VEHICLE SAFETY DEVICE FOR REDUCING DRIVER DISTRACTIONS
First Claim
1. A method of preventing operation of a communication device, the method comprising:
- with a safety device, causing operation of the communication device within the vehicle to be inhibited;
selectively controlling the safety device to cease causing operation of the communication device to be inhibited by;
detecting a condition; and
in response to the detecting the condition, controlling the device to suspend inhibiting operation of the communication device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safety device for vehicles. The device inhibits use of communication devices that run the risk of distracting a driver/operator while the vehicle is in motion. Several techniques for inhibiting use are described which can be used individually or in a complementary combinations. In one technique, a rapidly varying signal level is created local to the communication device. The variations exceed the operational limits of the system, thereby inhibiting communications. The device may be in a constant-on mode, unless it detects an attempt to make a communication classified as appropriate. Such a device may inhibit short messages, such as “text” messages and may also allow or, in some embodiments, place emergency calls.
165 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of preventing operation of a communication device, the method comprising:
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with a safety device, causing operation of the communication device within the vehicle to be inhibited; selectively controlling the safety device to cease causing operation of the communication device to be inhibited by; detecting a condition; and in response to the detecting the condition, controlling the device to suspend inhibiting operation of the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of selectively limiting operation of a communication device within a vehicle, the method comprising:
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with a safety device, causing operation of the communication device within the vehicle to be inhibited; detecting a condition under which operation of the communication device is appropriate; and in response to the detecting the condition, controlling the device to suspend inhibiting operation of the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A safety device to selectively limit operation of a communication device within a vehicle, the device comprising:
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a control; a cellular transceiver; a controller adapted to; limit operation of the communication device within the vehicle in response to detection of an operating condition of the vehicle; and in response to user activation of the control, initiate a communication through the cellular transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification