Collision deterrence apparatus and method therefor
First Claim
1. A signaling apparatus for a lead vehicle having a fore and an aft, the apparatus comprising:
- a signaling structure having an obverse surface vertically configured to include a base portion and a cap portion and horizontally configured to include a lateral portion and a medial portion, and the signaling structure being affixed to the vehicle aft; and
a first annunciator disposed on the obverse surface, receiving the variable operational signal and emitting a characteristic hazard alert responsive to the variable operational signal,wherein the first annunciator includes signal lights and a sonic emitter which in combination provide a characteristic hazard alert in signal diversity,wherein the characteristic signal alert uniquely corresponds to a preselected lead vehicle motive state,wherein the signaling structure is configured such that the signal lights are capable of being perceived by a following vehicle operator;
wherein the signaling structure further comprises selected signal lights being disposed in diversity to provide a unique visual display disposed to increase conspicuity of the lead vehicle to the following vehicle operator and to correspond to a preselected characteristic of the lead vehicle motive state; and
wherein selected ones of the lights provide at least one diversity of intensity diversity, blink frequency diversity, color diversity, and modal diversity, and the at least one signal diversity is configured to increase conspicuity of the lead vehicle to the following vehicle operator and to approximately correspond to a preselected characteristic of the lead vehicle motive state.
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Abstract
Collision deterrence system including signaling apparatus and method collision having frequency diversity, amplitude diversity, duty cycle diversity, and modal diversity and capable of being perceived by the following vehicle operator as being indicative of a lead vehicle motive state. The apparatus produces distinctive visual and aural signals constituting a characteristic hazard alert, representative of a lead vehicle motive state. The method generates an unambiguous signal representative of a predetermined hazard in the vehicle travel path. A collision deterrence diversity signaling method provides unique visual and audible signals directed toward a following vehicle operator, eliciting a REC avoidance response.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A signaling apparatus for a lead vehicle having a fore and an aft, the apparatus comprising:
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a signaling structure having an obverse surface vertically configured to include a base portion and a cap portion and horizontally configured to include a lateral portion and a medial portion, and the signaling structure being affixed to the vehicle aft; and a first annunciator disposed on the obverse surface, receiving the variable operational signal and emitting a characteristic hazard alert responsive to the variable operational signal, wherein the first annunciator includes signal lights and a sonic emitter which in combination provide a characteristic hazard alert in signal diversity, wherein the characteristic signal alert uniquely corresponds to a preselected lead vehicle motive state, wherein the signaling structure is configured such that the signal lights are capable of being perceived by a following vehicle operator; wherein the signaling structure further comprises selected signal lights being disposed in diversity to provide a unique visual display disposed to increase conspicuity of the lead vehicle to the following vehicle operator and to correspond to a preselected characteristic of the lead vehicle motive state; and wherein selected ones of the lights provide at least one diversity of intensity diversity, blink frequency diversity, color diversity, and modal diversity, and the at least one signal diversity is configured to increase conspicuity of the lead vehicle to the following vehicle operator and to approximately correspond to a preselected characteristic of the lead vehicle motive state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A signaling system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a signaling structure attached to the vehicle and having disposed thereon a signal light ray to be perceivable by a following vehicle operator; and
a visual signal processor capable of receiving from the vehicle an operational signal corresponding to a motive state of the vehicle, and coupled to selectively communicate the operational signal to the signal light array;
wherein the visual signal processor emits a characteristic hazard alert responsive to an operational signal representative of a preselected lead vehicle motive state, wherein the characteristic signal alert uniquely corresponds to a predetermined motive hazard, wherein a unique visual display representative of the characteristic signal alert is issued by the signal light array using collision deterrence diversity signaling to be perceivable by a following vehicle operator, wherein the unique visual display representative of the characteristic signal alert issued using collision deterrence diversity signaling comprises;
a plurality of distinctive visual indicia each having a generally downward pointing generally ā
Vā
chevron shape, wherein at least a portion of the collision deterrence diversity signaling includes at least one of repeating intermittent illumination and repeating varying illumination of selected ones of the signal light array, wherein illumination of the selected ones visually proceeds from an upper vertical position of the vehicle to a lower vertical position of the vehicle, and wherein the unique visual display resembles at least one of flashing, blinking, cascading, and traveling illuminated shapes. - View Dependent Claims (15)
- a signaling structure attached to the vehicle and having disposed thereon a signal light ray to be perceivable by a following vehicle operator; and
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16. A method for a lead vehicle to signal, indicative of a travel path hazard, to a following vehicle therebehind, comprising:
- detecting a predetermined lead vehicle motive state;
providing a collision deterrence signal by the lead vehicle in response to the predetermined lead vehicle motive state; and
providing a visual display, and providing an aural display corresponding to the predetermined lead vehicle motive state, wherein the collision deterrence signal is a characteristic hazard alert corresponding to the predetermined lead vehicle motive state, and wherein the collision deterrence signal comprises a distinctive visual display uniquely representing the characteristic hazard alert corresponding to the predetermined lead vehicle motive state, and the distinctive visual display is evocative of moving generally chevron type shapes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
- detecting a predetermined lead vehicle motive state;
Specification