Vehicle warning system
First Claim
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1. A receiver-decoder-alert subsystem for alerting a driver of a receiving vehicle carrying the subsystem to warning information carried by an encoded warning signal, the subsystem comprisinga receiver-decoder for receiving and decoding said encoded warning signal to produce a decoded warning signal, said receiver-decoder comprising an antenna;
- closing velocity estimating means connected to said receiver-decoder for producing a closing velocity signal;
at least first and second alert modalities for representing, when activated, warning information in said decoded warning signal and said closing velocity signal to said vehicle driver;
an alert system interrupter/controller connected to said decoded warning signal and said closing velocity signal to produce at least first and second alert modality activating signals for activating said at least first and second alert modalities respectively;
a driver alert sensor, activation of which produces an alert sensor signal that indicates acknowledgement by said vehicle driver of activation of at least one alert modality; and
a delay timer connected to said alert sensor signal and said alert system interrupter/controller for delaying application of at least said first alert modality activating signal to said first alert modality for a delay period after said alert sensor signal indicates a driver'"'"'s acknowledgement of at least one alert modality.
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Abstract
A vehicle warning system comprises encoder-transmitters in transmitting vehicles and corresponding receiver-decoder-alert subsystems in receiving vehicles. Transmitted signals carry warning information for presentation to drivers of receiving vehicles, preferably including closing velocity and encoded identification of the transmitting vehicles. Warning information may also include estimates of the speed of the transmitting vehicle and of the apparent bearing of the transmitting vehicle relative to each respective receiving vehicle. Warning information is presented via at least two alert modalities. At least one alert modality is presented intermittently, and at least one alert modality is modified when closing velocity is negative. Drivers of receiving vehicles can use this warning information to inform their judgments on safely maneuvering their vehicles to provide needed right-of-way to approaching transmitting vehicles.
90 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A receiver-decoder-alert subsystem for alerting a driver of a receiving vehicle carrying the subsystem to warning information carried by an encoded warning signal, the subsystem comprising
a receiver-decoder for receiving and decoding said encoded warning signal to produce a decoded warning signal, said receiver-decoder comprising an antenna; -
closing velocity estimating means connected to said receiver-decoder for producing a closing velocity signal;
at least first and second alert modalities for representing, when activated, warning information in said decoded warning signal and said closing velocity signal to said vehicle driver;
an alert system interrupter/controller connected to said decoded warning signal and said closing velocity signal to produce at least first and second alert modality activating signals for activating said at least first and second alert modalities respectively;
a driver alert sensor, activation of which produces an alert sensor signal that indicates acknowledgement by said vehicle driver of activation of at least one alert modality; and
a delay timer connected to said alert sensor signal and said alert system interrupter/controller for delaying application of at least said first alert modality activating signal to said first alert modality for a delay period after said alert sensor signal indicates a driver'"'"'s acknowledgement of at least one alert modality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A receiver-decoder-alert subsystem for alerting a driver of a receiving vehicle carrying the subsystem to warning information carried by an encoded warning signal, the subsysten comprising
a receiver-decoder for receiving and decoding said encoded warning signal to produce a decoded warning signal, said receiver-decoder comprising an antenna; -
a doppler shift detector connected to said received-encoded warning signal to produce a closing velocity signal, said closing velocity signal being a function of doppler shift in said received encoded warning signal;
at least first and second alert modalities for representing, when activated, warning information in said decoded warning signal and said closing velocity signal to said vehicle driver;
an alert system interrupter/controller connected to said decoded warning signal and said closing velocity signal to produce at least first and second alert modality activating signals for activating said at least first and second alert modalities respectively;
a driver alert sensor, activation of which produces an alert sensor signal that indicates acknowledgement by said vehicle driver of activation of at least one alert modality;
a response timer connected to said alert sensor signal and said alert system interrupter/controller for measuring a time period between activation of at least one said alert modality by said alert system interrupter/controller and activation of said driver alert sensor; and
a delay timer connected to said alert sensor signal and said alert system interrupter/controller for delaying application of at least said first alert modality activating signal to said first alert modality for a delay period after said alert sensor signal indicates a driver'"'"'s acknowledgement of at least one alert modality. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A receiver-decoder-alert subsystem for alerting a driver of a receiving vehicle carrying the subsystem to warning information carried by an encoded warning signal, the subsystem-comprising
a receiver-decoder for receiving and decoding said encoded warning signal to produce a decoded warning signal, said receiver-decoder comprising a steerable directional antenna; -
an antenna director connected to said receiver-decoder for steering said directional antenna to an azimuth at which said received encoded warning signal is maximized, and for producing an azimuth signal corresponding said signal maximum;
a doppler shift detector connected to said received-encoded warning signal to produce a closing velocity signal, said closing velocity signal being a function of doppler shift in said received encoded warning signal;
at least first and second alert modalities for representing, when activated, warning information in said decoded warning signal and said closing velocity signal to said vehicle driver;
an alert system interrupter/controller connected to said decoded warning signal, said azimuth signal and said closing velocity signal to produce at least first and second alert modality activating signals for activating said at least first and second alert modalities respectively;
a driver alert sensor, activation of which produces an alert sensor signal that indicates acknowledgement by said vehicle driver of activation of at least one alert modality;
a response timer connected to said alert sensor signal and said alert system interrupter/controller for measuring a time period between activation of at least one said alert modality by said alert system interrupter/controller and activation of said driver alert sensor; and
a delay timer connected to said alert sensor signal and said alert system interrupter/controller for delaying application of at least said first alert modality activating signal to said first alert modality for a delay period after said alert sensor signal indicates a driver'"'"'s acknowledgement of at least one alert modality. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeEmery W. Dilling
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Original AssigneeEmery W. Dilling
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InventorsDilling, Emery W.
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Primary Examiner(s)LA, ANH V
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Application NumberUS10/156,509Time in Patent Office498 DaysField of Search340/902, 340/901, 340/903, 340/904, 340/906, 340/988, 340/989, 340/436, 340/691.1, 340/691.3, 340/691.5, 340/435, 340/467, 340/447, 340/457.4, 701/301, 701/29US Class Current340/902CPC Class CodesG08G 1/0965 responding to signals from ...
