Acceleration monitoring and safety data accounting system for motor vehicles and other types of equipment

• US 6,771,176 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William Jude Wilkerson
• Original Assignee: William Jude Wilkerson
• Inventors: Wilkerson, William Jude
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/808,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20020000910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/539, 340/576, 340/936, 340/993, 340/870.05, 340/457, 340/438
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/00 Estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters for road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub unit, e.g. by using mathematical models
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

An improved acceleration/deceleration monitoring system for motor vehicles and other types of human-operated equipment is herein disclosed. This system measures and records events where preset acceleration/deceleration parameters are exceeded. The system is equipped with data communication means that allows an employer, a parent, an insurance carrier, or any other interested person to verify that the vehicle in question is operated in an appropriate manner. The system records each incident of vehicle acceleration (or deceleration) that exceeds established parameters while noting the date, time of day, and location of the incident. The information retrieved is compiled in a data record and stored in a storage system for instantaneous use or retrieval when desired.

Claims

1. A vehicle operation and performance monitoring and accounting system for a human-operated vehicle comprising:

acceleration/deceleration indicating means for generating a first signal when acceleration or deceleration of said vehicle, in the direction of an X-axis, is detected;

acceleration/deceleration indicating means for generating a second signal when acceleration or deceleration of said vehicle, in the direction of a Y-axis is detected;

acceleration/deceleration indicating means for generating a third signal when acceleration or deceleration of said vehicle, in the direction of a Z-axis, is detected, said Z-axis being perpendicular to a plane containing said X-axis and said Y-axis;

global positioning means for generating position data;

software containing a plurality of vehicle operating parameters defining appropriate operation of a vehicle;

processor means for receiving said first, second, and third signals, and said position data, and said plurality of vehicle operating parameters, and constructing a unified data record therefrom at a plurality of predetermined time intervals; and

storage means for compiling a plurality of said unified data records for immediate review or later retrieval;

wherein said unified data record comprises contemporaneous X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis acceleration/deceleration data, and position data, and appropriate operating parameter data, providing a record of a human operator'"'"'s habits and performance with regard to the operation of said vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising time and date indicating means for generating a time/date data record;

wherein said processor means receives and incorporates said time/date data record into said unified data record.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said acceleration/deceleration indicating means comprises a multi-axis accelerometer responsive to acceleration/deceleration in any of three axes of motion.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor means is comprised of an embedded microcomputer.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said processor means further comprises an analog-to-digital conversion means for receiving said first, second, and third signals.

6. A vehicle operation and performance monitoring and accounting system for a human-operated vehicle comprising:

acceleration/deceleration indicating means for generating a first signal when acceleration or deceleration of said vehicle, in the direction of an X-axis, is detected;

acceleration/deceleration indicating means for generating a second signal when acceleration or deceleration of said vehicle, in the direction of a Y-axis is detected;

acceleration/deceleration indicating means for generating a third signal when acceleration or deceleration of said vehicle, in the direction of a Z-axis, is detected, said Z-axis being perpendicular to a plane containing said X-axis and said Y-axis;

global positioning means for generating position data;

software containing a plurality of vehicle operating parameters defining appropriate operation of a vehicle;

processor means for receiving said first, second, and third signals, and said position data, and said plurality of vehicle operating parameters, and constructing a unified data record at the occurrence of a plurality of discrete events; and

storage means for compiling a plurality of said unified data records for immediate review or later retrieval;

wherein said unified data record comprises contemporaneous X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis acceleration/deceleration data, and position data, and appropriate operating parameter data, providing a record of a human operator'"'"'s habits and performance with regard to the operation of said vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said discrete events comprise acceleration or deceleration in the direction of the X-axis, Y-axis, and/or Z-axis.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising time and date indicating means for generating a time/date data record;

wherein said processor means receives and incorporates said time/date data record into said unified data record.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said acceleration/deceleration indicating means comprises a multi-axis accelerometer responsive to acceleration/deceleration in any of three axes of motion.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said processor means is comprised of an embedded microcomputer.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said processor means further comprises an analog-to-digital conversion means for receiving said first, second, and third signals.

12. A method of monitoring and accounting the operation and performance of a human-operated vehicle comprising:

detecting acceleration/deceleration of said vehicle in the direction of an X-axis;

detecting acceleration/deceleration of said vehicle in the direction of a Y-axis;

detecting acceleration/deceleration of said vehicle in the direction of a Z-axis, said Z-axis being perpendicular to a plane containing said X-axis and said Y-axis;

detecting a position of said vehicle;

defining appropriate operating parameters for said vehicle,

constructing a unified data record at a plurality of intervals; and

storing said unified data records for immediate review or later retrieval;

wherein said unified data record comprises contemporaneous X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis acceleration/deceleration data, and vehicle position data, and appropriate operating parameter data, providing a record of a human operator'"'"'s habits and performance with regard to the operation of said vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of forming a time/date data record;

wherein said unified data record further comprises said time/date data record.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said plurality of intervals comprise the detection of acceleration or deceleration in the direction of the X-axis, Y-axis, and/or Z-axis.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said plurality of intervals comprise predetermined time intervals.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of forming a time/date data record;

wherein said unified data record further comprises said time/date data record.