Automotive horn audit system

• US 7,525,427 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph Mauriello
• Original Assignee: Joseph Mauriello
• Inventors: Mauriello, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunnings; Travis R
• Application Number:
  US11/247,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20070080525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.24, 340/438, 340/439, 340/463, 340/466, 340/539.31
• US Class Current: 340/539.24
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

An automotive audit system maintains a record of usage of a vehicle horn and the record is made accessible for later audit of horn use. The record is maintained in a memory device which may be accessed and read by a law enforcement authority, fleet manager, or other authorized person(s) for the purpose of auditing vehicle horn use. The device comprises a detector for detecting instances of horn use, a counter for counting instances of horn use, and a memory connected with the counter for retaining a record.

Claims

1. A vehicle horn use control system, comprising:

(a) a detector connected with a vehicle horn, for detecting instances of horn use;

(b) a counter responsively connected with the detector for counting instances of horn use detected by the detector; and

(c) a memory connected with the counter for retaining a record of the count of horn use; and

(d) an audit interface mounted in the vehicle for providing a human readable representation of the record maintained in the memory, where the vehicle is located.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the audit interface comprises a digital display mounted in the vehicle.

3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the counter is connected with a timer for recording the time of each horn use.

4. The control system of claim 2, wherein the counter and memory are mounted in a tamperproof housing.

5. The control system of claim 4 wherein the counter and memory are provided with an independent power supply.

6. The control system of claim 1 wherein the audit interface includes an electrical connector for readably connecting the memory with an audit device to provide a human readable display of an audit of horn uses.

7. A vehicle horn use control system, comprising:

(a) a detector connected with a vehicle horn, for detecting instances of horn use;

(b) a counter responsively connected with the detector for counting instances of horn use detected by the detector;

(c) a memory connected with the counter for retaining a record of the count of horn use;

(d) an audit interface for providing a human readable representation of the record maintained in the memory; and

wherein the counter and the memory are integrated with a vehicle on-board diagnostic system, and wherein the audit interface comprises an on-board diagnostic readout device.

8. A vehicle horn use control system, comprising:

(a) a detector connected with a vehicle horn, for detecting instances of horn use;

(b) a counter responsively connected with the detector for counting instances of horn use detected by the detector;

(c) a memory connected with the counter for retaining a record of the count of horn use;

(d) an audit interface for providing a human readable representation of the record maintained in the memory; and

wherein the counter is connected with the vehicle speedometer, for collecting and storing the vehicle speed in connection with each horn use.

9. A vehicle horn use control system, comprising:

(a) a detector connected with a vehicle horn, for detecting instances of horn use;

(b) a counter responsively connected with the detector for counting instances of horn use detected by the detector;

(c) a memory connected with the counter for retaining a record of the count of horn use;

(d) an audit interface for providing a human readable representation of the record maintained in the memory; and

wherein the counter is connected with the vehicle speedometer, for recording the vehicle mileage in connection with each horn use.

10. A method of controlling vehicle horn use, comprising:

(a) detecting horn use in a vehicle;

(b) maintaining a record of horn use in a memory mounted in the vehicle;

(c) reading the memory to retrieve a count of horn uses; and

(d) assessing a penalty based upon the retrieved count of horn uses.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the penalty is based upon a predetermined value of horn uses defined as excessive.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of maintaining a record of horn use comprises a step of maintaining a record of at least one of vehicle mileage, or time, concurrent with each horn use, and wherein the step of assessing a penalty comprises a step of establishing a predetermined threshold of horn uses per unit distance or horn uses per unit time as said predetermined value of horn uses defined as excessive.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of maintaining a record of horn use comprises a step of maintaining a record of at least one of vehicle mileage, location or time, concurrent with each horn use.