One-way traffic monitor

• US 5,203,422 A
• Filed: 06/26/1992
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert J. Stephens, William E. Estep
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Stephens, William E. Estep
• Inventors: Stephens, Robert J., Estep, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAR, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US07/904,458
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 180/169, 180/279, 180/283, 318/587, 340/935, 342/61
• US Class Current: 180/169
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A monitor system detects and disables a vehicle driving the wrong way on a one-way road or traffic lane. An alarm warns the driver of the unsafe condition and operation of the vehicle four-way flasher warns other motorists. The system includes a light transmitter and receiver, and controls to disable the vehicle and operate the alarm and four-way flasher. Light is transmitted forward, where it may strike a reflector mounted on a post or other structure associated with the road or lane being monitored. Upon detecting reflected light, the system operates. The system is reset after operation by using the ignition switch to start the engine. Selection of reverse gear overrides the system, permitting a vehicle to back away from a directionally restricted road or traffic lane.

Claims

1. A vehicle disablement system for detecting and stopping a vehicle traveling in an undesired direction, the vehicle having an engine, a gearshift apparatus movable to a reverse position, and an ignition switch selectively movable to an on and an off position, said disablement system comprising:

at least one reflector having encoding means, said reflector being mounted adjacent a road surface and being directed towards a vehicle traveling in an undesired direction,

transmitting means for transmitting energy from said vehicle to said at least one reflector,

receiving means for receiving energy reflected back to the vehicle from said at least one reflector,

microprocessor means for recognizing said encoding means of said at least one reflector and for producing a recognition signal output in response thereto,

disablement means for disabling the ignition system of the vehicle,

timer means, activated in response to said recognition signal from said microprocessor, for activating said disablement means only after a predetermined interval of time has elapsed,

reset means operably connected to said ignition switch for deactivating said disablement means in response to the ignition switch being moved to the off position and then to the start position,

override means operably connected to the gearshift apparatus for preventing reactivation of said disablement means when the gearshift apparatus is shifted into a reverse gear position within said predetermined time interval, and

alarm means activated in response to said recognition signal from said microprocessor.

2. The vehicle disablement system according to claim 1, wherein said energy transmitting means transmits infrared radiation.

3. The vehicle disablement system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a four-way flasher activated in response to said recognition signal from said microprocessor.