Method and apparatus for object recognition and warning system of a primary vehicle for nearby vehicles

• US 20070296609A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Barry Markman, Dave Thomas
• Original Assignee: Barry Markman, Dave Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, Dave, Markman, Barry
• Application Number:
  US11/820,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20070296609A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle to vehicle warning system comprises a transmitter associated with a primary vehicle alerting one or more secondary vehicles of its proximity through a receiver. The transmitter may emit a radio frequency signal which activates radio frequency receivers in surrounding vehicles. When in appropriate proximity, the signal is configured to initiate a warning at the secondary vehicle, such as light from a light-emitting device or sound from a sound-generating device. In another form, the primary vehicle includes a passive transmitter and the secondary vehicle includes a multi-frequency resonance tag/circuit having distinct frequencies for detection and discrimination. The passive transmitter creates electromagnetic waves which are generated as it passes by the secondary vehicle housing the multi-frequency resonance tag, setting off the secondary vehicle alarm system. This warning signal can be incorporated into the vehicles existing radio/warning light system and/or as a separate device. This invention provides a low cost simple device to provide a vehicle to vehicle warning system.

Claims

1. A vehicle to vehicle warning system comprising:

a radio-frequency transmitter housed in a primary vehicle employing one or more oscillators to generate a radio-frequency signal;

a radio-frequency receiver housing in a secondary vehicle, said receiver configured to receive said radio-frequency signal generated by said transmitter; and

a warning device, said receiver configured to activate said warning device in the event said radio-frequency signal is detected by said receiver.

2. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said warning device comprises an existing audio system of said second vehicle and wherein said receiver is configured to transmit a signal to said existing audio system causing said existing audio system to generate an audible alert.

3. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said radio-frequency signal acts as a carrier wave including secondary data.

4. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said receiver is configured to decode said secondary data from said radio-frequency signal.

5. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said receiver comprises a crystal set acting as a demodulator.

6. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said receiver comprises a direct-conversion receiver which mixes incoming signals with the output of a variable-frequency local oscillator.

7. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said receiver comprises a superheterodyne receiver configured to generate a generally uniform frequency output signal.

8. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said warning device comprises at least one video display.

9. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said radio-frequency signal acts as a carrier wave including secondary data and wherein said secondary data is displayed by said at least one video display.

10. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 1 including at least one modulator associated with said transmitter, said modulator configured to modulate said radio-frequency signal by varying at least one of amplitude, frequency and phase of said signal.

11. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said radio-frequency signal is a very low frequency (VLF).

12. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said warning device comprises one or more flasher lights of said secondary vehicle.

13. A vehicle to vehicle warning system comprising:

a passive transmitter associated with a primary vehicle;

a detector associated with a secondary vehicle, said detector configured to detect the presence of said passive transmitter in a localized area; and

a warning device, said detector configured to activate said warning device in the event said transmitter is detected by said detector.

14. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said passive transmitter comprises a tag.

15. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said tag comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

16. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said detector comprises an antennae and a reader.

17. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said passive transmitter comprises a passive electric signal receptor-reradiator.

18. The vehicle to vehicle warning system with claim 17 wherein said passive electric signal receptor-reradiator includes signal mixing capability.

19. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 17 including a field generator, said field generator configured to generate a first electromagnetic energy field configured to cause said passive electric signal receptor-reradiator to generate a signal which may be detected by said detector, and a second electrostatic energy field configured to be detected by said detector.

20. The vehicle to vehicle warning system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said warning device comprises an existing audio system of said secondary vehicle.