System to determine the intent to brake and to provide initiation and engagement of the brake system
First Claim
1. An early braking system for a vehicle comprising:
- wheels for the vehicle;
a braking system including a friction element for inhibiting rotation of the wheels of the vehicle, the braking system having a dormant state wherein the friction element is at a first position spaced a first distance from the wheels, the braking system further including a brake pedal adapted to be depressed to move the friction element into engagement with a portion of the wheels of the vehicle; and
a sensor for sensing an operational parameter of the vehicle;
wherein the friction element moves from the first position to a second position spaced a second distance from the wheels in response to a predetermined measurement of the operational parameter and before depression of the brake pedal, the second position being closer to the wheels than the first position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An early braking system for a vehicle having wheels comprising, a friction element, a brake pedal and a sensor. The friction element inhibits rotation of the wheels of the vehicle with the braking system having a dormant state wherein the friction element is at a first position spaced a first distance from the wheels. The brake pedal is adapted to be depressed to move the friction element into engagement with a portion of the wheels of the vehicle. The sensor senses an operational parameter of the vehicle. The friction element moves from the first position to a second position spaced a second distance from the wheels in response to a predetermined measurement of the operational parameter and before depression of the brake pedal, wherein the second position is closer to the wheels than the first position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An early braking system for a vehicle comprising:
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wheels for the vehicle;
a braking system including a friction element for inhibiting rotation of the wheels of the vehicle, the braking system having a dormant state wherein the friction element is at a first position spaced a first distance from the wheels, the braking system further including a brake pedal adapted to be depressed to move the friction element into engagement with a portion of the wheels of the vehicle; and
a sensor for sensing an operational parameter of the vehicle;
wherein the friction element moves from the first position to a second position spaced a second distance from the wheels in response to a predetermined measurement of the operational parameter and before depression of the brake pedal, the second position being closer to the wheels than the first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
the operational parameter is the position of a foot of a driver of the vehicle.
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3. The early braking system of claim 2, further comprising:
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a throttle configured to be engaged by the foot of the driver of the vehicle;
wherein the sensor senses the position of the throttle for sensing the position of the foot of the driver of the vehicle.
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4. The early braking system of claim 1, further including:
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a throttle for the vehicle;
wherein the operational parameter includes positions of the throttle.
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5. The early braking system of claim 4, wherein:
the operational parameter is a measurement of the throttle between a first throttle position and a second throttle position, and the predetermined measurement is the rate of movement of the throttle between the first throttle position and the second throttle position.
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6. The early braking system of claim 1, wherein:
the friction element moves from the second position to the first position if the brake pedal has not been depressed a predetermined time after the predetermined measurement of the operational parameter.
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7. The early braking system of claim 1, further including:
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a brake light having a non-energized state wherein no energy is applied to the brake light, an energized state wherein a high energy is applied to the brake light such that the brake light emits visible light, and a pre-energized state wherein a low energy is applied to the brake light whereby the brake light does not emit visible light;
wherein the brake light is energized to the pre-energized state in response to the predetermined measurement of the operational parameter.
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8. The early braking system of claim 7, wherein:
the brake light moves from the pre-energized state to the non-energized state if the brake pedal has not been depressed a predetermined time after the predetermined measurement of the operational parameter.
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9. An early brake warning system for a vehicle comprising:
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a throttle for the vehicle;
a sensor for sensing an operational parameter of the throttle; and
a brake light having a non-energized state wherein no energy is applied to the brake light, an energized state wherein a high energy is applied to the brake light such that the brake light emits visible light and a pre-energized state wherein a low energy is applied to the brake light whereby the brake light does not emit visible light;
wherein the brake light is energized from the non-energized state to the pre-energized state in response to a predetermined measurement of the operational parameter of the throttle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
the operational parameter of the throttle is a measurement of the throttle between a first throttle position and a second throttle position, and the predetermined measurement is the rate of movement of the throttle between the first throttle position and the second throttle position.
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11. The early brake warning system of claim 10, wherein:
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the braking system includes a brake pedal adapted to be depressed to energize the brake light to the energized state; and
the brake light moves from the pre-energized state to the non-energized state if the brake pedal has not been depressed a predetermined time after the predetermined measurement of the operational parameter of the throttle has been sensed.
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12. The early brake warning system of claim 9, further including:
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a braking system including a friction element for inhibiting rotation of wheels of the vehicle, the braking system having a dormant state wherein the friction element is configured to be at a first position spaced a first distance from the wheels;
wherein the friction element moves from the first position to a second position in response to a predetermined measurement of the operational parameter and before depression of the brake pedal, the second position being configured to be closer to the wheels than the first position.
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13. A method of initiating braking for a vehicle having wheels, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a braking system including a friction element for inhibiting rotation of the wheels of the vehicle, the braking system further including a brake pedal adapted to be depressed to move the friction element into engagement with a portion of the wheels of the vehicle, the braking system having a dormant state wherein the friction element is at a first position spaced a first distance from the wheels;
sensing an operational parameter of the vehicle with a sensor; and
moving the friction element from the first position to a second position spaced a second distance from the wheels in response to a predetermined measurement of the operational parameter and before depression of the brake pedal, the second position being closer to the wheels than the first position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
providing a throttle configured to be engaged by the foot of the driver of the vehicle;
wherein the step of sensing comprises sensing positions of the throttle for determining the operational parameter of the vehicle.
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16. The method of initiating braking for a vehicle of claim 13, further including:
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providing a throttle for the vehicle;
wherein the operational parameter includes positions of the throttle.
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17. The method of initiating braking for a vehicle of claim 16, wherein:
the operational parameter is a measurement of the throttle between a first throttle position and a second throttle position, and the predetermined measurement is the rate of movement of the throttle between the first throttle position and the second throttle position.
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18. The method of initiating braking for a vehicle of claim 13, further including:
moving the friction element from the second position to the first position if the brake pedal has not been depressed a predetermined time after the predetermined measurement of the operational parameter.
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19. The method of initiating braking for a vehicle of claim 13, further including:
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providing a brake light, the brake light having a non-energized state wherein no voltage is applied to the brake light, an energized state wherein a high voltage is applied to the brake light such that the brake light emits visible light and a pre-energized state wherein a low voltage is applied to the brake light wherein the brake light does not emit visible light; and
energizing the brake light to the pre-energized state in response to the predetermined measurement of the operational parameter.
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20. The method of initiating braking for a vehicle of claim 19, further including:
energizing the brake light from the pre-energized state to the non-energized state if the brake pedal has not been depressed a predetermined time after the predetermined measurement of the operational parameter.
Specification