Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Relative location – Collision avoidance
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-27
2001-07-17
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Relative location
Collision avoidance
C701S096000, C342S090000, C340S901000, C340S425500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263282
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to automobile safety systems, and particularly to a computerized vehicle system and method for warning other drivers of dangerous driving conditions.
Automobiles and other vehicles contain an increasing number of safety devices such as airbags, anti-lock brakes, and traction-control systems to deal with dangerous road conditions and protect drivers of vehicles so equipped. These devices prove effective in many cases in preventing accidents or in protecting drivers during an accident. However, there is no substitute for safe and careful driving.
A big part of safe driving is awareness by the driver of problems which may be arising. This awareness must be obtained in time to act accordingly. However, the condition of the road or vehicle ahead of a given driver is often not apparent to the driver until it is too late to take appropriate action. If a dangerous condition exists, an automobile driving ahead is likely to encounter the problem before automobiles behind them. By the time the trailing automobiles become aware of the problem, it is frequently too late to take effective action.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,752 issued Jul. 28, 1998 to Bucalo et al. discloses an emergency signal system for vehicles which alerts drivers approaching from the rear of a vehicle of a deceleration of the vehicle which exceeds a predetermined threshold. However, this system is similar to brake light systems and only alerts drivers of absolute speed changes of the vehicle so equipped. The system fails to alert other drivers of dangerous road conditions or of dangerous relative speed changes between the two vehicles.
There is thus a need for a system which warns drivers of dangerous road conditions in time to attempt safety measures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problems described above are solved by, in preferred embodiments, a dangerous driving conditions warning system for a vehicle such as an automobile. The warning system captures signals from two or more devices in an automobile and conveys the signals to a decision circuit which determines whether a dangerous driving condition exists and outputs an activation signal upon detecting a dangerous condition. The activation signal is sent to and activates an indicator such as a warning light or loud audible warning. The warning indicator alerts a trailing vehicle and other vehicles near the vehicle equipped with the warning system of the existence of one of various conditions warranting caution, a reduction in speed, or a veering or turn.
The warning indicator may be a light illuminated when a dangerous condition is detected. The light may be similar in construction to the tail lights of a car and mounted on the rear of the equipped vehicle such as near the third brake light. A second similar light may also be mounted on the front of the vehicle to alert other drivers of the difficulty with the equipped vehicle. The warning indicator may alternatively be an audible signaler such as the horn or an additional sound making device.
In preferred embodiments, the devices from which signals are received include an anti-lock braking system, a speedometer, an odometer, a distance sensor, a traction control system, an airbag deployment system, and a manual trigger. The conditions which can be detected include anti-lock activation, slippery road conditions, tailgating, rapid deceleration, airbag deployment, and excessive approach speed by the trailing automobile.
Some of the problems described above are also solved by a system for warning other drivers of a dangerous driving condition, in which the system includes a distance sensor for measuring distances between the first and second vehicles at a plurality of times, a decision circuit, coupled to receive signals from the distance sensor, for detecting a dangerous driving condition based on the distances measured by the distance sensor, and an indicator coupled to and selectively activated by the decision circuit for indicating the detection of the dangerous driving condition, the indicator being perceivable by the driver of the second vehicle. In particular embodiments, the distance sensor is installed on the rear of the vehicle equipped with the warning system, the decision circuit is capable of detecting excessive approach speed of a trailing vehicle, and the indicator is a warning light installed on the rear of the equipped vehicle.
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Brown & Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Hernandez Olga
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
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