Emergency vehicle warning system

• US 3,997,868 A
• Filed: 01/13/1975
• Issued: 12/14/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gerson D. Ribnick, Steven M. Gorenbein
• Original Assignee: Gerson D. Ribnick, Steven M. Gorenbein
• Inventors: Gorenbein, Steven M., Ribnick, Gerson D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Application Number:
  US05/540,723
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 340/33, 340/32, 340/24, 340/23, 325/29, 346/8, 343/112 CA
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle signaling arrangement in which emergency vehicles are provided with radio frequency signal generating means for generating a radio frequency signal and an antenna for transmitting the radio frequency signal to regions external the emergency vehicle. Preselected other vehicles, which may include passenger cars, trucks, and all other vehicles, and if desired, the emergency vehicles themselves, are provided with radio frequency signal receiver means for receiving the radio frequency signal. Indicator means are coupled to the radio frequency signal receiver means in the preselected other vehicles to indicate the reception of the radio frequency signal and thus indicate the presence of an emergency vehicle. Proximity indicating means may also be provided in the preselected other vehicles for indicating the relative proximity of the emergency vehicle thereto and, if desired, directional means may also be provided in the preselected other vehicles for indicating the relative direction of the emergency vehicle from the preselected other vehicles.

Claims

1. A vehicle signaling arrangement comprising, in combination:

radio frequency signal generating means mounted in emergency vehicles for generating a radio frequency signal having a preselected frequency, and comprising;

a radio frequency signal transmitting means for transmitting said radio frequency signal;

a plurality of tone generating means coupled to said radio frequency signal transmitting means, and the number of said tone generating means comprises two, and each of said plurality of tone generating means generating a tone signal having a preselected tone frequency and each of said tone frequencies different from each other, and said radio frequency signal selectively carrying each of said tone signals;

a compass switch means comprising;

a plurality of selectively operable connecting means such responsive to different orientations of said emergency vehicles with respect to the earth'"'"'s magnetic field, and each of said plurality of selectively operable connecting means coupled to one of said tone generating means for selectively controlling the generation of said tone signal thereby;

a first of said plurality of selectively operable connecting means controlling a first of said tone generating means for the condition of said orientation of the emergency vehicles within a preselected number of compass degrees of a North-South axis, and a second of said plurality of selectively operable connecting means controlling the second of said tone generating means for the condition of said orientation of the emergency vehicles within a predetermined number of compass degrees of the East-West axis;

antenna means coupled to said radio frequency transmitter means for transmitting said radio frequency signal to regions external said emergency vehicles;

radio frequency signal receiver means mounted in other vehicles for receiving said radio frequency signal generated by said radio frequency signal generating means, and comprising;

a radio frequency signal receiver;

a tone signal detection means coupled to said radio frequency signal receiver for detecting said tone signal frequencies carried by said radio frequency signal, and providing a plurality of output signals in response to detection of said tone signal frequencies, each of said plurality of output signals responsive to only one tone signal;

indicator means coupled to said tone signal detection means for receiving said plurality of output signals therefrom and generating a plurality of unique detectable signals different from each other in response to each of said tone signal detection means output signals; and

,

vehicle orientation indicating means mounted in said other vehicles for generating detectable signals indicating the orientation of said other vehicles relative to the earth'"'"'s magnetic field.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein:

said radio frequency signal generated by said radio frequency signal generating means in said emergency vehicles has a preselected signal strength; and

,

signal strength indicating means coupled to said radio frequency signal receiver means in said other vehicles for detecting the signal strength of said received radio frequency signal and generating a detectable signal in response thereto, thereby indicating the relative separation between said emergency vehicles and said other vehicles.

3. The arrangement defined in claim 2 wherein said indicator means in said other vehicles further comprises:

a source of electromagnetic radiation for generating signals in the visual portion of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum; and

,

a source of audible signals.