VEHICLE DEVICE TO ACTIVATE A VISUAL OR AUDIBLE ALERT AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20090051519A1
• Filed: 08/24/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: FLICK, Kenneth E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,659,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P

Abstract

A speed exceeded notification device may be installed in a vehicle of a type including a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle indicator coupled to the vehicle data communications bus. The speed exceeded notification device may include a wireless communications device, and a controller to be coupled to the vehicle data communications bus. The controller may be for determining when a vehicle speed exceeds a speed threshold for a first time period, and based thereon may cooperate with the wireless communications device to send a remote vehicle speed exceeded notification. The controller may also determine when the vehicle speed exceeds the speed threshold for a second time period less than the first time period, and may generate a local vehicle speed exceeded notification using the at least one vehicle indicator coupled to the vehicle data communications bus so that a driver of the vehicle can reduce the speed of the vehicle and avoid sending of the remote vehicle speed exceeded notification.

Claims

1. A speed exceeded notification device to be installed in a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle indicator coupled to the vehicle data communications bus, the speed exceeded notification device comprising:

a wireless communications device; and

a controller to be coupled to the vehicle data communications bus for

determining when a vehicle speed exceeds a speed threshold for a first time period and based thereon cooperating with said wireless communications device to send a remote vehicle speed exceeded notification, and

determining when the vehicle speed exceeds the speed threshold for a second time period less than the first time period and generating a local vehicle speed exceeded notification using the at least one vehicle indicator coupled to the vehicle data communications bus.

2. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 wherein the local vehicle speed exceeded notification comprises at least one of an audible notification, a visual notification, and a tactile notification.

3. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the speed threshold, the first time period, and the second time period is user selectable.

4. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle further comprises at least one other vehicle device generating data related to vehicle speed on the vehicle data communications bus;

and wherein said controller is also for reading the data related to vehicle speed from the vehicle data communications bus.

5. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 4 wherein the at least one other vehicle device generating data related to vehicle speed on the vehicle data communications bus comprises a vehicle position determining device.

6. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 5 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

7. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 5 wherein the vehicle position determining device cooperates with said wireless communications device.

8. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 7 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular communications device.

9. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 wherein the remote vehicle speed exceeded notification further comprises an identity of the vehicle.

10. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 wherein the remote vehicle speed exceeded notification further comprises a speed of the vehicle.

11. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 wherein the remote vehicle speed exceeded notification further comprises a vehicle position.

12. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 wherein the remote vehicle speed exceeded notification further comprises a time the vehicle exceeded the speed threshold.

13. A speed exceeded notification device to be installed in a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, at least one vehicle indicator coupled to the vehicle data communications bus, and at least one other vehicle device generating data related to vehicle speed on the vehicle data communications bus, the speed exceeded notification device comprising:

a wireless communications device; and

a controller to be coupled to the vehicle data communications bus for

reading the data related to vehicle speed from the vehicle data communications bus,

determining when a vehicle speed exceeds a speed threshold for a first time period and based thereon cooperating with said wireless communications device to send a remote vehicle speed exceeded notification, and

determining when the vehicle speed exceeds the speed threshold for a second time period less than the first time period and generating a local vehicle speed exceeded notification using the at least one vehicle indicator coupled to the vehicle data communications bus so that a driver of the vehicle can reduce the speed of the vehicle and avoid sending of the remote vehicle speed exceeded notification.

14. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 13 wherein the local vehicle speed exceeded notification comprises at least one of an audible notification, a visual notification, and a tactile notification.

15. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 13 wherein at least one of the speed threshold, the first time period, and the second time period is user selectable.

16. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 13 wherein the at least one other vehicle device generating data related to vehicle speed on the vehicle data communications bus comprises a vehicle position determining device.

17. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 16 wherein the vehicle position determining device cooperates with said wireless communications device.

18. The speed exceeded notification device according to claim 13 wherein the remote vehicle speed exceeded notification further comprises at least one of an identity of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, a vehicle position, and a time the vehicle exceeded the speed threshold.

19. A method for speed exceeded notification in a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle indicator coupled to the vehicle data communications bus, the method comprising:

using a controller coupled to the vehicle data communications bus for

determining when a vehicle speed exceeds a speed threshold for a first time period and based thereon cooperating with a wireless communications device to send a remote vehicle speed exceeded notification, and

determining when the vehicle speed exceeds the speed threshold for a second time period less than the first time period and generating a local vehicle speed exceeded notification using the at least one vehicle indicator coupled to the vehicle data communications bus.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the local vehicle speed exceeded notification comprises at least one of an audible notification, a visual notification, and a tactile notification.

21. The method according to claim 19 wherein at least one of the speed threshold, the first time period, and the second time period is user selectable.

22. The method according to claim 19 wherein the vehicle further comprises at least one other vehicle device generating data related to vehicle speed on the vehicle data communications bus;

and further comprising using the controller for also reading the data related to vehicle speed from the vehicle data communications bus.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the at least one other vehicle device generating data related to vehicle speed on the vehicle data communications bus comprises a vehicle position determining device.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the vehicle position determining device cooperates with the wireless communications device.

25. The method according to claim 19 wherein the remote vehicle speed exceeded notification further comprises at least one of an identity of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, a vehicle position, and a time the vehicle exceeded the speed threshold.