Sensor-activated controlled safety or warning light mounted on or facing toward rear of vehicle

• US 20060164221A1
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Michael Jensen
• Original Assignee: John Michael Jensen
• Inventors: Jensen, John Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/036,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20060164221A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

An invention to reduce the occurrence and severity of rear-end vehicle collisions, where two or more sensors are located on (i) the front of or forward facing of the “lead” vehicle and on (ii) the rear of or rearward facing of the “lead” vehicle so as to provide data and information to a controller that processes the sensor information and generates signals to one or more light emitting mechanisms mounted on or facing rearward of the “lead vehicle” that emit caution light to warn the driver of the “following vehicle” about the speed, distance, presence, approach, or other characteristics of nearby vehicles located behind, in front of, and including the lead vehicle.

Claims

1. To prevent or to reduce the occurrence or severity of rear-end vehicle collisions, one or more sensor-activated controlled warning light(s) mounted on or facing the rear of vehicle to warn drivers of following vehicles of the speed, distance, presence, or other characteristics of one or more nearby vehicles comprising on a lead vehicle:

(a) One or more separate rear-facing or rear-mounted light-emitting mechanisms, including use of incandescent lights and fixtures;

(b) one or more rear-mounted or rear-facing sensors;

(c) a controller;

(d) a connection between the light-emitting mechanism, the sensor(s), the power supply, and the controller;

(e) A power supply.

2. the invention of claim 1 where there is more than one sensor.

3. The invention of claim 1 where there are sensors are placed or facing in a forward direction.

4. The invention of claim 1 where the controller provides for a variable intensity or amount of light.

5. The invention of claim 1 where the light emitting mechanism uses one or more halogen lights and fixtures.

6. The invention of claim 1 where the light emitting mechanism uses one or more Light emitting diodes or LEDs.

7. The invention of claim 1 where the one or more light-emitting mechanisms are combined in a housing with a brake light or a running light.

15. The invention of claim 1 where one or more sensors are placed or facing in a forward direction and where one or more sensors are placed or facing in a rearward direction.

16. The invention of claim 1 where the controller accepts additional information from the vehicle'"'"'s computer, is integrated in the vehicle'"'"'s onboard computer, or accepts additional information from additional sensors or inputs about the characteristics or activities of the vehicle.

17. The invention of claim 1 where the sensors are of different types or placements on the vehicle.

8. The invention of claim one where one or more sensors is a Doppler Effect speed sensor or similar electromagnetic wave speed sensors.

9. The invention of claim one where one or more sensors is a Doppler radar speed sensor.

10. The invention of claim one where the controller accepts data from one or more sensors, processes that data, and then directly or indirectly outputs or signals the light emitting mechanism to emit light in desired quantities or intensities.

11. The invention of claim one where the controller accepts data from one or more sensors, accepts user inputs or information, processes the sensor data in accord with the information provided by the user and the controller'"'"'s program parameters, and then outputs or signals the light emitting mechanism to emit light in desired quantities or intensities.

12. The invention of claim one where the controller accepts data from one or more rear-facing sensors, accepts data from one or more front-facing sensors, accepts user inputs or information, process the sensor data in accord with the information provided by the user and controller'"'"'s program parameters, and then outputs or signals the light emitting mechanism to emit light in desired quantities or intensities.

13. The invention of claim one where the power supply is derived from the lead vehicle or its electrical system.

14. The invention of claim one where the connection is electrical wiring.

18. The invention of claim one, where there is one or more side mounted sensors or side mounted warning lights.

19. To prevent or to reduce the occurrence or severity of rear-end vehicle collisions, one or more warning lights mounted on or facing the rear of vehicle that are activated by information from one or more sensors which provide information to a controller which triggers the warning lights(s) to warn drivers of following vehicles of the speed, distance, presence, or other characteristics of nearby vehicles comprising on lead vehicle:

(a) one or more separate rear-facing or rear-mounted light-emitting mechanism(s) or devices including LED, incandescent or halogen lights and fixtures;

(b) one or more rear-mounted or rear-facing sensors and one or more forward-mounted or forward facing sensors of Doppler Effect speed sensor type including radar;

(c) a controller, integrated with a vehicle'"'"'s onboard computer that receives information from the sensors, receives additional information or inputs, and then triggers or controls the rear-facing warning lights based on a programmed paradigm that accepts user inputs;

(d) a connection between the rear-facing or rear-mounted light-emitting mechanisms, the sensors, the power supply, and the controller;

(e) A power supply that is powered by the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system, generator, or battery.

20. The invention of claim 19, where the warning lights are facing the rear and in addition are also positioned on or facing to the sides of the vehicle.