Vehicle braking signal system with varying area display

• US 20030030555A1
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George Stuart Cole
• Original Assignee: George Stuart Cole
• Inventors: Cole, George Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 7,019,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicle'"'"'s operator can signal both the intended relative braking effort, and changes thereto, using a signal with a proportionately scaled and reactive display. A sensor measuring the current proportionate intensity of the intended and applied braking effort is attached to a vehicle'"'"'s braking system. This sensor sends a signal to the associated external display (which may comprise multiple, separated areas). Each display area then shows that portion of its area commensurate with, or proportional to, the intensity of the intended and applied braking effort. The sensor, signal, and display(s) regularly repeat this at rapid intervals, thereby keeping the display responsive to and in accordance with the current intended and applied braking effort. In one enhancement, the outer limit of the display is activated when any braking effort is made, to enable rapid evaluation by any viewer between the relative effort applied and the potential full effort.

Claims

1. A brake signal system for a vehicle, comprising:

means for detecting a braking effort intended by the operator;

a display that can signal a braking effort;

means for illuminating said display to signal the braking effort; and

,

means for varying the area of the display illuminated, according to the braking effort intended by the operator.

2. A brake signal system as in claim 1, wherein the means for detecting a braking effort intended by the operator comprise a mechanical sensor attached to the brake system.

3. A brake signal system as in claim 1, wherein the means for detecting a braking effort intended by the operator comprise an electrical sensor attached to the brake system.

4. A brake signal system as in claim 1, wherein the display that can signal a braking effort further comprises:

an outer circumferential perimeter area which is illuminated when any significant braking effort is intended; and

,

an inner area which is illuminated to an extent proportionate to the braking effort intended.

5. A brake signal system as in claim 4, wherein the inner area further comprises:

an ordered pattern of individual lights.

6. A brake signal system as in claim 5, wherein said individual lights are Light Emitting Diodes.

7. A brake signal system as in claim 1, wherein the means for illuminating a display to signal a braking effort further comprise:

a circuit for translating a signal from means for detecting a braking effort intended by the operator into activation of an associated portion of the display to signal a braking effort.

8. A brake signal system as in claim 7, wherein the circuit for translating a signal from means for detecting a braking effort intended by the operator into activation of an associated portion of the display to signal a braking effort, translates in direct proportion to the effort applied.

9. A brake signal system as in claim 7, wherein the circuit for translating a signal from means for detecting a braking effort intended by the operator into activation of an associated portion of the display to signal a braking effort, translates in a logarithmic proportion to the effort applied.

10. A brake signal system as in claim 7, wherein the circuit for translating a signal from means for detecting a braking effort intended by the operator into activation of an associated portion of the display to signal a braking effort, translates using a differential proportion to the effort applied.

11. A brake signal system as in claim 4, wherein said outer circumferential perimeter area flashes repeatedly and rapidly, at intervals between one hundredth of a second and five seconds separating each flash, whenever the means for detecting a braking effort intended by the operator signals a maximal braking effort.

12. A brake signal system as in claim 1, wherein the means for varying the area of the display illuminated, according to the braking effort intended by the operator, further comprises:

at least one electrically activated light in the display;

a shutter covering said display; and

,

means for opening and closing the shutter in response to a signal from the means for detecting a braking effort intended by the operator.

13. A brake signal system as in claim 12, wherein the shutter slides open and closed.

14. A brake signal system as in claim 12, wherein the shutter dilates open and closed.

15. A brake signal system for a vehicle as in claim 1, further comprising:

a display viewable by the operator showing the relative proportion of the braking effort applied.

16. A brake signal system for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the means for varying the area of the display illuminated, according to the braking effort intended by the operator, further comprises:

means for detecting whether the vehicle is in motion; and

,

means for not varying the area illuminated according to the braking effort intended by the vehicle operator if the vehicle is not in motion.

17. A brake signal system for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the means for varying the area of the display illuminated, according to the braking effort intended by the operator, further comprises:

means for detecting whether the vehicle is accelerating forward; and

,

means for varying the amount of area illuminated according to the braking effort intended by the vehicle operator, further moderated by whether the vehicle is accelerating forward.

18. A brake signal system for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the means for varying the area of the display illuminated, according to the braking effort intended by the operator, further comprises:

means for detecting whether the braking effort has changed; and

,

means for varying the amount of area illuminated according to the braking effort intended by the vehicle operator, according to the most recent change in braking effort.

19. A brake signal system for a vehicle as in claim 18, further comprising:

means for recording the most recent change in braking effort against a previous braking effort;

means for comparing the most recent change in braking effort against a previous braking effort; and

,

means for displaying both the current braking effort and the change from the previous braking effort.

20. A brake signal system as in claim 19, wherein said means for displaying both the current braking effort and the change from the previous braking effort comprise:

illuminating differently a first and second part of the inner display;

said first part representing the current braking effort; and

,

and said second part representing the previous braking effort.

21. A brake signal system as in claim 1, wherein the means for varying the area of the display illuminated, according to the braking effort intended by the operator, further comprises:

means for detecting whether an anti-lock braking system has been engaged for maximal braking effort; and

,

means for flashing the entire display, rapidly and repeatedly, to signal the engagement of the anti-lock braking system.

22. A brake signal system for a vehicle, comprising:

means for detecting a braking effort intended by the operator;

means for differentiating a non-effective and unintentional braking effort from an intentional braking effort;

a display that can signal an intentional braking effort;

means for illuminating said display to signal the intentional braking effort; and

,

means for varying the area of the display illuminated, according to the braking effort intended by the operator.

23. A brake signal system as in claim 22, wherein the means for differentiating a non-effective and unintentional braking effort from an intentional braking effort further comprise:

a logic circuit with a minimal threshold for an intentional braking effort connected to the means for detecting a braking effort.

24. A brake signal system as in claim 23, wherein said minimal threshold measures the time a braking effort is applied and ignores any effort which is transitory.

25. A brake signal system as in claim 23, wherein said minimal threshold measures the force exerted against the brake pedal and ignores any effort which is less than the weight of an foot just resting on the brake pedal.

25-1. A brake signal system for a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor for detecting a braking effort intended by the operator attached to the brake system;

means for differentiating a non-effective and unintentional braking effort from an intentional braking effort;

a display that can signal an intentional braking effort, further comprising;

an outer circumferential perimeter area which is illuminated when any intentional braking effort is intended; and

,

an inner area, comprising an ordered pattern of individually illuminable lights, which pattern is illuminated to an extent proportionate to the intentional braking effort intended;

a circuit for translating a signal from means for detecting an intentional braking effort by the operator into activation of an associated portion of the inner area to signal a braking effort; and

,

means for varying the area of the display illuminated, according to the intentional braking effort by the operator, further comprising;

means for detecting whether the vehicle is accelerating forward, in motion,

has engaged an anti-lock braking system, or is stopped; and

,

means for varying, or not varying, the amount of area illuminated according to the intentional braking effort by the vehicle operator, moderated by the change in braking effort actually feasible.