Supplementary vehicle warning system

• US 5,625,337 A
• Filed: 02/08/1995
• Issued: 04/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Phillip C. Medawar
• Original Assignee: Phillip C. Medawar
• Inventors: Medawar, Phillip C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/389,273
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 340/428, 340/438, 340/449, 340/450-450.3, 340/455, 340/660, 340/451, 340/459, 340/460, 340/461, 340/462, 307/10.6, 307/10.7
• US Class Current: 340/449
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies

Abstract

A vehicle warning system for warning a vehicle operator of a dangerous condition resulting from an abnormal engine parameter for use in a vehicle having a sensor for measuring the engine parameter and a gauge connected to the sensor by a line. The vehicle warning system includes an input port, a connector for connecting the input port to the line connecting the sensor and the gauge, a voltage detector for detecting when a voltage level at the input port exceeds a threshold level, and an alarm generator for warning an operator of a dangerous condition when the voltage detector detects that the voltage level exceeds the threshold level.

Claims

1. A vehicle warning system for warning a vehicle operator of a dangerous condition resulting from an abnormal engine parameter for use in a vehicle having a sensor for measuring the engine parameter, a computer connected to the sensor by a first line, and a gauge connected to the computer by a second line, for displaying the measured engine parameter, said system comprising:

a power supply;

an input port;

a connector for connecting said input port to the first line of the vehicle;

threshold selecting means for selecting a threshold level for the engine parameter at which an alarm is to be generated;

a voltage detector for detecting when a voltage level at said input port reaches the selected threshold level;

an alarm generator for generating an alarm to warn an operator of a dangerous condition when provided with power from said power supply;

a first switch having a control terminal connected to said threshold detecting means for controllably connecting and disconnecting said alarm generator to said power supply, wherein said first switch connects said alarm generator to said power supply when said voltage detector detects that the voltage level has reached the selected threshold level; and

a second switch connected between said first switch and said alarm generator and having a control terminal connected to a starter of the vehicle such that said alarm generator is prevented from generating an alarm prior to vehicle ignition.

2. The vehicle warning system of claim 1, wherein the sensor of the vehicle is an oil pressure sensor and said alarm generator generates an audible alarm when the measured oil pressure falls below the selected threshold level.

3. The vehicle warning system of claim 1, wherein said power supply is a voltage regulator for converting twelve volts of DC power supplied by a battery of the vehicle to five volts of DC power.

4. The vehicle warning system of claim 1, wherein the sensor of the vehicle is a water temperature sensor and said alarm generator generates an audible alarm when the measured water temperature exceeds the selected threshold level.

5. The vehicle warning system of claim 1, wherein the sensor of the vehicle is an oil pressure sensor and said alarm generator generates an audible alarm when the measured oil pressure exceeds the selected threshold level.

6. The vehicle warning system of claim 1, wherein said threshold selecting means includes a variable resistor having a first terminal connected to said input port, and a second terminal connected to said voltage detector.

7. A vehicle warning system for warning a vehicle operator of a dangerous condition resulting from an abnormal engine parameter for use in a vehicle having a sensor for measuring the engine parameter, a computer connected to the sensor by a first line, and a gauge connected to the computer by a second line, for displaying the measured engine parameter, said system comprising:

a power supply;

an input port;

a connector for connecting said input port to the first line of the vehicle;

threshold selecting means for selecting a threshold level for the engine parameter at which an alarm is to be generated;

a voltage detector for detecting when a voltage level at said input port reaches the selected threshold level;

an alarm generator for generating an alarm to warn an operator of a dangerous condition when provided with power from said power supply;

a switch having a control terminal connected to said threshold detecting means for controllably connecting and disconnecting said alarm generator to said power supply, wherein said switch connects said alarm generator to said power supply when said voltage detector detects that the voltage level has reached the selected threshold level,

wherein said threshold selecting means includes a variable resistor having a first terminal connected to said input port, and a second terminal connected to said voltage detector,

wherein said voltage detector includes;

a first transistor having a base, a collector, and an emitter, said base being connected to said second terminal of said variable resistor, and said emitter being connected to ground; and

a second transistor having a base, a collector, and an emitter, said base being connected to said collector of said first transistor, said collector being connected to a power terminal, and said emitter being connected to said switch,

wherein said first transistor is nonconductive and said second transistor is conductive when a voltage at said second terminal of said variable resistor falls below a saturation voltage of said first transistor, and said switch connects the alarm generator to said power supply when said second transistor is conducting.

8. The vehicle warning system of claim 7, wherein said switch includes:

a switching transistor having a base, a collector, and an emitter, said base being connected to said emitter of said second transistor of said voltage detector, said emitter being connected to ground; and

a relay switch having a relay switch contact and a relay coil connected to a power terminal at one end and said collector of said switching transistor at another end,

wherein said switching transistor and said relay coil of said relay switch are in a conductive state when said second transistor of said voltage detector is conducting, and wherein said relay switch contact connects said alarm generator to said power supply when said relay coil is in a conductive state.

9. A vehicle warning system for warning a vehicle operator of dangerous conditions resulting from abnormal engine parameters for use in a vehicle having a first sensor for measuring water temperature, a second sensor for measuring oil pressure, a computer connected to the first sensor by a first line and connected to the second sensor by a second line, a water temperature gauge connected to the computer by a third line, and a oil pressure gauge connected to said computer by a fourth line, said system comprising:

a power supply;

a water temperature warning circuit including

a water temperature input port,

a first connector for connecting said water temperature input port to the first line of the vehicle,

first threshold selecting means for selecting a first threshold level for the water temperature at which an alarm is to be generated,

a first voltage detector for detecting when a voltage level, which represents the water temperature, at said water temperature input port falls below the selected first threshold level,

a first alarm generator for generating an alarm to warn an operator of a dangerous condition when provided with power from said power supply, and

a first switch having a control terminal connected to said first voltage detector for controllably connecting and disconnecting said first alarm generator to said power supply, wherein said first switch connects said first alarm generator to said power supply when said first voltage detector detects that the first voltage level has fallen below the selected first threshold level; and

an oil pressure warning circuit including

an oil pressure input port,

a second connector for connecting said oil pressure input port to the second line of the vehicle,

second threshold selecting means for selecting a second threshold level for the oil pressure at which an alarm is to be generated,

a second voltage detector for detecting when a second voltage level at said oil pressure input port falls below the selected second threshold level,

a second alarm generator for generating an alarm to warn an operator of a dangerous condition when provided with power from said power supply,

a second switch having a control terminal connected to said second voltage detector for controllably connecting and disconnecting said second alarm generator to said power supply, wherein said second switch connects said second alarm generator to said power supply when said second voltage detector detects that the second voltage level has fallen below the selected second threshold level,

a third switch connected between said second switch and said second alarm generator and having a control terminal activated by a starter of the vehicle and connected to an ignition of the vehicle such that said second alarm generator is prevented from generating an alarm prior to vehicle ignition.

10. The vehicle warning system of claim 9, wherein said power supply is a voltage regulator for converting twelve volts of DC power supplied by a battery of the vehicle to five volts of DC power.

11. The vehicle warning system of claim 9, wherein said first threshold selecting means includes a variable resistor having a first terminal connected to said water temperature input port, and a second terminal connected to said first voltage detector, and wherein said second threshold selecting means includes a variable resistor having a first terminal connected to said oil pressure input port, and a second terminal connected to said second voltage detector.

12. The vehicle warning system of claim 9, further including:

a visual alarm connected to said first and second switches such that said visual alarm is activated when (1) said first voltage detector detects that the first voltage level has fallen below the selected first threshold level or (2) said second voltage detector detects that the second voltage level exceeds the selected second threshold level,

wherein said first and second alarm generators generate audible alarms.

13. A vehicle warning system for warning a vehicle operator of a dangerous condition resulting from an abnormal engine parameter for use in a vehicle having a sensor for measuring the engine parameter and a gauge, connected to the sensor by a line, for displaying the measured engine parameter, said system comprising:

an input port;

a connector for connecting said input port to the line connecting the sensor and the gauge;

voltage detecting means for detecting when a voltage level at said input port reaches a threshold level;

alarm generating means for alarming an operator of a dangerous condition when said voltage detecting means detects that the voltage level has reached the threshold level; and

a switch connected to said alarm generator and having a control terminal connected to a starter of the vehicle such that said alarm generator is prevented from generating an alarm prior to vehicle ignition.

14. The vehicle warning system of claim 13, wherein said alarm generating means generates an audible alarm.

15. The vehicle warning system of claim 13, further including:

a flashing visual alarm that is activated when said voltage detecting means detects that the voltage level has reached the selected threshold level.

16. The vehicle warning system of claim 13, wherein the sensor of the vehicle is a water temperature sensor and said alarm generating means generates an audible alarm when the measured water temperature exceeds the selected threshold level.

17. The vehicle warning system of claim 13, wherein the sensor of the vehicle is an oil pressure sensor and said alarm generating means generates an audible alarm when the measured oil pressure exceeds the selected threshold level.

18. The vehicle warning system of claim 13, further including a visual alarm connected to said switch such that said visual alarm is activated when said voltage detecting means detects that the voltage level has reached the selected threshold level.

19. The vehicle warning system of claim 13, wherein said alarm generating means includes a voice synthesizer integrated circuit and a speaker connected to said voice synthesizer integrated circuit.