Vehicle data acquisition system

• US 5,847,661 A
• Filed: 03/15/1996
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Ideation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Ideation Incorporated
• Inventors: Ricci, Christopher P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIEU, JULIE BICHNGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/616,261
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/901, 340/902, 340/906, 340/438, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/435, 340/903, 340/426, 340/447, 340/572, 340/825.54, 455/54.1, 455/53.1, 364/424.03, 364/424.04
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking

Abstract

A data acquisition system is disclosed where a first communication device transmits a transmitted signal to a second communication device. The second communication device encodes the transmitted signal with a code generating a retransmitted signal. The retransmitted signal is then transmitted back to the first communication device. The code can be indicative of an environmental element, such as a traffic sign. The first communication device can determine a distance to the environmental element by monitoring a time for the retransmitted signal to arrive. The first communication device can also encode the transmitted signal with information, such as voice for example.

Claims

1. An intervehicular communication system for communicating between a first vehicle and a second vehicle having a first and second registration number, the intervehicular communication system comprising:

transmission means disposed in the first vehicle for transmitting a message to the second vehicle by addressing the message with the second registration number where the message has the first registration number disposed therein; and

reception means disposed in the second vehicle for receiving the message and projecting the message to an operator of the second vehicle, the reception means further being adapted to store the first registration number upon receipt of the message to enable to return response to the message to the first vehicle without additional addressing by a user.