Externally activated non-negative acceleration system

• US 20050165537A1
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vrbia Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vrbia Incorporated
• Inventors: Dort, David Bogart
• Granted Patent: US 7,151,992 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

The present invention is designed to complement the existing transportation infrastructure in order to alleviate ever-worsening traffic congestion in problematic areas by minimizing the impact of driver “bunching” habits and/or external events that lead to congestion problems. Events alleviated by the present invention may happen at naturally occurring roadway infrastructures such as merges, lane shifts, and exits, and under conditions like rush hour, accidents, stand-stills, and HOV lane activation times. Further, vehicles allowing their speed and spacing to be controlled should have access to high-flow lanes. This invention will best and most safely be implemented at low speeds when congestion is most problematic and bunching habits prevent the dissipation of gridlock. In particular embodiments, the invention will regulate multiple vehicle accelerations (non-negative acceleration) once a low threshold speed has been reached through the transmission of signals to receivers in properly equipped vehicles. The exclusive non-negative acceleration control system simplifies the manufacturing, safety and redundancy necessary for implementing such a system and is commercially viable.

Claims

1. A non-negative acceleration control system for use in vehicles and operatively coupled with the acceleration system in a vehicle, wherein said non-negative acceleration control system is not capable of causing negative acceleration.

2. The non-negative acceleration control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control system is externally activated.

3. The non-negative acceleration control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control system is activated by receiving a signal from a transmitter located externally to said vehicle.

4. An acceleration control system for a vehicle including:

a receiver configured to accept electromagnetic signals;

an activation module coupled with said receiver, wherein said activation module generates a signal if said receiver detects activation signals;

an accelerator control unit coupled with said activation module and the acceleration system of said vehicle;

wherein said activation module includes a signal from a velocity input signal line, said signal indicating that the velocity of said vehicle has reached a low threshold, said activation module incapable of activating said accelerator control unit unless said velocity of said vehicle has reached a low threshold.

5. A activation module for acceleration control in a vehicle, wherein said module includes an input from a receiver and an input from a velocity signal line, said activation module coupled to a power source and a power output, said activation module sending power though said power output if said input from a receiver and said input from said velocity signal line are present.