Method for intelligent crescendo system

• US 7,075,422 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2003
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nattel Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nattel Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Patel, Rajesh, Nath, Sanjeev
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/746,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20050146425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457, 340/693.3, 340/309.16
• US Class Current: 340/457
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A method and system for warning an operator of a vehicle of a vehicular task that is being performed beyond a pre-determined time for execution of the task involving incrementally increasing audio and visual warnings as the task continues to be performed past the pre-determined time.

Claims

1. A method for warning the operator of an apparatus to terminate the execution of a task associated with said apparatus that has extended beyond a pre-determined time frame, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring said task to determine if the duration, extent or velocity of its execution exceeds a predetermined time for execution of the task;

informing the operator of the apparatus by sensible warnings if the task extends beyond said pre-determined time by incrementally raising an intensity of the sensible warning as time further elapses from the pre-determined time; and

automatically interrupting or terminating said task associated with said apparatus so as to not exceed the pre-determined time limit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus selected is from a group consisting of:

a machine, motor, an automobile, a truck, a bus, tractor, crane, or a 2-or 3-wheel conveyance.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the task comprises a task selected from the following:

vehicle operation with continuous activation of the turn signals;

vehicle operation without seat belt use;

vehicle operation with continuous activation of hazard signals;

vehicle operation in reduced light and visibility conditions without appropriate lights activated; and

vehicle operation in the presence of a malfunction as warned by the onboard computer control system provided by the manufacturer.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensible warning is an audio signal.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensible warning is a visual signal.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the task comprises an automatically time limited operation of said apparatus so as to avoid exceeding a pre-determined operative limit.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the task comprises an automatically time limited operation as controlled by system bus.

8. A device comprising a computer controlled automatic operational shutoff of an apparatus wherein an operator of said apparatus is informed within a pre-determined operational time limit prior to said shutoff by an alarm device generating an increased frequency warning signal of the approaching limit.