Speed control system for automatic stopping or deceleration of vehicle

• US 7,375,618 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mel Francis P. Quintos
• Original Assignee: Mel Francis P. Quintos
• Inventors: Quintos, Mel Francis P.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US11/163,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20060187006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.11, 340/467, 340/471, 340/479, 340/435, 340/436, 340/573.1, 340/425.5, 340/903, 701/301
• US Class Current: 340/426.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

A speed control system employing a remote control system in which a vehicle is provided with a vehicle engine disabling/brake activating device or a vehicle speed control device capable of receiving a signal to immediately stop the vehicle or decelerate the speed of the vehicle when the remote control system has detected the presence of a pedestrian at a location, like a crosswalk, and the presence of the approaching vehicle. When a detector detects the presence of a pedestrian at a location, like a crosswalk, the remote control system is placed on stand-by status so that when the remote control system further receives a signal of the presence of an approaching vehicle, either due to a vehicle driving over a road safety bar or the vehicle being detected by an infrared detector, the remote control system transmits a signal to a vehicle engine disabling/brake activating device to disable the vehicle by either shutting down its vehicle engine and/or activating its brake system. The remote control system can alternatively transmit a signal to a vehicle speed control device in order to decelerate the speed of the vehicle. The vehicle is thus stopped or slowed down and subsequently stopped by the driver or to decelerate the speed of the vehicle prior to reaching the crosswalk; thereby, allowing the pedestrian to safely traverse the crosswalk.

Claims

1. A speed control system, comprising:

a remote control system capable of receiving and transmitting signals;

a first detector placed across a road for informing the remote control system of the presence of a vehicle; and

a vehicle speed control device installed within the vehicle for receiving a signal from the remote control system for at least one of decelerating the speed of the vehicle,

wherein the first detector is a hinge-like plate.

2. The speed control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second detector for detecting the presence of a pedestrian near or at a crosswalk, wherein the second detector, upon detection of the pedestrian, transmits a signal to the remote control system.

3. The speed control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the remote control system is placed on stand-by mode upon receipt of the signal from the second detector.

4. The speed control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hinge-like plate has two pieces, one piece being mounted onto the road, while the other piece is movable and, upon the detection of the pedestrian by the first indicator, the remote control system sends a signal to the hinge-like plate to move the other piece thereof at an upstanding position, the remote control system and the hinge-like plate being operably connected, either mechanically or electrically.

5. The speed control system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the other piece of the hinge-like plate, when in the upstanding position, is pushed by tires of the vehicle when run over by the vehicle, and the remote control system then detects the presence of the vehicle and sends a signal to the vehicle speed control device installed within the vehicle in order to at least decelerate the speed of the vehicle.

6. The speed control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second detector is a push-button type, which can be operated by a pedestrian.

7. The speed control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second detector is an infrared sensor, which detects the presence of a pedestrian and sends a signal to the remote control system upon the detection thereof of the pedestrian.

8. A speed control method, comprising the steps of:

detecting the presence of a vehicle by a remote control system; and

thereafter, having the remote control system send a signal to a vehicle speed control device installed within the vehicle in order to at least decelerate the speed of the vehicle, wherein the step of detecting the presence of the vehicle includes the ste of raisin a ortion of a hinge-like late on the road so that upon the tires of the vehicle running over the portion of the hinge-like plate that is raised, the remote control system sends a signal to the vehicle speed control device installed within the vehicle in order to at least decelerate the speed of the vehicle.

9. The speed control method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising the steps of detecting the presence of a pedestrian and thereafter, transmitting a signal to the remote control system.

10. The speed control method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the pedestrian operates a push-button type to signify his presence to the remote control system.

11. The speed control system as set forth in claim 8, the presence of the pedestrian is detected by an inftared sensor and sends a signal to the remote control system upon the detection thereof of the pedestrian.

12. The speed control system as set forth in claim 9, wherein upon the receipts by the remote control system of signals signifying the presence of the pedestrian and the vehicle, the remote control system transmits the signals to the vehicle speed control device installed within the vehicle in order to at least decelerate the speed of the vehicle.