Control and interface system for emergency vehicles

• US 5,659,289 A
• Filed: 08/21/1995
• Issued: 08/19/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis W. Hradisky, John A. Zonkoski
• Original Assignee: Dennis W. Hradisky, John A. Zonkoski
• Inventors: Hradisky, Dennis W., Zonkoski, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US08/517,134
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/467, 340/439, 340/456, 340/468, 340/479, 340/463, 340/471, 340/472, 340/425.5, 340/473, 340/585, 340/584, 307/10.8, 307/10.7, 348/148, 348/149, 320/13, 320/40, 211/8, 211/64, 224/275, 224/42.45 R, 224/42.42, 224/913
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle

Abstract

An interface system for use in a motor vehicle to be converted to a police or emergency vehicle includes a switch panel array operating an array of relays which in turn controls a lamp unit such as a conventional light bar. A video camera and VCR are mutually coupled to a VCR control which in turn responds to a control logic to provide automatic operation of the VCR during events. A canine alert system includes temperature sensing and engine electrical system sensing and responds to an air conditioning failure or engine stall condition to produce a transmitted alert signal using a pager or beeper or the like. A power management system monitors the operating supply voltage of the vehicle and sequentially shuts down the emergency light apparatus as the battery voltage decreases. A back-up light and brake light kill responds to a panel control switch for interrupting the activity of brake lights and back-up lights.

Claims

1. For use in a motor vehicle having an interior, an ignition switch, a plurality of supplemental lights for use by police or emergency personnel and a source of vehicle electrical power source, a control and interface system comprising:

a first connector set;

a switch array having a plurality of user-operable switches supported on a common panel within said interior;

a plurality of relays supported upon a common relay module each relay being coupled to said supplemental lights through said first connector set and each relay being operable to couple selected groups of said supplemental lights to said source of vehicle electrical power;

a second connector set coupling said switch array to said relay module; and

power management means for detecting the decrease of output voltage of said source of vehicle electrical power and sequentially terminating the coupling of selected ones of said relays at sequentially lower output voltages,

said first and second connector sets providing for easy conversion of said motor vehicle to an emergency vehicle by facilitating plug-in installation of said switch array and said relay module.

2. A control and interface system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motor vehicle includes an air conditioner and further including an alert system having:

a temperature sensor;

an alert sensor coupled to said source of vehicle electrical power and said temperature sensor for producing an alert signal in the event said source of vehicle electrical power output voltage drops or said temperature sensor senses temperature exceeding a predetermined temperature; and

an alert means responsive to said alert signal for communicating an alert condition to a remote user.

3. A control and interface system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said motor vehicle includes a park/neutral switch, a video recorder and a video camera and wherein said control and interface system further includes:

a video recorder control operatively coupled to said video recorder and said video camera and having a record input and a stop input; and

a control logic coupled to selected ones of said user-operable switches and said park/neutral switch and having means for producing an activating signal at said record input in response to actuation of any one of said selected user-operable switches and means for producing a stop signal at said stop input once said record input has been produced and said park/neutral switch is actuated.

4. A control and interface system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said motor vehicle includes a gun receptacle having means for securing a weapon therein and for releasing said weapon in response to an unlock signal and wherein said control and interface system further includes:

a relay coupled to said gun receptacle for applying said unlock signal thereto;

a hidden switch within said motor vehicle;

a timer having a reset input and operating said relay for a predetermined interval in response to a reset input signal; and

AND gate means having an output coupled to said timer to provide said reset input signal and a pair of inputs coupled to said ignition switch and said hidden switch,

said AND gate applying said reset input signal to said reset input in response to simultaneous activation of said ignition switch and said hidden switch.

5. A control and interface system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motor vehicle includes a park/neutral switch, a video recorder and a video camera and wherein said control and interface system further includes:

a video recorder control operatively coupled to said video recorder and said video camera and having a record input and a stop input; and

a control logic coupled to selected ones of said user-operable switches and said park/neutral switch and having means for producing an activating signal at said record input in response to actuation of any one of said selected user-operable switches and means for producing a stop signal at said stop input once said record input has been produced and said park/neutral switch is actuated.

6. A control and interface system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motor vehicle includes a gun receptacle having means for securing a weapon therein and for releasing said weapon in response to an unlock signal and wherein said control and interface system further includes:

a relay coupled to said gun receptacle for applying said unlock signal thereto;

a hidden switch within said motor vehicle;

a timer having a reset input and operating said relay for a predetermined interval in response to a reset input signal; and

AND gate means having an output coupled to said timer to provide said reset input signal and a pair of inputs coupled to said ignition switch and said hidden switch,

said AND gate applying said reset input signal to said reset input in response to simultaneous activation of said ignition switch and said hidden switch.

7. For use in converting a motor vehicle having an interior, an ignition switch, an engine, an electrical power source, a park/neutral switch, and an air conditioning system to an emergency vehicle having a plurality of supplemental lights, a control and interface system comprising:

first and second connector sets;

a switch array having a plurality of user operated switches and a supporting switch panel within said interior;

a plurality of power couplers coupled to said switch array through said first connector set and each coupled to said electrical power source and each operatively coupling said electrical power source to said supplemental lights in response to said plurality of user operated switches through said second connector set; and

power management means having means for sensing the output level of said electrical power source and sequentially interrupting the power coupling of said power couplers as the output level of said electrical power source decreases below a predetermined sequence of voltages,

said first and second connector sets cooperating to facilitate conversion of said motor vehicle to an emergency vehicle by providing plug-in installation of said switch array and said plurality of power couplers within said vehicle.

8. A control and interface system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said power couplers are relays.

9. A control and interface system as set forth in claim 7 further including alert means for producing an alert signal to a user in the event said engine ceases operation or said air conditioning system fails.

10. A control and interface system as set forth in claim 7 further including a video camera and video recorder coupled thereto and means for causing said video recorder to record in response to activation of a selected one of said plurality of user operated switches and means for maintaining recording until said selected plurality of user operated switches are deactivated and said park/neutral switch is switched between active and inactive status.

11. A control and interface system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said motor vehicle includes brake lights, back-up lights, a brake light switch and a back-up switch and wherein said control and interface system includes:

a kill switch within said switch array;

a first coupler interposed between said brake lights and said brake light switch; and

a second coupler interposed between said back-up lights and said back-up light switch,

said kill switch causing said first and second couplers to open in response to kill switch activation.

12. A control and interface system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said power management means includes a plurality of voltage level sensors each responding to sequentially lower voltage thresholds.