Collision responsive signal emitter for a vehicle

• US 4,717,904 A
• Filed: 07/29/1986
• Issued: 01/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Murakami, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tumm, Brian R.
• Application Number:
  US06/890,261
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 H, 340/539, 340/904, 340/989, 455/98, 455/99, 455/129, 455/277, 343/853, 343/876, 180/282
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0027 Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

In the event of an accident encountered by a vehicle, an emergency signal is automatically transmitted for asking a rescue. An acceleration of the vehicle in the inclination of the vehicle and the presence or absence of water within the vehicle are detected, and an emergency signal is transmitted whenever one of these items indicates the occurrence of an abnormality. A plurality of antennae are disposed at mutually different locations on the vehicle, and are selectively used for transmission of an emergency signal. The antenna selected is periodically and sequentially changed.

Claims

1. An automatic signal emitter on a vehicle comprising:

at least two of three detecting means mounted on a vehicle including first detecting means which produces a signal responsive to an acceleration of the vehicle in a fore-and-aft direction and in a lateral direction, second detecting means which produces a signal responsive to an inclination of the vehicle and a third detecting means which produces a signal responsive to a presence or absence of water within the vehicle;

signal transmitting means for transmitting a radio wave and including a plurality of antennae which are disposed at mutually different locations on the vehicle; and

control means for energizing the signal transmitting means whenever at least one of the first to the third detecting means has produced a signal indicating the occurrence of an abnormality, wherein the control means repeats a given signal transmission and selects one of the plurality of antennae for connection to the output terminal of the signal transmitting means and sequentially changes the antenna which is connected to the output terminal of the signal transmitting means upon each completion of the signal transmission.