data on encroachment (the specific technical term used in highway safety literature to describe this type of incident) to allow highway engineers and others interested in highway safety to evaluate the frequency and severity of encroachments that do not result in accidents. The current state of the art of encroachment data collection has been described as “look for tire tracks.” What is needed is a cost-effective way to collect sufficient data to allow evaluation or correction of existing situations that lead to encroachment and run-off-the-road accidents.
Accidents involving trains and automobiles are often tragic and fatal. Even though railroad crossings are clearly marked, many do not have flashing lights and audible tones because of the additional costs.
Safe driving rules and road signs are not adequate to prevent some classes of highway accidents. As we know, a moment's inattentiveness, distractions, and drowsiness can lead to accidents and fatalities. Other forms of sensory input such as bells at railroad crossings and rumble strips at dangerous intersections and sections of highway are used in special cases to supplement and complement visual symbols.
Most approaches to driver signaling require an on-board electronic device to detect and decode signals sent by road-side equipment. Legislation to require additional safety equipment for vehicles although often quite justified requires a significant effort and always adds to vehicle costs (e.g., air bags, seat belts, and center-mounted brake light).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a method and apparatus for conveying specific messages in the form of words or other audible sounds to the driver and/or other occupants of vehicles, while traveling on a roadway. A modulation signal can be permanently embedded in the surface of the pavement. The modulation directly corresponds to spoken words, commands, or other audible messages. As the vehicle passes over the modulated region, the tires convey the sounds to the cabin of the vehicle. This conveyance requires no other apparatus on board the vehicle or along the highway. Thus, once the invention is installed, the method and apparatus can be passive. Conveying safety and other messages to vehicles passing by can reduce run-off-the-road accidents and alert drivers to other potentially hazardous conditions on interstate and secondary highways.
These, and other, goals and embodiments of the invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2419099 (1947-04-01), Wall
patent: 3044043 (1962-07-01), Wendt
patent: 4490069 (1984-12-01), Cushman et al.
patent: 4790684 (1988-12-01), Adams
patent: 5392728 (1995-02-01), Speer et al.
patent: 5929787 (1999-07-01), Mee et al.
Anderson Richard L.
Carnal Charles L.
Hylton James O.
Kisner Roger A.
Stevens Samuel S.
Fulbright & Jaworski
Hofsass Jeffery
Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation
Tang Son M.
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