Speed-monitoring radar-activated brake light

• US 7,774,137 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steve Thorne
• Original Assignee: Steve Thorne
• Inventors: Thorne, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/689,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20070168129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 701300-302, 701/96, 701/93, 340/901, 340/903, 340435-436
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• 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 1/162 event-triggered

Abstract

The operator of a third vehicle trailing a second, host vehicle is alerted of a potentially hazardous deceleration of a first vehicle forward of the host vehicle. The road-speed of the first vehicle is ascertained by the host vehicle. Any significant deceleration of the road-speed of the first vehicle is determined. A luminous signal is provided to the third vehicle by the host vehicle when such significant deceleration has occurred. According to some methods a radar device carried by the host vehicle may be used to determine the relative speed between the first and second vehicles.

Claims

1. A method for automatically alerting the operator of a third vehicle trailing a second, host vehicle of a potentially hazardous deceleration of a first vehicle forward of said host vehicle, the method comprising:

ascertaining the road-speed of the first vehicle by the host vehicle;

determining when a significant deceleration of the road-speed of the first vehicle occurs; and

providing a luminous signal to the third vehicle by the host vehicle when said significant deceleration has occurred.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the ascertaining step is carried out using a radar device carried by the host vehicle to determine the relative speed between the first and host vehicles, and means, carried by said host vehicle, for determining the road speed of the host vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the luminous signal providing step is carried out using a luminous display mounted to a rear portion of said host vehicle, the luminous display being sufficiently bright and so positioned to be visible by an operator of the third vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the luminous signal providing step comprises displaying a text message on a lighted display.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the luminous signal providing step is carried out using said host vehicle having a brake light and a luminous display spaced apart from one another, the luminous display creating said luminous signal.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the luminous signal providing step is carried out to indicate different hazardous conditions.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the luminous signal providing step is carried out by providing a luminous first vehicle decelerating signal to the third vehicle by the host vehicle only when said significant deceleration has occurred.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the luminous signal providing step comprises providing a flashing luminous signal to the third vehicle by the host vehicle when said significant deceleration has occurred.