Control apparatus, method, and algorithm for turning on warning in response to strobe

• US 8,054,200 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Louis H. Mckenna
• Original Assignee: Neva Products, LLC
• Inventors: Nelson, Gregory K
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rushing; Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/316,441
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/436, 340463-467, 340/901, 340/905, 701/301
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

A right of way vehicle throws out a strobe light having pulses. The strobe light is picked up by the present control apparatus, which analyzes the pulses of the strobe light via an algorithm, and then sets off an alarm or warning device if the strobe light meets the conditions of the algorithm. The control apparatus includes a sensor component, a signal conditioner component, a microcontroller component, and an alarm or warning device component. The components may be housed as a package and located in the interior of a vehicle. The components may be housed separately or in separate packages. The separately housed components or separately housed packages may be located at various locations on or in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A control apparatus comprising:

a) a light sensor;

b) a warning device;

c) a microcontroller connected between the light sensor and the warning device and comprising an algorithm for analyzing outputs of the light sensor, wherein the algorithm controls operation of the warning device;

d) a signal conditioner connected between the sensor and the microcontroller, wherein an output of the signal conditioner includes a first in time digital pulse and a consecutive second in time digital pulse;

e) wherein the microcontroller includes a timer, wherein the microcontroller includes specifications for A) a required interval defined by a required time between said first in time digital pulse and said second in time digital pulse, B) a required number of consecutive digital pulses that have fallen into said required interval; and

f) wherein the microcontroller includes an algorithm having variables that comprise;

i) a first in time value variable, wherein the first in time value is a timer count from said first in time digital pulse;

ii) a second in time value variable, wherein the second in time value is a timer count from said second in time digital pulse;

iii) a required interval variable, wherein the required interval is said required time between the first in time digital pulse and the second in time digital pulse plus or minus a tolerance;

iv) a count variable, wherein the count is a current number of consecutive digital pulses that have fallen into said required interval; and

v) a pulses variable, wherein the pulses is a required number of consecutive digital pulses that have fallen into said required interval to activate said warning device.

2. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light sensor is an infrared light sensor.

3. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the warning device is one of an audio warning device and visual warning device.

4. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein said warning device provides each of an audio warning and a visual warning.

5. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is a right of way vehicle warning apparatus.

6. A method for turning on a warning device in response to a strobe emitting pulses of light, comprising the steps of:

a) sensing a pulse of light from said strobe and converting said pulse of light into an analog pulse;

b) converting said analog pulse into a digital pulse;

c) recording a first time for a first digital pulse;

d) recording a second time for a second digital pulse that occurs consecutively after said first digital pulse;

e) analyzing whether a time period between the first and second times have fallen into a required time interval, wherein said required time interval is a required time between the first and second digital pulses plus or minus a tolerance;

f) counting a number of consecutive digital pulses that have fallen into said required time interval; and

g) turning on said warning device when said number of consecutive digital pulses have attained a warning device requirement defined by a required number of consecutive digital pulses over a required period of time.

7. The method of claim 6, and further comprising the steps of a) ceasing the step of analyzing when a time period between said first and second times have fallen out of said required time interval and then b) looping back to the step of recording a first time for a first digital pulse.

8. The method of claim 6, and further comprising the steps of a) stopping the step of counting when a number of consecutive digital pulses have failed to attain said warning device requirement and then b) looping back to the step of recording a first time for a first digital pulse.

9. The method of claim 6, and further comprising the step of configuring said required time interval to be one of a) about 71.4 milliseconds and b) 71.4 milliseconds plus or minus a tolerance.

10. The method of claim 6, and further comprising the step of configuring said warning device requirement to be one of a) 14 consecutive digital pulses over a required time period of one second and b) a number proportional to 14 consecutive digital pulses over a required time period of one second.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of sensing a pulse of light from said strobe comprises the step of sensing a pulse of infrared light from said strobe.

12. A control apparatus for turning on a warning device in response to a strobe emitting pulses of light, comprising:

a) a light sensor;

b) a warning device;

c) a microcontroller connected between the light sensor and the warning device and comprising an algorithm for analyzing outputs of the light sensor, wherein the algorithm controls operation of the warning device;

d) a signal conditioner connected between the light sensor and the microcontroller, wherein an output of the signal conditioner includes a first in time digital pulse and a consecutive second in time digital pulse; and

e) wherein the microcontroller includes a timer, wherein the microcontroller includes specifications for A) a required interval defined by a required time between said first in time digital pulse and said second in time digital pulse, B) a required number of consecutive digital pulses that have fallen into said required interval.

13. The control apparatus of claim 12, wherein said required time interval is configurable by an end user.

14. The control apparatus of claim 12, wherein said required time interval is reconfigurable.

15. The control apparatus of claim 12, wherein said required number of consecutive digital pulses is configurable by an end user.

16. The control apparatus of claim 12, wherein said required number of consecutive digital pulses is reconfigurable.