Danger warning system

• US 6,630,892 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1998
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce E. Crockford
• Original Assignee: Bruce E. Crockford
• Inventors: Speller, Kevin, Crockford, Bruce E.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/140,179
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/902, 340/903, 340/904, 340/905, 340/907, 340/929, 340/436, 340/435, 340/917, 340/918
• US Class Current: 340/904
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a danger alert system for a site, and in particular a moving site such as a vehicle. The danger alert system comprises a signal transmitter about a transmitting site for transmitting a signal. The invention further comprises a receiver alert system about a receiving site for receiving the signal emitted by the transmitter about the transmitting site. The receiver alert system then determines the likelihood of danger posed by the transmitting site based upon an analysis of the received signal. The receiver alert system is made up at least one signal receptor adapted for receiving the transmitted signal. The receiver alert system is made up of a velocity measurer, a site locator, and a danger assessor, all in communication with the signal receptors. The velocity measurer determines the relative velocity of the transmitting site from an analysis of the signal. The site locator determines a relative position of the transmitting site from an analysis of the signal. The danger assessor then assesses the danger between the transmitting site and the receiving site based on the relative position and relative velocity of the transmitting site with the receiving site.

Claims

1. A danger alert system comprising:

a signal transmitter about a transmitting site for transmitting a signal;

a receiver alert system about a receiving site for receiving the signal and determining the danger posed by the transmitting site, the receiver alert system comprising;

at least one signal receptor adapted for receiving the signal;

a velocity measurer connected to the signal receptors whereby a relative velocity of the transmitting site is determined from an analysis of the signal;

a site locator connected to the signal receptors whereby a relative position of the transmitting site is determined from an analysis of the signal;

a danger assessor connected to the signal receptors for assessing the danger between the transmitting site and the receiving site based on the relative position and relative velocity of the transmitting site to the receiving site.

2. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the receiver alert system further comprises an alert responsive to the danger assessor for alerting persons about the receiving site if the danger assessor determines a likelihood of danger represented by the transmitting site.

3. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the receiver alert system is carried by and adapted for use in a vehicle.

4. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the receiver alert system comprises a plurality of signal receptors.

5. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the signal is an electromagnetic signal.

6. The alert system of claim 5 wherein the signal is a radio frequency signal.

7. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the signal comprises a message.

8. The alert system of claim 7 wherein the message comprises a digital message.

9. The alert system of claim 7 wherein the transmitter further comprises an analog to digital converter.

10. The alert system of claim 7 wherein the message further comprises a unique site identification.

11. The alert system of claim 7, the transmitter further comprising a transmission power detector for detecting a signal transmission power of each transmitted signal.

12. The alert system of claim 11 wherein the message further comprises a transmission power value indicating the transmission power of a previously sent signal.

13. The alert system of claim 7 wherein the transmitter further comprises a variable gain control for controlling the output power of the transmitter in response to an operating parameter of the transmitting site.

14. The alert system of claim 13 wherein the operating parameter of the site is speed.

15. The alert system of claim 7 wherein message includes at least one timing mechanism.

16. The alert system of claim 15 wherein the timing mechanisms are spaced pulses.

17. The alert system of claim 7 the danger assessor further comprising a signal comparator for comparing the signal received at the signal receptors.

18. The alert system of claim 17 wherein a relative position of the transmitting site is determined at least in part by an output of the comparator.

19. The alert system of claim 17 wherein a relative velocity of the site is determined at least in part by an output of the comparator.

20. The alert system of claim 17 wherein the comparator compares a difference in time between signals received at a plurality of the signal receptors.

21. The alert system of claim 17 wherein the comparator compares a difference in phase between signals received at a plurality of the signal receptors.

22. The alert system of claim 17 wherein the comparator compares a difference in frequency between signals received at a plurality of the signal receptors.

23. The alert system of claim 17 wherein the comparator compares a difference in frequency between the signals received at a plurality of the signal receptors and an expected frequency.

24. The alert system of claim 17 wherein the comparator compares a difference in amplitude between previously received signals and a currently received signal.

25. The alert system of claim 17 wherein the comparator compares a difference in amplitude between a received signal and an amplitude value for the transmitted signal.

26. The alert system of claim 7 wherein the message comprises a site status value, whereby the probability of a likelihood of danger between the second vehicle and the site is responsive to the site status value.

27. The alert system of claim 1, the receiver alert system further comprising a sampler connected to the signal receptors, whereby a received signal is sampled for storage in digital form.

28. The alert system of claim 1, the receiver alert system further comprising at least one timer for timing the reception of the signal at least one of the signal receptors.

29. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the danger assessor determines if the transmitting site is within an operational range limit of the second vehicle.

30. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the danger assessor determines if the transmitting site and the receiving site are converging.

31. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the danger assessor determines if the transmitting site a zone of danger about the receiving site.

32. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the danger assessor is connected to a speed sensor indicating the speed of the receiving site, and the prediction of the likelihood of danger is based at least in part upon the speed of the receiving site.

33. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the receiver alert system comprises at least one central processing unit.

34. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alert comprises an audible alert.

35. A method for alerting persons about a receiving site of a danger due to a transmitting site, the receiving site having an alert system, the method comprising:

receiving, at the alert system, a transmitted signal from the transmitting site, the alert system comprising a plurlality of signal receptors;

analyzing the signal;

determining a relative velocity of the transmitting site to the receiving site; and

determining the danger of the transmitting site based on the analyzing or determining.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of analyzing further comprises the step of:

extracting a message from the signal.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of analyzing the signal further comprises the step of:

determining a relative position of the transmitting site.