Vehicle warning system

• US 4,013,994 A
• Filed: 12/05/1974
• Issued: 03/22/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anthony Ragano, Steven A. Barton
• Original Assignee: Anthony Ragano, Steven A. Barton
• Inventors: Ragano, Anthony, Barton, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/529,815
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 340/31 R, 340/32, 340/33, 340/34, 340/224, 340/416, 325/64, 325/65, 325/29, 325/364, 343/225, 343/228
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

A vehicular warning system designed for use in combination with a remote transmitter means to provide a positive warning signal when the relative distance therebetween reaches a predetermined minimum range. The vehicular warning system comprises a receiver means to receive incoming signals and decoder means to selectively filter preselected signals from the remote transmitter. The preselected signals are fed to a control means which generates a control signal when the preselected signals reach a predetermined threshold reference and a warning means actuated upon receipt of the control signals.

Claims

1. A vehicular warning system for use in combination with a remote transmitter to provide a positive warning signal when the relative distance therebetween reaches a predetermined minimum range, said vehicular warning system comprises a receiver means including circuitry to receive incoming signals from the remote transmitter, a decoder means coupled to said receiver means to receive said incoming signals therefrom, said decoder means including circuitry to decode said incoming signals of a predetermined wave form and generate decoder output signals in response thereto, a rectifier means coupled to said decoder means to receive said decoder output signals therefrom, said rectified means including circuitry to rectify said output signals and generate trigger control signals in response thereto, a control means coupled to said rectifier means to receive said trigger control signals therefrom, said control means including a first comparator means having circuitry to compare said trigger control signals with a first predetermined threshold reference and generate first trigger output signals when said trigger control signals exceed said first predetermined threshold reference and a first switch means coupled to said first comparator means to receive said trigger output signals therefrom, and a warning means coupled to said control means, said first switch means having a first and second state, said first switch means being in said first state when said trigger control signals are less than said first predetermined threshold reference and in said second state when said trigger control signals are greater than said first predetermined threshold reference, said first comparator means being isolated from said warning means when said first switch means is in said first state, and coupled to said warning means when said first switch means is in said second state, said warning means including a first warning device to receive said first trigger output signals when said first switch means is in said second state, said first warning device including circuitry to generate a first warning signal in response to said first trigger output signal;

said control means further includes a second comparator means having circuitry to compare said trigger control signals with a second predetermined threshold reference and generate a second trigger output signal when said trigger control signal exceeds said second predetermined threshold reference and a second switch means coupled to said second comparator means to receive said second trigger output signals therefrom, said second predetermined threshold reference being greater than said first predetermined threshold reference, and wherein said warning means further includes a second switch means including a first and second state, said second switch means being in said first state said trigger control signals are less than said second predetermined threshold reference and in said second state when said trigger control signals are greater than said second predetermined threshold reference, said second comparator means being isolated from said warning means when said second switch means is in said first state and coupled to said warning means when said second switch means is in said second state, said warning means further including a second warning device to receive said second trigger output signals when said second switch means is in said second position said second warning including circuitry to generate a second warning signal in response to said second trigger output signals.

2. The vehicular warning system of claim 1 wherein said first and second comparator means are coupled in parallel to said rectifier means.

3. The vehicular warning system of claim 1 wherein said receiver means further includes amplifier means coupled to said receiver to amplify said incoming signals.

4. The vehicular warning system of claim 1 wherein said decoder means includes a selective filter to decode said incoming signals of a predetermined.

5. The vehicular warning system of claim 4 wherein said decoder means further includes amplifier means to amplify said decoded incoming signals.

6. The vehicular warning system of claim 1 wherein said rectifier means comprises a full-wave recitfier bridge to generate a direct current trigger control signals in response to said decoded incoming signals.

7. The vehicular warning systems of claim 6 wherein said rectifier means further includes impedance means coupled across said full-wave rectifier bridge.

8. The vehicular warning system of claim 1 wherein said first and second switch means each comprises relay means.

9. The vehicular warning system of claim 1 wherein said first warning device comprises lamp means to provide a visual indication of the predetermined relative distance between said vehicular warning system and the remote transmitter.

10. The vehicular warning system of claim 1 wherein said second warning device comprises a speaker means to provide an audio warning signal of the predetermined relative distance between said vehicular warning system and the remote transmitter.

11. The vehicular warning system of claim 1 wherein said second warning device further includes an audio oscillator between said second switch means and said speaker means to generate said second warning signal.