Mobile radio vehicle control system

• US 4,232,390 A
• Filed: 09/01/1977
• Issued: 11/04/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard V. Mcevilly Jr
• Original Assignee: Richard V. Mcevilly Jr
• Inventors: McEvilly, Richard V. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richardson, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Application Number:
  US05/829,797
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 325/53, 325/15, 325/16, 325/22, 325/21, 325/111, 325/115, 325/117, 325/114, 325/25, 325/51, 325/56, 325/54, 325/55, 334/7, 334/47, 334/86, 455/77, 455/78, 455/87, 455/89, 455/95, 455/99
• US Class Current: 455/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/50 using different frequencies for the two directions of communication

Abstract

A driver-operated electronic push-button control system is provided for installation and use within a mobile radio vehicle, which control system is capable of operating and controlling a plurality of radio transmitter/receiver communication units, and of operating and controlling additional electronic and electrical equipment commonly required in emergency type vehicles. Electronic circuitry is provided, in the form of a combiner unit, to interface the radio transmitter/receiver communication units and the other electronic and electrical equipment, with the control system. Both the combiner unit and radio transmitter/receiver units may conveniently be located in the trunk of the vehicle. For emergency type vehicles, special additional electronic circuitry is included within the combiner unit that provides an electronic siren, a public address system, an outside speaker system, and electronic switching for the control of electronic lights in the roof-mounted light bar. The electronic control system of the invention includes a console. The console may be located within the dash area of the vehicle for operation by the driver-operator. Two keyboards, each consisting of a plurality of push-button illuminated switches, are included in the console for the selection of transmit and receive frequencies of the radio transmitter/receiver units. An additional keyboard may be included in the console for operation and control of the emergency type equipment referred to above when the system is installed in an emergency type vehicle.

Claims

1. A mobile radio control system for use in a vehicle having a dash area and a rear area, said system comprising:

a console in said dash area including a first keyboard having a plurality of manually-operated transmitter frequency selection switches and a second keyboard having a plurality of receiver frequency selection manually-operated switches;

transmitter frequency-selecting switching circuitry connected to said switches of said first keyboard;

;

receiver frequency-selecting switching circuitry connected to the switches of the second keyboard;

at least one radio transmitter/receiver unit in said rear area;

a combiner unit including circuitry interfacing said radio transmitter/receiver unit with said switching circuitries; and

cable means connecting said transmitter frequency-selecting switching circuitry to said combiner unit to cause the actuation of said switches of said first keyboard to select the transmitter frequency of said radio unit and connecting said receiver frequency-selecting switching circuitry to said combiner unit to cause the actuation of the switches of the second keyboard to select the receiver frequency of the radio transmitter/receiver unit.

2. The mobile radio control system defined in claim 1, and which includes supervisory overriding circuit means connecting the switches of said first-named keyboard to said receiver frequency-selecting switching circuitry.

3. The mobile radio control system defined in claim 1, includes a light bar assembly mounted on the roof of the vehicle, and circuitry connecting at least one of said keyboards to said light bar assembly to enable predetermined light bar functions to be controlled thereby.

4. A mobile radio control system for use in a vehicle having a dash area and a rear area, said system comprising:

a console in said dash area including a keyboard, said keyboard having a plurality of manually-operated transmitter frequency selection switches;

transmitter frequency-selecting switching circuitry connected to said switches;

at least one radio transmitter/receiver unit in said rear area;

a combiner unit including circuitry interfacing said radio transmitter/receiver unit with said switching circuitry;

cable means connecting said switching circuitry to said combiner unit to cause the actuation of said switches of said keyboard to select the transmitter frequency of said radio transmitter/receiver unit, said switching circuitry including converting means for converting decimal switching signals from said switches into binary-coded signals for transmission over said cable means, and said switching circuitry further including latching circuitry coupled to said converting means for latching said binary-coded signals in response to the momentary actuation of said switches;

decoding circuitry included in said combiner unit for converting the binary-coded signals received over the cable means to decimal signals; and

switching circuitry coupled to said last-named decoding circuitry and responsive to said last-named decimal signals for selecting transmitter frequencies in said radio unit.

5. The mobile radio control system defined in claim 4, in which said last-named switching circuitry includes a photocell-lamp module for each of said last-named decimal signals.

6. The mobile radio control system defined in claim 4, and which includes a plurality of radio transmitter/receiver units coupled to said combiner unit, and said combiner unit including a corresponding plurality of modules containing interface circuitry for each of said radio units;

and

further switching circuitry coupled to said last-named decoding circuitry and responsive to said last-named decimal signals for selecting and activating different ones of said radio units.

7. The mobile radio control system defined in claim 6, and which includes a microphone, and circuit means connecting said microphone to the transmitter portion of said radio units.

8. The mobile radio control system defined in claim 6, and which includes a speaker, and circuit means connecting the receiver portion of said radio units to said speaker.