Vehicle flasher system for indicating emergency braking

• US 7,698,040 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronald Long
• Original Assignee: Ronald Long
• Inventors: Long, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMPLE, JONATHAN L
• Application Number:
  US11/457,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 71/49, 71/1, 71/36
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights

Abstract

One embodiment of this invention discloses a system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s emergency flashers upon harsh braking or if the vehicle otherwise undergoes severe deceleration.

Claims

1. A system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights, comprising:

a means for performing a self-test upon initialization;

a means for detecting the presence of an on-board microprocessor based system for performing engine management functions,

a means for receiving signals related to the vehicle'"'"'s speed from said on-board microprocessor based system responsive to a successful system initialization and detection of said on-board microprocessor-based system;

a means for calculating the vehicle'"'"'s deceleration based upon said signals related to the vehicle'"'"'s speed;

a means for determining if a preset deceleration threshold has been exceeded, and

a means for activating the vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights if said present deceleration threshold has been exceeded.

2. A system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights according to claim 1, wherein said on-board microprocessor based system for performing engine management functions comprises an engine control unit.

3. A system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights according to claim 1, wherein said on-board microprocessor based system includes an on-board diagnostic system.

4. A system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights according to claim 3, wherein said on-board diagnostic system comprises the OBD-II protocol.

5. A system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights according to claim 1, wherein said means for receiving signals related to the vehicle'"'"'s speed comprises a controller area network serial bus.

6. A system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights according to claim 1, wherein said signals related to the vehicle'"'"'s speed comprise signals from the vehicle speed sensor.

7. A system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights according to claim 1, wherein said hazard warning lights comprise one or more lights that are reserved for the exclusive use of the system.

8. A system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights according to claim 1, wherein said hazard warning lights comprise the hazard warning light system used by other systems within the vehicle.

9. A system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights according to claim 1, wherein said means for activating the vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights maintains the operation of said hazard warning lights for a preset duration of time.

10. A system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights according to claim 1 further comprising a means for resetting the system following the activation of the vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights by the system.

11. A system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights according to claim 9 further comprising a means for resetting the system following the expiration of said present duration of time.

12. A system for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights, comprising:

a means for performing a self-test upon system initialization;

a means for detecting the presence of an engine control unit, said engine control unit featuring a controller area network serial bus and operating using the OBD-II protocol,

a means for receiving vehicle speed sensor signals from said engine control unit through said controller network serial bus responsive to a successful system initialization and detection of said engine control unit;

a means for calculating the vehicle'"'"'s deceleration based upon said vehicle speed sensor signals;

a means for determining if a preset deceleration threshold has been exceeded, and

a means for activating the vehicle'"'"'s hazard warning lights for a preset duration of time if said preset deceleration threshold has been exceeded, and

a means for resetting the system upon the expiration of said preset duration of time.

13. A method for activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard lights, comprising:

initializing a system;

performing a self test of said system;

detecting the presence of an interface with a source of vehicle speed data;

monitoring said vehicle speed data;

detecting a rapid deceleration;

verifying the rapid deceleration; and

activating a vehicle'"'"'s hazard lights for a predetermined amount of time responsive to said verification of said rapid deceleration.