Systems and methods for motor vehicle-based emergency/hazard detection
First Claim
1. An emergency vehicle detector (EVD) system operating as a safety device in association with a motor vehicle and enabling motor vehicle operators to be warned of hazards and existing near the motor vehicle or within its path of travel, comprising:
- an emergency signal detector adapted to detect emergency signal emitted by emergency transmitters;
a direction module for determining the general location of the emergency signal'"'"'s emission with respect to the motor vehicle; and
alarm generator for generating at least one of an audible and visual alarm for motor vehicle operators.
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Abstract
An emergency vehicle detector (EVD) operating as a safety device in association with any motor vehicle enables motorists to be warned of emergencies/hazards existing near the motor vehicle or within its path of travel. In more developed state an emergency/hazard detection system can include a signal generator that can be placed within an emergency vehicle or stationary object related with a potential hazard to transmit a warning in the form of at least one of optical, radio frequency, radar or infrared signatures to EVDs associated with civilian motor vehicles. The EVD includes an emergency signal detector adapted to detect emergency signal emitted by emergency transmitters; a direction module for determining the general location of the emergency signal'"'"'s emission with respect to the motor vehicle; an alarm generator for generating a visual alarm; a display for indicating the direction of an emergency with respect to the motor vehicle. An emergency/hazard detection system can including EVDs associated with motor vehicles can also be adapted to also detect from what location (e.g., left, right, rear, front) relative to an operator'"'"'s motor vehicle and emergency, emergency vehicle, or other situation requiring caution (e.g., school bus stops, pedestrian crossing/crosswalks, school zones, road construction) is located. Vehicle signatures that the EVD can be designed to detect include ambulance, police and fire engine light patterns, and conditions associated with school buses, heavy pedestrian activity within crosswalks and school zones.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An emergency vehicle detector (EVD) system operating as a safety device in association with a motor vehicle and enabling motor vehicle operators to be warned of hazards and existing near the motor vehicle or within its path of travel, comprising:
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an emergency signal detector adapted to detect emergency signal emitted by emergency transmitters;
a direction module for determining the general location of the emergency signal'"'"'s emission with respect to the motor vehicle; and
alarm generator for generating at least one of an audible and visual alarm for motor vehicle operators. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An emergency vehicle detector (EVD) system operating as a safety device in association with a motor vehicle and enabling motor vehicle operators to be warned of hazards and existing near the motor vehicle or within its path of travel, comprising:
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an emergency signal detector adapted to detect emergency signal emitted by emergency transmitters;
a direction module for determining the general location of the emergency signal'"'"'s emission with respect to the motor vehicle;
an alarm generator for generating a visual alarm;
a display for indicating the direction of an emergency with respect to the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of detecting the announcement of an emergency, comprising the steps of:
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providing a vehicle-based emergency detection unit for detecting the existence of a hazard or emergency near a motor vehicle housing the emergency detection unit;
receiving an emergency signal transmitted by a emergency signal transmitter using the emergency detection unit;
determining the location of an emergency using said emergency detection unit, wherein the location is based on the signal transmitted by the emergency signal transmitter and received by the emergency detection unit;
providing an alarm, said alarm including at least one of an audio and visual indication, to occupants within the motor vehicle, said alarm indicating that a nearby emergency exists and also indicating the general location of the emergency based on said step of determining the location of an emergency carried out by the emergency detection unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification