Truck light warning system

• US 6,133,851 A
• Filed: 09/20/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis B. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Dennis B. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Dennis B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US09/399,551
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/903, 340/431, 340/435, 340/436, 340/463, 340/464, 340/465, 340/468, 340/471, 340/478
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5037 the display content changing automatically, e.g. depending on traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/545 for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/547 for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A truck light warning system for automatically alerting a driver near a truck that they are either following too closely or within a truck'"'"'s blind spots. The inventive device includes a rear sensor, a front sensor, a pair of side sensors, an engine control module (ECM), an instrument control panel (ICP), a rear indicator, a front indicator and a pair of side indicators all electrically connected. A plurality of side movement lights are electrically connected to the ECM for informing the driver of a vehicle that they should drive past the side of the tractor and trailer. A plurality of strobe lights may be included that are activated when the fog lights of the tractor are activated for warning drivers during inclimate weather conditions. When a vehicle is in one of the four blind spots surrounding the tractor and trailer, the ECM activates the appropriate indicator to warn the driver that they are in a blind spot or following too closely. The ECM is preferably programmable for allowing the programming of various messages to be displayed upon the indicators.

Claims

1. A truck light warning system, comprising:

a central control unit;

at least one sensor electrically connected to said central control unit, wherein said at least one sensor is attachable to a tractor and trailer for detecting the presence of another vehicle;

at least one display electrically connected to said central control unit for displaying a warning message to said vehicle when said at least one sensor detects said vehicle;

a plurality of side movement lights electrically connected to said central control unit and attachable to a side of said tractor;

wherein said plurality of side movement lights operate in sequence indicating a forward motion;

a turn indicator attached to a rear portion of said trailer and electrically connected to said central control unit;

wherein said at least one display comprises;

a rear display attachable to said rear portion of said trailer and electrically connected to said central control unit for displaying said warning message;

a front display attachable to a front portion of said tractor and electrically connected to said central control unit for displaying said warning message;

a pair of side displays attachable to opposing sides of said tractor and electrically connected to said central control unit for displaying said warning message.

2. The truck light warning system of claim 1, including at least one strobe light attachable to said trailer.

3. The truck light warning system of claim 2, wherein said at least one strobe light is electronically activated when fog lights of said tractor are activated.