SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY SENSING AND INDICATING THE ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION OF A VEHICLE

• US 3,634,792 A
• Filed: 09/30/1968
• Issued: 01/11/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enrique J. Klein, Robert W. Blomenkamp
• Original Assignee: Enrique J. Klein, Robert W. Blomenkamp
• Inventors: Blomenkamp, Robert W., Klein, Enrique J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Howard S.
• Application Number:
  US04/763,665
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 340/262,263,271 324/70,162
• US Class Current: 340/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/045 with speed indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/165 for measuring angular accelerations

Abstract

Apparatus for the determination of the acceleration and deceleration of a vehicle in which an electromechanical sensing device generates an output signal in response to the rotation of shaft turning at a fixed ratio to the vehicle drive shaft. Electronic circuitry processes the signal of the sensing device for continuous monitoring of acceleration and deceleration on a meter, and for operating light signals indicating levels of acceleration and deceleration in a system that is integrated with conventional brake and backup light systems.

Claims

1. A system for automatically sensing and indicating the deceleration or acceleration of a vehicle, comprising:

means for generating a first signal representative of the speed of said vehIcle;

first means of differentiation with respect to time, differentiating said first signal, for generating a second signal only upon an increase in said first signal with time, whereby said second signal is indicative of the acceleration of said vehicle;

second means of differentiation with respect to time, differentiating said first signal, for generating a third signal only upon a decrease in said first signal with time, whereby said third signal is indicative of the deceleration of said vehicle;

first level sensing and switching means responsive to said second signal for actuating indicator means for at least one discrete level of acceleration of said vehicle; and

said second level sensing and switching means responsive to said third signal for actuating indicator means for at least one discrete level of deceleration of said vehicle.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

third means of differentiation with respect to time, differentiating said first signal, for generating a fourth signal upon either an increase or a decrease in said first signal with time; and

means responsive to said fourth signal for providing a continuous reading of the acceleration or deceleration of said vehicle.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein said continuous reading means comprises a current amplifier driven by said fourth signal, and an ammeter, biased to a zero center position, for measuring the output of said amplifier.

4. A system according to claim 2 wherein said continuous reading means comprises a galvanometer responsive to said fourth signal.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said first means of differentiation comprises an RC circuit in which the signal corresponding to acceleration is developed across a resistor connected in shunt with a diode arranged with a polarity for blocking signals decreasing in magnitude with time, and said second means of differentiation comprises an RC circuit in which the signal corresponding to deceleration is developed across a resistor connected in shunt with a diode arranged with a polarity, opposite to said first-named polarity, for blocking signals increasing in magnitude with time.

6. Apparatus for automatically indicating a level of deceleration of a vehicle which exceeds a given threshold of deceleration, comprising:

means for separately developing a signal representative of the deceleration of a vehicle;

a relay including a relay coil;

combined level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said combined means being responsive to a deceleration input signal and, said switching means turning on when said input signal reaches a threshold level of deceleration to permit current flow through said relay coil, said relay coil being connected in series with said switching means for actuating said relay and;

an indicator responsive to the actuation of said relay, said deceleration signal being applied as an input to said level sensing and switching means whereby said relay is actuated only when said signal reaches and exceeds said threshold input signal level.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said combined level sensing and switching means comprises a current amplifier biased for substantial cut off in the absence of an input signal of a level exceeding said threshold signal level, and said relay coil is connected in series with the output of said switching means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said combined level sensing and switching means comprises a two-branch trigger circuit including a first branch wherein a first transistor conducts substantially only when the input signal level is smaller than said threshold signal level and a second branch wherein a second transistor conducts substantially only when the input signal level is larger than said threshold signal, and said relay coil is connected in series with said second branch.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said combined level sensing and switching means comprises a monostable multivibratOr circuit which is destabilized by an input signal of a level equal to or greater than said threshold signal level to thereby generate a destabilization current, and said relay coil is connected in series with said destabilization current.

10. Apparatus for automatically indicating a level of deceleration of a vehicle, when said vehicle exceeds a given threshold of deceleration, comprising:

means for separately developing a signal representative of the deceleration of a vehicle;

combined electronic level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said combined means being responsive to a deceleration input signal, said switching means turning on when said input signal reaches a threshold level of deceleration; and

an indicator in series with said switching means, said deceleration signal being the input of said level sensing and switching means whereby said switching means turns on and passes substantial current directly through said indicator only when said signal reaches and exceeds said threshold input signal level.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said combined electronic level sensing and switching means comprises a current amplifier biased for substantial cut off in the absence of an input signal of a level exceeding said threshold signal level, and said indicator is connected in series with the output of said current amplifier.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said combined electronic level sensing and switching means comprises a two-branch trigger circuit including a first branch wherein a first transistor conducts substantially only when the input signal level is smaller than said threshold signal level and a second branch wherein a second transistor conducts substantially only when the input signal level is larger than said threshold signal level, and said indicator is connected directly to said second branch.

13. A system for automatically indicating at least two levels of deceleration of a vehicle, comprising:

means for separately developing a signal representative of the deceleration of a vehicle; and

first means for actuating a first indicator when said signal exceeds a first threshold value and separate second means for actuating a second indicator when said signal exceeds a second threshold value, greater than said first threshold value, said first actuating means comprising a combined first level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said first combined means being operatively associated with said indicator, which is actuated when said signal exceeds said first threshold value thereby turning on said first level switching means, and said second actuating means comprising a combined second level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said second combined means being operatively associated with said second indicator, which is actuated when said signal exceeds said second threshold value thereby turning on said second level switching means.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein said first level sensing and switching means comprises a first current amplifier to which said deceleration input signal is applied, said first amplifier being biased for substantial cutoff in the absence of an input signal exceeding said first threshold value, said first level sensing and switching means further comprises a first relay having a coil in series with said first current amplifier, said first relay being activated by the output current of said first amplifier whenever said first current amplifier is caused to conduct by an input signal which is substantially at or beyond said first threshold value;

and said second level sensing and switching means comprises a second current amplifier to which said same deceleration signal is applied, said second amplifier being biased for substantial cutoff in the absence of an input signal exceeding said second threshold value, said second level sensing and switching means further comprises a second relay having a coil in series with saiD second current amplifier said second relay being activated by the output current of said second amplifier whenever said second current amplifier is caused to conduct by an input signal which is substantially at or beyond said second threshold value.

15. A system according to claim 2 wherein said continuous reading means provides a quantitative indication of the magnitude of the acceleration or deceleration of said vehicle, and further comprises interior visual display means responsive to said fourth signal for the direct and continuous reading of acceleration or deceleration.

16. A system according to claim 13 wherein said first level sensing and switching means includes a first two-branch trigger circuit to which said acceleration or deceleration input signal is applied, said first trigger circuit having a first branch which conducts substantially only when the input signal level is smaller than said first threshold value and a second branch which conducts substantially only when the input signal level is larger than said first threshold value, said first level sensing and switching means further having a first relay having a coil in series with said second branch, said first relay being activated by the current in the second branch of said first two-branch trigger circuit whenever said second branch is caused to conduct by an input signal which is substantially at or beyond said first threshold value;

and, said second level sensing and switching means including a second two-branch trigger circuit to which said same acceleration or deceleration signal is applied, said second trigger circuit having a third branch which conducts substantially only when the input signal level is smaller than said second threshold value and a fourth branch which conducts substantially only when the input signal level is larger than said second threshold value, said second level sensing and switching means further having a second relay having a coil in series with said fourth branch, said second relay being activated by the current in the fourth branch of said second two-branch trigger circuit whenever said fourth branch is caused to conduct by an input signal which is substantially at or beyond said second threshold value.

17. A system according to claim 13 wherein said first level sensing and switching means includes a first monostable multivibrator circuit to which said acceleration or deceleration input signal is applied, said first multivibrator circuit is destabilized substantially only when the input signal level is larger than said first threshold value, said first level sensing and switching means further including a first relay having a coil in series with the branch of said multivibrator which carries a first destabilization current whenever the multivibrator becomes destabilized, said first relay being activated by said first destabilization current of said first monostable multivibrator circuit whenever said first current is caused to appear by an input signal which is substantially at or beyond said first threshold value;

and, said second level sensing and switching means includes a second monostable multivibrator circuit to which said same acceleration or deceleration input signal is applied, said second multivibrator circuit is destabilized substantially only when the input signal level is larger than said second threshold value, said second level sensing and switching means further including a second relay having a coil in series with the branch of said second multivibrator which carries a second destabilization current whenever the multivibrator becomes destabilized, said second relay being activated by said second destabilization current of said second monostable multivibrator circuit whenever said second current is caused to appear by an input signal which is substantially at or beyond said second threshold value.

18. Apparatus for automatically indicating a level of acceleration of a vehicle which exceeds a given threshold of acceleration, comprising:

means for separately developing a signal representative of the acceleration of a vehicle;

a relay including a relay coil;

combined level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said combined means being responsive to an acceleration input signal and, said switching means turning on when said input signal reaches a threshold level of acceleration to permit current flow through said relay coil, said relay coil being connected in series with said switching means for actuating said relay and;

an indicator responsive to the actuation of said relay, said acceleration signal being applied as an input to said level sensing and switching means whereby said relay is actuated only when said signal reaches and exceeds said threshold input signal level.

19. Apparatus for automatically indicating a level of acceleration of a vehicle, when said vehicle exceeds a given threshold of acceleration, comprising means for separately developing a signal representative of the acceleration of a vehicle;

combined electronic level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said combined means being responsive to an acceleration input signal and, said switching means turning on when said input signal reaches a threshold level of acceleration; and

an indicator in series with said switching means, said acceleration signal being the input of said level sensing and switching means whereby said switching means turns on and passes substantial current directly through said indicator only when said signal reaches and exceeds said threshold input signal level.