System and method for indicating a turn by a vehicle

• US 7,102,500 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John R. Martin 2002 Declaration of Trust
• Original Assignee: Arachnid Incorporated
• Inventors: Myers, Thomas P., Martin, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/861,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20040246119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 340/477, 340/476
• US Class Current: 340/477
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/40 having mechanical, electric or electronic automatic return to inoperative position

Abstract

A system for automatically deactivating a turn signal displayed on a vehicle, the system including a sensor configured to measure a vehicle turn attribute, and a processing unit in communication with the sensor, wherein the processing unit deactivates the turn signal based on a comparison between the vehicle turn attribute and a predetermined data point referenced by the processing unit.

Claims

1. A system for automatically deactivating a turn signal displayed on a vehicle, the system comprising:

a steering device for steering the vehicle;

a turn signal activator configured to be engaged to activate a turn signal;

a turn attribute sensing device including at least one of a velocity sensor configured to detect a velocity of the vehicle, a distance measuring device configured to measure a distance traveled by the vehicle, and a timer; and

a processing unit in communication with the turn attribute sensing device, wherein said processing unit deactivates the turn signal based on a comparison between a predetermined data point and the vehicle turn attribute.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing unit deactivates the turn signal when the vehicle turn attribute measured by the sensor exceeds the predetermined data point.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined data point is representative of a magnitude of velocity that is less than the that when the turn signal is activated, said processing unit deactivating the turn signal after the magnitude of velocity of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined data point subsequent to the magnitude of velocity dropping to a point that is at or below the predetermined data point.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined data point is representative of a precalculated time of a normal turn, said processing unit monitoring the turning time after the turn signal is activated, and said processing unit deactivating the turn signal when the turning time exceeds the precalculated time of the normal turn.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined data point is representative of a precalculated distance of a normal turn, said processing unit monitoring the turn distance after the turn signal is activated, and said processing unit deactivating the turn signal when the turn distance exceeds the precalculated distance of the normal turn.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is one of an automobile and a motorcycle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the steering device is at least one of a steering wheel, handle, lever, joystick, button(s), foot pedals, and stick.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the turn signal activator is at least one of a button, lever, stick, and switch.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said turn signal activator is engaged for a first length of time to indicate a full turn and a second length of time to indicate a lesser turn.

10. A system for automatically deactivating a turn signal displayed on a vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to measure a vehicle variable; and

a processing unit in communication with said sensor, wherein said processing unit deactivates the turn signal based on a comparison between the vehicle variable and a predetermined data point referenced by the processing unit.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said sensor is at least one of a velocity measuring device, a timer, an accelerometer, a positional sensor, and a distance measuring device, and wherein the vehicle variable is at least one of a vehicle speed, time of turn, vehicle acceleration, vehicle position, and a distance traveled.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said processing unit deactivates the turn signal when the vehicle variable measured by the sensor exceeds the predetermined data point.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said sensor is a velocity measuring device, and the vehicle variable is vehicle speed.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined data point is representative of a speed that is less than the vehicle speed when the turn signal is activated, said processing unit deactivating the turn signal after the vehicle speed exceeds the predetermined data point subsequent to the vehicle speed dropping to a point that is at or below the predetermined data point.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said sensor is a timer, and the vehicle variable is turning time.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined data point is representative of a precalculated time of a normal turn, said processing unit monitoring the turning time after the turn signal is activated, and said processing unit deactivating the turn signal when the turning time exceeds the precalculated time of the normal turn.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein said sensor is a distance measuring device, and the vehicle variable is turn distance.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the predetermined data point is representative of a precalculated distance of a normal turn, said processing unit monitoring the turn distance after the turn signal is activated, and said processing unit deactivating the turn signal when the turn distance exceeds the precalculated distance of the normal turn.

19. The system of claim 10, further comprising a turn signal activator in communication with said processing unit, said turn signal activator being engaged for a first length of time to indicate a full turn and a second length of time to indicate a lesser turn.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle is one of an automobile and a motorcycle.

21. The system of claim 10, further comprising a positional sensor configured to detect the vehicle variable, which is a position of the vehicle, wherein said positional sensor is in communication with the processing unit, and wherein said processing unit deactivates the turn signal based on data received from said positional sensor.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said positional sensor is at least one of a gyroscope and a compass.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said positional sensor is part of a global positioning system.

24. A method of automatically deactivating a turn signal displayed on a vehicle, the method comprising:

activating a turn signal;

sensing a vehicle attribute;

comparing the vehicle attribute to a predetermined data point related to the vehicle attribute such that the vehicle attribute and the predetermined data point are measured in a same units; and

deactivating the turn signal based on said comparing.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said deactivating occurs when the vehicle attribute exceeds the predetermined data point.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the vehicle attribute is vehicle speed, the predetermined data point is representative of a speed that is less than the vehicle speed when the turn signal is activated, wherein said deactivating occurs after the vehicle speed exceeds the predetermined data point subsequent to the vehicle speed dropping to a point that is at or below the predetermined data point.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the vehicle attribute is turning time, and the predetermined data point is representative of a precalculated time of a normal turn, said deactivating occurring when the turning time exceeds the precalculated time of the normal turn.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the vehicle attribute is turn distance, and the predetermined data point is representative of a precalculated distance of a normal turn, wherein the deactivating occurs when the turn distance exceeds the precalculated distance of the normal turn.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the vehicle attribute is vehicle heading, and the predetermined data point is representative of a change of direction from a first heading to a second heading, wherein the deactivating occurs when the vehicle heading changes from the first heading to the second heading.