Emergency respondence warning system

• US 8,723,680 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Alan Baker
• Original Assignee: Paul Alan Baker
• Inventors: Baker, Paul Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alizada, Omeed
• Application Number:
  US13/227,723
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 340902-907
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

An emergency respondence warning system for warning of the approach of emergency vehicles at roadway intersections. The warning system comprises a transmitter mountable to an emergency vehicle and a receiver situated near the roadway intersection. As the emergency vehicle approaches the intersection, the transmitter sends signals to the receiver, which are processed by the receiver when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance. The receiver activates a distinct visual warning signal alerting nearby drivers and pedestrians of the approach of an emergency vehicle. The emergency respondence warning system also warns of the approach of multiple emergency vehicles. When the receiver determines that two emergency vehicles are approaching the intersection, it activates the warning element but triggers a dedicated visual signal indicating the approach of multiple vehicles.

Claims

1. An emergency respondence warning system, comprising:

a transmitter mountable to an emergency vehicle, the transmitter comprising a global positioning chip and capable of producing a signal;

a receiver mountable near a roadway intersection, the receiver comprising a global positioning chip, wherein the receiver is capable of analyzing the signal from the transmitter as the transmitter approaches the receiver and, when the transmitter reaches a pre-determined distance from the receiver, of activating the warning system; and

a warning element comprising a visual light stimulus, the warning element mountable near the roadway intersection and adapted to produce a single light pulse when a single transmitter is approaching the roadway intersection and multiple light pulses when multiple transmitters are approaching the roadway intersection.

2. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, wherein the warning element produces the warning signal when the emergency vehicle is between about 10 to 20 seconds away from the receiver.

3. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, wherein the warning element produces the warning signal when the emergency vehicle is about 15 seconds away from the receiver as determined by comparison of the global positioning chip of the transmitter and the global positioning chip of the receiver.

4. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, further comprising a power source at the roadway intersection and wherein the power source supplies power to both the intersection and to the receiver.

5. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, further comprising a receiver power source, wherein the receiver power source comprises a battery with solar power backup.

6. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, wherein the emergency vehicle comprises an electrical lighting system and wherein the transmitter is powered by the emergency vehicle electrical lighting system.

7. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of transmitters each of which is capable of producing a signal and is mountable to an individual emergency vehicle, wherein the receiver is capable of receiving a plurality of signals from the plurality of transmitters and substantially simultaneously analyzing the plurality of signals to determine a distance and a direction in any direction of travel of each emergency vehicle with respect to the receiver.

8. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of a warning elements mountable near at the roadway intersection, wherein each of the plurality of warning elements is adapted to produce a differentiated warning signal when multiple transmitters are approaching the roadway intersection and a differentiated warning signal when only one transmitter is approaching the roadway intersection.

9. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 7, wherein the receiver is adapted to activate the warning element as the plurality of transmitters approach the receiver.

10. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter further comprises a radio frequency chip and a processor.

11. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, wherein the receiver further comprises a radio frequency chip and a processor.

12. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is mounted within 250 feet of the roadway intersection.

13. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is mounted on a light pole overhanging the roadway intersection.

14. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is mounted on a lightpole at the side of roadway intersection.

15. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is mounted on a building near the roadway intersection.

16. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is mounted on a cable overhanging the intersection.

17. The emergency respondence warning system of claim 11, wherein the receiver further comprises switches for activating a speed limit corresponding to the speed limit at the intersection.

18. A method of warning of the approach of emergency vehicles at a roadway intersection, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a signal from an approaching emergency vehicle to a receiver comprising a global receiver mountable near the roadway intersection;

analyzing the signal to determine whether the transmitter is traveling toward the receiver and whether the transmitter is within a predetermined distance from the receiver and with respect to any direction of travel thereto;

activating a warning element when the transmitter reaches a pre-determined distance from the receiver by producing a single pulse of light when a single transmitter is approaching the roadway intersection and multiple pulses of light when multiple transmitters are approaching the roadway intersection.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of issuing a warning when the emergency vehicle is between about 10 to 20 seconds away from the receiver.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of issuing a warning when the emergency vehicle is about 15 seconds from the receiver.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of transmitting signals from a plurality of emergency vehicles to the receiver.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of issuing a differentiated warning signal when a plurality of emergency vehicles reach a predetermined distance from the receiver.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of

transmitting signals from a plurality of approaching emergency vehicles to a plurality of receivers mountable near the roadway intersection;

analyzing the signals to determine whether the emergency vehicles are within a predetermined distance from the receivers and with respect to any direction of travel thereto; and

analyzing the signals to determine whether the emergency vehicles are traveling toward the receiver.