Automobile distance warning and alarm system
First Claim
1. A method of warning a driver about unsafe separation distances between a driver'"'"'s vehicle and at least one proximate vehicle, comprising:
- a) measuring the separation distance of a proximate vehicle;
b) selecting a safe separation time between the driver'"'"'s vehicle and the proximate vehicle;
c) measuring the speed of the driver'"'"'s vehicle and arming an alarm system if the speed exceeds a threshold speed;
d) converting the safe separation time to a safe separation distance based upon the measured speed of the driver'"'"'s vehicle;
e) comparing whether the measured separation distance is under the safe separation distance;
f) operating the alarm system when the measured separation distance is under the safe separation distance if the alarm system has been armed; and
g) providing a preset dead time for the alarm system during which no alarm can be activated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automobile distance warning and alarm system (ADWAS) in which the warning system is armed when the vehicle exceeds a threshold speed. The vehicle speed is used, along with road or weather conditions, to determine a safe vehicle separation time and corresponding distance. A range finder then determines the actual separation distance between the driver'"'"'s vehicle and a forward or following vehicle. If the safe separation distance is not maintained for a selected dead time interval, the driver is alerted by an alarm, which may be both an audible and visual alarm. The driver of a following vehicle is also alerted by a rear indicator light.
80 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of warning a driver about unsafe separation distances between a driver'"'"'s vehicle and at least one proximate vehicle, comprising:
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a) measuring the separation distance of a proximate vehicle;
b) selecting a safe separation time between the driver'"'"'s vehicle and the proximate vehicle;
c) measuring the speed of the driver'"'"'s vehicle and arming an alarm system if the speed exceeds a threshold speed;
d) converting the safe separation time to a safe separation distance based upon the measured speed of the driver'"'"'s vehicle;
e) comparing whether the measured separation distance is under the safe separation distance;
f) operating the alarm system when the measured separation distance is under the safe separation distance if the alarm system has been armed; and
g) providing a preset dead time for the alarm system during which no alarm can be activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 23)
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13. A method for warning a driver about unsafe separation distances between a driver'"'"'s vehicle and at least one proximate vehicle, comprising:
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a) engaging a warning system onboard a driver'"'"'s vehicle when a driver'"'"'s vehicle exceeds a preset speed;
b) determining a vehicle speed of driver'"'"'s vehicle;
c) determining a relative separation distance of a proximate moving vehicle using a rangefinder onboard driver'"'"'s vehicle;
d) calculating a safe separation distance between said driver'"'"'s vehicle and said proximate vehicle based on driver'"'"'s vehicle speed;
e) issuing a warning signal if the safe separation distance is not maintained for a period exceeding a preset dead time period. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25)
providing a visual signal to the following vehicle if a safe separation distance is not maintained between the driver'"'"'s vehicle and the following vehicle.
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17. The method of claim 13, wherein said warning signal is a flashing light visible to the driver.
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18. The method of claim 13 wherein the proximate vehicle is a following vehicle and the warning signal comprises a flashing light.
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19. The method of claim 18 wherein the warning signal further comprises an audible signal.
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20. The method of claim 13 wherein the warning signal comprises an audible signal to the driver.
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21. The method of claim 13, wherein step d includes:
inputting road and weather conditions rotating into said safe separation distance.
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22. The method of claim 21, wherein inputting of road and weather conditions is by selecting a safe separation time and converting the safe separation time to a safe separation distance.
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24. The method of claim 13, wherein the preset dead time period of step e) is five seconds.
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25. The method of claim 13, further defined for a turning vehicle by servoing the rangefinder to track the direction of turning of the turning vehicle.
Specification