Emergency vehicle siren indicator

• US 8,466,805 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Michael Waymire
• Original Assignee: William Michael Waymire
• Inventors: Waymire, William Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US12/959,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 340/902, 340/903
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

An emergency vehicle includes a siren signal generator emitting an electronic siren signal. A siren loudspeaker is coupled to the siren signal generator and emits an audible siren sound in response to receiving the electronic siren signal. The loudspeaker has two inputs. An impedance detector is coupled to the two inputs of the loudspeaker and measures impedance across the two inputs of the loudspeaker. The impedance detector outputs a loudspeaker presence signal if the measured impedance is within a predetermined range. A siren signal detector is coupled to the siren signal generator and emits a siren signal presence signal in response to verifying that the electronic siren signal has a set of predetermined siren signal characteristics. Logic circuitry emits an enable signal in response to receiving both the loudspeaker presence signal and the siren signal presence signal. A radio frequency transmitter transmits a radio frequency notification signal in response to receiving the enable signal.

Claims

1. An emergency vehicle comprising:

a siren signal generator configured to emit an electronic siren signal;

a siren loudspeaker coupled to the siren signal generator and configured to emit an audible siren sound in response to receiving the electronic siren signal, the loudspeaker having two inputs;

an impedance detector coupled to the two inputs of the loudspeaker and configured to;

measure impedance across the two inputs of the loudspeaker; and

output a loudspeaker presence signal if the measured impedance is within a predetermined range;

a siren signal detector coupled to the siren signal generator and configured to emit a siren signal presence signal in response to verifying that the electronic siren signal has a set of predetermined siren signal characteristics;

logic circuitry configured to emit an enable signal in response to receiving both the loudspeaker presence signal and the siren signal presence signal; and

a radio frequency transmitter configured to transmit a radio frequency notification signal in response to receiving the enable signal;

wherein the verifying step includes verifying that the electronic siren signal is a Society of Automotive Engineers (S.A.E.) approved or industry accepted variation siren signal.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electronic siren signal is a wail signal, yelp signal or industry accepted variation thereof.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined siren signal characteristics includes characteristics of a wail signal, yelp signal, or industry accepted variation thereof.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined siren signal characteristics includes a code identifying the siren signal as being a siren signal generated within an emergency vehicle.

5. A vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the set of predetermined siren signal characteristics includes a code uniquely identifying the emergency vehicle.

6. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency notification signal has a reception range of less than about 450 feet.

7. A vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a manually-actuatable switch configured to turn the siren signal generator on and off.

8. A method of operating an emergency vehicle, comprising the steps of:

emitting an electronic siren signal by use of a siren signal generator;

coupling a siren loudspeaker to the siren signal generator;

receiving the electronic siren signal at the siren loudspeaker;

emitting an audible siren sound by use of the siren loudspeaker in response to the loudspeaker receiving the electronic siren signal;

verifying that the loudspeaker is configured to receive the electronic siren signal and that the electronic siren signal is being emitted by the siren signal generator; and

transmitting a radio frequency notification signal to nearby vehicles, the transmitting step being dependent upon the verifying step;

wherein the verifying step includes verifying that an impedance measured between two inputs of the loudspeaker is within a predetermined range;

wherein the verifying step includes verifying that the electronic siren signal is a Society of Automotive Engineers (S.A.E.) approved or industry accepted variation siren signal.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the radio frequency notification signal has a reception range of less than about 450 feet.

10. A method according to claim 8, comprising a further step of manually actuating a switch to thereby turn the siren signal generator on and off.