Dynamically programmable automotive-driving monitoring and alarming device and system

• US 5,819,198 A
• Filed: 08/18/1995
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilboa Peretz
• Original Assignee: Gilboa Peretz
• Inventors: Peretz, Gilboa
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/516,825
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.04, 364/426.04, 364/565, 364/436, 364/438, 340/441, 340/905, 340/438, 340/460, 340/936, 340/996, 180/167
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0058 responsive to externally generated signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/18 including a device to audibly, visibly, or otherwise signal the existence of unusual or unintended speed to the driver of the vehicle devices primarily intended for indicating speed to other traffic B60Q1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/54 for indicating speed outside of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/08 Lane monitoring; Lane Keeping Systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/086 using driver related features
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/10 for indicating predetermined speeds

Abstract

A device and system for monitoring speed limit violations of a driver is disclosed. The monitoring device according to the invention is installed in the vehicle and programmed to provide an alarm whenever a programmed speed limit has been exceeded. According to the disclosed system, legal speed limit, and other appropriate traffic signs are provided with transmitters which broadcast an encoded speed limit signal. The monitoring device is provided with a receiver which is capable of receiving the transmitted signal. Upon receiving the transmission, the monitoring device updates the programmed speed limit. The transmitted signal includes a system identification string to enable the monitoring device to validate the signal. In addition, the monitoring device validates the encoded speed limit. In the preferred embodiment a library of digitized voice messages provides warning appropriate to the driving condition and driving speed.

Claims

1. A vehicle driver monitor device receiving a vehicle driving speed signal, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a transmitted signal including a speed limit value and a message code;

a memory for storing said speed limit value and having a table of stored messages;

a comparator for comparing said vehicle driving speed to said stored speed limit value and generating an alarm signal when said vehicle driving speed exceeds said stored speed limit value;

wherein said monitor device further decodes said message code and audibly plays one of said stored messages corresponding to the message code.

2. The vehicle driver monitor device according to claim 1, further comprising an interrupter for comparing a newly received speed limit value to said stored speed limit value, and replacing said stored speed limit value with said newly received speed limit value when said newly received speed limit value is different from said stored speed limit value.

3. The vehicle driver monitor device according to claim 1, further comprising storing means for storing speed violation data whenever said comparator generates said alarm signal.

4. The vehicle driver monitor device according to claim 1, further comprising storing means for storing speed violation data whenever said comparator determines that said vehicle driving speed exceeds said stored speed limit value by a predetermined amount.

5. The vehicle driver monitor device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting a signal to be reflected from a coding device to thereby provide said transmitted signal including a speed limit value.

6. The vehicle driver monitor device according to claim 5, further comprising an interrupter for comparing a newly received speed limit value to said stored speed limit value, and replacing said stored speed limit value with said newly received speed limit value when said newly received speed limit value is different from said stored speed limit value.

7. The vehicle driver monitor device according to claim 6, further comprising storing means for storing speed violation data whenever said comparator determines that said vehicle driving speed exceeds said stored speed limit value by a predetermined amount.

8. The vehicle driver monitor device according to claim 7, further comprising an audible alarm means responsive to said alarm signal to provide an audible alarm, and wherein said alarm comprises a digitized voice message selectable from a plurality of different preprogrammed digitized voice messages.

9. The vehicle driver monitor device according to claim 8, wherein said coding device comprises a Universal Product Code.

10. A vehicle driver monitor device receiving a vehicle driving speed signal, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a transmitted signal including a speed limit value;

a memory for storing said speed limit value;

a comparator for comparing said vehicle driving speed to said stored speed limit value and generating an alarm signal when said vehicle driving speed exceeds said stored speed limit value; and

a validating means for determining whether said speed limit value of said transmitted signal is valid.

11. The vehicle driver monitor device according to claim 10, further comprising an audible alarm means responsive to said alarm signal to provide an audible alarm.

12. The vehicle driver monitor device according to claim 11, wherein said audible alarm comprises a digitized voice message.

13. The vehicle driver monitor device according to claim 12, wherein said digitized voice message is selectable from a plurality of different pre-programmed digitized voice messages.

14. The vehicle driver monitor of claim 10, wherein said received transmitted signal further comprises a system identification string, and wherein said validating means further determines whether said system identification string is valid.

15. The vehicle driver monitor of claim 10, wherein said validating means further comprises a fault data counter that is incremented each time said validating means determines that said speed limit value is invalid and is reset whenever said validating means determines that said speed limit value is valid, and wherein when said false data counter reaches a predetermined terminal count value said driver monitor device issues a fault alarm.

18. A traffic monitoring system comprising the vehicle driver monitor device of claim 13 and further comprising a field transmitter for transmitting said transmitted signal.

16. A vehicle driver monitor device having a micro-controller and receiving a vehicle driving speed, comprising:

a receiver for receiving and decoding a transmitted signal including a speed limit value;

a memory for string current speed limit reference;

an interrupter connected to said receiver and receiving said speed limit therefrom, said interrupter comparing said speed limit value to said current speed limit reference and interrupting said micro-controller when said encoded speed limit value differs from said current speed limit reference, for storing said encoded speed limit value in said memory as said current speed limit reference;

a comparator for comparing said received vehicle driving speed to said current speed limit reference and generating an alarm signal when said received vehicle driving speed exceeds said current speed limit reference;

wherein said transmitted signal further includes a system identification string and wherein said vehicle driver monitoring device further comprises;

a first validating means for ignoring said transmitted signal when said first validating means determines that said system identification string is invalid;

a second validating means for determining whether said speed limit value is valid.

17. The vehicle driver monitor device of claim 16, further comprising a false data counter responsive to said second validating means for incrementing whenever said second validating means determines that said speed limit value is invalid, and resetting whenever said second validating means determines that said speed limit value is valid, and wherein a fault alarm is generated when said false data counter reaches a predetermined terminal count value for enabling manual programming of said current speed limit reference.

19. A traffic monitoring system comprising a driver monitor device and a field transmitted for transmitting a signal, said transmitted signal comprises a speed limit value and a system identifier string, and wherein said driver monitor device comprises:

a receiver for receiving said transmitted signal including the speed limit value and system identifier string;

a memory for storing said speed limit value;

a comparator for comparing said vehicle driving speed to said stored speed limit value and generating an alarm signal when said vehicle driving speed exceeds said stored speed limit value; and

a first validating means for ignoring said transmitted signal when said first validating means determines that said system identification string is invalid;

a second validating means for determining whether said speed limit value is valid.

20. The vehicle driver monitor control system according to claim 19, wherein said driver monitor device further comprises a false data counter responsive to said second validating means for incrementing whenever said second validating means determines that said speed limit value is invalid and resetting whenever said second validating means determines that said speed limit value is valid, and wherein a fault alarm is generated when said fault data counter reaches a predetermined terminal count value for enabling manual programming of said current speed limit reference.