Patent ID: 6016458
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: G08G

Abstract:
A vehicular speed control system comprising, in combination:a radar gun with a speed detection mechanism and a display for depicting a speed of a vehicle at which the speed detection mechanism is directed, the radar gun further including a radio transmitter for transmitting a speed signal indicative of a user selected upper speed limit;a speed limit sign mounted on a post with speed limit indicia printed thereon, the speed limit sign further including a transmitter powered by at least one solar cell, wherein the transmitter of the speed limit sign is adapted to continuously transmit a speed signal that is indicative of an upper speed limit that corresponds to the speed limit indicia; anda vehicle including an acceleration control mechanism having a first mode of operation for allowing a user to control a speed of a vehicle and a second mode of operation for unconditionally imparting a low predetermined speed on the vehicle, wherein the acceleration control mechanism operates in the second mode of operation only during the receipt of a disable signal, the vehicle further including a receiver for receiving the speed signal via free space, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a current speed of the vehicle, a storage medium for storing a maximum override speed, and a comparator having a first mode of operation upon the lack of depression of an override button for transmitting the disable signal to the acceleration control mechanism while the current speed is greater than the upper speed limit received via the speed signal, the comparator further having a second mode of operation for only a predetermined amount of time upon the instantaneous depression of an override button during which the comparator is adapted for transmitting the disable signal to the acceleration control mechanism upon the current speed being greater than the maximum override speed stored in the storage medium;said vehicle further including a warning lamp mounted on a dash of the vehicle and connected to the comparator for illuminating during the receipt of the disable signal, an override lamp mounted on the dash of the vehicle and connected to the override button for illuminating for the predetermined amount of time upon the depression of the override button, and rear warning lights mounted on a rear of the vehicle and connected to the comparator for illuminating during the receipt of the disable signal.