Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

• US 10,227,041 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2016
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Fritz, Braunberger, Beau M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alharbi, Adam M
• Application Number:
  US15/074,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20160200253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• 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 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A communication system for a vehicle comprises a mechanism for sensing a motion status of a vehicle, a control device, plurality of data acquisition sensors, and one or more alerting device activation circuits. The communication system is customizable with the plurality of data acquisition sensors and one or more alerting device activation circuits based upon the needs of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the communication system is customized before it is installed within the vehicle. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the communication system is customizable after it is installed within the vehicle by turning on and/or turning off one or more of the data acquisition sensors and one or more alerting device activation circuits. The communication system is able to be implemented on a bus or other such fleet vehicles.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. a movement sensor for detecting a movement of the vehicle from a stopped position;

b. a yield warning activation circuit for activating an external warning to a proximate vehicle in proximity to the merging vehicle that the vehicle is merging into traffic; and

c. a control device;

wherein the control device receives a signal from the movement sensor and the control device sends a signal to the yield warning activation circuit which activates the warning based upon the signal from the movement sensor.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the warning comprises a lighted sign.

3. The communication system of claim 2 wherein the lighted sign comprises a lighted YIELD or a lighted MERGE symbol.

4. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a blinker engagement detector for sensing an engagement of a blinker.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the system is implemented within a fleet vehicle.

6. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a braking system engagement detector for sensing an engagement of the brakes.

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

8. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the movement sensor comprises an acceleration monitoring system, a vehicle speed sensor, or an accelerometer.

9. The communication system of claim 8 wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends a signal to the control device that the vehicle is accelerating from a stopped position and in response the control device sends a signal to the yield warning activation circuit to activate an alert in order to indicate the vehicle is moving.

10. The communication system of claim 8 wherein the vehicle speed sensor sends a signal to the control device that the vehicle has stopped moving and then sends a signal to the vehicle has began to move from a stopped position and in response the control device sends a signal to the yield warning activation circuit to activate an alert in order to indicate the vehicle is moving.

11. The communication system of claim 8 wherein the accelerometer sends a signal to the control device that the vehicle is accelerating from a stopped position and in response the control device sends a signal to the yield warning activation circuit to activate an alert in order to indicate the vehicle is moving.

12. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the warning indicates that the vehicle is reentering traffic.

13. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. an acceleration monitoring system for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle from a stopped position;

b. a yield warning activation circuit for activating an external warning to a proximate vehicle in proximity to the merging vehicle that the vehicle is merging into traffic; and

c. a control device;

wherein the control device receives a signal from the acceleration monitoring system and the control device sends a signal to the yield warning activation circuit which activates the warning based upon the signal from the acceleration monitoring system.

14. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the warning comprises a lighted sign.

15. The communication system of claim 14 wherein the lighted sign comprises a lighted YIELD or a lighted MERGE symbol.

16. The communication system of claim 13 further comprising a blinker engagement detector for sensing an engagement of a blinker.

17. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the system is implemented within a fleet vehicle.

18. The communication system of claim 13 further comprising a braking system engagement detector for sensing an engagement of the brakes.

19. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the system is installed as aftermarket-equipment.

20. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the acceleration monitoring system provides a signal to the control device that the vehicle is accelerating from a stopped position and in response the control device sends a signal to the yield warning activation circuit to activate an alert in order to indicate the vehicle is moving.

21. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a movement of the vehicle from a stopped position;

b. a yield warning activation circuit for activating an external warning to a proximate vehicle in proximity to the merging vehicle that the vehicle is merging into traffic; and

c. a control device;

wherein the control device receives a signal from the vehicle speed sensor and the control device sends a signal to the yield warning activation circuit which activates the warning based upon the signal from the vehicle speed sensor.

22. The communication system of claim 21 wherein the warning comprises a lighted sign.

23. The communication system of claim 22 wherein the lighted sign comprises a lighted YIELD or a lighted MERGE symbol.

24. The communication system of claim 21 further comprising a blinker engagement detector for sensing an engagement of a blinker.

25. The communication system of claim 21 wherein the system is implemented within a fleet vehicle.

26. The communication system of claim 21 further comprising a braking system engagement detector for sensing an engagement of the brakes.

27. The communication system of claim 21 wherein the system is installed as aftermarket-equipment.

28. The communication system of claim 21 wherein the vehicle speed sensor provides a signal to the control device that the vehicle is accelerating from a stopped position and in response the control device sends a signal to the yield warning activation circuit to activate an alert in order to indicate the vehicle is moving.

29. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a. an accelerometer for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle from a stopped position;

b. a yield warning activation circuit for activating an external warning to a proximate vehicle in proximity to the merging vehicle that the vehicle is merging into traffic; and

c. a control device;

wherein the control device receives a signal from the accelerometer and the control device sends a signal to the yield warning activation circuit which activates the warning based upon the signal from the accelerometer.

30. The communication system of claim 29 wherein the warning comprises a lighted sign.

31. The communication system of claim 30 wherein the lighted sign comprises a lighted YIELD or a lighted MERGE symbol.

32. The communication system of claim 29 further comprising a blinker engagement detector for sensing an engagement of a blinker.

33. The communication system of claim 29 wherein the system is implemented within a fleet vehicle.

34. The communication system of claim 29 further comprising a braking system engagement detector for sensing an engagement of the brakes.

35. The communication system of claim 29 wherein the system is installed as aftermarket-equipment.

36. The communication system of claim 29 wherein the accelerometer provides a signal to the control device that the vehicle is accelerating from a stopped position and in response the control device sends a signal to the yield warning activation circuit to activate an alert in order to indicate the vehicle is moving.