Vehicle safety device for reducing driver distractions
First Claim
1. A method of selectively limiting operation of a communication device within a vehicle, the communication device being configured to communicate information by sending or receiving information to or from a remote device using a type of signal, the method comprising:
- detecting an operating condition of the vehicle; and
in response to the detected operating condition, controlling a device to limit operation of the communication device within the vehicle,wherein controlling the device comprises controlling the device to modify a signal of the type of signal used by the communication device to vary in amplitude and at a frequency so as to exceed the operational limits of the communication device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safety device for automotive vehicles (cars, buses and trucks) or rail locomotives. The device inhibits use of cellular telephones and other communication devices that run the risk of distracting a driver/operator while the vehicle is in motion. Several techniques for inhibiting use are described which can be used individually or in a complementary combinations. In one technique, a rapidly varying signal level is created local to the communication device. The variations exceed the operational limits of the system, thereby inhibiting communications. In another technique, the safety device emits radiation that interferes with the reception of signals by the communication device only within the interior of the vehicle and will not interfere with cell phones or wireless devises outside the automotive vehicle or rail locomotive. As another alternative, masking signals also may be generated to prevent signals sent by the communication device within the vehicle from being intelligible at receiving stations outside the vehicle.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of selectively limiting operation of a communication device within a vehicle, the communication device being configured to communicate information by sending or receiving information to or from a remote device using a type of signal, the method comprising:
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detecting an operating condition of the vehicle; and in response to the detected operating condition, controlling a device to limit operation of the communication device within the vehicle, wherein controlling the device comprises controlling the device to modify a signal of the type of signal used by the communication device to vary in amplitude and at a frequency so as to exceed the operational limits of the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device to selectively limit operation of a communication device within a vehicle, the communication device being configured to communicate information by sending or receiving information to or from a remote device using a type of signal, the device comprising:
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a controller adapted to limit operation of the communication device within the vehicle in response to detection of an operating condition of the vehicle; and a device, wherein the controller is adapted to control the device to cause variations of a level of a signal of the type of signal used by the communication device, wherein the variations create a fast fading environment that limits operation of the communication device within the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A device to selectively limit operation of a communication device within a vehicle, the communication device being configured to communicate information by sending or receiving to or from a remote device a type of signal, the device comprising:
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a controller adapted to limit operation of the communication device within the vehicle in response to detection of an operating condition of the vehicle; and a passive device; wherein the controller is adapted to switch a state of the passive device to cause variations of a level of a signal of the type used by the communication device, wherein the variations comprise increases and decreases of the signal level that limit operation of the communication device within the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification