Vehicle driver notification assembly

• US 10,479,272 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2018
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven Bryce
• Original Assignee: Steven Bryce
• Inventors: Bryce, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US15/913,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20190275936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 340905, 340439, 340576
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93276 in the windshield area
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09626 where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map

Abstract

A vehicle driver notification assembly for notifying a driver when to drive forward includes a housing and a control circuit mounted in the housing. A sensor array is mounted on the housing and is electrically coupled to the control circuit. The sensor array detects parameters that indicate when a vehicle may proceed forward. The parameters include when a mass in front of a vehicle moves away from the vehicle and when the sensor array receives a proceed signal from a requisite traffic signaling device. An alert is electrically coupled to the control circuit and is turned on to provide an emission detectable by a person when the sensor array detects the parameters that allow the vehicle to proceed forward.

Claims

1. A notification system configured to be positioned on a dashboard of a vehicle to notify a driver when they may proceed driving forward, said notification system comprising:

a housing;

a control circuit being mounted in said housing;

a transmitter being electrically coupled to said control circuit and being mounted in said housing, said transmitter transmitting each signal received by said control circuit;

a sensor array mounted on said housing, said sensor array being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said sensor array being configured to detect parameters indicating when a vehicle may proceed forward, said parameters including when a mass in front of the vehicle moves away from the vehicle or when said sensor array receives a proceed signal from a requisite traffic signaling device, said sensor array being configured to detect a mass moving forward of a vehicle, said sensor array including a radar, said radar being electrically coupled to said control circuit and directed forward of the vehicle, said radar detecting said mass being positioned within a detection range, said control circuit receiving a first input when said radar detects said mass and a second input when said radar detects said mass moving away from said sensor array, said sensor array identifying requisite traffic signaling devices, said sensor array including a camera, said camera being configured to intermittently image structures forward of the vehicle and compare a plurality of captured images of traffic signaling devices against a plurality of stored images of traffic signaling devices, said control circuit receiving a third input from said sensor array when one or more of said captured images matches one or more of said stored images of a traffic signaling device signaling to proceed;

an alert including at least one of a light emitter or sound emitter being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said alert being turned on to provide an emission detectable by a person when said sensor array detects said parameters indicating the vehicle may proceed forward, said alert further includes a haptic feedback unit being configured to be mounted in the vehicle, said haptic feedback unit being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said haptic feedback unit being configured to be positioned on a driver'"'"'s seat or a steering wheel of the vehicle;

a power supply being mounted on said housing, said power supply being electrically coupled to said control circuit; and

a selection switch being mounted on said housing, said selection switch being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said selection switch being actuated to selectively and discretely turn on or off each of said light emitter, said sound emitter, and said haptic feedback unit.

2. The notification system according to claim 1, wherein said detection range is between 10.0 feet and 40.0 feet.

3. The notification system according to claim 1, wherein said alert comprises a sound emitter being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said sound emitter being mounted in said housing.

4. The notification system according to claim 3, wherein said sound emitter emits an audible alarm either when said control circuit receives said first input and said second input or an absence of said first input combined with receiving said third input.

5. The notification system according to claim 1, wherein said haptic feedback unit is actuated to provide haptic feedback to the driver either when said control circuit receives said first input and said second input or an absence of said first input combined with receiving said third input.

6. The notification system according to claim 1, wherein said alert further includes light emitter being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said light emitter being mounted to said housing.

7. The notification system according to claim 6, wherein said light emitter emits visible light either when said control circuit receives said first input and said second input or an absence of said first input combined with receiving said third input.

8. The notification system according to claim 1, further including a remote receiver being positioned remote of said housing, said remote receiver being in wireless communication with said transmitter and emitting an alarm when said sensor array indicates parameters allowing the vehicle to proceed forward.

9. The notification system according to claim 1, further including a power switch being mounted on said housing, said switch being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said power switch being actuated to turn said control circuit on or off.

10. The notification system according to claim 1, wherein said power supply comprising at least one battery.

11. A notification system configured to be positioned on a dashboard of a vehicle to notify a driver when they may proceed driving forward, said notification system comprising:

a housing;

a control circuit being mounted in said housing;

a transmitter being electrically coupled to said control circuit and being mounted in the housing, said transmitter transmitting each signal received by said control circuit;

a sensor array mounted on said housing, said sensor array being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said sensor array being configured to detect parameters indicating when a vehicle may proceed forward, said parameters including when a mass in front of the vehicle moves away from the vehicle and when said sensor array receives a proceed signal from a requisite traffic signaling device, said sensor array comprising;

said sensor array being configured to detect said mass moving forward of a vehicle, said sensor array including a radar, said radar being electrically coupled to said control circuit and being directed forward of the vehicle, said radar detecting said mass being positioned within a detection range, said control circuit receiving a first input when said radar detects said mass and a second input when said radar detects said mass moving away from said sensor array, said detection range being between 10.0 feet and 40.0 feet;

said sensor array identifying requisite traffic signaling devices, said sensor array including a camera wherein said camera is configured to intermittently image structures forward of the vehicle and compare a plurality of captured images of traffic signaling devices against a plurality of stored images of traffic signaling devices, said control circuit receiving a third input from said sensor array when one or more of said captured images matches one or more of said stored images of a traffic signaling device signaling to proceed;

an alert being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said alert being turned on to provide an emission detectable by a person when said sensor array detects said parameters indicating the vehicle may proceed forward, said alert comprising;

a sound emitter being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said sound emitter being mounted in said housing, said sound emitter emitting an audible alarm either when said control circuit receives said first input and said second input or an absence of said first input combined with receiving said third input;

a haptic feedback unit being mounted in the vehicle, said haptic feedback unit being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said haptic feedback unit being positioned on a driver'"'"'s seat or a steering wheel of the vehicle, said haptic feedback unit being actuated to provide haptic feedback to the driver either when said control circuit receives said first input and said second input or an absence of said first input combined with receiving said third input;

a light emitter being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said light emitter being mounted to said housing, said light emitter emitting a visible light either when said control circuit receives said first input and said second input or an absence of said first input combined with receiving said third input;

a remote receiver being positioned remote of said housing, said remote receiver being in wireless communication with said transmitter and emitting an alarm when said sensor array detects said parameters indicating the vehicle may proceed forward;

a power switch being mounted on said housing, said switch being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said power switch being actuated to turn said control circuit on or off; and

a selection switch being mounted on said housing, said selection switch being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said selection switch being actuated to selectively and discretely turn on or off each of said light emitter, said sound emitter, and said haptic feedback unit; and

a power supply being mounted on said housing, said power supply being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said power supply comprising at least one battery.