In-vehicle barometric pressure detection system
First Claim
1. A warning system for sensing the approach of an atmospheric disturbance, comprising:
- a vehicle powered by a motor and having an electrical system, a first pressure sensor, a computer, and a first warning generator, each used in the normal operation of the vehicle;
coupling means for coupling, when said vehicle is not in an operating mode, said first pressure sensor through said electrical system to said computer for calculating the changes in atmospheric pressure over time;
means for activating said first warning generator responsive to said computer calculating a time series pattern of changes in the atmospheric pressure characteristic of an approaching atmospheric disturbance, wherein said first warning generator provides warning of an approaching atmospheric disturbance to nearby persons when said vehicle is not in an operating mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a vehicular warning system for sensing the approach of severe weather, a pressure sensor generates a first signal representative of the barometric pressure. A computer, coupled to the pressure sensor through the electrical system of the vehicle, generates a second signal responsive to the first signal changing in a time series pattern correlated with a known time series pattern representative of a severe weather system. The computer is coupled through the electrical system of the vehicle to the horn and/or lights for generating warning signals responsive to receiving the second signal, but only when the vehicle is not in the operating mode.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A warning system for sensing the approach of an atmospheric disturbance, comprising:
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a vehicle powered by a motor and having an electrical system, a first pressure sensor, a computer, and a first warning generator, each used in the normal operation of the vehicle; coupling means for coupling, when said vehicle is not in an operating mode, said first pressure sensor through said electrical system to said computer for calculating the changes in atmospheric pressure over time; means for activating said first warning generator responsive to said computer calculating a time series pattern of changes in the atmospheric pressure characteristic of an approaching atmospheric disturbance, wherein said first warning generator provides warning of an approaching atmospheric disturbance to nearby persons when said vehicle is not in an operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A warning system for sensing the approach of a severe atmospheric disturbance, comprising:
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a pressure sensor for generating a first signal representative of the local atmospheric pressure, said pressure sensor coupled to an electrical system of the vehicle; a computer, coupled through said electrical system to said pressure sensor, for generating a second signal responsive to said first signal changing in a time series pattern representative of decreases in the atmospheric pressure; an audible warning generator, coupled to the electrical system of the vehicle, for generating an audible warning signal responsive to receiving said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A process for warning of the approach of a severe atmospheric disturbance, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) energizing a computer used in the electrical system of a vehicle when the motor of the vehicle is not in an operating mode; (b) sensing a first signal generated by a barometric pressure sensor as representative of the local barometric pressure; (c) calculating and then storing a time series pattern of changes in said first signal representative of the atmospheric pressure changing as a function of time; (d) correlating the rate of change in the time series pattern of changes of said first signal with a known pattern of increasingly rapid decreases in atmospheric pressure representative of the atmospheric disturbance, and generating a second signal responsive to sensing a match; and (e) generating a warning signal responsive to receiving said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification