Emergency vehicle signaling system

• US 6,252,519 B1
• Filed: 08/06/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lou Mckenna
• Original Assignee: Lou Mckenna
• Inventors: McKenna, Lou
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/369,527
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 340/902, 340/903, 340/904, 340/463, 340/464, 340/470, 340/471, 340/539
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

Emergency vehicle signaling system wherein an emergency vehicle transmits an RF signal having a narrow cone calculated to be received in a second vehicle. The receiver for the second vehicle is equipped with an indicator in the form of a white light which blinks in order to alert the driver of the emergency vehicle that the RF signal which it is transmitting has been received by the second vehicle. Accordingly, occupants of the second or non-emergency vehicle are made aware of the presence of the emergency vehicle while the visual indicator confirms reception of the RF signal.

Claims

1. In combination with an emergency vehicle and a second land-traveling vehicle, a radio-frequency signal-responsive driver alert system arranged for activation by the driver of the emergency vehicle for alerting the driver of the second vehicle to the proximity of the emergency vehicle and for confirming to the driver of the emergency vehicle that the transmitted radio-frequency signal has been received by the second vehicle;

(a) said driver alert system comprising;

(1) a radio-frequency signal generator for emitting a signal within a predetermined forwardly directed focused pattern for transmission by the emergency vehicle of a radio-frequency signal indicative of the proximity of the emergency vehicle to the second vehicle, said radio-frequency signal generator emitting the said focused signal from the emergency vehicle forwardly and along the direction of travel to the second land-traveling vehicle within the focal zone of the focused signal;

(2) signal receiving means carried by the second land-traveling vehicle for receiving and identifying the radio-frequency signal as coming from the emergency vehicle and for generating a selected indicator signal in response thereto; and

(3) indicator means carried by the second land-traveling vehicle for acknowledging to the emergency vehicle the receipt of the focused radio-frequency signal coming from said emergency vehicle, said indicator means transmitting a visible return white light signal along a rearwardly directed path to the driver-occupant of the emergency vehicle to notify the driver-occupant of the emergency vehicle that the second land-traveling vehicle has received said focused radio-frequency signal, said indicator means being connected to said radio-frequency signal receiving means and activated thereby; and

(c) said radio-frequency transmitter has a relatively narrow cone angle of transmission, thereby having means for generating a signal having a relatively narrow cone angle of transmission, thereby limiting the exposure of the transmitted signal to other vehicles which are in the immediate path of the emergency vehicle.

2. In combination with an emergency vehicle and a second land-traveling vehicle of claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said indicator means remains activated for a predetermined finite time following each activation event.