Method for a changing safety signaling system

• US 20060125616A1
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Won Moo Song
• Original Assignee: Won Moo Song
• Inventors: Song, Won Moo
• Application Number:
  US11/180,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20060125616A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/463
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/442 visible on the front side of the vehicle, e.g. for pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for a changing safety signaling system. The safety signaling system can change as a result of changing driving conditions that stem from changes in the weather or changes in vehicle velocity. As a vehicle brakes, coasts, turns, or accelerates, front-facing, side-facing, top-facing, and/or rear facing indicators can communicate vehicular acceleration, coasting, and braking to a pedestrian or other vehicles. A distance sensor can be used to trigger a signal to alert a second vehicle that the first vehicle is braking hard and slowing fast or can be used to warn the operator of the first car that a collision may be imminent and can be used to warn the operator of a second car that measures can be taken to avoid a collision or minimize damage from a collision. The instant invention can be utilized by either a first car or a second car.

Claims

1. A method for a changing safety signaling system for a vehicle comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first safety signaling system for a clear driving condition;

b) providing a second safety signaling system for an adverse driving condition, said second safety signaling system different from said first safety signaling system; and

c) changing said first signaling system to said second signaling system when said clear driving condition changes to an adverse driving condition.

2. The method in claim 1 wherein said adverse driving condition is selected from the group consisting of a reduced visibility condition, a negative velocity differential that exceeds a threshold, and a collision event.

3. The method in claim 1 wherein said adverse driving condition comprises a second vehicle rapidly approaching a first vehicle in clear weather conditions, wherein said first vehicle is hard braking in said clear weather conditions.

4. The method in claim 1 wherein said adverse driving condition comprises a collision event.

5. The method in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

d) changing said second signaling system to said first signaling system when said adverse driving condition changes to said clear driving condition.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first safety signaling system is selected from the group consisting of at least one brake light, at least one headlight, at least one accelerator light, at least one coasting light, and at least one turn light, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said second safety signaling system is selected from the group consisting of at least one flashing brake light, at least one flashing accelerator light, at least one flashing headlight, at least one flashing coasting light, at least one flashing turn light, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said second safety signaling system comprises a guide light.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said second safety signaling system is selected from an audio cue consisting of a horn, and a sound within a vehicle interior.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said second safety signaling system comprises a flashing means comprising means to alter the flashing intensity.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said second safety signaling system comprises a flashing means comprising means to alter the flashing rate.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said second safety signaling system comprises a flashing means comprising means to alter the flashing pattern.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said first or said second safety signaling system comprises at least two colors.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein a first color indicates a brake indicator and a second color indicates an accelerator indicator.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein a turn indicator is depicted by said first color or said second color.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein a coasting indicator is depicted by said first color or said second color.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein a first color indicates a brake indicator and a second color indicates an accelerator indicator and a third color indicates a turn indicator.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein a coasting indicator is depicted by said first color, by said second color, or by said third color.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein a first color indicates a brake indicator and a second color indicates an accelerator indicator and a third color indicates a turn indicator and a fourth color indicates a coasting indicator.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said safety signaling system includes a plurality of directional facing indicators, wherein said directional facing indicators is selected from the group consisting of front-facing indicators, rear-facing indicators, top-facing indicators, side-facing indicators, and combinations thereof.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is selected from the group consisting of aircraft, cars, motorcycles, trucks, trains, bicycles, watercraft, submarine, snowmobiles, toy vehicles, and any vehicle having a signaling system.

22. The signaling system of claim 1 wherein said first signaling system and said second signaling system can be automatically or manually controlled.

23. The signaling system of claim 1 wherein said adverse driving condition at step c) is based upon a safety zone between a first vehicle and a second vehicle, wherein said safety zone is determined based upon a vehicle speed or an adverse weather condition.

24. The method in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

d) providing a plurality of indicators on a dashboard, wherein said indicators communicate information regarding said signaling system and/or said driving condition.

25. The method in claim 24 wherein said information communicated is selected from the group consisting of distance between vehicles, a first car velocity, a second car velocity, and combinations thereof.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said indicators are selected from the group consisting of lights, flashing lights, and sounds.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein said second safety signaling system is selected form an audio cue within a vehicle interior and wherein further said signaling system stops other audio devices upon commencement of said audio cue.

28. The method in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

d) providing a plurality of indicators on a dashboard, wherein said indicators communicates information regarding a vehicle speed with an audio or visual cue.

29. A method of detecting a collision event comprising the steps of:

a) providing a proximity detector that can calculate a distance and a velocity differential between a first vehicle and a second vehicle;

b) calculating a collision time based upon said velocity differential and said distance; and

c) providing a signal that indicates a collision event based upon said collision time.

30. The method in claim 29 wherein said collision event is detected by said first vehicle.

31. The method in claim 29 wherein said collision event is detected by said second vehicle.

32. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) comprises activation of a horn or sound system on said second vehicle or said first vehicle.

33. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) comprises a warning sound emitted in a second vehicle or first vehicle interior.

34. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) comprises a warning light emitted in a second vehicle or first vehicle interior.

35. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) comprises activation of brakes indicators on said first vehicle or said second vehicle.

36. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) comprises flashing of brake indicators on said first vehicle or said second vehicle.

37. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) is provided by a visual cue on antenna on said first vehicle or said second vehicle.

38. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) comprises a first intensity at a first collision time and a second intensity at a second collision time.

39. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) occurs at a collision time wherein said collision time varies based upon a first vehicle velocity or a second vehicle velocity.

40. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) occurs when said collision time is less than a programmed time.

41. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) occurs at a collision time determined by a driver.

42. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) continues until said velocity differential is positive.

43. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) continues until said velocity differential is greater than or equal to zero for a specified amount of time.

44. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) continues until said velocity differential is greater than or equal to zero for a specified amount of time, and wherein said specified time is determined by an operator of said first or second vehicle.

45. The method in claim 29 wherein said signal at step c) can be adjusted by a driver.