APPARATUS AND METHOD TO INFORM DRIVER OF LOCAL SPEED LIMIT

• US 20160328962A1
• Filed: 05/02/2016
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John C. Mcmahon
• Original Assignee: John C. Mcmahon
• Inventors: McMahon, John C.
• Application Number:
  US15/144,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20160328962A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/105 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

An apparatus adapted for use in a vehicle for obtaining the speed limit of the path being traversed by the vehicle and comparing the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit; thereafter, indicating to a driver of the vehicle when the speed limit has been exceeded.

Claims

1. An apparatus adapted for providing a driver of a vehicle with speed limit information appropriate to a region of a road being transversed by the vehicle comprising:

a) a receiver adapted for use in the vehicle;

b) the receiver including a computer, a data input device and a speed limit display device;

the computer cooperating with the data input device to associate the speed limit data for a specific location with vehicle travel and to thereafter transmit a signal to the display device to indicate the speed limit that is thereafter displayed on the display device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the data input device is a GPS operably joined to the computer and including the ability to receive a GPS signal with speed limit data associated with a particular location.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the data input device is a manual input system imputed into the computer.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the data input device is a receiver that is adapted to receive speed limit data from a transmitter of such speed limit data near the location of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

a) the display device includes a first display that cooperates with the computer to display the speed limit for the specific location.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein:

a) the display device includes a second display identifying the current speed of the vehicle.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein:

a) the display device includes an output signal identifying when the actual speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed limit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein:

a) the output signal is a flashing light.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein:

a) the output signal is an audio signal.

11. The method according to claim 1 including the steps of:

a) utilizing the computer to compare actual speed with the speed limit; and

b) producing an output signal that can be used by the driver to determine when the speed limit has been exceeded.

10. A method of providing a driver of a vehicle with information regarding speed limit comprising the steps of:

a) providing speed limit data associated with a driving pathway;

b) collecting the speed limit data in a computer system; and

comparing such data to a particular location so as to provide a speed limit for the location; and

c) providing a display adapted for use in the vehicle that cooperates with the computer to receive a real time output of the speed limit for the location of the vehicle and to display the output for visual viewing of the driver of the vehicle.