VEHICLE SPEED EXCEEDED NOTIFICATION DEVICE AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20090212931A1
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/18 including a device to audibly, visibly, or otherwise signal the existence of unusual or unintended speed to the driver of the vehicle devices primarily intended for indicating speed to other traffic B60Q1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle speed exceeded notification device to be installed in a vehicle of a type including a vehicle audio entertainment system being configurable via a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle may include an audio entertainment system content interface. The audio interface may be selectively operable to communicate audio content relating to a vehicle speed exceeded condition to the vehicle audio entertainment system. The device may also include a controller coupled to the audio entertainment system content interface for detecting a vehicle speed exceeded condition. The controller may also be for configuring the vehicle audio entertainment system, via the vehicle data communications bus, so that the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition plays through the vehicle audio entertainment system based upon detecting the vehicle speed exceeded condition.

Claims

1. A vehicle speed exceeded notification device to be installed in a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle audio entertainment system being configurable via a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, the vehicle speed exceeded notification device comprising:

an audio entertainment system content interface being selectively operable to communicate audio content relating to a vehicle speed exceeded condition to the vehicle audio entertainment system; and

a controller coupled to said audio entertainment system content interface for

detecting a vehicle speed exceeded condition, and

configuring the vehicle audio entertainment system via the vehicle data communications bus so that the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition plays through the vehicle audio entertainment system based upon detecting the vehicle speed exceeded condition.

2. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 wherein said audio entertainment system content interface comprises a wireless transmitter that is selectively operable to communicate via a wireless link with the vehicle audio entertainment system.

3. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 2 wherein the wireless transmitter operates at a predetermined frequency.

4. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 wherein said audio entertainment system content interface comprises an output that is selectively operable to communicate via a wired link with the vehicle audio entertainment system.

5. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 further comprising a memory coupled to said audio entertainment system content interface for storing the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition.

6. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 further comprising a receiver coupled to said audio entertainment system content interface for receiving the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition from a remote location.

7. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 further comprising a position determining device;

and wherein said controller detects the vehicle speed exceeded condition based upon the position determining device.

8. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 7 wherein said position determining device comprises a global positioning system (GPS).

9. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 further comprising a vehicle speed sensor;

and wherein said controller detects the vehicle speed exceeded condition based upon the vehicle speed sensor.

10. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 wherein the audio content relating to the vehicle speed exceeded condition comprises a police siren.

11. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 1 wherein the audio content relating to the vehicle speed exceeded condition comprises a voice message.

12. A vehicle speed exceeded notification device to be installed in a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle audio entertainment system being configurable via a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, the vehicle speed exceeded notification device comprising:

an audio entertainment system content interface comprising a wireless transmitter that is selectively operable to communicate audio content relating to a vehicle speed exceeded condition to the vehicle audio entertainment system via a wireless link with the vehicle audio entertainment system;

a controller coupled to said audio entertainment system content interface for

detecting a vehicle speed exceeded condition, and

configuring the vehicle audio entertainment system via the vehicle data communications bus to operate via the wireless link so that the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition plays through the vehicle audio entertainment system based upon detecting the vehicle speed exceeded condition; and

a memory coupled to said audio entertainment system content interface for storing the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition.

13. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 12 wherein the wireless transmitter operates at a predetermined frequency.

14. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 12 further comprising a receiver coupled to said audio entertainment system content interface for receiving the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition from a remote location.

15. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 12 further comprising a position determining device;

and wherein said controller detects the vehicle speed exceeded condition based on the position determining device.

16. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 12 further comprising a vehicle speed sensor;

and wherein said controller detects the vehicle speed exceeded condition based upon the vehicle speed sensor.

17. A vehicle speed exceeded notification device to be installed in a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle audio entertainment system being configurable via a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, the vehicle speed exceeded notification device comprising:

an audio entertainment system content interface comprising an output that is selectively operable to communicate audio content relating to a vehicle speed exceeded condition via a wired link to the vehicle audio entertainment system; and

a controller coupled to said audio entertainment system content interface for

detecting a vehicle speed exceeded condition, and

configuring the vehicle audio entertainment system via the vehicle data communications bus to operate via the wired link so that the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition plays through the vehicle audio entertainment system based upon detecting the vehicle speed exceeded condition; and

a memory coupled to said audio entertainment system content interface for storing the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition.

18. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 17 further comprising a receiver coupled to said audio entertainment system content interface for receiving the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition from a remote location.

19. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 17 further comprising a position determining device;

and wherein said controller detects the vehicle speed exceeded condition based upon the position determining device.

20. The vehicle speed exceeded notification device according to claim 17 further comprising a vehicle speed sensor;

and wherein said controller detects the vehicle speed exceeded condition based upon the vehicle speed sensor.

21. A method for communicating audio content relating to a vehicle speed exceeded condition in a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle audio entertainment system being configurable via a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, the method comprising:

selectively operating an audio entertainment system content interface to communicate audio content relating to a vehicle speed exceeded condition to the vehicle audio entertainment system; and

using a controller coupled with the audio entertainment system content interface for

detecting a vehicle speed exceeded condition, and

configuring the vehicle audio entertainment system via the vehicle data communications bus so that the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition plays through the vehicle audio entertainment system based upon detecting a vehicle speed exceeded condition.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the audio entertainment system content interface comprises a wireless transmitter that is selectively operable to communicate via a wireless link with the vehicle audio entertainment system.

23. The method according to claim 22 further comprising operating the wireless transmitter at a predetermined frequency.

24. The method according to claim 21 wherein the audio entertainment system content interface comprises an output that is selectively operable to communicate via a wired link with the vehicle audio entertainment system.

25. The method according to claim 21 further comprising storing the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition in a memory.

26. The method according to claim 21 further comprising receiving the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition from a remote location.

27. The method according to claim 21 further comprising using the controller to detect the vehicle speed exceeded condition based upon a position determining device.

28. The method according to claim 21 further comprising the controller to detect the vehicle speed exceeded condition based upon a vehicle speed sensor.