Hazardous vehicle alert system and method based on reaction time, distance and speed

• US 8,237,555 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tom Mccarthy
• Original Assignee: Tom Mccarthy
• Inventors: McCarthy, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gillis, Ieesha
• Application Number:
  US12/577,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/01 Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled G08G1/07 - G08G1/14 take precedence

Abstract

A hazardous vehicle alert system comprising a control module, a special graphical user interface, a speed and distance detector, and an alarm module where the user sets alarm triggers based on reaction time until potential impact from the hazardous vehicle. The user can assess the landscape, traffic patterns, and specifics of the task at hand to determine the required reaction time to take evasive maneuvers from the threat of on-coming hazardous vehicles and create alarm triggers to yield this reaction time. A software package is used to drive the graphical user interface, control module, alarm module, and detector module. The system includes modes ranging from one to four pieces and a mode that can be installed in a vehicle.

Claims

1. A hazardous vehicle alert system comprising:

a control module, comprising;

a processor, a data storage medium, and a software package;

a graphical user interface, comprising;

at least one display screen, at least one hand operated control, a required reaction time input, a minimum vehicle speed input, and a minimum vehicle distance input,

a vehicle speed and distance detection device with an operating range of at least 1500 feet and a conical-shaped send and capture operational zone;

an alert module; and

at least one power source, wherein

said control module is controllably coupled to said graphical user interface, said vehicle speed and distance detection device, and said alert module, and electrically coupled to said at least one power source,

said graphical user interface, said vehicle speed and distance detection device, and said alert module are electrically coupled to said at least one power source,

said software package is installed on said data storage medium and produces said graphical user interface on said at least one display screen, where said inputs may be adjusted with said at least one hand operated control, with data transfer essentially continuously flowing between said graphical user interface and said data storage medium through said processor, which executes a set of instructions contained in said software package,

said instructions including the continuous update of required reaction time input, said minimum vehicle speed input, and said minimum vehicle distance input in said graphical user interface according to the relationship;

said reaction time input=said minimum vehicle distance input/said minimum vehicle speed input, where the most prior adjusted input parameter between said three input parameters is held constant during said continuous recalculation, where the most prior adjusted input parameter is a rolling designation as input parameters are iteratively adjusted, until the final said three input parameters is chosen by the user and saved into said control module,

said control module sends commands to said vehicle speed and distance detection device for it to report back to said control module with the actual vehicle speed of detected vehicles at designated said minimum vehicle distance location; and

in response to said speed reports from said vehicle speed and distance detection device to said control module, said control module sends commands to said alert module to start an alert process when it receives vehicle speed measurements at or above said minimum vehicle speed at said minimum vehicle distance, thereby alerting personnel to hazardous vehicles.

2. A hazardous vehicle alert system as recited in claim 1 wherein said graphical user interface further comprises an alert type input designation, comprising:

a siren option, a special recorded message option, and a computer voice option, wherein this particularly chosen alert type is started by the alert module when said control module commands such.

3. A hazardous vehicle alert system as recited in claim 1, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises an alert volume control, wherein the volume of the alarm signaled by said alert module can be adjusted according to said alert volume control, where such process is controlled by the commands originating in said control module.

4. A hazardous vehicle alert system as recited in claim 1 wherein said graphical user interface further comprises a second minimum vehicle speed input, wherein

said control module receives said second minimum vehicle speed input and sends commands to said vehicle speed and distance detection device to report back with the actual vehicle speed of any detected vehicles at all measurable distances of said vehicle speed and distance detection device;

said control module sends commands to said alert module to start an alert process when the actual vehicle speed meets or exceeds said second minimum vehicle speed, thereby alerting personnel to hazardous vehicles.

5. A hazardous vehicle alert system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one power source further comprises:

one or more direct current batteries; and

a battery charging device, wherein said battery charging device charges said one or more batteries, said battery charging device consisting of;

an alternating current battery charger and an alternating current power supply input, such as a standard 110 VAC line, coupled thereto,

an alternating current battery charger and a gas or diesel powered alternating current power generator coupled thereto,

one or more photovoltaic cells coupled to said one or more direct current batteries, or

a vehicle alternator system that is used to charge the vehicle battery.

6. A hazardous vehicle alert system as recited in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein all said elements are housed:

in one protective case, sized to be able to be held and easily positioned by an average-sized person;

or

in one protective wheel cart case with wheels on its bottom end to enable said wheel cart case to be easily moved and positioned by an average-sized person.

7. A hazardous vehicle alert system as recited in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein

said control module and said graphical user interface are installed in the interior of a vehicle such as a pickup truck or vehicle, or optionally installed into a hand-held unit,

said vehicle speed and distance detection device is mounted on the exterior of the vehicle at one end,

said alert module is mounted on the exterior of the vehicle at the other end, and

said at least one power source is the vehicle battery along with the vehicle alternator system.

8. A hazardous vehicle alert system as recited in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein

said control module and said graphical user interface are packaged into one hand-held unit, wherein said hand held unit further comprises:

a separate power source in the form of a direct current battery,

a display screen capable of displaying numbers and headings,

a select button capable of button up, button down, button left, button right, and button press electrical switching,

a radio frequency transmitter and receiver,

said vehicle speed and distance detection device is package into a separate unit wherein said unit further comprises;

a separate power source, and

a radio frequency transmitter and receiver,

said alert module is package into a separate unit wherein said unit further comprises;

a separate power source, and

a radio frequency transmitter and receiver, wherein

said control unit is wirelessly controllably coupled, through said radio frequency transmitters and receivers, to said graphical user interface, said vehicle speed and distance detection device, and said alert module.

9. A method of alerting persons located near a roadside work zone to hazardous vehicles entering said roadside work zone comprising:

setting up said a hazardous vehicle alert system as recited in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 at a position that is upstream in terms of traffic flow from said roadside work zone;

aiming said vehicle speed and distance detection device so that one leg of the point of said conical send and capture operational zone of said vehicle speed and distance detection device coincides with the boundary between said roadside work zone and the non-work zone area where traffic may freely travel;

determining a reaction time required to take evasive maneuvers from a speeding vehicle traveling through said roadside work zone;

determining a distance at which it would be prudent to notice or discover a speeding vehicles traveling through said roadside work zone, or, alternatively, determining a speed at which it would be prudent to notice or discover a speeding vehicles traveling through said roadside work zone;

entering said reaction time and said distance or said speed into said graphical user interface; and

being notified with an alarm sequence of a vehicle traveling through said roadside work zone when said vehicle is at said distance, traveling at said speed or faster.

10. A method of alerting persons located near a roadside work zone to hazardous vehicles entering said roadside work zone comprising:

setting up said a hazardous vehicle alert system as recited in claim 6 at a position that is upstream in terms of traffic flow from said roadside work zone;

aiming said vehicle speed and distance detection device so that one leg of the point of said conical send and capture operational zone of said vehicle speed and distance detection device coincides with the boundary between said roadside work zone and the non-work zone area where traffic may freely travel;

determining a reaction time required to take evasive maneuvers from a speeding vehicle traveling through said roadside work zone;

determining a distance at which it would be prudent to notice or discover a speeding vehicles traveling through said roadside work zone, or, alternatively, determining a speed at which it would be prudent to notice or discover a speeding vehicles traveling through said roadside work zone;

entering said reaction time and said distance or said speed into said graphical user interface; and

being notified with an alarm sequence of a vehicle traveling through said roadside work zone when said vehicle is at said distance, traveling at said speed or faster.

11. A method of alerting persons located near a roadside work zone to hazardous vehicles entering said roadside work zone comprising:

setting up said a hazardous vehicle alert system as recited in claim 7 at a position that is upstream in terms of traffic flow from said roadside work zone;

aiming said vehicle speed and distance detection device so that one leg of the point of said conical send and capture operational zone of said vehicle speed and distance detection device coincides with the boundary between said roadside work zone and the non-work zone area where traffic may freely travel;

determining a reaction time required to take evasive maneuvers from a speeding vehicle traveling through said roadside work zone;

determining a distance at which it would be prudent to notice or discover a speeding vehicles traveling through said roadside work zone, or, alternatively, determining a speed at which it would be prudent to notice or discover a speeding vehicles traveling through said roadside work zone;

entering said reaction time and said distance or said speed into said graphical user interface; and

being notified with an alarm sequence of a vehicle traveling through said roadside work zone when said vehicle is at said distance, traveling at said speed or faster.

12. A method of alerting persons located near a roadside work zone to hazardous vehicles entering said roadside work zone comprising:

setting up said a hazardous vehicle alert system as recited in claim 8 at a position that is upstream in terms of traffic flow from said roadside work zone;

aiming said vehicle speed and distance detection device so that one leg of the point of said conical send and capture operational zone of said vehicle speed and distance detection device coincides with the boundary between said roadside work zone and the non-work zone area where traffic may freely travel;

determining a reaction time required to take evasive maneuvers from a speeding vehicle traveling through said roadside work zone;

determining a distance at which it would be prudent to notice or discover a speeding vehicles traveling through said roadside work zone, or, alternatively, determining a speed at which it would be prudent to notice or discover a speeding vehicles traveling through said roadside work zone;

entering said reaction time and said distance or said speed into said graphical user interface; and

being notified with an alarm sequence of a vehicle traveling through said roadside work zone when said vehicle is at said distance, traveling at said speed or faster.