Distance detector
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring distance behind a moving vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing configured to mount to a user'"'"'s vehicle, the housing containing at least;
a self-contained distance sensing device configured to sense a distance between the distance sensing device as mounted on a user'"'"'s vehicle and a leading vehicle and to output a signal proportional to the distance,a processing device in communication with the distance sensing device to receive the signal;
an indicator operatively connected to receive signals from the processing device to control provision of an indication to the user regarding application of distance based rules to the user'"'"'s vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distance detecting device is mounted on a user'"'"'s vehicle to detect a distance between the user'"'"'s vehicle and a leading vehicle moving in front of the user'"'"'s vehicle. The distance detecting device communicates with a processing device, which applies race based distance rules to determine whether the user'"'"'s vehicle is close to or incurring a penalty based at least on the distance between the user'"'"'s vehicle and the leading vehicle. An indication can be given to the user regarding an impending penalty and/or when a penalty is incurred. Similarly, the device can be read to apply a penalty. Various modifications can be made to allow for recording, display, and transmission of racing and penalty statistics, enabling and disabling recordation of penalty occurrences, tailoring the penalty determinations to a given race, and mounting the distance detecting device to a vehicle.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring distance behind a moving vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing configured to mount to a user'"'"'s vehicle, the housing containing at least; a self-contained distance sensing device configured to sense a distance between the distance sensing device as mounted on a user'"'"'s vehicle and a leading vehicle and to output a signal proportional to the distance, a processing device in communication with the distance sensing device to receive the signal; an indicator operatively connected to receive signals from the processing device to control provision of an indication to the user regarding application of distance based rules to the user'"'"'s vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for monitoring distance behind a moving vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing configured to mount to a user'"'"'s vehicle, the housing containing at least; a distance sensing device configured to output a signal proportional to a distance between the distance sensing device and a leading vehicle, a processing device in communication with the distance sensing device to receive the signal; an indicator operatively connected to receive signals from the processing device to control provision of an indication to the user regarding application of distance based rules to the user'"'"'s vehicle; a mount, the mount comprising; a base defining a curved side configured to engage a support structure of the user'"'"'s vehicle; a shaft extending from a side of the base opposite that of the curved side, the shaft including at least one flange; wherein the housing defines a curved slot on a least two of the housing'"'"'s sides, the curved slot sized to engage and receive the shaft and the at least one flange to securely position the housing relative to the user'"'"'s vehicle'"'"'s structure.
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16. A method for monitoring distance behind a moving vehicle, the method comprising:
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sensing by a distance sensing device a distance between the distance sensing device as mounted on a user'"'"'s vehicle and a leading vehicle; outputting a signal from the distance sensing device to a processing device, the signal proportional to the distance between the distance sensing device and the leading vehicle; effecting provision of an indication to the user from an indicator regarding application of distance based rules to the user'"'"'s vehicle based on the sensing by the distance sensing device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification