Vehicular hazard warning system
First Claim
1. A vehicular hazard warning system comprising:
- (a) at least one sensor being triggered by an event and producing a signal;
(b) at least one controller for receiving said signal and determining whether to activate a vehicle safety device;
(c) at least one detecting circuit which detects activation of a vehicle safety device by said controller; and
(d) at least one hazard warning indicator which is detectable externally to a vehicle containing the warning system, said hazard warning indicator being activated in response to the detected activation of said safety device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method warn drivers of a hazardous condition experienced by another driver. The apparatus generally includes a warning indicator, such as for example a strobe light, coupled to a vehicle warning controller. The vehicle warning controller is connected between a power source and a plurality of vehicle detecting circuits which detect the activation of a safety device. Vehicle detecting circuits can include an antilock braking system (ABS) detecting circuit, an airbag deployment detecting circuit, a rollover protection detecting circuit and an obstacle detector detecting circuit. When at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s detecting circuits detects the activation of a safety device due to a hazardous condition, a signal is sent to the vehicle warning controller. The warning indicator is activated in response to a signal from the vehicle'"'"'s warning controller. Therefore, driver intervention is alleviated in warning other motorists of potential danger.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vehicular hazard warning system comprising:
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(a) at least one sensor being triggered by an event and producing a signal; (b) at least one controller for receiving said signal and determining whether to activate a vehicle safety device; (c) at least one detecting circuit which detects activation of a vehicle safety device by said controller; and (d) at least one hazard warning indicator which is detectable externally to a vehicle containing the warning system, said hazard warning indicator being activated in response to the detected activation of said safety device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle having a vehicular hazard warning system comprising:
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(a) at least one sensor being triggered by an event and producing a signal; (b) at least one controller for receiving said signal and determining whether to activate a vehicle safety device; (c) at least one detecting circuit which detects activation of a vehicle safety device by said controller; and (d) at least one hazard warning indicator which is detectable externally to a vehicle containing the warning system, said hazard warning indicator being activated in response to the detected activation of said safety device.
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11. A method for activating a vehicular hazard warning system comprising the steps:
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(a) detecting a hazardous condition; (b) communicating the detected hazardous condition to a control unit; (c) determining whether the hazardous condition exceeds a predetermined threshold; (d) activating at least one safety device if potentially hazardous condition exceeds the predetermined threshold; (e) monitoring said control unit for activation of said vehicle safety device (f) detecting activation of said safety device; and (g) activating said warning hazard system in response to the detected activation of said safety device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A vehicular hazard warning system comprising:
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(a) at least one sensor being triggered by detecting a hazardous driving condition and producing a signal; (b) at least one controller for receiving said signal; (c) at least one detecting circuit which receives an indication from said controller of a hazardous driving condition; (d) at least one hazard warning indicator which is detectable externally to a vehicle containing the warning system, said hazard warning indicator being activated in response to an indication from said at least one detecting circuit.
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Specification