PERSONAL PROFILES BASED SYSTEM FOR SPEED LIMIT ENFORCING AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

• US 20150246676A1
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Published: 09/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yakov Keren
• Original Assignee: Yakov Keren
• Inventors: Keren, Yakov
• Application Number:
  US14/429,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20150246676A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2031/0091 Speed limiters or speed cutters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0065 using a personalised data carrier, e.g. magnetic card, memory card or electronic ignition key
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0605 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2009/0201 Arrangements; Control features; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/02 concerning induction conduits throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers

Abstract

A speed-limit-enforcing system for enforcing speed limit on a vehicle hosting the system, and methods of using thereof. The system includes a speed-limit controller, a drivers'"'"' profile DB, a driver-identifier and a throttle controller. The speed-limit profile of each driver is predefined by a master user, wherein a driver may not alter his speed-limit profile. The driver-identifier identifies the current driver, wherein the drivers'"'"' profile DB includes a speed-limit profile of that current driver. The speed-limit controller, being a personal mobile device, derives a current speed limit from rules defined in the speed-limit profile of the current driver, wherein the speed-limit controller activates the throttle controller to limit the fuel supply to the engine of the vehicle, such that the current velocity of the vehicle, provided by an external source, does not exceed the current speed limit.

Claims

1. A speed-limit-enforcing system for enforcing a speed limit on a vehicle hosting the system, the system comprising:

a speed-limit controller;

a drivers'"'"' profile DB;

a driver-identifier; and

a throttle controller,

wherein said speed-limit controller activates said driver-identifier to identify the current driver of the vehicle;

wherein said drivers'"'"' profile DB comprises a speed-limit profile of the current driver;

wherein said speed-limit profile of each driver is predefined by a master user of the speed-limit enforcing system, and wherein the drivers may not alter any of said speed-limit profiles;

wherein said speed-limit controller is a personal user-smart-mobile device, having a driver-application running thereon;

wherein said speed-limit controller derives a current speed limit from rules defined in said speed-limit profile of said identified current driver; and

wherein said speed-limit controller is adapted to activate said throttle controller to limit the fuel supply to the engine of the vehicle, such that the current velocity of the vehicle, provided by an external source, does not exceed said current speed limit.

2. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claims 1 further comprises one or more warning devices, wherein when said current velocity of the vehicle exceeds said current speed limit, said speed-limit controller activates at least one of said warning devices to warn the current driver.

3. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 2, wherein at least one of said warning devices is selected from the group including:

a speaker, a light, a display wherein at least one of said warning devices is activated in an intensity that is directly related to the difference in speed between said current velocity of the vehicle and said current speed limit.

5. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 1, wherein said external source is a GPS unit and wherein said speed-limit controller retrieves said current velocity of the vehicle and the geographical location of the current road, on which road the vehicle is being driven on, from said GPS unit.

6. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claims 5 further comprises a map-memory-storage containing map data, including the maximum legal speed limit of said current road, wherein at least one of said rules, defined in said speed-limit profile of the current driver, relates to said maximum legal speed limit of said current road, and wherein said map-memory-storage is a local device or a remote database.

8. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said rules, defined in said speed-limit profile of the current driver, relates to a velocity selected from the group including the maximum legal speed allowed in the country and the maximum urban speed allowed, if urban/country geographical data location is known.

9. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 1, wherein said throttle controller is an accelerating-pedal-control apparatus, and wherein said speed-limit controller is adapted to activate an electric motor for setting the position of a stopper, to thereby limit the depression range of the accelerator pedal.

11. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claims 1 further comprises a display for displaying data.

13. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 11, wherein said display is a touch screen, enabling entering input to said speed-limit controller.

15. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 1, wherein said driver-identifier is a fingerprint reader.

17. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 6 further including a master-smart-mobile device, having a master-application running thereon.

18. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 17, wherein said personal user-smart-mobile device and said master-smart-mobile device are personal smart phones.

19. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 17, wherein said master-application facilitates the master user to turn on an activation mode.

20. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 17, wherein said external source is a GPS unit integrated into said personal user-smart-mobile device and said master-smart-mobile device, and wherein said speed-limit controller retrieves said current velocity of the vehicle and the geographical location of the current road, on which road the vehicle is being driven on, from said GPS unit.

21. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 6 further comprises a map-memory-storage containing map data, including the maximum legal speed limit of said current road, wherein at least one of said rules, defined in said speed-limit profile of the intended driver, relates to said maximum legal speed limit of said current road, and wherein said map-memory-storage is a local device or a remote database.

23. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 17, wherein the vehicle includes a vehicular wireless communication means, having an ID, such as Bluetooth (BT), wherein said master-smart-mobile device of the master user is adapted to obtain the ID of the vehicular wireless communication means and to transmit the ID of the vehicular wireless communication means to the remote server, to thereby record the ID of the vehicular wireless communication means in a designated location in the remote server;

wherein when utilizing the vehicle, said personal user-smart-mobile device of the intended driver is in communication flow with the vehicular wireless communication means;

wherein said personal user-smart-mobile device is adapted to obtain the ID of the vehicular wireless communication means; and

wherein said personal user-smart-mobile device is adapted to verify the read ID with said ID records created by the master user in said designated location in the remote server.

24. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 23, wherein said master smart-mobile device is adapted to read the ID of the vehicular from said driver to thereby identify the vehicle and the intended driver and wherein upon said identification of the intended driver, said activation mode is turned on automatically.

26. The speed-limit-enforcing system of claim 24, wherein when said activation mode is turned on, said driver-application is adapted to monitor and transmit driving parameters of the driving activity of the vehicle to said remote server and thereby also to said master-smart-mobile device.

4. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

27. A method for enforcing a speed limit, operable on a speed-limit-enforcing system disposed in a host vehicle and having a speed-limit controller, a throttle controller for controlling the rate at which gas is supplied to the engine of the vehicle, a driver-identifier, a drivers'"'"' profile DB and a at least one warning device, the method comprises the steps of:

obtaining the current velocity of the vehicle from an external source;

identifying the current driver of the vehicle using said driver-identifier-;

obtaining the speed-limit profile of said current driver from said drivers'"'"' profile DB;

determining the current speed-limit from rules defined in said speed-limit profile of said current driver;

comparing said current velocity of the vehicle with said current speed limit; and

when said current velocity of the vehicle exceeds said current speed limit;

turning on said at least one warning device; and

/or

activating said speed-limit controller to limit the fuel supply to the engine of the vehicle, such that the velocity of the vehicle does not exceed said current speed limit, wherein said speed-limit controller is a personal user-smart-mobile device, having a driver-application running thereon.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of:

a) obtaining the legal speed limit of the road on the vehicle is being driven on, wherein at least one of said rules, defined in said speed-limit profile of the current driver, relates to said maximum legal speed limit of said current road.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said throttle controller is an accelerating-pedal-control apparatus, wherein said speed-limit controller is adapted to activate an electric motor for setting the position of a stopper, to thereby limit the depression range of the accelerator pedal, and wherein said activating of said speed-limit controller to limit the fuel supply to the engine of the vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

moving said stopper by a preconfigured distance to thereby reduce the fuel supply to the engine of the vehicle;

obtaining again the current velocity of the vehicle;

comparing said current velocity of the vehicle with said current speed limit, wherein;

when said current velocity of the vehicle does not exceed said current speed limit, perform the steps of activating said speed-limit controller to allow full range depression of the accelerator pedal, turning off the activated warning devices and exit;

else

when said current velocity of the vehicle exceed said current speed limit and does not exceed the previously measured vehicle velocity, perform moving said stopper by a preconfigured distance to thereby reduce the fuel supply to the engine of the vehicle and obtaining again the current velocity of the vehicle.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said current velocity of the vehicle exceed said current speed limit and when said current velocity of the vehicle exceeds the previously measured vehicle velocity, perform the steps of:

when an override is available in the rules of the speed-limit profile of said current driver, activating said speed-limit controller to allow full range depression of the accelerator pedal, turning off the activated warning devices and exit;

else, when an override is not available in the rules of the speed-limit profile of said current driver, perform the step of;

intensifying the output of said at least one warning device; and

/or

activating said throttle controller to limit the fuel supplied to the engine of the vehicle by a preconfigured extent.