Road hazard automatic vehicle speed control

• US 7,552,004 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ghassan Brikho
• Original Assignee: Ghassan Brikho
• Inventors: Brikho, Ghassan
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/400,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20070239341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/33, 701/36, 701/93, 340/426.13, 340/426.16, 340/438, 342/357.1
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

Systems and processes for automatically bringing a vehicle into compliance with a regulation are provided in order to control for unusual situations, inexperience, reduced ability, and willful disregard by a vehicle operator. An inventive system includes a signal receiver for wirelessly receiving a signal directed specifically to the motorized vehicle while the vehicle is in operation. The signal pertains to a regulation and or emergency command. For example, a signal contains speed limit information and comparison of a parameter of vehicle operation with the requirements of the regulation allows determination of whether the vehicle is in compliance with the regulation. A signal may also include a command by an authority directing the vehicle to slow down or stop, such as in an emergency situation. Where the vehicle is not in compliance with the regulation or command, a control signal is sent to an effector to bring the vehicle into compliance.

Claims

1. A system for automatically bringing a motorized vehicle into compliance with a motorized vehicle regulation, comprising:

a signal receiver disposed in contact with a motorized vehicle for receiving a signal directed specifically to the motorized vehicle from a signal emitter device, the signal containing data relating to a motorized vehicle regulation; and

an electronic device disposed in contact with the motorized vehicle, the electronic device in data communication with the signal receiver, the electronic device having data input and output capacity, processing circuitry, memory circuitry and an executable program for analysis of the data from the signal emitter device to determine whether the motorized vehicle is in compliance with the motorized vehicle regulation and, where the motorized vehicle is not in compliance with the regulation, for generating a control signal to control an effector responsive to the control signal, wherein response of the effector to the control signal automatically brings the motorized vehicle into compliance with the motorized vehicle regulation.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the signal emitter device is a radio frequency identification tag and the signal receiver is a radio frequency identification reader.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the signal receiver is a radio frequency identification tag and the signal emitter device is a radio frequency identification reader.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the motorized vehicle regulation is a speed limit.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the effector is a component of a braking system of the motorized vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the effector is a component of a fuel injection system of the motorized vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the effector is a component of an engine airflow intake system of the motorized vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the elector is activated to inhibit spark supply to a combustion chamber the motorized vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the elector is activated to turn off the engine of the motorized vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the effector is activated to disable an input from an operator of the motorized vehicle.

11. The system of claim I wherein the signal emitter device is disposed in an emergency vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the emergency vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a police vehicle, an ambulance, a fire response vehicle and a government agency vehicle.

13. A process for automatically bringing a motorized vehicle into compliance with a motorized vehicle regulation, comprising:

receiving a signal directed specifically to a motorized vehicle from a signal emitter device, the signal receiver in contact with the motorized vehicle, the signal containing data relating to a motorized vehicle regulation, the signal receiver in data communication with an electronic device disposed in contact with the motorized vehicle, the electronic device having data input and output capacity, processing circuitry, memory circuitry and an executable program for analysis of the data to determine whether the motorized vehicle is in compliance with the motorized vehicle regulation and, where the motorized vehicle is not in compliance with the regulation, for generating a control signal;

determining that the motorized vehicle is not in compliance with the motorized vehicle regulation; and

generating a control signal effective to activate an effector thereby automatically bringing the motorized vehicle into compliance with the motorized vehicle regulation.

14. The process of claim 13 wherein the control signal activates a braking system of the vehicle.

15. The process of claim 13 wherein the control signal disables operator initiated activation of a vehicle accelerator.

16. A system for automatically controlling an off-road motorized vehicle, comprising:

a signal receiver disposed in contact with an off-road motorized vehicle for receiving a signal directed specifically to off-road motorized vehicle from a signal emitter device, the signal containing data relating to a hazard or restricted area; and

an electronic device disposed in contact with the off-road motorized vehicle, the electronic device in data communication with the signal receiver, the electronic device having data input and output capacity, processing circuitry, memory circuitry and an executable program for analysis of the data from the signal emitter device to determine whether the motorized vehicle is in the vicinity of the hazard and, where the motorized vehicle is in the vicinity of the hazard or restricted area, for generating a control signal to control an effector responsive to the control signal, wherein response of the effector to the control signal automatically controls the off-road motorized vehicle so as to avoid the hazard or restricted area.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the off-road motorized vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

a marine vehicle, a wheeled off-road vehicle and a snowmobile.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising a signal emitter device for transmitting a signal containing data relating to a regulation, hazard or restricted area.