Method and apparatus for an automatic signaling device

• US 5,712,618 A
• Filed: 08/29/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael R McKenna
• Original Assignee: Michael R McKenna
• Inventors: McKenna, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US08/520,537
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/465, 340/468, 340/436, 340/671, 340/475, 364/424.01, 364/426.02, 364/424.05, 362/80, 362/36
• US Class Current: 340/475
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps

Abstract

An automatic signaling device for a vehicle which automatically initiates a warning signal to pedestrians and to other vehicles in connection with lane changes and upon turns. The present invention is activated and de-activated automatically providing significant safety advantages for all of those using the roads and highways.

Claims

1. An automatic signaling device, for use in a vehicle having means for signaling, means for determining a turnable wheel angle β

, defined by an angle between a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle to which a turnable wheel is attached and the turnable wheel, and means for ascertaining the forward speed V of the vehicle, comprising a means for determining movement of a lateral distance of the vehicle operably connected to the means for signaling, wherein the means for determining movement of a lateral distance comprises;

a. a means for evaluating movement of a lateral distance D of the vehicle over a period of time T operably connected to the means for determining a turnable wheel angle β and

the means for ascertaining the forward speed V of the vehicle,

whereby the movement of a lateral distance D of the vehicle is approximated by a trigonometric equation

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">D=VT sin β

; and

b. a means for activating the means of signaling, which is operably connected to the means for evaluating movement of a lateral distance D of the vehicle, when the movement of a lateral distance D exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is moving laterally warranting a signal.

2. The automatic signaling device of claim 1, further comprising a means for determining an instantaneous lateral velocity of the vehicle and a means for determining an instantaneous lateral acceleration of the vehicle operably connected to a means for signaling.

3. The automatic signaling device of claim 1, further comprising a means for determining an instantaneous lateral velocity of the vehicle operably connected to a means for signaling.

4. The automatic signaling device of claim 3 for use in a vehicle having a means for signaling, a means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n, defined by the angle between a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle to which a turnable wheel is attached and the turnable wheel at time T_n, and a means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle at time T_n, wherein the means for determining an instantaneous lateral velocity L_n comprises;

a. a means for evaluating an instantaneous lateral velocity L_n of the vehicle at time T_n operably connected to the means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n and the means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle,

whereby the instantaneous lateral velocity L_n of the vehicle is approximated by a trigonometric equation

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">L.sub.n =dD/dT=V.sub.n sin β

.sub.n ; and

b. a means for activating the means for signaling, which is operably connected to the means for evaluating a lateral velocity L_n of the vehicle, when an instantaneous lateral velocity L_n exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is moving laterally at a rate which warrants a signal.

5. The automatic signaling device of claim 3 wherein the means for determining an instantaneous lateral velocity comprises:

a. a means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n, defined by the angle between a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle to which a turnable wheel is attached and the turnable wheel at time T_n ;

b. a means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle at time T_n ;

c. a means for evaluating an instantaneous lateral velocity L_n of the vehicle at time T_n operably connected to the means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n and the means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle,

whereby the instantaneous lateral velocity L_n of the vehicle is approximated by a trigonometric equation

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">L.sub.n =dD/dT =V.sub.n sin β

.sub.n ;

d. a means for signaling; and

e. a means for activating the means for signaling, which is operably connected to the means for evaluating a lateral velocity L_n of the vehicle, when an instantaneous lateral velocity L_n exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is moving laterally at a rate which warrants a signal.

6. The automatic signaling device of claim 1, further comprising a means for determining an instantaneous lateral acceleration of the vehicle operably connected to a means for signaling.

7. The automatic signaling device of claim 6 wherein the means for determining an instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n at time T_n which comprises:

a. a means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n, defined by the angle between a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle to which a turnable wheel is attached and the turnable wheel at time T_n ;

b. a means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle at time T_n ;

c. a means for evaluating an instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle at time T_n operably connected to the means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n and the means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle,

whereby the instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle is approximated by a trigonometric equation

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">A.sub.n =d(V.sub.n sin β

.sub.n)/dT;

d. a means for signaling; and

e. a means for activating the means for signaling, which is operably connected to the means for evaluating a lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle, when an instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is accelerating laterally at a rate which warrants a signal.

8. The automatic signaling device of claim 6, for use in a vehicle having a means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle at time T_n, wherein the means for determining an instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n at time T_n comprises:

a. a means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n, defined by the angle between a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle to which a turnable wheel is attached and the turnable wheel at time T_n ;

b. a means for evaluating an instantaneous acceleration A_n of the vehicle at time T_n operably connected to the means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n and the means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle,

whereby the instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle is approximated by a trigonometric equation

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">A.sub.n =d(V.sub.n sin β

.sub.n)/dT; and

c. a means for activating the means for signaling, which is operably connected to the means for evaluating a lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle, when an instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is accelerating laterally at a rate which warrants a signal.

9. An automatic signaling device, for use in a vehicle having a means for signaling, a means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n, defined by the angle between a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle to which a turnable wheel is attached and the turnable wheel at time T_n, and a means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle at time T_n,

said automatic signaling device having a means for determining an instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n at time T_n which comprises;

a. a means for evaluating an instantaneous acceleration A_n of the vehicle at time T_n operably connected to the means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n and the means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle,

whereby the instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle is approximated by a trigonometric equation

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">A.sub.n =dL.sub.n /dT=d(V.sub.n sin β

.sub.n)/dT; and

b. a means for activating the means for signaling, which is operably connected to the means for evaluating a lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle, when an instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is accelerating laterally at a rate which warrants a signal.

10. A method for automatically signaling for use in a vehicle which comprises:

a. determining a turnable wheel angle β

, defined by the angle between a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle to which a turnable wheel is attached and the turnable wheel;

b. ascertaining the forward speed V of the vehicle;

c. evaluating movement of a lateral distance D of the vehicle over a period of time T operably connected to the means for determining a turnable wheel angle β and

the means for ascertaining the forward speed V of the vehicle, whereby, the movement of a lateral distance D of the vehicle is approximated by a trigonometric equation

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">D=VT sin β

; and

d. activating a means of signaling, which is operably connected to the means for evaluating movement of a lateral distance D of the vehicle.

11. The method for automatically signaling of claim 10 further comprising activating the means of signaling when the movement of a lateral distance D exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is moving laterally warranting a signal.

12. The method for automatically signaling of claim 10 further comprising activating the means of signaling when the lateral velocity D/T exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is moving laterally at a rate warranting a signal.

13. A method for automatically signaling for use in a vehicle which comprises:

a. determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n, defined by the angle between a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle to which a turnable wheel is attached and the turnable wheel at time T_n ;

b. ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle at time T_n ;

c. evaluating an instantaneous lateral velocity L_n of the vehicle at time T_n operably connected to the means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n and the means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle, whereby the instantaneous lateral velocity L_n of the vehicle is approximated by a trigonometric equation

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">L.sub.n =dD.sub.n /dT=V.sub.n sin β

.sub.n ; and

d. activating the means for signaling, which is operably connected to the means for evaluating a lateral velocity L_n of the vehicle, when the instantaneous lateral velocity L_n exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is moving laterally at a rate which warrants a signal.

14. A method for automatically signaling for use in a vehicle which comprises:

a. determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n, defined by the angle between a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle to which a turnable wheel is attached and the turnable wheel at time T_n ;

b. ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle at time T_n ;

c. evaluating an instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle at time T_n operably connected to the means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n and the means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle, whereby the instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle is approximated by a trigonometric equation

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">A.sub.n =d(V.sub.n sin β

.sub.n)/dT; and

d. activating the means for signaling, which is operably connected to the means for evaluating a lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle, when an instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is accelerating laterally at a rate which warrants a signal.

15. A method for automatically signaling which comprises:

a. ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle at time T_n ;

b. determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n, defined by the angle between a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle to which a turnable wheel is attached and the turnable wheel at time T_n ;

c. activating a means of signaling, which is operably connected to the means for determining a turnable wheel angle β

_n, when the turnable wheel angle β

_n exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle has the capacity to significantly move laterally warranting a signal;

d. evaluating an instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle at time T_n operably connected to the means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n and the means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle, whereby the instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle is approximated by a trigonometric equation

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">A.sub.n =d(V.sub.n sin β

.sub.n)/dT;

e. activating the means for signaling, which is operably connected to the means for evaluating a lateral acceleration A_n of the vehicle, after determining that the instantaneous lateral acceleration A_n exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is accelerating laterally at a rate which warrants a signal;

f. evaluating an instantaneous lateral velocity L_n of the vehicle at time T_n operably connected to the means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n and the means for ascertaining an instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle, whereby the instantaneous lateral velocity L_n of the vehicle is approximated by a trigonometric equation

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">L.sub.n =dD/dT=V.sub.n sin β

.sub.n ;

g. activating the means for signaling, which is operably connected to the means for evaluating a lateral velocity L_n of the vehicle, after determining that the instantaneous lateral velocity L_n exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is moving laterally at a rate which warrants a signal;

h. evaluating movement of a lateral distance D_n of the vehicle over a period of time T operably connected to the means for determining an instantaneous turnable wheel angle β

_n and the means for ascertaining the instantaneous forward speed V_n of the vehicle, whereby, the movement of a lateral distance D_n of the vehicle is approximated by a trigonometric equation

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">D.sub.n =V sin β

.sub.n dT; and

i. activating the means of signaling, which is operably connected to the means for evaluating movement of a lateral distance D_n of the vehicle, after the movement of a lateral distance D_n exceeds a minimum threshold, indicating that the vehicle is moving laterally warranting a signal; and

j. de-activating the means of signaling, when β

_n approaches zero degrees.