EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND CONDITIONS

• US 20130187792A1
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2012
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Mark Egly
• Original Assignee: Mark Egly
• Inventors: Egly, Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/414,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20130187792A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

An early warning system having a plurality of vehicles, a plurality of smart phones, a plurality of signals and a command center which are electronically in communication with one another. Each vehicle, smart phone and signal which is part of the system has at least one receiver, sensor, processor, controller, transmitter and software. As a first vehicle approaches a second vehicle, a signal or a pedestrian carrying a smart phone, the transmitter connected to the second vehicle, a signal or a pedestrian sends information about the second vehicle, signal or pedestrian to the first vehicle. The first vehicle'"'"'s processor process that information pursuant to the software and determines whether a hazard condition exists. In the event that a hazard condition exists, a warning device alarms the driver as to the existence of the hazard thereby helping the driver to avoid an accident and preventing property and personal injury.

Claims

1. An early warning system, comprising:

a vehicle having a warning device;

said vehicle having a steering wheel with a steering wheel sensor;

said steering wheel sensor capable of sensing whether a driver has two hands, one hand or no hands on the steering wheel;

wherein when the steering wheel sensor senses that no hands are on the steering wheel a hazard condition is detected and a warning signal is issued through the warning device.

2. The early warning system of claim 1, further comprising an actuation switch connected to the steering wheel, wherein when a warning signal is issued it is deactivated by engaging the actuation switch.

3. The early warning system of claim 1, wherein when a hazard condition is determined to occur only after a predetermined amount of time after the steering wheel sensor senses that no hands are on the steering wheel.

4. A verification system for verifying the identity of official agents, comprising:

a first vehicle having an early warning device;

said early warning device having a visual display;

wherein when the first vehicle is approached by an official vehicle a verification signal is sent to the first vehicle;

wherein when the first vehicle receives the verification signal, verification information is displayed the visual display.

5. The verification system of claim 4 wherein the verification information includes the name of the official agent in the official vehicle.

6. The verification system of claim 4 wherein the verification information includes a picture of the official agent in the official vehicle.

7. The verification system of claim 4 further comprising wherein when the first vehicle is approached by the official vehicle the warning device requests a verification signal.

8. The verification system of claim 4 wherein when verification information does not match the official agent a distress signal is sent.

9. The verification system of claim 4 further comprising a sensor connected to the first signal which senses when the first vehicle is approached by an official vehicle.

10. The verification system of claim 4 wherein when the first vehicle is approached by an official vehicle, a driver of the first vehicle activates the verification system which requests a verification signal.

11. An early warning system, comprising:

a first vehicle;

said first vehicle having a receiver, a processor, a sensor, a warning device, and software;

wherein said first vehicle'"'"'s sensor senses the speed and direction of the first vehicle;

wherein said first vehicle'"'"'s receiver receives information regarding the position of hazards;

wherein said first vehicle'"'"'s processor calculates whether a warning condition exists pursuant to the software;

wherein when a warning condition is sensed an alarm is activated.

12. The early warning system of claim 11 wherein the alarm is a visual alarm.

13. The early warning system of claim 11 wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

14. The early warning system of claim 11 wherein as the severity of the warning condition escalates the severity of the warning signal escalates.

15. The early warning system of claim 11 wherein when the processor determines a collision will occur with a hazard a controller controls the vehicle to avoid the hazard.

16. The early warning system of claim 15 wherein the hazard is a second vehicle having a transmitter.

17. The early warning system of claim 15 wherein the hazard is a pedestrian with an electronic device having a transmitter.