Vehicle parking brake detection and warning system
First Claim
1. A vehicle parking brake detection and warning system comprising:
- means for detecting that a parking brake has been activated;
means, operatively coupled to the detecting means, for waiting a predetermined period of time after detecting that the parking brake has been activated;
means for determining a speed of the vehicle;
means, responsive to the speed determining means and to the parking brake detecting means, for determining a first parking brake warning level based upon detecting the activation of the parking brake, detecting a power request by an operator and based upon the speed of the vehicle; and
means for activating alarm means in response to determining the first parking brake warning level.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer based parking brake detection and warning system and method includes pressure sensors for sensing a pressure in a parking brake line to detect that a parking brake has been activated. The computer waits a predetermined period of time after detecting that the parking brake has been activated. The system determines parking brake warning levels based on the speed of the vehicle, detecting the activation of the parking brake, and based upon whether power has been requested by an operator. The system activates a visual and audible alarm in response to the determining of a warning level when the speed is above or below a predetermined threshold. Multiple levels of warning levels are used depending upon the speed of the vehicle.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A vehicle parking brake detection and warning system comprising:
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means for detecting that a parking brake has been activated; means, operatively coupled to the detecting means, for waiting a predetermined period of time after detecting that the parking brake has been activated; means for determining a speed of the vehicle; means, responsive to the speed determining means and to the parking brake detecting means, for determining a first parking brake warning level based upon detecting the activation of the parking brake, detecting a power request by an operator and based upon the speed of the vehicle; and means for activating alarm means in response to determining the first parking brake warning level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A locomotive parking brake detection and warning system comprising:
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storage means for storing warning messages; means for detecting that a parking brake has been activated; means, operatively coupled to the detecting means, for waiting a predetermined period of time after detecting that the parking brake has been activated; means for determining a speed of the locomotive; means, responsive to the speed determining means and to the parking brake detecting means, for determining a parking brake warning level based upon detecting the activation of the parking brake, detecting a power request by an operator and based upon the speed of the locomotive; means for activating an audible alarm in response to determining the parking brake warning level; and means for displaying a warning message stored in the storage means in response to the warning signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for detecting and generating a warning of an undesirable parking brake condition for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting that a parking brake has been activated; waiting a predetermined period of time after detecting that the parking brake has been activated; determining a speed of the vehicle; determining whether power is being requested; determining a parking brake warning level based upon detecting the activation of the parking brake, detecting that power is requested and based upon the speed of the vehicle; and activating alarm means in response to determining the parking brake warning level. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method for detecting and generating a warning of an undesirable parking brake condition for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing warning messages in a storage means; detecting that a parking brake has been activated; waiting a predetermined period of time after detecting that the parking brake has been activated; determining a speed of the vehicle; determining whether power is being requested; determining a parking brake warning level based upon detecting the activation of the parking brake, detecting that power is requested and based upon the speed of the vehicle; activating an audible alarm in response to determining that a parking brake warning level has been reached; and displaying a warning message stored in the storage means based upon said parking brake warning level. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification