Communication system for vehicles

• US 20060012468A1
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K-40 Electronics LLC
• Original Assignee: K-40 Electronics LLC
• Inventors: Hefner, Peter, Dittmer, Howard, Thompson, Glen Adrian, Finley, Peggy
• Granted Patent: US 7,298,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

A communication system for a vehicle traveling over a road surface is provided with at least one detector for sensing speed detection signals impinging on the vehicle, to monitor the speed of the vehicle or a nearby vehicle. A radiofrequency transmitter communicates the detector output to a receiver adjacent the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The receiver controls one or more annunciators to output one or more annunciator indications to the system user. The radiofrequency transmitter in one embodiment directs transmissions along a ground skip path, reflecting information over the road surface so as to enter the receiver located in or near a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A wireless control unit provides indication of system operating status and allows a user to input commands to the system.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle traveling over a road surface and having a front end, a forward compartment, a passenger compartment, a wall dividing the forward compartment and the passenger compartment, and a rear end;

a detector at the front end for sensing speed detection signals impinging on said vehicle, to monitor the speed of said vehicle or a nearby vehicle and to generate an output signal in response thereto;

a radio frequency transmitter adjacent the front end for receiving said detector output signal and for transmitting a transmit signal indicative of said speed detection signals in response thereto directed toward said road surface so as to be deflected toward the passenger compartment;

a receiver adjacent said wall, either in said front compartment or in said passenger compartment, for receiving said transmit signal from the road surface and for outputting an annunciator signal in response thereto; and

an annunciator in said passenger compartment, coupled to said receiver to receive said annunciator signal and for outputting an annunciator indication in response thereto.

2. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a front detector, said transmitter comprises a front transmitter, said transmit signal comprises a front transmit signal and said annunciator comprises a front annunciator, said communication system further comprising:

a rear detector at the rear end for sensing speed detection signals impinging on said vehicle, to monitor the speed of said vehicle or a nearby vehicle and to generate an output signal in response thereto;

a radio frequency rear transmitter adjacent the rear end for receiving said rear detector output signal and for transmitting a rear transmit signal indicative of said speed detection signals in response thereto directed toward said road surface so as to be deflected toward the passenger compartment; and

wherein said receiver receives said front and said rear transmit signals from the road surface and outputs at least one annunciator signal in response thereto.

3. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein the annunciator is integrated with the receiver.

4. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein the annunciator is remote from the receiver.

5. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein the annunciator emits a light output.

6. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein the receiver is located in the passenger compartment.

7. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein the detector is enclosed in a first housing, and the radio frequency transmitter is enclosed in a second housing attached to the first housing.

8. The communication system according to claim 7 wherein the first housing has first and second opposed ends and the detector includes an antenna for receiving speed detection signals, the antenna located at the first end of the first housing and the second housing attached to the second end of the first housing.

9. The communication system according to claim 1 further comprising a wireless remote unit wirelessly coupled to the receiver to obtain therefrom indication of operating status of the receiver.

10. The communication system according to claim 9 wherein said wireless remote unit controls operation of the annunciator.

11. The communication system according to claim 10 wherein said annunciator includes an audio speaker and said wireless remote unit controls the volume output of said audio speaker.

12. The communication system according to claim 10 wherein said annunciator includes an indicator light and said wireless control unit controls the intensity of the light output of the indicator light.

13. The communication system according to claim 2 further comprising a wireless remote unit wirelessly coupled to the receiver to obtain therefrom indication of operating status of the front and the rear transmitters.

14. The communication system according to claim 13 wherein indication of the operating status of the front transmitter is separate from indication of the operating status of the rear transmitter.

15. The communication system according to claim 13 wherein said wireless remote unit controls operation of the front and the rear annunciators.

16. The communication system according to claim 1 further comprising a wireless remote unit wirelessly coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver to enable and disable operation thereof.

17. A communication system for a vehicle traveling over a road surface and having a front end, a forward compartment, a passenger compartment, a wall dividing the forward compartment and the passenger compartment, and a rear end;

a detector at the front end for sensing speed detection signals impinging on said vehicle, to monitor the speed of said vehicle or a nearby vehicle and to generate an output signal in response thereto;

a radio frequency transmitter adjacent the front end for receiving said detector output signal and for transmitting a transmit signal indicative of said speed detection signals in response thereto;

a receiver adjacent said wall, either in said front compartment or in said passenger compartment, for receiving said transmit signal and for outputting an annunciator signal in response thereto; and

an annunciator in said passenger compartment, coupled to said receiver to receive said annunciator signal and for outputting an annunciator indication in response thereto.

18. The communication system according to claim 17 wherein said detector comprises a front detector, said transmitter comprises a front transmitter, said transmit signal comprises a front transmit signal and said annunciator comprises a front annunciator, said communication system further comprising

a rear detector at the rear end for sensing speed detection signals impinging on said vehicle, to monitor the speed of said vehicle or a nearby vehicle and to generate an output signal in response thereto;

a radio frequency rear transmitter adjacent the rear end for receiving said rear detector output signal and for transmitting a rear transmit signal indicative of said speed detection signals in response thereto; and

wherein said receiver receives said front and said rear transmit signals and outputs at least one annunciator signal in response thereto.

19. A communication system for a vehicle traveling over a road surface and having a front end, a forward compartment, a passenger compartment, a wall dividing the forward compartment and the passenger compartment, a rear end and wiring from the front and rear ends to the passenger compartment carrying signals unrelated to monitoring of the speed of the vehicle;

a detector at the front end for sensing speed detection signals impinging on said vehicle, to monitor the speed of said vehicle or a nearby vehicle and to generate an output signal in response thereto;

a radio frequency injector adjacent the front end for receiving said detector output signal and for injecting a transmit signal indicative of said speed detection signals in response thereto on said wiring for delivery to said passenger compartment;

a receiver operatively associated with said wiring for receiving said transmit signal and for outputting an annunciator signal in response thereto; and

an annunciator in said passenger compartment, coupled to said receiver to receive said annunciator signal and for outputting an annunciator indication in response thereto.

20. The communication system according to claim 19, wherein said detector comprises a front detector, said injector comprises a front injector, said transmit signal comprises a front transmit signal and said annunciator comprises a front annunciator, said communication system further comprising:

a rear detector at the rear end for sensing speed detection signals impinging on said vehicle, to monitor the speed of said vehicle or a nearby vehicle and to generate a rear output signal in response thereto;

a radio frequency rear injector adjacent the rear end for receiving said rear detector output signal and for injecting a rear transmit signal indicative of said speed detection signals in response thereto on said wiring for delivery to said passenger compartment; and

wherein the detector receives said front and said rear transmit signals and outputs at least one annunciator signal in response thereto.