Apparatus for broadcasting a warning signal

• US 7,098,804 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emergency Warning Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Emergency Warning Systems Limited
• Inventors: Manson, Keith, Tringali, Salvatore
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/481,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20040201494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/902, 340/903, 340/904, 340/905, 340/906, 340/988, 340/539.1, 340/539.19, 340/539.21, 340/539.23, 340/644, 340/933, 340/990, 455/42, 455/68, 455/70, 455/404
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

There is disclosed vehicle mounted apparatus for broadcasting a warning signal on a radio channel to thereby warn of the vehicle'"'"'s approach. The apparatus includes a transmitter for broadcasting a warning signal on a radio channel, and a controller for controlling the strength of the broadcast warning signal on the basis of a signal strength of a normal signal on the radio channel to thereby control a broadcast range of the warning signal.

Claims

1. Vehicle mounted apparatus for broadcasting a warning signal on a radio channel to thereby warn of the vehicle'"'"'s approach, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for broadcasting a warning signal on a radio channel;

a receiver for receiving and measuring a signal strength of a normal signal of said radio channel; and

a controller for controlling a strength of the broadcast warning signal based on the measured signal strength of the normal signal of said radio channel to thereby control a broadcast range of said warning signal, wherein said receiver stores said signal strength in said memory, and wherein said controller controls the strength of the warning signal on the basis of the signal strength currently stored in said memory.

2. Vehicle mounted apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller also controls said warning signal in accordance with a speed of a vehicle.

3. Vehicle mounted apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes a memory associated with said controller for storing the measured signal strength of the radio channel.

4. Vehicle mounted apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiver periodically monitors said signal strength to thereby update said signal strength for said radio channel stored in said memory.

5. Vehicle mounted apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said receiver monitors said signal strength during pauses in transmission of said warning signal.

6. Vehicle mounted apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to broadcast warning signals on a plurality of radio channels.

7. Vehicle mounted apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said apparatus is configured to broadcast said warning signals concurrently.

8. Vehicle mounted apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said apparatus is configured to broadcast said warning signals on each of said radio channels in turn.

9. Vehicle mounted apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said receiver monitors the signal strength on a channel which is currently not being broadcast upon.

10. Vehicle mounted apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitter has a directional antenna oriented in the direction of travel of said vehicle for transmitting said warning signal when said radio channel is in the frequency range 80 to 120 megahertz.

11. A method of broadcasting a warning signal comprising:

receiving and measuring a signal strength of a normal signal of a radio channel;

broadcasting a warning signal on said radio channel using a transmitter;

controlling a strength of the warning signal based on the measured signal strength of the normal signal of said radio channel to thereby control a broadcast range of said warning signal, and

storing said measured signal strength in a memory and controlling the strength of the warning signal based on the currently stored signal strength.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising periodically monitoring said signal strength to thereby update the stored signal strength.