Vehicle safety warning device

• US 7,301,478 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Overland Safety Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Overland Safety Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Toman, John, Laughead, Michael, Chinn, Gregory F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US11/367,994
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 340435-436, 340580-585, 340463-479, 340/901, 340/905, 340/962, 340/995.13, 701/79, 701300-302
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/545 for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, system and devices for monitoring road surface temperature to detect hazardous road surface conditions. An indicator provides the sensed road surface temperature and hazardous road condition warning to a driver while a tail light interface automatically produce a tail light signal to warn drivers traveling behind the vehicle when a hazardous condition is detected. In an embodiment, the system includes a vehicle engine retardation system interfaced with the hazardous road condition warning system. When the retardation system is in use and hazardous road surface conditions are detected the controller automatically produces the brake light signal unless a tail light control switch is used to manually deactivating the automatic tail light flashing signal when the vehicle is traveling in a state that does not allow alternative control of the brake lights.

Claims

1. A system for providing hazardous road condition warning to a driver of a vehicle and drivers of following vehicles comprising:

a temperature sensor for sensing an approximate road surface temperature;

a controller interfaced with the temperature sensor for receiving the sensed road surface temperature to detect a hazardous road condition; and

an indicator for providing the sensed road surface temperature and hazardous road condition to the driver;

a tail light interface, wherein when the hazardous road surface condition is detected the controller automatically produces a tail light signal for activating a vehicle tail light to warn drivers traveling behind the vehicle; and

a vehicle engine retardation system interfaced with the hazardous road condition warning system controller for monitoring the engine retardation system and to display retardation system activity to the driver, wherein responsive to the retardation system being used and hazardous road surface conditions are detected the controller automatically produces the tail light signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises:

a LED barograph for displaying the sensed road surface temperature; and

a hazard warning light to warn the driver of hazardous road conditions, wherein the LED barograph and hazard warning light allow the driver to quickly visualize the road surface condition.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an audible alarm for alerting the driver when the hazardous road surface condition is detected.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises:

a display for displaying the sensed road surface temperature and hazardous road condition warning to the driver.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a switch for manually activating and deactivating the system.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a tail light control switch for manually activating and deactivating the automatic tail light flashing signal, wherein when the tail light control is deactivated, the controller does not automatically produces a tail light signal for illuminating the vehicle tail light to warn drivers traveling behind the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a retardation system switch for activating and deactivating the retardation system.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller comprises:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions and a temperature look up table.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the set of instructions comprises:

a first subset of instructions for initializing the system;

a second subset of instruction for monitoring the road surface temperature to determine if a hazardous condition is detected and providing a status to the driver; and

a third subset of instructions for monitoring the retardation system and activating and deactivating the tail lights according to the hazardous condition detected.