Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – External signal light system
Statutory Invention Registration
1998-06-10
2001-11-06
Tudor, Harold J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
External signal light system
C340S467000, C340S469000, C340S463000, C340S464000
Statutory Invention Registration
active
H0002001
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to communication of vehicular deceleration information to following vehicles, especially in automotive vehicles having the U.S. Federal Government-mandated “center high-mounted stoplight” system.
Following a series of tests in which the benefits of additional signaling to the driver of a trailing motor vehicle were illustrated in a convincing manner the U.S. Government, since the mid 1980's, has mandated the incorporation of high-mounted braking indication signals at the rear of newly manufactured motor vehicles. This new signal which is often mounted at eye level in a laterally centered lower or upper portion of the vehicle rear window has become known in the art as a “center high-mounted stoplight” system. References to the system by a name of this nature, in fact, appear in government vehicle specifications. Earlier versions of this system used one or more incandescent filament lamps (within a module carried inside the vehicle on the rear shelf for example) as a source of signal illumination. Later appearing versions have included an array of physically dispersed incandescent filament or light-emitting diode devices disposed outside the vehicle and spread over significant rear facing dimensions of the vehicle. In either instance the signaling device is required to meet detailed standards regarding viewing angle and other details.
One of the origins of apparatus of this type is found in a study accomplished over ten years ago, a study in which an additional brake light was placed high and centered on 2100 taxicabs in Washington, D.C. (see Malone, 1986, one of the reference publications identified subsequently herein). During this study it was found that the number of rear-end collisions with these taxicabs was significantly (p=0.001) reduced—by 54%. The results were so compelling that all cars since September 1985 now incorporate this feature. Rear-end accidents account for about 37% of all multi-vehicle accidents (McKnight reference, 1992). The present invention further enhances this proven system by flashing the center high-mounted rear stoplight when the vehicle is undergoing an abrupt, relatively high-g deceleration or stop.
Another origin for systems of the present type lies in the fact that flashing lights are known to have better visual attention-getting attributes than steady state lights. Emergency vehicles use flashing lights to increase conspicuity and to warn of potentially dangerous situations for this reason. This is also why aircraft anti-collision lights (both on aircraft and on high towers or buildings) are flashed. Inherently, some drivers manually turn on their emergency flashers to provide short and long-range warning to oncoming traffic of traffic slow down in recognition of this visibility improvement. The system of the present invention will serve to automatically warn drivers behind rapidly decelerating vehicles to take precautionary measures. If ultimately used in large numbers of vehicles on the road, a system of this type will provide a universally recognizable indication of rapid vehicle decelerations and the need for following driver alertness to unforeseen traffic conditions.
The U.S. Government owns, maintains and uses large numbers of motor vehicles. The present invention stoplight enhancement system will likely reduce the number of rear-end collisions occurring with these vehicles thereby saving lives, money and government property. Universal use of the invention by cars, vans and small trucks is believed to offer the potential for increased overall traffic safety on national (or even international) highways.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides high deceleration-related information in a manner selected for maximum attention capturing visual engagement of a following vehicle driver or a distant approaching driver.
Most late model motor vehicles incorporate an additional red stoplight that is centered and usually positioned higher (near eye-level) than the conventional left and right stoplights, the low-mounted stoplights which often also serve as turn signal indicating lamps. The addition of this centered, high-mounted stoplight has been proven to significantly reduce rear-end collisions. The present invention provides additional vehicular safety by increasing the conspicuity of such a rear stoplight system. According to the invention a transducer device that is sensitive to abnormal stopping conditions (e.g., when a car decelerates suddenly or when an automatic brake system, i.e., an antilock brake system (ABS), is activated on slippery pavement) is used to flash the centered stoplight—and only the centered stoplight. The flashing of this stoplight increases its attention-getting attributes. This flashing signal will further serve as an indication to the drivers to the rear that traffic is decelerating faster than normal and that increased awareness or precautionary measures should be initiated.
It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an abnormal rate of vehicle deceleration-controlled visual signal to a following vehicle driver.
It is another object of the invention to provide flashing signal indications of rapid vehicle deceleration to following vehicles through use of existing center high-mounted stoplight apparatus.
It is another object of the invention to provide flashing signal indications of rapid vehicle deceleration to following vehicles through use of existing center high-mounted stoplight apparatus operated in a differing and additional operating mode.
It is another object of the invention to provide flashing signal indications of rapid vehicle deceleration in addition to conventional continuous signal indications of braking in a motor vehicle.
It is another object of the invention to provide longer term flashing signal indications of stopped vehicle conditions following the extremely rapid vehicle deceleration which may occur, for example, in a vehicle collision event.
It is another object of the invention to provide flashing signal indications of rapid vehicle deceleration by way of one of a plurality of different signaling elements.
Additional objects and features of the invention will be understood from the following description and claims and the accompanying drawings.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by motor vehicle high-mounted visual signaling apparatus comprising the combination of:
a first vehicle-received high-mounted electrically responsive visual signaling device disposed at subatantially eye level of an operator's position of a second trailing vehicle;
means for continuously energizing said first vehicle high-mounted electrically responsive visual signaling device from a first vehicle energy source in response to normal deceleration g-force braking of said first vehicle; and
means for intermittently energizing said first vehicle high-mounted electrically responsive signaling device from said first vehicle energy source in response to abnormal higher deceleration g-force braking of said first vehicle.
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Hollins Gerald B.
Kundert Thomas L.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
Tudor Harold J.
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