FORWARD WARNING SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

• US 20110025484A1
• Filed: 08/03/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apu Mullick
• Original Assignee: Apu Mullick
• Inventors: Mullick, Apu
• Granted Patent: US 9,789,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/545 for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body

Abstract

A new forward warning system includes one or more light sources (such as lasers) mounted on a vehicle and coupled to one or more of the vehicle'"'"'s instruments, which control its motion. The vehicle'"'"'s instrumentation is used to estimate the required stopping distance of the vehicle on which the light source is mounted. When the light source is moved quickly, it “draws” an image on the road surface. The image created on the road surface by the light is based on the vehicle'"'"'s instrumentation and indicates to other motorists where a danger zone exists in front of the vehicle, just as brake lights warn motorists behind the vehicle that it is slowing or stopped.

Claims

1. A warning system for vehicles, comprising:

one or more light sources, a device for translating input from one or more instruments into operation of the one or more light sources,

a first connection for connecting the device to one or more instruments, and

a second connection for connecting the device to the one or more light sources,

wherein in operation the device receives information from the instruments and controls the light sources based on the information from the instruments in order to create an image on a surface that delineates a zone of danger.

2. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a processor.

3. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the one or more light sources are lasers.

4. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the one or more light sources are movable and wherein the control of the light sources includes control of their movement.

5. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the zone of danger is an area in front of a vehicle within which the vehicle would be unable to safely stop.

6. The warning system of claim 5, wherein the information from the instruments comprises the speed of a vehicle.

7. The warning system of claim 6, wherein the information from the instruments further comprises at least one of the group consisting of vehicle weight, weather information, route slope, feedback from recent braking, vehicle maintenance condition, driver perception and reaction time, brake lag, and brake fade due to overheating.

8. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the one or more light sources are one or more movable lasers and the control of the light sources includes control of the movement of the movable lasers, wherein the image is created by rapid movement of the movable lasers.

9. The warning system of claim 5, wherein the image is an outline of a box and an “

X”

within the box.

10. The warning system of claim 5, wherein the image is a shaded-in box.

11. A forward warning method for vehicles, comprising:

gathering information from one or more vehicle instruments,

determining a safe stopping distance for a vehicle based on the information, and

manipulating a light source on the basis of the safe stopping distance to create an image on a surface that delineates a zone of danger,

wherein the zone of danger is an area in front of the vehicle structure within which the vehicle would be unable to safely stop.

12. The forward warning method of claim 11, wherein the manipulating a light source to create an image comprises rapidly moving one or more lasers.

13. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle structure,

one or more lasers mounted on the vehicle structure,

one or more vehicle instruments,

a processor connected to one or more of the vehicle instruments and to the one or more lasers,

wherein the processor controls the lasers based on information from the vehicle instruments to create an image on a surface that delineates a zone of danger.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the zone of danger is an area in front of the vehicle structure within which the vehicle would be unable to safely stop.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the lasers are movable lasers and the control of the lasers comprises control of the movement of the lasers.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the image is created by rapid movement of the movable lasers.