Vehicle acceleration/deceleration warning system
First Claim
1. An electronic acceleration and deceleration warning system for a vehicle comprising:
- (a) a radiant energy source means for supplying radiant energy to first and second radiant energy sensor means, said first radiant energy sensor means having resistance which is variable in proportion to the amount of radiant energy received;
(b) a pendulum adapted to control the amount of radiant energy received by said radiant energy sensor means from said radiant energy source means in response to angular displacement of said pendulum around a pivot point;
(c) an oscillator circuit having a variable frequency output signal;
(d) a deceleration threshold switch means for switching on the output signal of said oscillator circuit in response to a minimum angular displacement of said pendulum in one direction;
(e) first and second alternately flashing deceleration warning lights having their rates of flashing dependent upon the frequency of said oscillator output signal when said oscillator output signal is switched on; and
(f) an acceleration threshold switch means for turning on an acceleration warning signal in response to a minimum angular displacement of said pendulum in a second direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compound pendulum allows light to impinge upon properly positioned acceleration or deceleration photocells to vary the resistance of the photocells in accordance with the angular displacement of the pendulum; the amount and direction of angular displacement of the pendulum is dependent on the amount of acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. Variation of the deceleration photocell resistance varies the frequency of an oscillator circuit to alternately flash a pair of warning lights at a frequency dependent on the rate of deceleration of the vehicle. The acceleration photocell must receive maximum illumination (a threshold value) to actuate a light for warning of a minimum rate of acceleration of the vehicle. A manual switch allows a high flash rate of alternate warning lights to be controlled by the operator of the vehicle. An audio generator produces a continuous tone for acceleration and an interrupted tone for deceleration, the frequency of interruption corresponding to the flash rate of the deceleration warning lights. The system is an aid in preventing rear end collisions and will save gasoline if properly used.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electronic acceleration and deceleration warning system for a vehicle comprising:
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(a) a radiant energy source means for supplying radiant energy to first and second radiant energy sensor means, said first radiant energy sensor means having resistance which is variable in proportion to the amount of radiant energy received; (b) a pendulum adapted to control the amount of radiant energy received by said radiant energy sensor means from said radiant energy source means in response to angular displacement of said pendulum around a pivot point; (c) an oscillator circuit having a variable frequency output signal; (d) a deceleration threshold switch means for switching on the output signal of said oscillator circuit in response to a minimum angular displacement of said pendulum in one direction; (e) first and second alternately flashing deceleration warning lights having their rates of flashing dependent upon the frequency of said oscillator output signal when said oscillator output signal is switched on; and (f) an acceleration threshold switch means for turning on an acceleration warning signal in response to a minimum angular displacement of said pendulum in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification