Proactive collision avoidance system

• US 7,031,837 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steve Foust
• Original Assignee: Steve Foust
• Inventors: Foust, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US10/633,398
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 700/39, 700/49, 700/96, 700/245, 700247-250, 700258-259, 318/568.11, 318/568.12, 701/23, 701/28, 701/47, 701/200, 701/207, 701/213, 701/217, 701/220, 701/301, 342/89, 375/130, 375/376, 901/47, 340/903, 340435-436, 340/902, 340/904, 180/167, 180/169, 180/171, 367/909
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders

Abstract

The invention is a proactive collision avoidance system. The system comprises a first paired set of a transmitter effective for transmitting a radio signal and a receiver effective for receiving a radio signal from a limited distance, a means for preventing the receiver in the first paired set from receiving the radio signal transmitted by the transmitter in the first paired set while permitting the receiver in the first paired set to receive a radio signal transmitted by a transmitter in a second paired set, and a means in electrical communication with the receiver in the first paired set for generating a perceptible signal upon receipt of the radio signal from the second paired set.

Claims

1. A proactive collision avoidance system, comprising:

(a) a first paired set of a transmitter and a receiver, wherein;

(1) the transmitter is effective for transmitting a radio signal, and

(2) the receiver is effective for receiving a radio signal from a limited distance;

(b) a means for preventing the receiver in the first paired set from receiving the radio signal transmitted by the transmitter in the first paired set while permitting the receiver in the first paired set to receive a radio signal transmitted by a transmitter in a second paired set wherein the means is a switch having a timer set to alternate between the transmitter and the receiver of the first paired set; and

(c) a means in electrical communication with the receiver in the first paired set for generating a perceptible signal upon receipt of the radio signal from the second paired set.

2. The proactive collision avoidance system recited in claim 1 wherein the timer is set to alternate between the transmitter and the receiver of the first paired set every 0.5 to 2 seconds.

3. The proactive collision avoidance system recited in claim 1 wherein the means in electrical communication with the receiver in the first paired set for generating a perceptible signal upon receipt of the radio signal from the second paired set is a tone decoder and an LED display.

4. A proactive collision avoidance system, comprising:

(a) a first paired set of a transmitter and a receiver mounted onto a recreational vehicle, wherein

(1) the transmitter is effective for transmitting a radio signal, and

(2) the receiver is effective for receiving a radio signal from a limited distance,

(b) a means for preventing the receiver in the first paired set from receiving the radio signal transmitted by the transmitter in the first paired set while permitting the receiver in the first paired set to receive a radio signal transmitted by a transmitter in a second paired set wherein the means is a switch having a timer set to alternate between the transmitter and the receiver of the first naked set, and

(c) a means in electrical communication with the receiver for generating a perceptible signal upon receipt of the radio signal from the second paired set.

5. The proactive collision avoidance system recited in claim 4, wherein the recreational vehicle is a snowmobile.

6. The proactive collision avoidance system recited in claim 4 wherein the timer is set to alternate between the transmitter and the receiver of the first paired set every 0.5 to 2 seconds.

7. The proactive collision avoidance system recited in claim 4 wherein the means in electrical communication with the receiver in the first paired set for generating a perceptible signal upon receipt of the radio signal from the second paired set is a tone decoder and a LED indicator.

8. A method, comprising:

(a) activating a first proactive collision avoidance system, mounted on a first recreational vehicle, comprising,

(1) a first paired set of a transmitter and a receiver, wherein;

(i) the transmitter is effective for transmitting a radio signal, and

(ii) the receiver is effective for receiving a radio signal from a limited distance,

(2) a means for preventing the receiver in the first paired set from receiving the radio signal transmitted by the transmitter in the first paired set while permitting the receiver in the first paired set to receive a radio signal transmitted by a transmitter in a second paired set wherein the means is a switch having a timer set to alternate between the transmitter and the receiver of the first paired set, and

(3) a means in electrical communication with the receiver in the first paired set for generating a perceptible signal upon receipt of the radio signal from the second paired set;

(b) transmitting the radio signal from the transmitter of the first paired set; and

(c) receiving the radio signal from the transmitter of the second paired set installed on a second recreational vehicle, by the receiver of the first paired set wherein the perceptible signal is generated by the first paired set so as to provide a warning that the second recreational vehicle is within the limited distance of the first recreational vehicle.

9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the first recreational vehicle is a snowmobile and the second recreational vehicle is a snowmobile.

10. The method recited in claim 8 wherein the timer is set to alternate between the transmitter and the receiver of the first paired set every 0.5 to 2 seconds.

11. The method recited in claim 8 wherein the means in electrical communication with the receiver in the first paired set for generating a perceptible signal upon receipt of the radio signal from the second paired set is a tone decoder and an LED indicator.