Vehicle deceleration measurement system

• US 5,148,147 A
• Filed: 12/03/1990
• Issued: 09/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arthur L. Kobres
• Original Assignee: Arthur L. Kobres
• Inventors: Kobres, Arthur L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/623,183
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 340/466, 340/467, 340/464, 340/463, 340/479, 340/670, 340/671, 340/669
• US Class Current: 340/464
• 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: G01P 1/08 Arrangements of scales, pointers, lamps or acoustic indicators, e.g. in automobile speedometers

Abstract

An independent multimode safety and convenience apparatus for motor vehicles wherein real-time deceleration rate data is accurately communicated to following vehicles via amber and red lensed indicators. Rate of deceleration is converted directly to a warning signal on/off flash rate, amber in color. When deceleration results in a stop, the amber rate signaling is instantly exchanged for a steady signal of red color, automatically. Visible projection of this vital information for several hundred feet to the rear of a vehicle provides extra reaction time resulting in substantially enhanced risk assessment for following motorists. A sustained low speed mode offers compatibility with stop-and-go, bumper-to-bumper traffic. Automatically adjusting to this mode, the indicator then displays conventional red brake signals only. Tailoring operation in response to the monitoring of traffic conditions results in improved overall intelligibility. In no case does the indicator display both amber and red signals simultaneously.

Claims

1. A deceleration measuring and indicating system for a motor vehicle that includes a rotating member comprising;

a sensing means for detecting angular velocity of said rotating member, said sensing means comprising a transducer for generating pulses representative of the angular velocity of said rotating member;

a phase locked loop frequency to voltage converter for receiving pulses generated from said transducer and outputting signals that are a linear representation of vehicle speed;

computation means for receiving the output signals from the phase locked loop frequency to voltage converter and generating first and second deceleration signals, said computation means comprising means responsive to said linear output signals for selected voltage transitions, a deceleration detector comparator adapted to respond to a selected negative voltage transition for outputting an enable signal, a voltage to frequency converter adapted to gauge extent of said selected voltage transitions and producing a warning rate logic signal;

stop detect means that is responsive to the transducer'"'"'s generated pulses for producing a vehicle stop logic signal, said stop detect means comprising a first monostable multivibrator adapted to time out in response to loss of pulses generated by said transducer thereby generating a vehicle stop logic signal;

mode control means for detection of a selected period of slow speed operation as governed by the output signals from said frequency to voltage converter, said mode control means including a mode comparator responsive to said output signals, a second monostable multivibrator to be triggered by said mode comparator and outputting an inhibit logic signal;

output amplifier means for controlling the energization of a plurality of indicators, said indicators being red and amber in color, said output amplifier means comprising a clamping means for automatically grounding said warning rate logic signal upon detection of said vehicle stop logic signal, and a control switching means for controlling energization of said plural indicators, said control switching means comprising a transistor operatively connected to a relay;

whereby said output amplifier means in response to said inhibit logic signal inhibits energization of the amber indicators while allowing the red indicators to be energized;

and whereby said output amplifier means, in response to both the enable signal and the warning rate logic signal, energizes said amber indicators alternately, at a rate directly proportional to a rate of the warning rate logic signal; and

whereby said output amplifier means in response to a vehicle stop logic signal inhibits energization of the amber indicators while allowing the red indicators to be energized.

2. A deceleration measuring and indicating system for a motor vehicle that includes a rotating member comprising;

a sensing means for detecting angular velocity of said rotating member, said sensing means comprising a transducer for generating pulses representative of the angular velocity of said rotating member;

a phase locked loop frequency to voltage converter for receiving pulses generated from said transducer and outputting signals that are a linear representation of vehicle speed;

computation means for receiving the output signals from the phase locked loop frequency to voltage converter and generating first and second deceleration signals, said computation means comprising means responsive to said linear output signals for selected voltage transitions, a deceleration detector comparator adapted to respond to a selected negative voltage transition for outputting an enable signal, a voltage to frequency converter adapted to gauge extent of said selected voltage transitions and producing a warning rate logic signal;

stop detect means that is responsive to the transducer'"'"'s generated pulses for producing a vehicle stop logic signal, said stop detect means comprising a first monostable multivibrator adapted to time out in response to loss of pulses generated by said transducer thereby generating a vehicle stop logic signal;

output amplifier means for controlling the energization of a plurality of indicators, said indicators being red and amber in color, said output amplifier means comprising a clamping means for automatically grounding said warning rate logic signal upon detection of said vehicle stop logic signal, and a control switching means for controlling energization of said plural indicators, said control switching means comprising a transistor operatively connected to a relay;

and whereby said output amplifier means, in response, to both the enable signal and the warning rate logic signal energizes said amber indicators alternately, at a rate directly proportional to a rate of the warning rate logic signal;

whereby said output amplifier means, in response to a vehicle stop logic signal inhibits energization of the amber indicators while allowing the red indicators to be energized.