Method for intelligent crescendo system

• US 20060220819A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nattel Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nattel Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Patel, Rajesh, Nath, Sanjeev
• Granted Patent: US 7,612,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/457
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A method and system for warning an operator of a vehicle of a vehicular task that is being performed beyond a pre-determined time for execution of the task involving incrementally increasing audio and visual warnings as the task continues to be performed past the pre-determined time.

Claims

1. A method for warning the operator of a vehicle to terminate the execution of a task associated with said vehicle that has extended beyond a pre-determined time frame, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring said task to determine if the duration of its execution exceeds a predetermined time for execution of the task;

informing the operator of the vehicle by sensible warnings if the task extends beyond said pre-determined time by incrementally raising the intensity of the sensible warning as time further elapses from the pre-determined time.

2. The method and system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle selected is from a group consisting of:

an automobile, a truck, a bus, tractor, crane, or a 2- or 3-wheel conveyance.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the task includes a task selected from the following:

vehicle operation with continuous activation of the turn signals;

vehicle operation without seat belt use;

vehicle operation with continuous activation of hazard signals;

vehicle operation in reduced light and visibility conditions without appropriate lights activated; and

vehicle operation in the presence of a malfunction as warned by the onboard computer control system provided by the manufacturer.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensible warning is an audio signal.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensible warning is a visual signal.