Alert system and method for vehicle with extendable service component

• US 10,106,175 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2018
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dican Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dican Inc.
• Inventors: Shirchenko, Michael, Stapleton, Kenneth Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Blount, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US15/939,113
• Time in Patent Office: 209 Days
• Field of Search: 3404255, 340435, 340436, 340457, 340679, 340685
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/045 Levelling or stabilising systems for tippers suspensions with levelling or stabilising means for vehicles in general B60G17/00, B60G21/00, using ground-engaging vehicle fittings B60S9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/4464 Warning signals, e.g. accoustic or visual
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

Described are system and methods in which the speed of a service vehicle and the configuration of an extendable service component of the vehicle may be monitored. The vehicle can be driven with the extendable service component out of its home configuration as long as the speed is below a speed threshold. However, if the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed threshold while the extendable service component is out of its home configuration, an extended service component alert signal is transmitted. Although a local alarm may (also) be provided to the vehicle operator, the extended service component alert signal is transmitted wirelessly and provides one or more alerts on at least one receiver remote from the vehicle, such as on a mobile phone of a supervisor who can take action. In some embodiments, the speed threshold may vary depending on the location of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring operation of a service vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring a configuration of an extendable service component of the service vehicle;

monitoring a speed of the service vehicle; and

responsive to a determination that the extendable service component is out of its home configuration while the speed of the service vehicle exceeds a speed threshold, providing at least one wireless alert on at least one receiver remote from the service vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a position of the service vehicle; and

using the position of the service vehicle to set the speed threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver comprises a wireless mobile telephone and the at least one alert comprises a text message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver comprises a wireless mobile telephone and the at least one alert comprises a telephone call.

5. A monitoring system for monitoring operation of a service vehicle, the monitoring system comprising:

at least one component sensor input, each component sensor input being adapted to receive a respective component sensor signal representing a configuration of an extendable service component of the service vehicle;

a speed signal input adapted to receive speed information signals representing a speed of the service vehicle;

a wireless transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit an extended service component alert signal to provide at least one alert on at least one receiver remote from the service vehicle; and

at least one controller coupled to the at least one component sensor input and the speed signal input and configured to use each component sensor signal to drive the transmitter to transmit the extended service component alert signal.

6. The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the at least one controller is configured to use each component sensor signal and the speed information signals to drive the transmitter to transmit the extended service component alert signal so that the extended service component alert signal comprises speed information about a speed of the service vehicle and configuration information about whether the extendable service component is out of its home configuration.

7. The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the at least one controller is configured to use each component sensor signal and the speed information signals to:

determine whether the extendable service component is out of its home configuration while the speed of the service vehicle exceeds a speed threshold; and

responsive to a determination that the extendable service component is out of its home configuration while the speed of the service vehicle exceeds a speed threshold, drive the transmitter to transmit the extended service component alert signal.

8. The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein:

the speed signal input is adapted to be coupled to a speed sensor of the service vehicle and the speed information signals comprise speed sensor signals.

9. The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein:

the speed signal input comprises a location module adapted to continuously update a location of the service vehicle and the speed information signals are the locations of the service vehicle; and

the at least one controller is configured to determine the speed of the service vehicle by comparing changes in the location to elapsed time between locations.

10. The monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the at least one controller is configured to use the location of the service vehicle to set the speed threshold.

11. The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the monitoring system comprises an automatic vehicle locator (AVL) unit.

12. The monitoring system of claim 11, wherein, the speed signal input, wireless transmitter and controller all form part of the AVL unit.

13. The monitoring system of claim 12, wherein each component sensor input is a direct input terminal to the AVL unit.

14. The monitoring system of claim 12, wherein each component sensor input comprises:

to a direct input terminal to the AVL unit; and

a driver alert circuit electrically interposed between the respective component sensor and the direct input terminal;

the driver alert circuit configured to, responsive to a signal indicating that that the extendable service component is out of its home configuration;

provide at least one of an audible and a visual indicator in a driver cab of the vehicle; and

pass the component sensor signal to the direct input terminal.

15. The monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the driver alert circuit includes a delay circuit which delays passage of the component sensor signal to the direct input terminal for a predetermined period following activation of the at least one of the audible and the visual indicator.

16. A monitoring system for monitoring operation of a service vehicle, the monitoring system comprising:

at least one component sensor, each component sensor input being adapted to provide a respective component sensor signal representing a configuration of an extendable service component of the service vehicle;

at least one component sensor input, each component sensor input being adapted to receive the respective component sensor signal;

an automatic vehicle locator (AVL) unit, the AVL unit comprising;

a speed signal input adapted to receive speed information signals representing a speed of the service vehicle;

a wireless transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit an extended service component alert signal to provide at least one alert on at least one receiver remote from the service vehicle; and

at least one controller coupled to the at least one component sensor input and the speed signal input and configured to use each component sensor signal to drive the transmitter to transmit the extended service component alert signal;

each component sensor input comprising;

a direct input terminal of the AVL unit; and

a driver alert circuit electrically interposed between the respective component sensor and the direct input terminal;

the driver alert circuit configured to, responsive to a signal indicating that that the extendable service component is out of its home configuration;

provide at least one of an audible and a visual indicator in a driver cab of the vehicle; and

pass the component sensor signal to the direct input terminal;

wherein the driver alert circuit includes a delay circuit which delays passage of the component sensor signal to the direct input terminal for a predetermined period following activation of the at least one of the audible and the visual indicator.