Patent ID: 7388477
Filing Date: 2008-06-17
Classification: B60Q,G08G

Abstract:
1. A system for preventing chain reaction crashes between trailing vehicles, comprising: a first deceleration detector mounted in a first vehicle, the deceleration detector for detecting a change in acceleration while the first vehicle is traveling; a first indicator for directing a visual signal to vehicles behind the first vehicle, the first visual signal indicating the change in the acceleration of the first vehicle, the first visual signal being rearwardly facing lights on the first vehicle which are activated by the change in the acceleration signal from the first vehicle; and a first relay transmitter for transmitting the change in the acceleration to a second vehicle which trails the first vehicle by a selected trailing distance; a first relay receiver in the first vehicle for receiving another change in acceleration signal of another vehicle located in front of the first vehicle; a first forward facing camera on the first vehicle for taking pictures of the another forward located vehicle when the first vehicle trails the another forward located vehicle by the selected trailing distance; a first rearwardly facing camera on the first vehicle for taking pictures of the second vehicle when the second vehicle trails the first vehicle by the selected trailing distance; a first audible alarm in the first vehicle which activates and alerts a driver of the first vehicle when the first vehicle trails the another forward located vehicle by the selected trailing distance; a first cruise control override in the first vehicle which overrides an activated cruise control in the first vehicle to alert the driver when the first vehicle trails the another forward vehicle by the selected trailing distance; a second deceleration detector mounted in the second vehicle, the deceleration detector for detecting a change in acceleration while the second vehicle is traveling; a second relay receiver in the second vehicle for receiving the change in the acceleration signal from the first vehicle when the second vehicle reaches the selected trailing distance; a second indicator for directing a visual signal to additional vehicles following behind the second vehicle, the second visual signal indicating the change in the acceleration of the second vehicle to a third vehicle which trails the second vehicle, the second visual signal being rearwardly facing lights on the second vehicle which are activated by the change in the acceleration signal from the first vehicle; and a second relay transmitter for transmitting the change in the acceleration to the third vehicle which trails the second vehicle by the selected trailing distance; a second forward facing camera on the second vehicle for taking pictures of the first vehicle when the second vehicle trails the first vehicle by the selected trailing distance; a second rearwardly facing camera on the second vehicle for taking pictures of the additional following vehicle when the additional following vehicles trails the second vehicle by the selected trailing distance; a second audible alarm in the second vehicle which activates and alerts a driver of the second vehicle when the second vehicle trails the first vehicle by the selected trailing distance; and a second cruise control override in the second vehicle which overrides an activated cruise control in the second vehicle to alert the driver when the second vehicle trails the first vehicle by the selected trailing distance.