Audible communication system
First Claim
1. An audible communication system for use in conjunction with a vehicle for transporting at least one individual, comprising:
- at least one sensor disposed within the vicinity of or at a preselected location for sensing information with respect to the vehicle as the vehicle approaches the preselected location and providing at least one signal indicative of said information;
at least one processor, said at least one processor capable of analyzing said at least one signal in order to provide at least one further signal indicative of speed of the vehicle; and
a communication device for receiving said at least one further signal from said at least one processor and for audibly communicating with the at least one individual within the vehicle in order to provide information relative to said speed of the vehicle to the at least one individual.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An audible warning system which reduces the number of land vehicle traffic accidents where there are already traffic control devices installed such as at stop signs, intersection control lights and on vehicles in conjunction with side lights, tail lights and brake lights. The accident reduction results from the monitoring of approaching traffic with a radar-type range sensing system. Sound generators, based on parametric-array technology, permit the focusing of sound into waves of a few degrees width and aiming them at a particular vehicle or pedestrian located at a particular range from the sound projector.
61 Citations
53 Claims
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1. An audible communication system for use in conjunction with a vehicle for transporting at least one individual, comprising:
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at least one sensor disposed within the vicinity of or at a preselected location for sensing information with respect to the vehicle as the vehicle approaches the preselected location and providing at least one signal indicative of said information;
at least one processor, said at least one processor capable of analyzing said at least one signal in order to provide at least one further signal indicative of speed of the vehicle; and
a communication device for receiving said at least one further signal from said at least one processor and for audibly communicating with the at least one individual within the vehicle in order to provide information relative to said speed of the vehicle to the at least one individual.
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2. An audible communication system for use in conjunction with a vehicle for transporting at least one individual, comprising:
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at least one sensor disposed within the vicinity of or at a preselected location for sensing information with respect to the vehicle as the vehicle approaches the preselected location and providing at least one signal indicative of said information;
at least one processor, said at least one processor capable of analyzing said at least one signal in order to provide at least one further signal indicative of characteristics of the vehicle; and
a communication device for receiving said at least one further signal from said at least one processor and for audibly communicating through a glass portion of the vehicle with the at least one individual within the vehicle in order to provide said information with respect to the vehicle to the at least one individual. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. An audible communication system for use in conjunction with a vehicle, comprising:
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at least one sensor disposed adjacent to or at a preselected location for sensing an approaching vehicle and for producing at least one signal indicative of said sensed vehicle;
at least one processor operably connected to said at least one sensor, said at least one processor being capable of analyzing said at least one signal from said at least one sensor indicative of the sensed vehicle to determine an appropriate safe speed;
a vehicle signaling device associated with the preselected location and in proximity to said at least one sensor, said vehicle signaling device being controlled by said at least one processor to provide a warning to the vehicle concerning the appropriate safe speed; and
said at least one processor also determining the actual speed of the vehicle and activating said vehicle signaling device if the actual speed exceeds the appropriate safe speed. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19)
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17. A method of using an audible communication system associated with a specific site comprising the steps of:
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obtaining information about a vehicle derived from at least one signal from at least one sensor disposed within the vicinity of or at a preselected location for sensing information with respect to the vehicle as the vehicle approaches the preselected location and providing at least one signal indicative of said information;
analyzing the at least one signal from the at least one sensor which are indicative of the vehicle sensed;
determining an appropriate safe speed in view of site specific information;
disposing a vehicle signaling device within the vicinity of or at the preselected location;
matching records of the appropriate safe speed of the vehicle from the information;
comparing an actual speed of the vehicle and the appropriate safe speed for the vehicle; and
operating the vehicle signaling device if the actual speed of the vehicle exceeds the appropriate safe speed of the vehicle, to transmit a warning that the actual speed of the vehicle exceeds the appropriate safe speed of the vehicle.
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20. An audible communication system for a person approaching a specific site, comprising:
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at least one sensor disposed adjacent a crosswalk having a crossing light for sensing the person within the crosswalk for producing at least one signal indicative of the sensed person;
at least one processor operably connected to said at least one sensor and to the crossing light, said at least one processor for analyzing said at least one signal from said at least one sensor indicative of the sensed person and the crossing light, to determine the position of the sensed person within the crosswalk, and to determine the status of the crossing light; and
a signaling device associated with the crosswalk and disposed adjacent the crosswalk in proximity to said at least one sensor, said signaling device being controlled by said at least one processor to provide a warning to the sensed person concerning the status of the crossing light, wherein said signaling device is at least one ultrasonic projector, wherein said ultrasonic projector is directed toward an approaching vehicle for generating a plurality of modulated waves, wherein said modulated waves demodulate to an audible message as said modulated waves reaches the focal point of said modulated waves.
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21. An audible communication system for communicating between vehicles, comprising:
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at least one sensor disposed within a first vehicle for producing at least one signal indicative of a second vehicle;
at least one processor operably connected to said at least one sensor, said at least one processor for analyzing said at least one signal from said at least one sensor indicative of the second vehicle;
a signaling device disposed on or within the first vehicle, said signaling device being controlled by said at least one processor to provide a warning to the second vehicle of possible collision; and
wherein said signaling device includes at least one ultrasonic projector, wherein said at least one ultrasonic projector generates a modulated wave directed toward the second vehicle, wherein said modulated wave carries an audible message, wherein said audible message demodulates from said modulated wave when said modulated wave interacts with a glass portion of the second vehicle, wherein said at least one processor determines the actual speed of the vehicle and a maximum safe speed for the vehicle based on site-specific information programmed into the at least one processor.
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22. An audible communication system for communicating between a person and a vehicle, comprising:
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at least one sensor disposed within a megaphone for producing at least one signal indicative of the vehicle;
at least one processor operably connected to said at least one sensor, said at least one processor for analyzing said at least one signal from said at least one sensor indicative of the vehicle, to determine the position of the vehicle relative to the person, to determine a vehicle classification of the vehicle;
a signaling device disposed on or within said megaphone, said signaling device being controlled by said at least one processor to provide a warning to the vehicle; and
wherein said signaling device is at least one ultrasonic projector, wherein said at least one ultrasonic projector generates a modulated wave directed toward the approaching vehicle, wherein said modulated wave carries an audible message, wherein said audible message demodulates from said modulated wave when said modulated wave interacts with a glass portion of the sensed vehicle, wherein said at least one processor determines the vehicle characteristics and selects a message that matches the appropriate waveform for said audible message to be intelligible within the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 29)
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23. An audible communication system for communicating with an object within a pathway, comprising:
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plurality of sensors disposed adjacent to boundaries of the pathway for producing at least one signal indicative of the object;
at least one processor operably connected to each said plurality of sensors, said at least one processor for analyzing said at least one signal from said plurality of sensors indicative of the object, to determine the position of the object with respect to at least one said plurality of sensors;
a signaling device disposed adjacent to boundaries of the pathway, said signaling device being controlled by said at least one processor to provide a warning to the object; and
wherein said signaling device is at least one ultrasonic projector, wherein said at least one ultrasonic projector generates a modulated wave directed toward the object, wherein said modulated wave carries an audible message, wherein said audible message demodulates from said modulated wave when said modulated wave interacts with a glass portion of the sensed vehicle or demodulates in air, wherein said at least one processor determines the distance to the object and selects a message that matches the appropriate waveform for said audible message to demodulate as said modulated wave reaches the object.
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28. An audible communication system for communicating between a person and occupants in a room of a building, comprising:
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at least one sensor disposed within a megaphone for producing at least one signal indicative of a window of a building;
at least one processor operably connected to said at least one sensor, said at least one processor for analyzing said at least one signal from said at least one sensor indicative of the vehicle, to determine the position of a window of the room of the building relative to the person;
a signaling device disposed on or within the megaphone, said signaling device being controlled by said at least one processor to provide a message to the occupants in the room of the building;
wherein said signaling device is at least one ultrasonic projector, wherein said ultrasonic projector generates a modulated wave directed toward the object, wherein said modulated wave carries an audible message, wherein said audible message demodulates from said modulated wave when said modulated wave interacts with a window of the room of the building; and
wherein said at least one processor determines characteristics of a window and selects a message that matches the appropriate waveform for said audible message to be intelligible within the room of the building.
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30. An audible communication system comprising:
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at least one wave projector means for generating as a primary wave an ultrasonic wave, said ultrasonic wave interacts with a nonlinear medium wherein a secondary wave at an audible frequency is produced;
wherein said at least one wave projector means comprising a plurality of individual units operably connected together for emitting said primary wave;
aiming means operably connected to each of said units for changing the direction of said ultrasonic wave for positioning a focal point on the non-linear medium;
ultrasonic wave focussing means for providing coordinates of the non-linear medium to said aiming means to adjust said units; and
wherein said ultrasonic wave focussing means comprising a microwave radar device. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of using non-linear output for generating an audible message to at least one individual within an approaching vehicle comprising the steps of:
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generating an output radar wave directed towards a roadway;
detecting a returning radar wave of the output radar wave after being reflected off the approaching vehicle;
converting the returning radar wave from an analog to a digital signal;
comparing the characteristics of the digital signal with stored information with respect to the vehicle;
determining an appropriate waveform for selecting a digital message;
computing whether the vehicle will stop before reaching a predetermined position;
converting the digital message to an analog signal; and
transmitting the analog signal to the approaching vehicle, whereby the analog signal is demodulated upon interacting with the glass portion of the approaching vehicle to the audible message.
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44. A method of transmitting an audible message to at least one person located in a passenger compartment of a vehicle located at a distance from a sound projector to warn of a dangerous condition comprising the steps of:
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detecting the speed of the vehicle; and
transmitting a modulated signal in the direction of the vehicle, wherein the modulated signal is of a prescribed waveform such that as the modulated signal interacts with the glass portion of the vehicle the audible message is produced inside the passenger compartment. - View Dependent Claims (46, 49, 50)
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45. An audible communication system comprising:
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range sensing means for determining the distance and speed of an approaching vehicle; and
ultrasonic sound projection means in communication with said range sensing means, wherein said ultrasonic projector generates a modulated wave directed toward the vehicle, wherein said modulated wave carries an audible message, wherein said audible message demodulates from said modulated wave when said modulated wave interacts with a glass portion of the vehicle.
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47. An audible communication system comprising:
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ultrasonic wave projector means for generating as a primary wave an ultrasonic wave modulated by an audible message;
wherein said ultrasonic wave projector means comprises a plurality of individual units together defining an array; and
means for moving said units relative to each other to thereby vary the focal point of converging said ultrasonic waves upon a non-linear medium.
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48. An intersection audible communication system attached to a traffic light comprising:
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a vehicle detection apparatus; and
an ultrasonic wave generator in communication with said vehicle detection apparatus, wherein said ultrasonic wave generator generates an ultrasonic wave as a primary wave wherein a secondary wave at an audible frequency is produced when said primary wave interacts with a nonlinear medium.
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51. An audible communication system for use in conjunction with a vehicle for transporting at least one individual, comprising
at least one sensor disposed within the vicinity of or at a preselected location for sensing information with respect to a plurality of approaching vehicles to the preselected location and providing at least one signal indicative of said information for each vehicle of the plurality of approaching vehicles; -
at least one processor, said at least one processor capable of analyzing said at least one signal in order to provide at least one further signal indicative of characteristics for each vehicle of the plurality of approaching vehicles; and
a communication device for receiving said at least one further signal from said at least one processor and for audibly communicating through a glass portion of each of the plurality of vehicles with the at least one individual within each vehicle in order to provide a message to the at least one individual. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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53. An audible communication system in conjunction with a vehicle for warning an approaching vehicle and/or pedestrian, comprising:
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at least one sensor disposed on or within the vehicle for producing at least one signal indicative of the actual speed of the vehicle;
at least one processor operably connected to said at least one sensor, said at least one processor analyzes said at least one signal from said at least one sensor, wherein said at least one processor determines a maximum safe stopping distance for the vehicle and generates a modulated wave directed outward from the vehicle to warn of possible collision;
at least one signaling device disposed on or within the vehicle, said at least one signaling device being controlled by said at least one processor to direct said modulated wave to the approaching vehicle and/or pedestrian;
wherein said modulated wave carries an audible message; and
wherein said audible message demodulates from said modulated wave when said modulated wave interacts with a glass portion of the approaching vehicle or in the air adjacent to the pedestrian.
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Specification