Vehicle distance measuring safety warning system and method
First Claim
1. A vehicle distance measuring safety warning system comprising:
- at least one distance measurement sensor secured to the exterior of a motor vehicle for measuring the distance from the vehicle to a second vehicle;
a vehicle distance alarm mounted within the vehicle to alert a vehicle operator;
an event record display mounted within the vehicle identifying time/date of twenty most recent alarm occurrences of detected distance warning alarms; and
an electronic control unit electrically connected to said sensors, the control unit receiving measurement signals from the sensors, calculating distance between the vehicle and the second vehicle, determining if the calculated distance is less than a minimum distance and generating a distance alarm if the distance is less than the minimum distance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle distance measuring safety warning system and method is disclosed having one or more distance measurement sensors measuring the distance from the driver'"'"'s vehicle to a second vehicle immediately in front. A vehicle distance alarm alerts the driver when the distance between the driver'"'"'s vehicle and the second vehicle is less than a configured minimum distance, indicating an unsafe driving condition. An event record display device displays the time/date or the last twenty occurrences of the distance warning alarm. When an alarm is generated, a throttle set-back actuator operates to gently and automatically slow the car and increase vehicle to vehicle distance. Vehicle brakes may be automatically applied by the system to further slow the vehicle. The vehicle distance measuring safety warning system provides an additional margin of safety for a driver who may be distracted while driving.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A vehicle distance measuring safety warning system comprising:
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at least one distance measurement sensor secured to the exterior of a motor vehicle for measuring the distance from the vehicle to a second vehicle; a vehicle distance alarm mounted within the vehicle to alert a vehicle operator; an event record display mounted within the vehicle identifying time/date of twenty most recent alarm occurrences of detected distance warning alarms; and an electronic control unit electrically connected to said sensors, the control unit receiving measurement signals from the sensors, calculating distance between the vehicle and the second vehicle, determining if the calculated distance is less than a minimum distance and generating a distance alarm if the distance is less than the minimum distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A vehicle distance measuring safety warning method comprising:
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configuring at least one minimum distance setting; calculating the distance between the vehicle and a leading second vehicle using signals from at least one distance sensor; comparing the calculated distance to the configured minimum distance; and activating an alarm light and updating a displayed alarm list of last twenty alarms and time/dates of occurrence, if the calculated distance is less the configured minimum distance. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification