Driver's safety warning system

• US 3,876,940 A
• Filed: 12/03/1973
• Issued: 04/08/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John D. Turner, Robert H. Wickord
• Original Assignee: John D. Turner, Robert H. Wickord
• Inventors: Wickord, Robert H., Turner, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Libman, George H.
• Application Number:
  US05/420,892
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 325/55,64,51,53,466 340/224
• US Class Current: 455/341
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

A warning device, especially suited for traffic control as a precaution against collision of emergency vehicles with regular vehicles, and utilizing radio transmission on an assigned frequency automatically put into operation by operation of said vehicles respectively, and comprising a transmitter in the emergency vehicle originating an alert signal and a receiving converter in the regular vehicle reproducing said alert signal in said regular vehicle when the assigned frequency is transmitted and received; a feature being that the alerting signal is at or converted to the Intermediate Frequency of a radio receiver when installed in said regular vehicle and is fed into said radio receiver so as to mute any broadcast reception and modulate said radio speaker with a warning and/or activate the warning device whether or not said radio is turned on. This invention relates to such a warning system per se whether associated with vehicles or generally to all radio networks, a warning system that pre-empts regular broadcast reception and which activates radio receivers which are otherwise turned off through the usual manual controls.

Claims

1. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter means comprised of a modulator and a plurality of independently operable frequency generating means and broadcasting an alert signal on a predetermined frequency;

a power amplifier driving a transducer means distantly remote from said transmitter means and a power supply therefor; and

a receiving converter comprised of at least a decoder means distinguishing the reception of each of said plurality of frequencies produced by said frequency generating means, a plurality of transducer means and each responsive to reception of a frequency produced by a corresponding one of said frequency generating means, a Radio Frequency section, a local oscillator and interrelated mixer and an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector and adapted to be maintained in an on condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said power amplifier and transducer means and responsive to reception of said alert signal to turn on said power amplifier and transducer means, said power amplifier and transducer means being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector.

2. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter means comprised of a modulator and a variable frequency generating means and a constant frequency generating means, said frequency generating means being independently operable, said transmitter means broadcasting an alert signal on a predetermined frequency;

a power amplifier driving a transducer means distantly remote from said transmitter means and a power supply therefor; and

a receiving converter comprised of at least a decoder means distinguishing the reception of said constant frequency produced by said constant frequency generating means, and variable frequency transducer means responsive to reception of said variable frequency produced by said variable frequency generating means, a transducer means responsive to reception of said constant frequency produced by said constant frequency generating means, a Radio Frequency section, a local oscillator and interrelated mixer and an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector and adapted to be maintained in an on condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said power amplifier and transducer means and responsive to reception of said alert signal to turn on said power amplifier and transducer means, said power amplifier and transducer means being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector.

3. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter means comprised of a modulator and a variable sound frequency generating means and a constant subtone frequency generating means, said frequency generating means being independently operable, said transmitter means broadcasting an alert signal on a predetermined frequency;

a power amplifier driving a transducer means distantly remote from said transmitter means and a power supply therefor; and

a receiving converter comprised of at least a decoder means distinguishing the reception of said constant subtone frequency produced by said constant subtone frequency generating means, and variable sound frequency transducer means responsive to reception of said variable sound frequency produced by said variable sound frequency generating means, a transducer means responsive to reception of said constant subtone frequency produced by said constant subtone frequency generating means, a Radio Frequency section, a local oscillator and interrelated mixer and an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector and adapted to be maintained in an on condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said power amplifier and transducer means and responsive to reception of said alert signal to turn on said power amplifier and transducer means, said power amplifier and transducer means being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector.

4. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter means comprised of a modulator and a variable sound frequency generating means and a plurality of distinct constant subtone frequency generating means, said frequency generating means being independently operable, said transmitter means broadcasting an alert signal on a predetermined frequency;

a power amplifier driving a transducer means distantly remote from said transmitter means and a power supply therefor; and

a receiving converter comprised of at least a decoder means distinguishing the reception of said plurality of distinct constant subtone frequencies produced by said plurality of distinct constant subtone frequency generating means, and variable sound frequency transducer means responsive to reception of said variable sound frequency produced by said variable sound frequency generating means, a transducer means responsive to the reception of each corresponding constant subtone frequency produced by each of said plurality of constant subtone frequency generating means respectively, a Radio Frequency section, a local oscillator and interrelated mixer and an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector and adapted to be maintained in an on condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said power amplifier and transducer means and responsive to reception of said alert signal to turn on said power amplifier and transduer means, said power amplifier and transducer means being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector.

5. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter means comprised of a modulator and selectively operable automatically variable sound frequency generating means and broadcasting an alert signal on a pretermined frequency;

a power amplifier driving a transducer means distantly remote from said transmitter means and a power supply therefor; and

a receiving converter comprised of at least a Radio Frequency section, a local oscillator and interrelated mixer and an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector and adapted to be maintained in an on condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said power amplifier and transducer means and responsive to reception of said alert signal to turn on said power amplifier and transducer means, said transducer means being comprised of speaker means reproducing the sound produced by said variable sound frequency generating means, and said power amplifier and transducer means being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector.

6. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter means comprised of a modulator and selectively operable automatically variable sound frequency generating means and voice modulated sound frequency generating means and broadcasting an alert signal on a predetermined frequency;

a power amplifier driving a transducer means distantly remote from said transmitter means and a power supply therefor; and

a receiving converter comprised of at least a Radio Frequency section, a local oscillator and interrelated mixer and an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector and adapted to be maintained in an on condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said power amplifier and transducer means and responsive to reception of said alert signal to turn on said power amplifier and transducer means, said transducer means being comprised of speaker means reproducing the sound produced by said selected voice modulated sound generating means, and said power amplifier and transducer means being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector.

7. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter means comprised of a modulator and a plurality of independently operable audio frequency generating means and having means broadcasting an alert signal on a predetermined frequency;

a radio receiver distantly remote from said transmitter means and comprised of at least an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector and an audio speaker means therefor;

a decoder means distinguishing the reception of each of said plurality of frequencies produced by said frequency generating means, and a plurality of transducer means and each responsive to reception of a frequency produced by a corresponding one of said frequency generating means;

a power supply for operating said radio receiver; and

a receiving converter comprised of a tuned Radio Frequency amplifier, a local oscillator and interrelated mixer and an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector operating at the same frequency as said radio receiver Intermediate Frequency amplifier and adapted to be maintained in an "on" condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said radio receiver and responsive to reception of said alert signal to turn on said radio receiver, the Intermediate Frequency amplifier of said radio receiver being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector.

8. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter means comprised of a modulator and a plurality of independently operable audio frequency generating means and having means broadcasting an alert signal on a predetermined frequency;

a radio receiver distantly remote from said transmitter means and comprised of at least an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector operating at said one predetermined frequency and an audio speaker means therefor;

a decoder means distinguishing the reception of each of said plurality of frequencies produced by said frequency generating means, and a plurality of transducer means and each responsive to reception of a frequency produced by a corresponding one of said frequency generating means;

a power supply for operating said radio receiver; and

a receiving converter comprised of a tuned Radio Frequency amplifier and detector operating at the same frequency as said radio receiver Intermediate Frequency amplifier and adapted to be maintained in an on condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said radio receiver and responsive to reception of said alert signal to turn on said radio receiver, the Intermediate Frequency amplifier of said radio receiver being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter tuned Radio Frequency amplifier and detector.

9. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter means comprised of a modulator and a variable frequency generating means and a constant frequency generating means, and frequency generating means being independently operable and having means broadcasting an alert signal on a predetermined frequency;

a radio receiver distantly remote from said transmitter means and comprised of at least an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector and an audio speaker means therefor;

a decoder means distinguishing the reception of said constant frequency produced by said constant frequency generating means, and a transducer means responsive to reception of said constant frequency produced by said constant frequency generating means;

a power supply for operating said radio receiver; and

a receiving converter comprised of a tuned Radio Frequency amplifier, a local oscillator and interrelated mixer and an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector operating at the same frequency as said radio receiver Intermediate Frequency amplifier and adapted to be maintained in an on condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said radio receiver and responsive to reception of said alert signal to turn on said radio receiver, the Intermediate Frequency amplifier of said radio receiver being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector.

10. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter means comprised of a modulator and a variable sound frequency generating means and a constant subtone frequency generating means, said frequency generating means being independently operable and having means broadcasting an alert signal on a predetermined frequency;

a radio receiver distantly remote from said transmitter means and comprised of at least an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector and an audio speaker means therefor;

a decoder means distinguishing a reception of said constant subtone frequency produced by said constant subtone frequency generating means, and a transducer means responsive to reception of said constant subtone frequency produced by said constant subtone frequency generating means;

a power supply for operating said radio receiver; and

a receiving converter comprised of a tuned Radio Frequency amplifier, a local oscillator and interrelated mixer and an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector operating at the same frequency as said radio receiver Intermediate Frequency amplifier and adapted to be maintained in an on condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said radio receiver and responsive to reception of said alert signal to turn on said radio receiver, the Intermediate Frequency amplifier of said radio receiver being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector.

11. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter means comprised of a modulator and a variable sound frequency generating means and a plurality of distinct constant subtone frequency generating means, said frequency generating means being independently operable and having means broadcasting an alert signal on a predetermined frequency;

a radio receiver distantly remote from said transmitter means and comprised of at least an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector and an audio speaker means therefor;

a decoder means distinguishing the reception of said plurality of distinct constant subtone frequencies produced by said plurality of distinct constant subtone frequency generating means, and a transducer means responsive to the reception of each corresponding constant subtone frequency produced by each of said plurality of constant subtone frequency generating means respectively;

a power supply for operating said radio receiver; and

a receiving converter comprised of a tuned Radio Frequency amplifier, a local oscillator and interrelated mixer and an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector operating at the same frequency as said radio receiver Intermediate Frequency amplifier and adapted to be maintained in an on condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said radio receiver and responsive to reception of said alert signala to turn on said radio receiver, the Intermediate Frequency amplifier of said radio receiver being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector.

12. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter means comprised of a modulator and selectively operable automatically variable sound frequency generating means and having means broadcasting an alert signal on a predetermined frequency;

a radio receiver distantly remote from said transmitter means and comprised of at least an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector and an audio speaker means therefor;

a power supply for operating said radio receiver; and

a receiving converter comprised of at least a tuned Radio Frequency amplifier, a local oscillator and interrelated mixer and an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector operating at the same frequency as said radio receiver Intermediate Frequency amplifier and adapted to be maintained in an on condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said radio receiver and responsive to reception of said alert signal to turn on said radio receiver, said receiving converter having a normally open switching means intermediate the radio receiver Intermediate Frequency amplifier input and the tuned Radio Frequency amplifier counterpart of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier output and responsive to reception of said alert signal to close, the Intermediate Frequency amplifier of said radio receiver being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector.

13. A radio warning system operable when required, and including:

a radio transmitter comprised of a modulator and selectively operable automatically variable sound frequency generating means and voice modulated sound frequency generating means and having means producing an alert signal on a predetermined frequency;

a radio receiver distantly remote from said transmitter means and comprised of at least an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector and an audio speaker means therefor;

a power supply for operating said radio receiver; and

a receiving converter comprised of at least a tuned Radio Frequency amplifier, a local oscillator and interrelated mixer and an Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector operating at the same frequency as said radio receiver Intermediate Frequency amplifier and adapted to be maintained in an on condition from the said power supply and having switching means intermediate the said power supply and said radio receiver and responsive to reception of said alert signal to turn on said radio receiver, said receiving converter having a normally open switching means intermediate the radio receiver Intermediate Frequency amplifier input and the tuned Radio Frequency amplifier counterpart of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier output and responsive to reception of said alert signal to close, the Intermediate Frequency amplifier of said radio receiver being in continuity with the output of the receiving converter Intermediate Frequency amplifier and detector.