Emergency vehicle alert apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for warning a motor vehicle of an emergency vehicle in the immediate vicinity comprising:
- a transmitting unit having an activation circuit that turns on a digital identification data encoder that modulates an R.F. transmitter producing a digital data stream which is connected to a broadcast antenna;
a receiving unit having a R.F. receiver that demodulates a received digital data stream and then activates an alert pulse generator connected to an alarm means if the digital identification code matches the digital identification encoded in the transmitting unit;
wherein the receiving unit comprises a data decoder which checks the received digital data stream first to determine if it contains a valid data byte by comparing it to a programmed data code inputted to a first data comparator;
if this data byte matches the programmed data code then it is placed in temporary data storage;
then the next data byte is compared at a second data comparator to the temporary data storage, and then finally if the sequential data bytes are identical an output is sent to an alert pulse generator connected to the alarm means so that the alarm means only will be activated when two sequentially received data bytes are identical thereby virtually eliminating any possibility of false activation of the alarm means; and
,wherein use the transmitting unit is positioned within the emergency vehicle and the receiving unit is carried by a motor vehicle so that the motor vehicle is (it may be) warned if the emergency vehicle is in its immediate vicinity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A simple and effective apparatus and method is disclosed for identifying the presence of an emergency vehicle in the immediate vicinity of a motor vehicle. This apparatus may be readily mounted and will not produce false alarms. The apparatus comprises: a transmitting unit, positioned within the emergency vehicle and having an activation circuit that turns on a digital identification data encoder that modulates an R.F. transmitter producing a digital data stream which is connected to a broadcast antenna; and, a receiving unit, carried by a motor vehicle so that it may be warned if the emergency vehicle is in its immediate vicinity having and having a R.F. receiver that demodulates a received digital data stream and then activates an alert pulse generator which is connected to an alarm means if the digital identification code matches the digital identification encoded in the transmitting unit. In a preferred aspect of this invention the digital identification data encoder modulates the R.F. transmitter with a data byte containing bits which identify the transmitting unit and the receiving unit comprises a data decoder which doubly checks the received digital data stream so that the alarm means only will be activated when two sequentially received data bytes are identical, thereby virtually eliminating any possibility of false activation of the alarm means.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for warning a motor vehicle of an emergency vehicle in the immediate vicinity comprising:
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a transmitting unit having an activation circuit that turns on a digital identification data encoder that modulates an R.F. transmitter producing a digital data stream which is connected to a broadcast antenna; a receiving unit having a R.F. receiver that demodulates a received digital data stream and then activates an alert pulse generator connected to an alarm means if the digital identification code matches the digital identification encoded in the transmitting unit; wherein the receiving unit comprises a data decoder which checks the received digital data stream first to determine if it contains a valid data byte by comparing it to a programmed data code inputted to a first data comparator;
if this data byte matches the programmed data code then it is placed in temporary data storage;
then the next data byte is compared at a second data comparator to the temporary data storage, and then finally if the sequential data bytes are identical an output is sent to an alert pulse generator connected to the alarm means so that the alarm means only will be activated when two sequentially received data bytes are identical thereby virtually eliminating any possibility of false activation of the alarm means; and
,wherein use the transmitting unit is positioned within the emergency vehicle and the receiving unit is carried by a motor vehicle so that the motor vehicle is (it may be) warned if the emergency vehicle is in its immediate vicinity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for warning a motor vehicle of an emergency vehicle in the immediate vicinity comprising the following steps:
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transmitting a data stream through a transmitting unit having an activation circuit that turns on a digital identification data encoder that modulates an R.F. transmitter producing a digital data stream which is connected to a broadcast antenna; receiving the data stream through a receiving unit having a R.F. receiver that demodulates a received digital data stream and then activates an alert pulse generator connected to an alarm means if the digital identification code matches the digital identification encoded in the transmitting unit; wherein the receiving unit comprises a data decoder which checks the received digital data stream first to determine if it contains a valid data byte by comparing it to a programmed data code inputted to a first data comparator;
if this data byte matches the programmed data code then it is placed in temporary data storage;
then the next data byte is compared at a second data comparator to the temporary data storage, and then finally if the sequential data bytes are identical an output is sent to an alert pulse generator connected to the alarm means so that the alarm means only will be activated when two sequentially received data bytes are identical thereby virtually eliminating any possibility of false activation of the alarm means; and
,wherein use the transmitting unit is positioned within the emergency vehicle and the receiving unit is carried by a motor vehicle so that the motor vehicle is warned if the emergency vehicle is in its immediate vicinity. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification