Abstract:
An approaching vehicle informing system and method for informing the driver of a vehicle of the presence of a relatively approaching emergency vehicle and providing the driver with information regarding the amount of time until vehicles meet. Included are a transmitting station for simultaneously emitting periodic electromagnetic and sound pulses of preselected frequencies located on the emergency vehicle, and a receiving station located on the driver&#39;s vehicle. The receiving station includes circuitry to receive the electromagnetic and sound pulses and discriminate signals of the preselected frequencies. A microcomputer is programmed to measure the time interval between simultaneously emitted electromagnetic and sound pulses, determines the Doppler frequency shift of the received sound pulse, and calculates the time until vehicles meet, which is displayed in numerical form to the driver in the event the Doppler frequency of received sound pulses exceeds the frequency of emitted sound pulses.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 590,862, filed Mar. 19, 1984, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an informing system and method, and more particularly to an informing system and method utilizing electromagnetic and acoustic signals emitted from an approaching emergency vehicle or similar for providing a warning of the presence of and determining the time until metting with a stationary or moving receiver. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Acoustical sirens for signaling the presence of emergency vehicles were adopted over fifty years ago when the prevailing construction of motor vehicles afforded relatively easy access to such signals. Soundproofing provided by the current design of motor vehicles and the background noise of internal radios, heaters, air conditioners and other sound producing devices have greatly reduced the effectiveness of acoustical sirens for this use. In addition, hearing impaired drivers are put at risk whenever they are unable to see the flashing lights or similar from an emergency vehicle due to intervening objects. Various methods and systems have been proposed to inform the driver of a motor vehicle of the proximity of an emergency vehicle. 
     The system disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,873,963 and 4,380,004 use acoustical signals emitted from an emergency vehicle to cause an alarm to be triggered inside a proximate motor vehicle, but do not provide the driver with information regarding the distance between vehicles or how long before the vehicles meet. The system disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,778 uses electromagnetic signals emitted from an emergency vehicle to cause an alarm to be triggered inside a proximate motor vehicle, and gives the driver some indication of the relative distance between the vehicles by the use of a variable frequency audio alarm signal, but does not provide the driver with information regarding how long before the vehicles meet. The system disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,566,348 and 3,731,273 use both acoustical and electromagnetic signals to determine the relative distance and direction of two objects, but do not provide information regarding how long before the objects, if moving, would meet. The system disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,784,970 uses both electromagnetic and acoustical signals emitted from an emergency vehicle to cause an alarm to be activated inside a motor vehicle that is closer than a predetermined range, but does not provide the driver with any other information regarding the distance between the vehicles or how long before the vehicles meet. 
     Despite the availability of such systems, there exists a need in the art for an improved approaching vehicle informing system and method that informs the driver of a motor vehicle when a proximate emergency vehicle is relatively approaching, and, in addition, gives information to the driver as to the time until the emergency vehicle and the driver&#39;s vehicle meet, thereby permitting the driver to make an informed judgment as to the most appropriate action to take in view of the surrounding circumstances. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to aid in the understanding of the present invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to an approaching vehicle informing system and method that provides the driver of a motor vehicle with warning in the event of an approaching emergency vehicle and provides information as to the amount of time until the vehicles meet. 
     To this end, a transmitting station located on an approaching emergency vehicle has circuitry for simultaneously transmitting periodic pulsed electromagnetic waves in the radio regime and pulsed sound waves, each of a predetermined frequency. A receiving station located on a second vehicle includes circuity for receiving the radio frequency pulses and the sound pulses. A microcomputer responsive at the receiving station measures and stores a numerical value of the time interval between reception of simultaneously emitted radio and sound pulses, representing the distance between the vehicles in units of the speed of sound. The microcomputer also compares the frequency of the received sound pulses with a stored value of the frequency of the emitted sound pulses, and for values of the received sound frequency exceeding the stored frequency value, representing the relative approach of vehicles, calculates the relative speed of the approaching vehicles, in terms of the speed of sound, using the Doppler effect relationship. Knowledge of the relative distance and speed of the vehicles thereafter permits the microcomputer to calculate the time, in seconds, for the vehicles to meet. Responsive to the microcomputer are a light emitting diode for visually displaying the time until vehicles meet, and an audio, visual or vibratory alarm. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an approaching vehicle informing system and method that informs the driver of a vehicle of the presence of an approaching but not a receding emergency vehicle. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an approaching vehicle informing system and method that rapidly provides the driver of a vehicle with information regarding the amount of time until the vehicle and an approaching emergency vehicle meet. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide an approaching vehicle informing system and method that can automatically switch a traffic signal to a preselected display mode when an approaching but not receding emergency vehicle is proximate. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a study of the following portion of the specification, the claims, and the attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an emergency vehicle illustrating, as mounted thereon, the transmitting station of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a second vehicle illustrating, as mounted thereon, the receiving station of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the receiving station of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following specifications, taken in conjunction with the drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are the best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out his invention in a commercial environment, although it should be understood that various modifications can be accomplished within the parameters of the present invention. 
     Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the present invention, reference is made first to FIG. 1, showing transmitting station generally identified by numeral 10, located on emergency vehicle 11, having radio transmitter 14, capable of producing periodic pulsed electromagnetic oscillations of a first preselected frequency in the radio spectrum, is connected to transmitting antenna 15. Sound generator 12, capable of producing pulsed electrical signals of a second preselected frequency simultaneously with the pulsed electromagnetic oscillations of antenna 15, is electrically connected to horn 13 capable of producing periodic pulsed oscillations of the second preselected frequency in response to sound generator 12. Typically, the period between pulses of electromagnetic and acoustic oscillations will be one second. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, receiving station is generally identified by numeral 20. Pulsed acoustic oscillations emitted by horn 13 are received by microphone 22 attached to vehicle 16. Receiving antenna 30 mounted on vehicle 16 receives pulsed electromagnetic oscillations emitted from transmitting antenna 15. 
     Two physical principles utilized during operation of the present invention are the difference in propagation speed of electromagnetic and acoustic disturbances in the atmosphere and the Doppler effect as applied to frequency changes of acoustic signals between a source and an observer relatively approaching. Regarding the former, as the speed of electromagnetic waves in the atmosphere is over five orders of magnitude greater than the speed of sound waves in the atmosphere, the time interval between the reception of a particular pulse of electromagnetic oscillations emitted by transmitting station 10 and the reception of a simultaneously emitted pulse of acoustic oscillations by receiving station 20, will, to a high degree of accuracy, be equivalent to the time interval for a pulse of acoustic oscillations to travel from transmitting station 10 to receiving station 20. Regarding the latter, the relationship between the frequency f of an acoustic signal emitted by a source and the frequency f&#39; of the same signal as received by an observer when there is movement between source and observer at relative speed V is given approximately by the relation: 
     
         V=c(f&#39;-f)/f&#39; 
    
     where c denotes the speed of sound in the atmosphere and is much greater than relative speed V. Positive valves of relative speed V indicate relative approach of source and observer. Assuming relatively approaching source and observer each maintain constant velocity, the time until source and observer meet is given by the quotient of the distance between source and observer as numerator, and the relative speed of source and observer as denominator. As the distance between source and observer is given by the product of the speed of sound in the atmosphere, c, and the time interval for sound to travel from source to observer, the time until source and observer meet is given approximately by the relation: 
     
         T=(t)(f&#39;)/(f&#39;-f) 
    
     where T is the time until source and observer meet and t is the time interval between reception by observer of a particular pulse of electromagnetic waves emitted by source and the reception by observer of a pulse of acoustic waves simultaneously emitted by source which, to a high degree of accuracy, is equivalent to the time interval for sound to travel from source to observer. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, pulsed electromagnetic oscillations of said first preselected frequency emitted from transmitting station 10 enter radio receiver 28 through receiving antenna 30, and impress said first preselected frequency on integrated circuit phased locked loop 32 connected to the output of radio receiver 28. Under the influence of said first preselected frequency, the output of phased locked loop 32 goes to a low voltage state. 
     Also referring to FIG. 3, pulsed acoustic oscillations are received by microphone 22 and are converted to oscillating voltage that acts as input to preamplifier 23. The output of preamplifier 23 acts as input to bandpass filter 24, which passes only a range of frequencies near said second preselected frequency as emitted by horn 13. Amplifier 26 amplifies the output of bandpass filter 24. The input of integrated circuit tone decoder 34 is electrically connected to the output of amplifier 26, and the output of tone decoder 34 goes to a low voltage state in response to output from amplifier 26. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, a microcomputer is generally identified by numeral 36, having microprocessor 38 connected to timer 40, frequency counter 42 and memory 44. The output of phased locked loop 32, amplifier 26 and tone decoder 34 are connected as inputs to microcomputer 38, and display 46 and switch 48 are connected in parallel as outputs from microcomputer 36. 
     The design constants placed in permanent storage of memory 44 are a numerical value of said second preselected frequency of acoustic oscillations on Hertz, typically 5000, and a numerical value of a time period used to count frequency in frequency counter 42 in Hertz, typically 500, representing 0.1 second at 5000 Hertz. A numerical value, equal to said second preselected frequency of acoustic oscillations in Hertz is typically selected as the value of the frequency of an internal clock programmed into microcomputer 36. With design constants chosen in this manner, the numerical value of acoustic oscillations of said second preselected frequency transmitted in 0.1 second is equal to the numerical value of the time period used to count frequency, and thus can be represented by the numerical value of the time period used to count frequency. In a like manner, said second preselected frequency of acoustic oscillations is numerically equal to, and can thus represent, the frequency of said internal clock 
     Microcomputer 36 is programmed to respond to said low voltage state of phased locked loop 32 by triggering a first interrupt and subsequently starting to count oscillations of said internal clock. The count of oscillations of said internal clock is made in timer 40, and continues to be made until the output of tone decoder 34 goes to a low voltage state in response to the arrival of pulsed acoustic oscillations at microphone 22. Microcomputer 36 is so programmed to respond to the low voltage state of the output of tone decoder 34 as a second interrupt, by stopping the count of oscillations of said internal clock, moving the count of oscillations made in timer 40 to memory 44, and clearing the register of timer 40. Next, microcomputer 36 is programmed to place the numerical value of the time period used to count frequency stored in memory 44 in the register of timer 40, and to cause frequency counter 42 to begin counting each oscillation of the voltage from amplifier 26, that is, each voltage oscillation induced by the acoustic oscillations at or near said first preselected frequency. Microcomputer 36 is programmed to decrement the numerical value of the time period used to count frequency at the oscillation rate of said internal clock. At the typical internal clock rate of 5000 Hertz, and the typical value of the time period used to count frequency of 500, decrementation will last for 0.1 second. Microcomputer 36 is programmed to test for a zero reading in the register of timer 40 following the placement of the value of the time period used to count frequency in the register of timer 40, and when the numerical value in timer 40 reaches zero, microcomputer 36 is programmed to stop counting oscillations of voltage from amplifier 26. Thereafter microcomputer 36 is programmed to compare the numerical value of the oscillations of voltage from amplifier 26 as present in frequency counter 42 with the numerical value of the time period stored in memory 44 and used to count frequency. 
     In the event the numerical value present in frequency counter 42 is less than or equal to the numerical value of the time period stored in memory 44, the physical relationship between emergency vehicle 11 and vehicle 16 is that of relative recession or comovemant, respectively, due to the Doppler effect. In this case, microcomputer 36 is programmed to discontinue processing, the numerical values present in the register of timer 40, frequency counter 42 and the count of oscillations stored in memory 44 are cleared, and microcomputer 36 returns to an idle condition awaiting first interrupt from phased locked loop 32. Thus, discrimination and rejection of Doppler frequencies not in excess of said second preselected frequency of acoustic oscillations is accomplished. 
     In the event the numerical value present in frequency counter 42 is greater than the numerical value of the time period stored in memory 44, the physical relationship between emergency vehicle 11 and vehicle 16 is that of relative approach. In this case, microcomputer 36 is programmed to use the Doppler relationship to calculate a numerical value, in seconds, for the time until emergency vehicle 10 and vehicle 16 meet assuming no changes in velocity, referred to as the time to meet. Microcomputer 36 is programmed to form a first quotient of the count of oscillations temporarily stored in memory 44 as numerator and the numerical value of said second preselected frequency of acoustic oscillations in the denominator, thereby yielding the time, in seconds, for a pulse of acoustic oscillations to travel from emergency vehicle 11 to vehicle 16, or equivalently, the distance between emergency vehicle 11 and vehicle 16 in units of the velocity of sound. Next, microcomputer 36 is programmed to form a second quotient of the numerical value present in frequency counter 42 as denominator and the difference between the numerical value present in frequency counter 42 and the numerical value of acoustic oscillations of said second preselected frequency transmitted in 0.1 second, as equal to the numerical value of the time period stored in memory 44 as numerator, thereby yielding the Doppler increase in frequency in units of the second preselected frequency of acoustic oscillations, or, equivalently, the relative velocity between emergency vehicle 11 and vehicle 16 in units of the velocity of sound. Microcomputer 36 then is programmed to form a third quotient of said first quotient as numerator and said second quotient as denominator, thus forming, in the same units, the distance between emergency vehicle 11 and vehicle 16 as numerator, so as to obtain a numerical value for the time to meet in seconds. 
     Microcomputer 36 is programmed to decode voltages representing binary coded decimal numbers and present the time to meet by way of display 46, typically as formed numbers in a seven-segment light emitting diode. Microcomputer 36 is also programmed to output a voltage to the control terminal of switch 48, normally in an open position, so as to cause switch 48 to close thereby activating an audible, visual or vibratory alarm 50 connected to the output of microcomputer 36 so as to quickly attract the attention of occupants of vehicle 16 to time sensitive information presented by display 46. 
     Following presentation of the time to meet at display 46, microcomputer 36 is programmed to clear the registers of counter 42 and timer 40 and the volatile memory of memory 44, and return to the beginning of programming to wait in an idle condition for a subsequent first interrupt from phased locked loop 32. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention not shown, receiving station 20 is mounted on a stationary traffic light. The output of microcomputer 36 is electrically connected to the switching circuitry of the traffic light and microcomputer 36 is programmed to activate the switching circuitry to display stop or caution indicators in all directions when the time to meet is less than a predetermined value stored in memory 44. 
     The present invention having been described in its preferred embodiments, it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.