Vehicle warning system

• US 4,587,522 A
• Filed: 01/27/1984
• Issued: 05/06/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bob E. Warren
• Original Assignee: Bob E. Warren
• Inventors: Warren, Bob E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Application Number:
  US06/574,471
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 340/902, 340/903, 455/99, 455/102, 455/227, 455/212, 455/345, 455/35, 329/104, 375/82, 381/107
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

This system provides a warning or alert to persons in vehicles of the presence of emergency vehicles which are emitting audio warning signals. The system converts audio signals to discrete signals, which are also frequency indicative, and then determines whether the discrete frequency indicative signals represent warning signal frequencies. The system also determines whether any warning signal is of sufficient duration to be valid, and if they are, activates the warning device in the vehicle. The warning device may alert the vehicle occupants of emergency vehicles in the vicinity by either audio or visual alarms, or by both.

Claims

1. A warning system for a vehicle or the like comprising:

means for receiving and sensing audio energy and for transducing such audio energy to output signals indicative of the frequencies, and of the amplitude of each frequency, of the audio energy sensed;

means for converting output signals from said sensor means to discrete output signals representative of the frequencies of the audio energy received by said sensor means, said signal converting means being in output signal receiving contact with said sensor means;

means for measuring the time during which signals are transmitted by said sensor means, and which, after one or more predetermined time period, transmits activating signals, said timer means being in output signal receiving contact with said sensor means;

means for counting the discrete signals output by said signal converting means, said counter means being in discrete signal receiving contact with said converting means, and which, after making one or more predetermined count transmits an activating signal; and

means for activating an alarm, said alarm activating means being in activating signal receiving contact with both said timer means and said counter means, whereby, when predetermined activating signals are received by said alarm activating means from both said timer means and said counter means said alarm activating means generates alarm activating signals.

2. The warning system of claim 1 in which the alarm activating means includes at least a first switch and a second switch, said switches being in activating signal receiving contact with both said timer means and said counter means, each said switch normally being in either a signal transmitting condition or in a signal non-transmitting condition, whereby, in response to predetermined signals from said counter means said switches produce an alarm activating signal.

3. The warning system of claim 2 in which one said switch is normally in a signal non-transmitting condition;

a second said switch is normally in a signal transmitting condition, and in which predetermined activating signals from said counter means maintain at least one switch signal nontransmitting or both switches signal transmitting to thereby either not produce or to produce alarm activating signals indicative of the audio frequencies sensed by the system.

4. The warning system of claim 2 in which the switches are latches.