Emergency vehicle warning system

• US 7,057,528 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jimmie L. Ewing, Stanley T. Zubiel
• Original Assignee: Jimmie L. Ewing, Stanley T. Zubiel
• Inventors: Ewing, Jimmie L., Zubiel, Stanley T.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/995,045
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/901, 340/902, 340/993, 180/167
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

A warning system for alerting the driver of a private vehicle that an emergency vehicle is approaching is disclosed. The system includes a receiver and a display panel mounted in the private vehicle, and at least two infrared receivers mounted on the private vehicle. The display panel mounted in the private vehicle including indicating devices that allow the driver of the private vehicle to know of the approaching emergency vehicle as well as the direction to move in order to yield the right of way to an approaching emergency vehicle.

Claims

1. An emergency vehicle warning system for informing a driver in a private vehicle that an emergency vehicle is approaching, and providing the driver of the private vehicle with information on the direction to move the private vehicle in order to allow the emergency vehicle to pass the private vehicle, the system comprising:

a private vehicle mounted receiving system comprising of;

an antenna consisting of a plurality of monopole components for receiving an identification signal from the emergency vehicle;

a display for informing the driver of the private vehicle of the direction of approach of an emergency vehicle relative to the private vehicle; and

an identification signal transmitter for providing the identification signal, so that the receiving system identifies that the approaching vehicle is an emergency vehicle and determines the direction of approach of the emergency vehicle through the difference between a time difference between receipt of the identification signals.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said display comprises a console having a warning buzzer and indicator lights for indicating the direction to be taken in yielding the right of way.

3. A system according to claim 1 and further comprising an infrared transmitter the infrared transmitter being connected to be activated by the receiver means, so that the position of adjacent vehicles is determined to determine the direction to move the private vehicle in order to yield the right of way to the emergency vehicle.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said transmitter is at a single location on the emergency vehicle.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said identification signal is a pulsed signal.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said pulsed signal is an infrared frequency signal.

7. A method for informing a driver of a private vehicle of the presence and direction of approaching emergency vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a private vehicle mounted receiving system comprising;

an antenna consisting of a plurality of monopole components for receiving an identification signal from the emergency vehicle; and

a display for informing the driver of the private vehicle of the direction of approach of an emergency vehicle relative to the private vehicle; and

providing the identification signal with an identification signal transmitter that is mounted in the emergency vehicle; and

detecting the direction and presence by comparing the signals received by each of the plurality of the monopole components so that the receiving system identifies the that the approaching vehicle is an emergency vehicle and determines the direction of approach of the emergency vehicle through a time difference between receipt of the identification signals.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said display means comprises a console having indicator lights.

9. A method according to claim 7 and further comprising an infrared transmitter, the infrared transmitter being activated by a receiver, so that the position of adjacent vehicles is determined to determine the direction to move the private vehicle in order to yield the right of way to the emergency vehicle.

10. A method according to claim 7 wherein said transmitter is a single location on the emergency vehicle.

11. A method according to claim 7 wherein said identification signal is a pulsed signal.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said pulsed signal is an infrared frequency signal.