Tailgate warning and reporting system

• US 7,057,501 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darryl Davis
• Original Assignee: Darryl Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Darryl
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/830,526
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 340/441, 340/463, 340/464, 340/472, 340/474, 340/468, 701/301
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A tailgate warning system, for use in a target vehicle, for determining unsafe following and followed distances, having a front rangefinder, a rear rangefinder, a vehicle speed sensor, incident memory, hazard lights, and a control unit. When an unsafe following distance is determined by the control unit using the front rangefinder and speed sensor, a dashboard audible visual alert is activated. When an unsafe followed distance is determined by the control unit using the rear rangefinder and speed sensor, the dashboard audible visual alert and the hazard lights are activated. Incidents of tailgating are recorded in the incident memory.

Claims

1. A tailgate warning system, installed within a target vehicle, having front and rear exterior corners, comprising:

a front rangefinder, for determining a following distance between the target vehicle and a vehicle traveling in front of the target vehicle;

a rear rangefinder, for determining a followed distance between the target vehicle and a vehicle traveling behind the target vehicle;

a target vehicle speed sensor, for determining the speed of the target vehicle;

an audible and visual dashboard alert, for producing an audible and visual warning;

exterior hazard lights located at the front and rear exterior corners of the target vehicle;

a control unit, for determining if an unsafe following distance has been breached from the determined following distance and the determined target vehicle speed and activating the audible and visual dashboard alert in response thereto, and for determining if an unsafe followed distance has been breached from the determined followed distance and the target vehicle speed and activating the audible and visual dashboard alert and the exterior hazard lights in response thereto;

an incident memory, for recording incidents of unsafe following distance determinations by the control unit; and

wherein the system is used in conjunction with a centralized computer system having a driver records database and a data receiver in communication with the driver records database; and

a data transmitter for transmitting the recorded incidents in the incident memory to the driver records database through the data receiver.

2. A tailgate warning method, for use by a target vehicle having a front rangefinder, a rear rangefinder, a vehicle speed sensor, a dashboard audible visual alert, and front and rear exterior hazard lights, comprising the steps of:

determining the target vehicle speed by the speed sensor;

determining whether a safe following distance has been breached by determining a front following distance using the front rangefinder and considering the target vehicle speed;

determining whether a safe followed distance has been breached by determining a rear followed distance using the rear rangefinder and considering the target vehicle speed;

activating the dashboard audible and visual alert in response to the determination of an unsafe following distance;

activating the dashboard audible and visual alert and flashing the exterior hazard lights in response to the determination of an unsafe followed distance wherein the target vehicle has an incident memory, and wherein the step of activating the dashboard audible and visual alert in response to the determination of an unsafe following distance further comprises recording a tailgating incident in the incident memory; and

using a centralized computer system having a driver records database; and

communicating tailgating incidents recorded in the incident memory to the driver records database.