EMERGENCY WARNING SYSTEMS

• US 3,710,313 A
• Filed: 01/13/1971
• Issued: 01/09/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malcolm J. Macaulay, Pleasent P. Kimball, Robert H. Hagey
• Original Assignee: Malcolm J. Macaulay, Pleasent P. Kimball, Robert H. Hagey
• Inventors: Kimball, Pleasent P., Hagey, Robert H., Macaulay, Malcolm J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mooney, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/106,170
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 340/33,34 179/1VE,1.1C 325/64
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/094 Hardware aspects; Signal processing or signal properties, e.g. frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

Communications warning apparatus of the type wherein a transmitter is mounted in an emergency vehicle and one or more frequency-adaptive receivers are mounted in other vehicles. This system utilizes an FM transmitter coupled with recorder and play back mechanism in the emergency vehicle so that transmission can be effected in any of three modes, i.e. modulated C-W, voice transmission or repetitive recorded voice message, and transmission is effected at such frequency that all surrounding vehicles having a required receiver instrument will receive such warning or message preferentially over a receiver instrument or modular adapter utilized with a standard car radio.

Claims

1. An electronic warning system for use in apprising one or more vehicle operators of information relating to or emanating from an emergency vehicle, comprising:

frequency modulated transmitter means including a directional antenna mounted on said emergency vehicle to propagate radio frequency energy essentially forward of said emergency vehicle;

modulator means disposed in said emergency vehicle to modulate the transmitted output of said frequency modulated transmitter means;

mode selector means consisting of plural position switch means having first, second and third inputs and first and second outputs connected to select one of plural inputs of audio frequency signal for conduction via either a first output to said modulator means or a second output;

microphone means providing a first audio signal input to said mode selector means first input;

tone generator means generating a cOnstant frequency second audio frequency signal for input to said second input of said mode selector means;

record-playback means connected to said mode selector means second output and being actuatable to receive voice input from said microphone means for recording on an endless record of pre-set length, said recorder-playback means being actuable to playback said recorded message to provide a third audio frequency signal output to said third input of the mode selector means; and

one or more receiver means disposed at one or more vehicle positions to receive said frequency modulated radio frequency energy to provide an output in the form of a visible and/or audible warning to said vehicle operator.

2. An electronic warning system as set forth in claim 1 which is further characterized to include:

time indicating means actuated to commence time count upon actuation of said record-playback means for recording.

3. An electronic warning system as set forth in claim 2 which is further characterized in that:

said time indicating means total count duration is synchronized with one revolution of said record-playback means endless record.

4. An electronic warning system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said record-playback means comprises:

a loop of magnetic recording tape;

tape transport means receiving said tape loop;

drive means providing drive output to said tape transport means;

transducing means affixed in operative position engaging said tape loop; and

control means controlling said transducing means for record or playback of audio frequency signal.

5. An electronic warning system as set forth in claim 4 which is further characterized to include:

time indicating means actuated to commence time count upon actuation of said record-playback means for recording.

6. An electronic warning system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiver means each include:

test oscillator means actuatable to produce an alternating electrical signal output; and

inductive means coupling said alternating electrical signal output to said respective receiver means.

7. An electronic warning system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plural position switch means comprises:

switch means for selectively connecting said microphone means first audio signal to said modulator means, or said microphone means first audio signal to said record-playback means, or said tone generator means second audio signal to said modulator means, or said record-playback means third audio signal to said modulator means.