Wireless system for notifying a driver of an oncoming emergency vehicle

• US 20060061484A1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Douglas D. Gutting, Kyle Cambridge
• Original Assignee: Douglas D. Gutting, Kyle Cambridge
• Inventors: Gutting, Douglas D., Cambridge, Kyle
• Application Number:
  US10/943,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061484A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication

Abstract

An emergency vehicle notification system includes a housing including a receiver stored therein and a power cord adapted for plugging into a 12-volt DC source. A central processing unit (CPU) is also disposed therein for executing a control logic. The system further includes a first wireless communication channel that transmits the coded signal from the emergency vehicle and a mechanism for determining a location and a travel velocity unique to the civilian vehicle as well as a location and a travel velocity unique to the emergency vehicle. Such a determining mechanism includes a second wireless communication channel for allowing the civilian vehicle to communicate with the emergency vehicle that operates at a frequency range unique from the first communication channel frequency range.

Claims

1. A system for identifying a coded signal generated by an emergency vehicle so that civilian drivers approaching the emergency can be alerted in real-time, said system:

a portable housing positionable in the civilian vehicle and including a receiver stored therein, said housing being provided with a power cord adapted for plugging into a 12-volt DC source, said housing being electrically coupled to a speedometer of the civilian vehicle for detecting a real-time traveling velocity thereof, said housing comprising a central processing unit (CPU) disposed therein and being programmed for executing a control logic when said receiver receives the coded signal so that said system can identify a source and location of the emergency vehicle; and

means for determining a location and a travel velocity unique to the civilian vehicle as well as a location and a travel velocity unique to the emergency vehicle so that a real-time spatial relationship between the civilian driver and the emergency vehicle can be determined.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said determining means comprises:

a direction sensor electrically coupled to said CPU and communicating therewith during operating conditions, said direction sensor being programmed for executing a global positioning satellite (GPS) logic when the coded signal is detected by said receiver, said direction sensor generating a signal and transmitting said signal to said CPU for processing corresponding to an algorithm output performed by the GPS logic.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said determining means further comprises:

an ignition controller operably connected to an ignition system of the civilian vehicle so that said system can be continuously powered while the vehicle is at an operating mode; and

a steering wheel controller operably connected to said housing for allowing the civilian driver to remotely control operating functions of said system during driving conditions.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of LEDs electrically coupled to said housing and being selectively activated when said receiver detects a coded signal, said LEDs being toggled between active and inactive modes corresponding to verified and unverified emergency vehicle signals.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

an audio device electrically coupled to said housing for cooperating with said LEDs when the verified emergency vehicle signal is detected during operating conditions, said audio device emitting a predetermined message corresponding to the unique real-time location and travel velocity of the emergency vehicle and the spatial relationship with the civilian vehicle so that the civilian driver can be informed of potential hazards surrounding the immediate vicinity of the civilian vehicle.

6. A system for identifying a coded signal generated by an emergency vehicle so that civilian drivers approaching the emergency can be alerted in real-time, said system:

a portable housing positionable in the civilian vehicle and including a receiver stored therein, said housing being provided with a power cord adapted for plugging into a 12-volt DC source, said housing being electrically coupled to a speedometer of the civilian vehicle for detecting a real-time traveling velocity thereof, said housing comprising a central processing unit (CPU) disposed therein and being programmed for executing a control logic when said receiver receives the coded signal so that said system can identify a source and location of the emergency vehicle;

a first wireless communication channel for transmitting and receiving the coded signal over a predetermined frequency range; and

means for determining a location and a travel velocity unique to the civilian vehicle as well as a location and a travel velocity unique to the emergency vehicle so that a real-time spatial relationship between the civilian driver and the emergency vehicle can be determined.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said determining means comprises:

a direction sensor electrically coupled to said CPU and communicating therewith during operating conditions, said direction sensor being programmed for executing a global positioning satellite (GPS) logic when the coded signal is detected by said receiver, said direction sensor generating a signal and transmitting said signal to said CPU for processing corresponding to an algorithm output performed by the GPS logic.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said determining means further comprises:

an ignition controller operably connected to an ignition system of the civilian vehicle so that said system can be continuously powered while the vehicle is at an operating mode; and

a steering wheel controller operably connected to said housing for allowing the civilian driver to remotely control operating functions of said system during driving conditions.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of LEDs electrically coupled to said housing and being selectively activated when said receiver detects a coded signal, said LEDs being toggled between active and inactive modes corresponding to verified and unverified emergency vehicle signals.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

an audio device electrically coupled to said housing for cooperating with said LEDs when the verified emergency vehicle signal is detected during operating conditions, said audio device emitting a predetermined message corresponding to the unique real-time location and travel velocity of the emergency vehicle and the spatial relationship with the civilian vehicle so that the civilian driver can be informed of potential hazards surrounding the immediate vicinity of the civilian vehicle.

11. A system for identifying a coded signal generated by an emergency vehicle so that civilian drivers approaching the emergency can be alerted in real-time, said system:

a portable housing positionable in the civilian vehicle and including a receiver stored therein, said housing being provided with a power cord adapted for plugging into a 12-volt DC source, said housing being electrically coupled to a speedometer of the civilian vehicle for detecting a real-time traveling velocity thereof, said housing comprising a central processing unit (CPU) disposed therein and being programmed for executing a control logic when said receiver receives the coded signal so that said system can identify a source and location of the emergency vehicle;

a first wireless communication channel for transmitting the coded signal from the emergency vehicle and over a predetermined frequency range;

means for determining a location and a travel velocity unique to the civilian vehicle as well as a location and a travel velocity unique to the emergency vehicle so that a real-time spatial relationship between the civilian driver and the emergency vehicle can be determined, said determining means comprising a second wireless communication channel for allowing the civilian vehicle to communicate with the emergency vehicle, said second communication channel operating at a frequency range unique from said first communication channel frequency range.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said determining means comprises:

a direction sensor electrically coupled to said CPU and communicating therewith during operating conditions, said direction sensor being programmed for executing a global positioning satellite (GPS) logic when the coded signal is detected by said receiver, said direction sensor generating a signal and transmitting said signal to said CPU for processing corresponding to an algorithm output performed by the GPS logic.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said determining means further comprises:

an ignition controller operably connected to an ignition system of the civilian vehicle so that said system can be continuously powered while the vehicle is at an operating mode; and

a steering wheel controller operably connected to said housing for allowing the civilian driver to remotely control operating functions of said system during driving conditions.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of LEDs electrically coupled to said housing and being selectively activated when said receiver detects a coded signal, said LEDs being toggled between active and inactive modes corresponding to verified and unverified emergency vehicle signals.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

an audio device electrically coupled to said housing for cooperating with said LEDs when the verified emergency vehicle signal is detected during operating conditions, said audio device emitting a predetermined message corresponding to the unique real-time location and travel velocity of the emergency vehicle and the spatial relationship with the civilian vehicle so that the civilian driver can be informed of potential hazards surrounding the immediate vicinity of the civilian vehicle.