Vehicle proximity-alerting device

• US 6,731,202 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Duane Klaus
• Original Assignee: Duane Klaus
• Inventors: Klaus, Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/966,418
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/901, 340/902, 340/903, 340/438, 340/904, 340/436, 340/443, 340/444, 340/635, 340/906, 340/988, 340/989, 340/994
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• 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 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles

Abstract

A cycle-mounted vehicle proximity warning device warns a cyclist that a vehicle is approaching the cycle from the rear. A like device, worn by a pedestrian, warns the pedestrian of approaching vehicles. The warning device includes a vehicle detector circuit and an antenna that transmits and receives. The vehicle detector circuit detects a vehicle as it approaches the cycle or pedestrian and emits a detection signal. An alarm circuit responds to the detection signal and communicates an audible, visual, or tactile warning to the cyclist or pedestrian. The vehicle proximity warning device also includes a vehicle alert circuit that can activate a bright flashing light aimed at the approaching vehicle for the purpose of alerting its driver of the cyclist or pedestrian proximity.

Claims

1. A cycle mounted cycle-mounted vehicle proximity warning device, comprising:

a vehicle detector circuit including a transmitting and receiving antenna, the vehicle detector circuit capable of detecting a vehicle proximately located with respect to a cycle and emitting a signal responsive thereto;

a rider alarm circuit including an alarm emitting output means for communicating to the rider that a vehicle is proximately located with respect to the cycle;

a cycle-mounted vehicle alert circuit including visual output means for alerting the driver of the proximately located vehicle wherein the visual output means is capable of emitting a visual output at a rate of between about three times per second and about five times per second;

a control and timing circuit engaged with the vehicle detector circuit, the rider alarm circuit and the vehicle alert circuit for controlling the rider alarm circuit and vehicle alert circuit in response to the vehicle detector circuit signaling of the proximately located vehicle;

a power supply for powering the circuits of the vehicle proximity warning device;

means for mounting the antenna of the vehicle detector circuit to the cycle such that the antenna faces the rear of the cycle; and

an external control circuit for engaging the control and timing circuit of the vehicle proximity warning device, the external central circuit capable of allowing the rider to manually check the operation of the unit.

2. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing capable of engagement with the cycle for enclosing at least the vehicle detector circuit, the rider alarm circuit, the vehicle alert circuit and the control and timing circuit of the vehicle proximity warning device.

3. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 2 further comprising:

an external control circuit for engaging the control and timing circuit of the vehicle proximity warning device, the external control circuit removed from the housing.

4. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 2 wherein the alarm emitting output means of the rider alarm circuit includes one of the following:

acoustic means, visual means or tactile means.

5. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 1 further comprising:

an external control circuit for engaging the control and timing circuit of the vehicle proximity warning device, the external control circuit removed from the housing.

6. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 1 further comprising:

an external control circuit for engaging the control and timing circuit of the vehicle proximity warning device, the external control circuit capable of allowing the rider of the bicycle to check the status of the power supply.

7. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 1 further comprising:

an external control and indicator circuit for engaging the control and timing circuit of the vehicle proximity warning device, the external control circuit and indicator circuit capable of transmitting to the rider signals including at least one of the following;

self-test signal, vehicle proximity signal, battery status and vehicle velocity.

8. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 1 further comprising:

a vehicle velocity circuit, the vehicle velocity circuit including a visual vehicle velocity indicator for signaling to the cyclist the relative velocity of the vehicle with respect to the bicycle.

9. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 1 wherein the vehicle detector circuit is capable of the transmission and receiving either radar or ladar signals.

10. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 1 wherein the alarm emitting output means of the rider alarm circuit includes one of the following:

acoustic means, visual means or tactile means.

11. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 1 wherein the visual output means of the vehicle alert circuit includes either a strobe light or a light emitting diode.

12. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 1 wherein the vehicle detector circuit and the rider alarm circuit are capable of activating the rider alarm circuit when a vehicle is approaching a cyclist from the rear.

13. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 1 wherein the vehicle detector circuit and the rider alarm circuit are capable of activating the rider alarm circuit when a vehicle is approaching a cyclist from the rear, at a preset minimum closing speed.

14. A vehicle proximity warning device for use with a motorcycle, the vehicle proximity warning device comprising:

means, including a control and timing circuit, for emitting a high powered intermittent light signal at a rate of between about three times per second and about five times per second;

an external control circuit for engaging the control and timing circuit of the warning device, the external circuit capable of allowing the rider to manually check the operation of the unit;

means for detecting the closing speed between the motorcycle and the vehicle;

means for energizing the emitting means when the closing speed exceeds a pre-selected minimum and the vehicle is slowing;

means for mounting the emitting means to the motorcycle such that the light signal flashes forward from the motorcycle;

means to detect motion of the motorcycle when an arming means is engaged;

means to arm the motion detect means when the motorcycle is left unattended; and

means engaging the motion detect means for signaling and energizing the light emitting means when motion is detected.

15. The vehicle proximity warning device of claim 14 further comprising:

means to detect motion of the motorcycle when an arming means is engaged;

means to arm the motion detect means when the motorcycle is left unattended; and

means engaging the motion detect means for signaling and energizing the light emitting means for signaling and energizing the light emitting means when motion is detected.

16. A pedestrian-mounted vehicle proximity warning device comprising:

a vehicle detector circuit including a transmitting and receiving antenna, the vehicle detector circuit capable of detecting a vehicle proximately located with respect to a pedestrian and emitting a signal responsive thereto;

a pedestrian alarm circuit including an alarm emitting output means for communicating to the pedestrian that a vehicle is proximately located with respect to the pedestrian;

a pedestrian-mounted vehicle alert circuit including visual output means capable of emitting a visual output at a rate of between about three times per second and about five times per second, for alerting a driver of the proximately located vehicle;

a control and timing circuit engaged with the vehicle detector circuit, the pedestrian alarm circuit and the vehicle alert circuit for controlling the pedestrian alarm circuit and vehicle alert circuit in response to the vehicle detector circuit signaling of the proximately located vehicle;

an external control circuit for engaging the control and timing circuit of the vehicle proximity warning device, the external control circuit capable of allowing the pedestrian to manually check the operation of the unit;

a power supply for powering the circuits of the vehicle proximity warning device; and

means for mounting the antenna of the vehicle detector circuit to the pedestrian.