Roadway warning light detector and method of warning a motorist

• US 9,305,460 B1
• Filed: 10/28/2013
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Justine Aza
• Original Assignee: John Justine Aza
• Inventors: Aza, John Justine
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Albert
• Application Number:
  US14/064,301
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 340/479, 340/439, 340/435
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence

Abstract

A warning light detector and system to alert a motorist of warning lights is provided. The warning light detector includes a camera that takes digital images of a field of view in front of the automobile, and a detection program to detect any warning lights analyzes these digital images. A control system of the detector activates an alert feature, such as a sound and/or light, to alert the motorist of a warning light when one has been detected by the detection program.

An alert feature may be a sound emitted from a speaker or light that flashes and the alert feature may be configured on the detector or be transmitted through the automobile'"'"'s stereo, warning, or navigational system, for example. A detector may be a mobile device, such as a mobile phone and a warning light detector application program may be downloaded to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A motorist alert system comprising:

a) a mobile device detector comprising;

i) a camera configured to capture a digital image of a field of view;

ii) a control system comprising;

a detection program configured to detect a warning light within said field of view of said camera; and

iii) an alert feature comprising a speaker for producing a sound alert,

iv) a global positioning system that determines a location of the mobile device;

b) a mount configured to detachably attach the mobile device detector thereto and configured to attach to a dash or window of a vehicle;

wherein the application software program interfaces with the global positioning system of the mobile device to detect a speed of the vehicle; and

wherein the sound alert is only produced when the speed of the vehicle is not decelerating as the vehicle approaches a warning light detected in the field of view by the detection program

wherein at least one of the sound alert feature is activated when a warning light is detected by said detection program.

2. The motorist alert system of claim 1, wherein the application software program interfaces with the global positioning system of the mobile device to detect an intersection;

wherein the detection program is configured to detect a stop light of said intersection, and

wherein the warning light is said stop light.

3. The motorist alert system of claim 1, wherein the warning light is a vehicle brake light.

4. The motorist alert system of claim 2, wherein the sound alert is only produced when the speed of the vehicle is not decelerating as the vehicle approaches the intersection and the stop light is red, as determined by the detection program.

5. The motorist alert system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device detector is portable, wherein a user may transfer the mobile device detector from one vehicle to another.

6. The motorist alert system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device detector is a mobile telephone having integrated into said mobile telephone;

a speaker for producing the sound alert;

said camera configured to capture a digital image of a field of view;

an application software program loaded onto the mobile telephone that is the detection program that analyses the digital image captured by said integrated camera to detect a warning light in the field of view.

7. The motorist alert system of claim 1, wherein the alert feature further comprises a light.

8. The motorist alert system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device detector is coupled with a speaker of said vehicle to produce the sound alert through said vehicle.

9. The motorist alert system of claim 8, wherein the mobile device detector is connected with the vehicle through a vehicle coupling and wherein a light of said vehicle is a light alert feature.

10. The motorist alert system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device detector is connected with the vehicle and wherein the control system interfaces with the vehicle to activate a brake of the vehicle when said speed of the vehicle is not decelerating as the vehicle approaches a warning light.

11. The motorist alert system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a zoom feature, whereby the field of view is zoomed-in on an object that is determined to be a possible warning light by the detection program and whereby the detection program further analyzes said object after said field of view is zoomed-in.

12. The motorist alert system of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises an actuator,

whereby the mobile device detector attached to the mount is rotated in one or more directions by said actuator to change the field of view of the camera;

and

wherein the movement of the actuator is controlled by the detection program.

13. The motorist alert system of claim 1, wherein the camera takes at least one image per second for analysis by the detection program.

14. The motorist alert system comprising:

a) a mobile telephone detector that is portable, wherein a user may transfer the mobile telephone detector from one vehicle to another, and comprising;

i) a camera configured to capture a digital image of a field of view;

ii) a control system comprising an application software program loaded onto the mobile telephone, and comprising;

a detection program configured to detect a warning light within said field of view of said camera; and

iii) an alert feature comprising a speaker,

iv) a global positioning system that determines a location of the mobile telephone;

b) a mount configured to detachably attach the mobile telephone thereto;

wherein said camera captures at least one digital image every second for analysis by said detection program;

wherein the application software program interfaces with the global positioning system of the mobile telephone to detect a speed of the vehicle; and

wherein the sound alert is only produced when the speed of the vehicle is not decelerating as the vehicle approaches a warning light detected in the field of view by the detection program;

and wherein the mount and mobile telephone detector are detachably attachable to a dash or a front window of a vehicle.

15. The motorist alert system of claim 14, wherein

wherein the camera further comprises a zoom feature;

and

wherein the mount further comprises an actuator that is configured to rotate the mobile telephone attached to the mount in one more directions;

whereby the field of view may be adjusted to capture a second digital image of a second field of view for analysis by the detection program; and

wherein the movement of the actuator is controlled by the detection program.