Access control for vehicle mounted communications devices

• US 20030139205A1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Mounting Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brian E. Belcher, Larry L. Alexander
• Inventors: Alexander, Larry L., Belcher, Brian E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,064,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

Disclosed is a controller to prevent access or utilization by a vehicle operator to communications devices installed on the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion thereby reducing distractions of the operator.

Claims

1. A utilization control system for limiting access by the operator of a vehicle to communications devices mounted on said vehicle comprising:

at least one vehicle motion condition detector providing signals indicative of current motion of said vehicle and of potential motion of said vehicle;

at least one signal processor responsive to signals provided by said at least one detector indicative of vehicle motion and potential vehicle motion to generate blanking signals;

at least one vehicle mounted communications device; and

at least one blanking device responsive to said blanking signals to prevent utilization or interaction with said at least one communications device by said vehicle operator.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one motion condition detector comprises one of an accelerometer, an electric speedometer, and antilock brake system and a transmission part/neutral switch.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one signal processor comprises a programmable digital signal processor.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said programmable digital signal processor is a “

PC”

type computer.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said “

PC”

computer includes an output monitor and an input keyboard.

6. A system of claim 2 wherein said at least one signal processor comprises a programmable digital signal processor.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said programmable signal processor is a “

PC”

type computer and includes an output monitor and an input keyboard.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said at least one motion condition detector comprises an accelerometer.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said at least one motion condition detector comprises a transmission park/neutral switch.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said at least one motion condition detector comprises an antilock brake system.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said at least one motion condition detector comprises an electrical speedometer.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising an optical isolater circuit in the signal path between said at least one vehicle motion condition detector and said at least one signal processor.

12. A utilization control system for limiting access by the operator of the vehicle to communications devices mounted on said vehicle comprising:

a vehicle motion condition detector providing signals indicative of current motion of said vehicle and of potential motion of said vehicle said detector comprising one of an accelerometer, an antilock brake system, an electrical speedometer, and a transmission park/neutral switch.

a programmable digital computer used as a communication device on board said vehicle and additionally programmed to be responsive to said signals indicative of motion and of potential motion to generate blanking signals applied to said digital computer and limiting said operator'"'"'s utilization of said computer.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said blanking signals are additionally applied to others of said communication devices mounted on said vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said others of said communications devices include voice communications devices.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said others of said communications devices include visual communications devices.

17. The system of claim 12 further comprosing an optical isolater circuit in the sequal path between said vehicle motion condition detector and said programmable digital computer.