Warning system for vehicles

• US 4,072,925 A
• Filed: 12/18/1975
• Issued: 02/07/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kurihara, Norimitsu, Yashima, Michio, Senzaki, Takaya
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/642,136
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 B, 340/52 D, 340/52 F, 340/27 R, 340/27 SS, 340/27 AT, 340/412, 340/414, 307/10 R
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow

Abstract

A warning system for automotive vehicles of a construction, wherein a plurality of abnormality detectors are disposed at various locations in the vehicle so that any possible abnormality to occur may be detected, a plurality of abnormality indicators are connected to the abnormality detectors so as to be instantaneously actuated as soon as detection signals are received from the abnormality detectors and to thereby indicate abnormal situation taking place at any part of the vehicle; a plurality of action indicators are connected to the abnormality indicators to warn the driver of the action to be taken depending on the degree of the abnormal situation, and a preferential circuit is disposed in a connecting circuit between the abnormality detectors and the plurality of action indicators so as to preferentially introduce a detection signal of the highest emergency into the action indicator corresponding to such detection signal.

Claims

1. A warning system for vehicles which comprises in combination:

(a) a plurality of abnormality detecting means disposed at various parts of the vehicle to be inspected;

(b) a plurality of abnormality indicator means to be actuated instantaneously upon receipt of a detection signal from said abnormality detecting means to thereby indicate abnormality which has taken place at any part of the vehicle;

(c) a plurality of action indicator means to notify a vehicle driver of the action to be taken depending on the degree of danger or emergency in the abnormal situation taken place; and

(d) a preferential circuit provided in a connecting circuit between said plurality of abnormality detecting means and said plurality of action indicator means, and to introduce preferentially a detection signal having the highest degree of emergency out of a plurality of detection signals from said abnormality detecting means into said action indicator means corresponding to such detection signal.

2. The warning system for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein an alarm sound generating circuit having an oscillator and an alarm device is connected to said action indicator means circuit to produce alarm sound simultaneously with actuation of said action indicator means;

and a cancellation circuit to cancel a signal to be introduced into said alarm device is connected to said alarm sound generating circuit to arbitrarily stop the alarm sound.

3. The warning system for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein an alarm sound generating circuit comprising a plurality of oscillators, each having different oscillation frequency, and at least one alarm device is connected to said action indicator means circuit to produce alarm sound of different oscillating frequency in accordance with degree of danger or emergency in abnormal situation which has taken place;

and a cancellation circuit to cancel a signal to be introduced into the alarm device is connected to said alarm sound generating circuit to arbitrarily stop the alarm sound.

4. The warning system for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of abnormality indicator means and said plurality of action indicator means are connected to said abnormality detecting means through "OR" gate circuit, and a checking circuit having a switch means actuable by insertion of an engine starter key is provided to send a signal to each "OR" gate circuit and to verify actuation of said plurality of respective indicator means prior to running of the vehicle.

5. The warning system for vehicles as claimed in claim 4, wherein a timer to control a time period of lightening in said plurality of abnormality indicator means and said plurality of action indicator means is provided in said switch means.

6. The warning system for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein a hazard lamp circuit already provided in the vehicle is connected with said plurality of action indicator means to notify pedestrians, drivers of other vehicles, etc. of the occurrence of the abnormal situation in the vehicle.

7. The warning system for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least said action indicator means are disposed in the vicinity of a speedometer on the instrument panel at the front part of the vehicle cabin.