HAZARD WARNING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a first detector structured to be carried onboard a first vehicle and adapted to detect a first hazard and to consequently cause a first output therefrom;
a first transmitter in communication with the first detector and operable to broadcast a first remote warning signal therefrom subsequent to receiving the first output;
a first receiver structured to be carried onboard the first vehicle and operable to receive an external remote warning signal transmitted by another transmitter; and
a first local warning device in operable communication with the first receiver and configured to provide a warning to an occupant of the first vehicle, the warning corresponding to receipt of the external remote warning signal, the first local warning device comprising a display device in communication with the first receiver, wherein;
the display device is structured to visually convey an estimate of the distance to a location of an external hazard associated with the external remote warning;
each of a plurality of audible noises is individually assigned to one of a plurality of discrete distance estimates; and
a speaker is operably associated with the system to broadcast the noise corresponding to the estimate of the distance.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system adapted to provide a warning to a vehicle operator of nearby hazards, e.g., that a nearby vehicle has been in a collision or is otherwise inoperable. Embodiments include a detector operable to detect a hazard, a transmitter to transmit a warning signal, a receiver to receive a transmitted warning signal, and a display to warn the operator of an approaching vehicle of the hazard. Some embodiments incorporate feedback from a vehicle'"'"'s airbag deployment circuitry to provide a trigger effective to broadcast the warning signal. The operator of an approaching vehicle may be provided with a visual and/or an audible warning signal, e.g., via a cellular telephone. Certain embodiments provide such warning to approaching vehicles via the transmitted warning signal and a display and/or speaker carried in the approaching vehicle. Audible and visual warnings may be transmitted directly from the crashed vehicle.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a first detector structured to be carried onboard a first vehicle and adapted to detect a first hazard and to consequently cause a first output therefrom; a first transmitter in communication with the first detector and operable to broadcast a first remote warning signal therefrom subsequent to receiving the first output; a first receiver structured to be carried onboard the first vehicle and operable to receive an external remote warning signal transmitted by another transmitter; and a first local warning device in operable communication with the first receiver and configured to provide a warning to an occupant of the first vehicle, the warning corresponding to receipt of the external remote warning signal, the first local warning device comprising a display device in communication with the first receiver, wherein; the display device is structured to visually convey an estimate of the distance to a location of an external hazard associated with the external remote warning; each of a plurality of audible noises is individually assigned to one of a plurality of discrete distance estimates; and a speaker is operably associated with the system to broadcast the noise corresponding to the estimate of the distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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18. (canceled)
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26. A method comprising providing a warning of a hazard via a warning system to at least one occupant of at least one vehicle not involved in. the hazard, the warning system comprising:
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a first detector structured to be carried onboard a first vehicle and adapted to detect a first hazard and to consequently cause a first output therefrom; a first transmitter in communication with the first detector and operable to broadcast a first remote warning signal therefrom subsequent to receiving the first output; a first receiver structured to be carried onboard the first vehicle and operable to receive an external remote warning signal transmitted by another transmitter; and a first local warning device in operable communication with the first receiver and configured to provide a warning to an occupant of the first vehicle, the warning corresponding to receipt of the external remote warning signal, the first local warning device comprising a display device in communication with the first receiver, wherein; the display device is structured to visually convey an estimate of the distance to a location of an external hazard associated with the external remote warning; each of a plurality of audible noises is individually assigned to one of a plurality of discrete distance estimates; and a speaker is operably associated with the system to broadcast the noise corresponding to the estimate of the distance. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method comprising:
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outfitting at least one of a pedestrian, a road worker, a utility worker, and a bicyclist with a transmitter configured to transmit a warning signal; outfitting a vehicle with a hazard warning system, the hazard warning system comprising; a receiver structured to be carried onboard the vehicle and operable to receive the warning signal transmitted by the transmitter; another transmitter in communication with the receiver and operable to broadcast another remote warning signal therefrom subsequent to receiving the warning signal; and a local warning device in operable communication with the receiver and configured to provide a warning to an occupant of the vehicle, the warning corresponding to receipt of the warning signal, the local warning device comprising a display device in communication with the receiver, wherein; the display device is structured to visually convey an estimate of the distance to a location of the at least one of a pedestrian, a road worker, a utility worker, and a bicyclist associated with the warning signal; each of a plurality of audible noises is individually assigned to one of a plurality of discrete distance estimates; and a speaker is operably associated with the system to broadcast the noise corresponding to the estimate of the distance.
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Specification