Mirror mounted emergency vehicle alert system

• US 6,812,854 B1
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luke Edwin, Ted Mclindon Edwin
• Original Assignee: Luke Edwin, Ted Mclindon Edwin
• Inventors: Edwin, Ted McLindon, Edwin, Luke
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/288,893
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/902, 340/903, 340/905, 701/35, 362/494
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1276 with radio receivers, loud-speakers or buzzers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

An emergency vehicle alert system coupled with an interior rearview mirror assembly attached to the windshield or a header portion of a vehicle that will visually and audibly alert a driver of the presence of an emergency vehicle or railroad train in the proximity of the driver. A sound transducer having a probe engaged with the windshield receives acoustical warning signals from emergency vehicles and other vehicles, converts them into electrical audio frequency signals and sends them to an audio pre-amplifier which amplifies the signals and feeds them to a sound discriminator calibrated to evaluate and discriminate between signals that fit within parameters set for particular emergency sound frequencies. A piezo beeper alarm and an audio output amplifier and programmed voice warning unit are triggered upon detection of sounds that fit within the parameters. The piezo beeper alarm emits a continuous audible high-pitched tone, and the audio output amplifier and programmed voice warning unit plays a digital voice announcement via a speaker, and light emitting diodes become illuminated at the same time the audible high-pitched tone and voice announcement are activated. The circuitry is powered by one or more DC batteries and may be recharged by solar cells.

Claims

1. An emergency vehicle alert system for attachment to an interior rear view mirror assembly of a vehicle wherein the rearview mirror assembly has a housing with a mirror mounted in a front side and a back side facing the vehicle windshield, the alert system comprising:

at least one case containing an electronic emergency vehicle alert system including emergency signal receiving, discriminating, and processing circuitry for receiving acoustical warning signals transmitted from an emergency vehicle and processing sound signals within parameters set for particular warning sound signals, an audible alarm and at least one LED activated upon detection of signals within the set parameters to produce an audible and visual warning, and a DC power supply for supplying power to the circuitry; and

said at least one case configured to be detachably fixed on said rearview mirror assembly to reside between the back side of the mirror housing and the vehicle windshield;

said emergency signal receiving, discriminating, and processing circuitry comprising a sound transducer for sending and receiving signals having a probe engageable with the vehicle windshield, a piezo beeper alarm, an audio pre-amplifier, a sound discriminator, an audio output amplifier and programmed voice warning unit, a speaker, and a DC power supply for powering the circuitry, and said case having apertures to allow said beeper alarm sounds and voice announcements to be clearly heard through the case, and a first and second light emitting diode mounted thereon connected with said piezo beeper alarm and said audio output amplifier and programmed voice warning unit, respectively;

wherein

said transducer probe receives warning signals in the form of acoustical energy sound waves within certain frequency ranges transmitted by emergency vehicles and other vehicles, converts them into electrical audio frequency signals and sends the electrical signals to said audio pre-amplifier which amplifies the electrical signals and feeds them to said sound discriminator, said sound discriminator being calibrated to evaluate and discriminate between signals that that fit within the parameters set for particular emergency sound frequencies;

said piezo beeper alarm and said audio output amplifier and programmed voice warning unit are triggered upon said sound discriminator detecting sounds that that fit within the parameters set for particular types of emergency sound frequencies; and

said piezo beeper alarm emits a continuous audible high-pitched tone, and said audio output amplifier and programmed voice warning unit plays a digital voice announcement via said speaker, and said first and second light emitting diodes become illuminated at the same time the audible high-pitched tone and voice announcement are activated.

2. The emergency vehicle alert system according to claim 1, wherein

said DC power supply comprises one or more DC batteries.

3. The emergency vehicle alert system according to claim 2, further comprising:

at least one solar cell panel arranged on said case to receive sunlight and connected with said one or more DC batteries to charge the same.

4. A combination interior rearview mirror assembly and emergency vehicle alert system for a vehicle windshield, comprising:

at least one case;

a mirror coupled to a front side of said case;

an articulating arm coupled to said case, said articulating arm adapted for mounting said combination interior rearview mirror assembly and emergency vehicle alert system to said vehicle;

an electronic emergency vehicle alert system disposed in said at least one case including emergency signal receiving, discriminating, and processing circuitry for receiving acoustical warning signals transmitted from an emergency vehicle and processing sound signals within parameters set for particular warning sound signal frequencies, an audible alarm and at least one LED in said at least one case activated upon detection of signals within the set parameters to produce an audible and visual warning, and a DC power supply for supplying power to the circuitry;

said emergency signal receiving, discriminating, and processing circuitry comprising a sound transducer for sending and receiving signals having a probe engageable with the vehicle windshield, a piezo beeper alarm, an audio pre-amplifier, a sound discriminator, an audio output amplifier and programmed voice warning unit, a speaker, and a DC power supply for powering the circuitry, and said case having apertures to allow said beeper alarm sounds and voice announcements to be clearly heard through the case, and a first and second light emitting diode mounted thereon connected with said piezo beeper alarm and said audio output amplifier and programmed voice warning unit, respectively;

wherein

said transducer probe receives warning signals in the form of acoustical energy sound waves within certain frequency ranges transmitted by emergency vehicles and other vehicles, converts them into electrical audio frequency signals and sends the electrical signals to said audio pre-amplifier which amplifies the electrical signals and feeds them to said sound discriminator, said sound discriminator being calibrated to evaluate and discriminate between signals that that fit within the parameters set for particular emergency sound frequencies;

said piezo beeper alarm and said audio output amplifier and programmed voice warning unit are triggered upon said sound discriminator detecting sounds that that fit within the parameters set for particular types of emergency sound frequencies; and

said piezo beeper alarm emits a continuous audible high-pitched tone, and said audio output amplifier and programmed voice warning unit plays a digital voice announcement via said speaker, and said first and second light emitting diodes become illuminated at the same time the audible high-pitched tone and voice announcement are activated.

5. The combination interior rearview mirror assembly and emergency vehicle alert system according to claim 4, wherein

said DC power supply comprises one or more DC batteries.

6. The combination interior rearview mirror assembly and emergency vehicle alert system according to claim 5, further comprising:

at least one solar cell panel arranged on a back side of said at least one case to receive sunlight and connected with said one or more DC batteries to charge the same.

7. The combination, interior rearview mirror assembly and emergency vehicle alert system according to claim 4, wherein

said at least one case is configured to be detachably mounted on a back side of a rearview mirror housing to reside between the back side of the mirror housing and the vehicle windshield.

8. The combination interior rearview mirror assembly and emergency vehicle alert system according to claim 4, wherein

said at least one case is configured to be detachably mounted on a back side of a rearview mirror housing to reside between the back side of the mirror housing and the vehicle windshield;

said articulating arm coupled to a back side of said mirror housing at a first end and adapted for attachment to said vehicle at a distal end; and

said at least one case is configured accommodate said first end of said articulating arm.

9. The combination interior rearview mirror assembly and emergency vehicle alert system according to claim 4, wherein

said at least one case comprises a first case and a second case, said first case configured to be detachably mounted on a mounting button fixed to the vehicle windshield;

and

said articulating arm is coupled to a back side of said first case at a distal end, and coupled to a back side of said second case at a proximal end.

10. The combination interior rearview mirror assembly and emergency vehicle alert system according to claim 9, wherein

said sound transducer is contained in said first case;

said piezo beeper alarm, said audio pre-amplifier, said sound discriminator, said audio output amplifier and programmed voice warning unit, said speaker, and said DC power supply is contained in either of said first case and said second case, and said first and second light emitting diode is mounted on either of said first case and said second case; and

either of said first case and said second case has apertures to allow said beeper alarm sounds and voice announcements to be clearly heard through the case.

11. The combination interior rearview mirror assembly and emergency vehicle alert system according to claim 10, wherein

said DC power supply comprises one or more DC batteries.

12. The combination interior rearview mirror assembly and emergency vehicle alert system according to claim 11, further comprising:

at least one solar cell panel arranged on a back side of said first case to receive sunlight and connected with said one or more DC batteries to charge the same.