System to activate automobile hazard warning lights
DCFirst Claim
1. In a motor vehicle having hazard warning lights and a manual control switch, an improvement consisting of electronic circuitry which causes the hazard warning lights to automatically activate under circumstances of rapid decelearation and to remain activated until manaually reset by the vehicle operator or automatically reset by electronic recognition of a resumption of normal vehicle operation, said electronic circuitry comprising:
- sensing means to detect acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle;
said sensing means including means to produce a signal indicating the rate of acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle;
means to determine when the rate of deceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold level for a predetermined time interval;
means to automatically activate the hazard warning lights when said rate of deceleration exceeds said predetermined threshold level for said predetermined time interval;
means to maintain hazard warning light activity beyond the incident of deceleration which causes activation;
means to automatically deactivate the hazard warning lights when the rate of deceleration drops below the predetermined threshold level for a predetermined length of time and changes in acceleration of the vehicle indicate normal vehicle operation; and
whereby the hazard lights are automatically activated to provide a warning that a rapid deceleration of the vehicle is occurring or has taken place and automatically deactivate when normal operation of the vehicle is resumed.
0 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
An automotive safety system that will automatically activate hazard warning lights under circumstances of hard braking or sudden stoppage. The system incorporates an accelerometer which measures the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and a microcontroller which processes the acceleration readings. When a series of deceleration values in excess of a predetermined threshold is detected, the microcontroller transmits an activation signal and the hazard warning lights are activated to warn other motorists. The hazard lights, when activated, remain active until they are either manually reset by the vehicle operator or automatically reset by the microcontroller when it detects a series of positive acceleration values consistent with normal vehicle operation. The hazard warning lights of this system are activated independently of the brake lights such that, in an accident situation, the hazard lights will activate even if the vehicle operator has not pressed the brake pedal.
-
Citations
6 Claims
-
1. In a motor vehicle having hazard warning lights and a manual control switch, an improvement consisting of electronic circuitry which causes the hazard warning lights to automatically activate under circumstances of rapid decelearation and to remain activated until manaually reset by the vehicle operator or automatically reset by electronic recognition of a resumption of normal vehicle operation, said electronic circuitry comprising:
-
sensing means to detect acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle; said sensing means including means to produce a signal indicating the rate of acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle; means to determine when the rate of deceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold level for a predetermined time interval; means to automatically activate the hazard warning lights when said rate of deceleration exceeds said predetermined threshold level for said predetermined time interval; means to maintain hazard warning light activity beyond the incident of deceleration which causes activation; means to automatically deactivate the hazard warning lights when the rate of deceleration drops below the predetermined threshold level for a predetermined length of time and changes in acceleration of the vehicle indicate normal vehicle operation; and whereby the hazard lights are automatically activated to provide a warning that a rapid deceleration of the vehicle is occurring or has taken place and automatically deactivate when normal operation of the vehicle is resumed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
Specification