Vehicular system having a warning system to alert motorists that a mobile phone is in use

• US 20100134266A1
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sheldon Breiner
• Original Assignee: Sheldon Breiner
• Inventors: Breiner, Sheldon
• Granted Patent: US 8,154,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants

Abstract

This invention relates to a warning system for use on board a motorized road vehicle. The warning system includes an activity detector that detects an RF signal emitted from a mobile phone when a person driving the motorized vehicle is communicating over the mobile phone. The warning system also has a display device in communication with the activity detector, the display device providing a visual indication to a motorist of another vehicle near the motorized vehicle in traffic, in a manner that allows the motorist of the other vehicle to ascertain when the person driving the motorized vehicle is using the mobile phone.

Claims

1. A warning system for use on board a motorized vehicle comprising

an activity detector that detects RF signal emitted from a mobile phone when a person driving the motorized vehicle is communicating over the mobile phone;

and

a display device in communication with the activity detector, the display device providing a visual indication to a motorist of another vehicle near the motorized vehicle in traffic, in a manner that allows the motorist of the other vehicle to ascertain when the person driving the motorized vehicle is using the mobile phone.

2. A vehicular system comprising:

a motorized vehicle;

an activity detector that detects a signal from a mobile phone when a person driving the motorized vehicle is communicating over the mobile phone; and

a display device in communication with the activity detector, the display device providing a visual indication to a motorist of another vehicle near the motorized vehicle in traffic, in a manner that allows the motorist of the other vehicle to ascertain when the person driving the motorized vehicle is using the mobile phone.

3. The vehicular system of claim 2 where the signal that is detected by the activity detector is an RF signal emitted from the mobile phone.

4. The vehicular system of claim 2, further comprising a power source and a switch, the switch connecting the power source to the display device when the activity detector detects that an RF signal is emitted from a mobile phone.

5. The vehicular system of claim 2, further comprising a timing device, the switch, in response to the timing device, alternatively connecting the power source to and disconnecting the power source from the display device.

6. A method of providing a warning to a motorist of a vehicle in traffic that a person driving a motorized vehicle in the traffic is communicating over a mobile phone, comprising:

detecting a signal from the mobile phone when the person driving the motorized vehicle is communicating over the mobile phone; and

in response to the detection of the signal, providing a visual indication to the motorist of the other vehicle in the traffic that the person driving the motorized vehicle is using the mobile phone.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the motorist of the other vehicle can view the display from the rear of the motorized vehicle.