Voice warning system for an automotive vehicle
First Claim
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1. A voice warning system for informing a driver of an automotive vehicle, provided with a radiator filled with coolant and with a fan belt for driving a fan, of an overheat condition and of corrective actions to be taken, which comprises:
- (a) a coolant temperature sensing means for outputting a coolant temperature signal St only when coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature;
(b) a fan-belt slippage sensing means for outputting a fan-belt slippage signal Sf only when the fan belt is slipping;
(c) a radiator coolant level sensing means for outputting a radiator level signal Sr only when coolant level in the radiator is below a predetermined level;
(d) a microcomputer means connected to said coolant temperature sensing means, to said fan-belt slippage sensing means, and to said radiator coolant level sensing means, said microcomputer means operatively connected to said sensing means for periodically checking for the presence of the coolant temperature signal St and, in response to the presence of the coolant temperature signal St, for sequentially checking for the presence of the fan-belt slippage signal Sf and the radiator coolant level signal Sr, said microcomputer meansdetermining appropriate voice output messages in response to the presence or absence of the coolant temperature signal St, the fan-belt slippage signal Sf and the radiator coolant level signal Sr, and outputting voice output message signals corresponding to the detected signals;
(e) a voice synthesizer means connected to said microcomputer means for indicating the occurrence and causes of an overheat condition by synthesizing voice output messages in response to the voice output message signals output from said microcomputer, and(f) a loudspeaker connected to said voice synthesizer means for outputting voice output messages synthesized by said synthesizer means for indicating to the vehicle driver of both the overheat condition and the corrective actions to be taken for correcting the overheat condition.
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Abstract
A voice overheat warning system for an automotive vehicle, by which the driver is informed of the cause of and measures against overheat, in voice form, in addition to the occurrence of overheat. The voice warning system comprises a radiator coolant temperature sensor, a fan-belt slipping sensor, and a radiator liquid level sensor, besides a voice synthesizer. Further, the driver can hear the voice message at an appropriate sound level as adjusted by driver preference.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A voice warning system for informing a driver of an automotive vehicle, provided with a radiator filled with coolant and with a fan belt for driving a fan, of an overheat condition and of corrective actions to be taken, which comprises:
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(a) a coolant temperature sensing means for outputting a coolant temperature signal St only when coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature; (b) a fan-belt slippage sensing means for outputting a fan-belt slippage signal Sf only when the fan belt is slipping; (c) a radiator coolant level sensing means for outputting a radiator level signal Sr only when coolant level in the radiator is below a predetermined level; (d) a microcomputer means connected to said coolant temperature sensing means, to said fan-belt slippage sensing means, and to said radiator coolant level sensing means, said microcomputer means operatively connected to said sensing means for periodically checking for the presence of the coolant temperature signal St and, in response to the presence of the coolant temperature signal St, for sequentially checking for the presence of the fan-belt slippage signal Sf and the radiator coolant level signal Sr, said microcomputer means determining appropriate voice output messages in response to the presence or absence of the coolant temperature signal St, the fan-belt slippage signal Sf and the radiator coolant level signal Sr, and outputting voice output message signals corresponding to the detected signals; (e) a voice synthesizer means connected to said microcomputer means for indicating the occurrence and causes of an overheat condition by synthesizing voice output messages in response to the voice output message signals output from said microcomputer, and (f) a loudspeaker connected to said voice synthesizer means for outputting voice output messages synthesized by said synthesizer means for indicating to the vehicle driver of both the overheat condition and the corrective actions to be taken for correcting the overheat condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of indicating to a vehicle driver, in voice form, of an overheat condition in an automotive vehicle having a radiator filled with a quantity of coolant and a fan belt for driving a fan which comprises the steps of:
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(a) periodically checking whether or not coolant temperature rises above a predetermined value; (b) if above a predetermined value, checking whether or not the fan belt is slipping; (c) if the fan belt is not slipping, checking whether or not the quantity of coolant is sufficient; (d) if the quantity of coolant is sufficient, determining and outputting a voice output message indicative of the occurrence of an overheat condition; (e) if the fan belt is not slipping but the quantity of coolant is insufficient, determining and outputting a voice output message indicative of the occurrence of an overheat condition due to insufficient quantity of coolant; (f) if the fan belt is slipping, determining and outputting a voice output message indicative of the occurrance of an overheat condition due to fan-belt slippage; (g) after outputting the voice output message indicative of overheat due to fan-belt slippage, checking whether or not the quantity of coolant is sufficient; and (h) if the quantity of coolant is insufficient, additionally determining and outputting a voice output message further indicative of the overheat condition being due to an insufficient quantity of coolant. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification