Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

• US 9,371,002 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2014
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Fritz
• Primary Examiner(s): Alharbi, Adam
• Application Number:
  US14/340,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20150061492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/00 Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator fittings acting on two or more sub-units B60W30/14; speedometers G01P; systems or devices for controlling speed in general G05D13/00 ; in traffic anti-collision system for road vehicles G08G1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/08 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/442 visible on the front side of the vehicle, e.g. for pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/447 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing the shape or intensity of the indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/00 Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/4151 for sensing lateral inclination of the cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/01 Electric circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/022 specially adapted for motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/045 indicating braking
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

A communication system for a vehicle comprises a mechanism for sensing a braking of the vehicle and a control device for sending a signal to a headlight activation circuit to modulate the vehicle'"'"'s headlights based upon the braking of the vehicle. In particular, a headlight of the vehicle is able to be modulated based upon an application of one or both of a front brake and a rear brake. The headlight activation circuit is able to modulate the headlight between an on position and an off position or modulate the headlight between a high beam position and a low beam position. Consequently, the vehicle is better seen as it approaches likely congestion areas such as intersections and slowing or stopped traffic and attempts to enter traffic.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. a braking system engagement detector for detecting an engagement of the vehicle'"'"'s brakes;

b. a control device; and

c. a headlight activation circuit for activating a headlight,

wherein the control device receives a signal from the braking engagement detector that the brakes have been applied and sends a signal to the headlight activation circuit to operate the headlight based upon the signal from the braking engagement detector,

wherein the control device sends a signal to activate the headlight as the vehicle slows based upon the activation of the brakes and further wherein the control device also sends a signal to activate the headlight as the vehicle accelerates after the activation of the brakes.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the braking system engagement detector detects an engagement of one or both of a front brake and a rear brake.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the headlight activation circuit modulates the headlight between an on position and an off position.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the headlight activation circuit modulates the headlight between a high beam and a low beam position.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the headlight is modulated at a rate corresponding to the speed of the vehicle.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the control device sends a signal to the headlight activation circuit to modulate the headlight when a brake engagement is detected and the vehicle slows to a defined speed.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the communication system is installed as aftermarket-equipment.

8. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises a motorcycle.

9. A method of modulating a vehicle headlight comprising:

a. detecting that a brake of the vehicle has been applied; and

b. modulating a headlight of the vehicle based upon the application of the brake,

wherein the headlight is modulated as the vehicle slows based upon the activation of the brakes and further wherein the headlight is modulated as the vehicle accelerates after the activation of the brakes.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising detecting an engagement of one or both of a front brake and a rear brake.

11. The method of claim 9 the headlight is modulated between an on position and an off position.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the headlight is modulated between a high beam and a low beam position.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the headlight is modulated at a rate corresponding to the speed of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein a control device sends a signal to the headlight activation circuit to modulate the headlight a when a brake engagement is detected and the vehicle slows to a defined speed.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the method is implemented within an aftermarket system.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the vehicle comprises a motorcycle.