Vehicular hazard warning system

• US 4,357,594 A
• Filed: 06/02/1980
• Issued: 11/02/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Traffic Safety Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Traffic Safety Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Ehrlich, Paul, Wilson, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US06/155,295
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 340/72, 340/66, 340/69, 340/71, 340/52 H, 340/52 F, 340/52 R, 340/665, 340/669, 340/670, 340/689, 340/686, 364/424, 364/426, 200/52 A, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.39, 200/61.52, 73/652, 73/382 G, 73/488, 73/494, 73/495, 73/510-512, 73/514, 73/DIG. 1, 324/162, 324/165, 324/166, 324/178, 324/180, 324/160
• US Class Current: 340/467
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies

Abstract

A vehicular hazard warning system has an indicator on the vehicle that is energizable to yield a warning signal. The onset of a hazardous condition is detected and, as a result, a control signal is developed which has a variable parameter the amount of which is proportional to the degree of hazard represented by the condition. In response to that condition, the indicator is energized in a manner which quantitatively has a magnitude that is proportional to the amount of hazard. The system primarily responds to abrupt deceleration. It also preferably is responsive to such other inputs as brake pressure, wheel speed change, inertial forces and operator-controlled pedal movement.

Claims

1. A vehicular hazard warning system comprising:

an indicator on the vehicle and energizable to yield a warning signal;

means for detecting the onset of a hazardous condition of said vehicle and developing a control signal having a variable parameter the amount of which is proportional to the degree of hazard represented by said condition;

means responsive to said parameter for energizing said indicator in a manner which quantitatively has a magnitude that is proportional to said amount;

said detecting means including an accelerometer that develops said control signal and effects variation of said parameter in proportion to the degree of deceleration of said vehicle, said accelerometer including

a first inertial rotor driven in rotation at a speed representative of the velocity of said vehicle;

a unidirectional clutch;

a second inertial rotor coupled by said clutch to said first rotor for rotation of said rotors in unison upon acceleration of said vehicle but being uncoupled from said first rotor upon deceleration of said vehicle and thereby enabling rotation of said second rotor relative to said first rotor;

and means for effecting variation of said parameter in proportion to the speed of relative rotation of said rotors.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 in which said effecting means includes an electrical switch carried by one of said rotors and an operator of said switch carried by the other of said rotors.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 in which said effecting means includes a magnetized element carried by one of said rotors and a magnetic sensor carried by the other of said rotors, and which further includes means for coupling said sensor to said responsive means.

4. A vehicular hazard warning system comprising:

an indicator on the vehicle and energizable to yield a warning signal;

means for detecting the onset of a hazardous condition of said vehicle and developing a control signal having a variable parameter the amount of which is proportional to the degree of hazard represented by said condition;

means responsive to said parameter for energizing said indicator in a manner which quantitatively has a magnitude that is proportional to said amount;

said detecting means including an accelerometer that develops said control signal and effects variation of said parameter in proportion to the degree of deceleration of said vehicle;

said detecting means further including;

a wheel carrying said vehicle in movement along a path;

sensing means effectively coupled to said wheel for developing a digitally-recurring speed signal with a repetition rate proportional to the speed of rotation of said wheel, said sensing means including a disk axially mounted to rotate in correspondence with the speed of rotation of said wheel and with said disk including successive circumferentially-spaced regions of respective alternate magnetic polarity, and a magnetic sensor disposed adjacent to said disk and spanning spaced ones of said regions for indicating said speed signal;

and means for processing and counting individually successive increments of said speed signal and responsive to the number of said increments counted in a predetermined time interval to develop said control signal in representation of deceleration of said vehicle.

5. A vehicular hazard warning system comprising:

an indicator on the vehicle and energizable to yield a warning signal;

means for detecting the onset of a hazardous condition of said vehicle and developing a control signal having a variable parameter the amount of which is proportional to the degree of hazard represented by said condition;

means responsive to said parameter for energizing said indicator in a manner which quantitatively has a magnitude that is proportional to said amount;

said detecting means including an accelerometer that develops said control signal and effects variation of said parameter in proportion to the degree of deceleration of said vehicle;

said detecting means further including;

a wheel carrying said vehicle in movement along a path;

sensing means effectively coupled to said wheel for developing a digitally-recurring speed signal with a repetition rate proportional to the speed of rotation of said wheel, said sensing means including a disk actually mounted to rotate in correspondence with the speed of rotation of said wheel and with said disk including successive circumferentially-spaced regions of respective alternate magnetic polarity, and a magnetic sensor disposed adjacent to said disk and spanning spaced one of said regions for indicating said speed signal;

means for processing and counting individually successive increments of said speed signal and responsive to the number of said increments counted in a predetermined time interval to develop said control signal in representation of deceleration of said vehicle;

and means affixed to said vehicle for generating a crash signal in response to a sudden change in acceleration of said vehicle at a rate which exceeds a predetermined minimum, said responsive means also responding to said crash signal to energize said indicator at a quantitative maximum.

6. A system as defined in claim 5 in which said generating means responds to said sudden change when said acceleration changes in any horizontal direction of movement of said vehicle.

7. A vehicular hazard warning system comprising:

an indicator on the vehicle and energizable to yield a warning signal;

means for detecting the onset of a hazardous condition of said vehicle and developing a control signal having a variable parameter the amount of which is proportional to the degree of hazard represented by said condition;

means responsive to said parameter for energizing said indicator in a manner which quantitatively has a magnitude that is proportional to said amount;

said detecting means including an accelerometer that develops said control signal and effects variation of said parameter in proportion to the degree of deceleration of said vehicle;

means affixed to said vehicle for generating a crash signal in response to a sudden change in acceleration of said vehicle at a rate which exceeds a predetermined minimum, said responsive means also responding to said crash signal to energize said indicator at a quantitative maximum;

said generator means further including;

a cup-shaped housing that defines a cavity;

a first electrically-conductive member insulatingly disposed horizontally across the open end of said cavity;

a second electrically-conductive member also insulatingly disposed horizontally across said open end of said cavity but spaced inwardly from said first member, said second member being resiliently flexible to movement toward and away from said first member;

means defining an opening in the wall of said cavity opposite said second member;

a normally vertical shaft freely received through said opening and at one end having a nose portion adjacent to said second element;

a mass affixed to the other end of said shaft external to said cavity;

and a collar secured around said shaft with a concave surface facing and adjacent to said opposite wall, inertial movement of said mass in any direction horizontally swinging said shaft about a pivot generally within said opening and thereby moving said nose portion laterally and enabling flexural movement of said second member relative to said first member.

8. A vehicular hazard warning system comprising:

an indicator on the vehicle and energizable to yield a warning signal;

means for detecting the onset of a hazardous condition of said vehicle and developing a control signal having a variable parameter the amount of which is proportional to the degree of hazard represented by said condition;

means responsive to said parameter for energizing said indicator in a manner which quantitatively has a magnitude that is proportional to said amount;

said detecting means including an accelerometer that develops said control signal and effects variation of said parameter in proportion to the degree of deceleration of said vehicle;

an operator-controlled braking system for said vehicle, the degree of braking being proportional to a level of pressure applied;

pressure sensing means for developing a governing signal representing said level of said pressure;

and said responsive means also responding to said governing signal for energizing said indicator quantitatively at a magnitude which is proportional to said level.

9. A vehicular hazard warning system comprising:

an indicator on the vehicle and energizable to yield a warning signal;

means for detecting the onset of a hazardous condition of said vehicle and developing a control signal having a variable parameter the amount of which is proportional to the degree of hazard represented by said condition;

means responsive to said parameter for energizing said indicator in a manner which quantitatively has a magnitude that is proportional to said amount;

said detecting means including an accelerometer that develops said control signal and effects variation of said parameter in proportion to the degree of deceleration of said vehicle;

an operator-controlled braking system for said vehicle, the degree of braking being proportional to a level of pressure applied, and pressure sensing means for developing a governing signal representing said level of said pressure;

and said detecting means also reacting to said governing signal for developing said control signal.