VEHICLE ALERTER APPARATUS

Abstract: A preferred vehicle alerter vehicle apparatus (10) for connection to a monitored vehicle (12) includes a plurality of distance sensors (40-54), a speed sensor (16) and a steering wheel sensor (20), a pair of auxiliary head lamps (36, 38) and a pair of auxiliary rear lamp units (28, 30) each including an amber light (32) and red light (34) lamp, and a display screen (24), all connected to a central controller (14). The distance sensors (40-54) present a display on the screen (24) to the driver of the monitored vehicle (12) indicating the distance to a second vehicle and indicating whether the second vehicle is forward or rearward of the monitored vehicle (12), and whether the second vehicle is in the left, center or right lane relative to the monitored vehicle (12). The controller (14) activates the rear lamp assembly (18) if the monitored vehicle (12) is decelerating even when the brake pedal is not pushed, and flashes the head lamps (36, 38) when the monitored vehicle (12) is travelling at an excessive speed. The controller (14) also flashes a corresponding head lamp (36, 38) when the steering wheel is turned.

Description: VEHICLE ALERTER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of vehicle safety devices. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Despite the improvement in vehicle safety equipment, accidents still occur that could be avoided if drivers were more aware of the situation and status of other vehicles on the road. For example, a vehicle may slow down without pressing on the brake pedal by letting up on the accelarator. In this situation, the rear brake lights are not activated and other drivers may be unaware that the vehicle is slowing until it is to late to avoid an accident. Also, some drivers do not leave enough distance between their vehicles and other vehicles. This can lead to accidents. Further, some drivers initiate turns without activating turn signals. This is another situation that can lead to avoidable accidents. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the prior art problems discussed above and provides a distinct advance in the state of the art. In particular, the vehicle alerter apparatus hereof provides enhanced awareness to drivers of the safety status of their own vehicles relative to other vehicles on the road. The preferred vehicle alerter vehicle apparatus for connection to a monitored vehicle includes a plurality of distance sensors, a speed sensor, a steering wheel sensor, a pair of auxiliary head lamps and a pair of auxiliary rear lamp assemblies each including an amber and red lamp, and a display screen, all connected to a central controller. The distance sensors present a display on the screen to the driver of the monitored vehicle indicating the distance to a second vehicle and indicating whether the second vehicle is forward or rearward of the monitored vehicle, and whether the second vehicle is in the left, center or right lane relative to the monitored vehicle. The controller activates the rear lamp assemblies if the monitored vehicle is decelerating even when the brake pedal was not pushed, and flashes the head lamps and rear lalmps when the monitored vehicle is traveling at an excessive speed. The controller also flashes a corresponding head lamp and rear lamp when the steering wheel is turned sufficiently to result in a turn. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an electrical block diagram illustrating the preferred vehicle alerter apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan representation of a vehicle illustrating component of the apparatus of Fig. 1 mounted thereto; Fig. 3A is a graphical illustration of the preferred display screen of the apparatus of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3B is a graphical illustration of further detail of the display screen of Fig. 3A; Fig. 4 is an electrical schematic of the preferred central control of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 5 is an electrical schematic of module 25 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an electrical schematic of module 37 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is an electrical schematic of the head lamp control of the central control of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 8 is an electrical schematic of another embodiment of the head lamp control of the central control of Fig. 1 ; and Fig. 9 is an electrical schematic of the display screen control of the central control of Fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Fig. 1 is an electrical block diagram illustrating preferred vehicle alerter apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention with components thereof shown connected to vehicle 12 in Fig.2. Apparatus 10 broadly includes central control 14, speed sensor 16, rear lamp assembly 18, steering sensor 20, head lamp assembly 22, display screen 24, and distance sensor assembly 26. Fig.4 illustrates central control 14. Figs. 5 and 6 further illustrate modules 25 and 37 of central control 14. Further, Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate alternative embodiments of the head lamp control of central control 14 that function as the interface with head lamp assembly 22. Fig. 9 illustrates the preferred display screen control (dashboard control) between central control 14 and display 24 illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3B. As will be appreciated, central control 14 can also include a microprocessor-based computer or a modification of the existing computer found in most automobiles. Speed sensor 16 can include an added sensor for determining the speed of vehicle 12 and for providing the appropriate input signals to control 14. Also, sensor 16 can include the existing speed sensorthat provides input to the speedometer. Rear lamp assembly 18 includes left lamp unit 28 and right lamp unit 30 positioned adjacent opposed sides of vehicle 12 and positioned to be visible from the rear of vehicle 12. As illustrated in Fig. 2, units 28, 30 can be positioned on opposed sides of the conventional third brake light. Each lamp unit 28, 30 includes an inboard amber light 32 and an outboard red light 34. Central control 14 controls the activation of lamp units 20, 30 and respective lights 32, 34. Steering sensor 20 is conventional in nature and connected to the steering system of vehicle 12 and provides an input to central control 14 indicating the position of the steering wheel of vehicle 12. When the steering wheel is sufficiently turned, this indicates that vehicle 12 is making a turn and signals representative thereof are provided to central control 14. Head lamp assembly 22 includes left head lamp 36 and right head lamp 38. Head lamps 36, 38 can be provided as auxiliary head lamps retrofitted to vehicle 12 or could include the vehicles existing head lamps. Figs. 3A and 3B illustrate preferred display screen 24. Fig. 3A presents an overall view and Fig. 3B presents more detail concerning the central area of screen 24. As will be appreciated, screen 24 can include a conventional light panel or, in the alternative, a CRT computer monitor. Distance sensor assembly 26 includes left front sensor 40, center front sensor 42, right front sensor 44, left rear sensor 46, center rear sensor 48, right rear sensor 50, left side sensor 52 and right side sensor 54. Sensors 40- 54 are preferably radar sensors but can also include infrared and ultrasound sensors, for example, and operate to sense the distance to an adjacent vehicle. Assembly 26 is positioned on the roof of vehicle 12 in order to provide a good field of view for the respective sensors thereof. In particular, front sensors 40-44 sense the positions of the nearest vehicles to monitored vehicle 12 in the left, center and right driving lanes respectively. Center front sensor 42 is aimed directly ahead to sense the distance to an adjacent vehicle in front of monitored vehicle 12 in the same lane as vehicle 12. Left front sensor 40 is angled slightly to the left as compared to center front sensor 42 in order to monitor the nearest vehicle in front of monitored vehicle 12 in the adjacent left lane. Similarly, right front sensor 44 is angled slightly to the right to monitor the nearest vehicle in front of monitored vehicle 12 in the adjacent right lane. Rear distance sensors 46-50 are positioned in a manner similar to front sensors 40-44 in order to monitor the positions of the nearest vehicles behind monitored vehicle 12 in the left, center and right lanes respectively. Left and right side sensors 52, 54 are positioned adjacent the left and right sides of vehicle 12 in order to monitor the presence and position of vehicles and other objects adjacent the sides of vehicle 12. in operation, central control 14 receives inputs from distance sensors 40-54 and responds by providing an appropriate visual display on screen 24. As a general driving guide line, a vehicle should leave one car length between adjacent vehicle ahead or behind for each ten miles per hour of velocity. Sensors 40-54 provide inputs to central control 14 indicating the distance to an adjacent vehicle ahead or behind vehicle 12. Central control 14 receives this information along with signals from speed sensor 16 indicative of the speed of monitored vehicle 12. Appropriate information is displayed on screen 24. Referring to Fig. 3B, screen 24 presents a column of numbers, one through 5, corresponding to each front sensor 40-44 and each rear sensor 46- 50. If vehicle 12 is traveling at 50 MPH, for example, there should be at least 5 car lengths between vehicle 12 and an adjacent vehicle. If the adjacent or second vehicle is closer than five car lengths, central control 14 activates the display notation "5" (Fig. 3B) in the column corresponding to the lane of the second vehicle and corresponding to whether the vehicle is in front of or behind monitored vehicle 12. This indicates to the driver of vehicle 12 that there should be five car lengths between it and the second vehicle. If vehicle 12 is traveling 30 MPH, for example, the display notation "3" would be highlighted on screen 24 indicating that there should be three car lengths. In addition, if the second vehicle is in front of monitored vehicle 12 in the same lane and the distance is less than the prescribed one car length for each 10 MPH, control 14 activates head lamp assemblies 22 to flash head lamps 36, 38 as a warning to the driver in front that vehicle 12 is too close. Similarly, if the second vehicle is behind monitored vehicle 12 and is too close in the same lane, then central control 14 activates left and right rear lamp units 28, 30 as a warning to the driver behind that the second vehicle is too close and should increase the distance. Such warnings are not provided in the situation of vehicles in adjacent lanes that are too close because such situations are normal in multilane traffic. Central control 14 also includes inputs from left and right side sensors 52 and activates the corresponding display on screen 24 indicating the position of other vehicles on the side of monitored vehicle 12 as best viewed in Fig. 3B. In the operation of head lamp assembly 22, central control 14 turns on head lamps 36, 38 during normal operation of vehicle 12 to function as running lights, if vehicle 12 slows below a predetermined, speed, such as 10MPH, control 14 turns off lamps 36, 38 indicating that the vehicle is coming to a stop. On the other hand, if vehicle 12 exceeds a predetermined velocity such as 70 MPH, for example, then control 14 alternately flashes head lamps 36, 38 as a warning to others that vehicle 12 may be traveling at a speed deemed unsafe or excessive. Also, central control 14 could be configured to flash head lamps 36, 38 simultaneously whenever the vehicle brake is applied. Central control 14 also receives input from steering sensor 20. If the steering wheel of vehicle 12 is turned sufficiently to indicate that vehicle is turning, then control 14 flashes the corresponding head lamp 36, 38. This provides an automatic turn signal indication. In the operation of rear lamp assembly 18, central control 14 activates amber lights 32 for about 30 to 90 seconds after the vehicle starts operating or until it reaches about 25 MPH. Thus, during constant velocity operation of vehicle 12, amber and red lights, 32 and 34 are off. If vehicle 12 slows by releasing the accelerator, control 14 determines that the vehicle is decelerating and turns on both amber and red lights 32 and 34 as a warning to other drivers that vehicle 12 is slowing, even if the brake pedal has not been depressed. Amber lights 32 go off when the vehicle slows below a preset velocity such as 10MPH. Control 14 also activates amber lights 32 when vehicle 12 is traveling faster than a predetermined velocity in a manner similar to head lamps 36, 38. Similarly, control 14 flashes the corresponding amber light 32 when vehicle 12 is making a turn, also in a manner similar to the operation of head lamp 36, 38 in order to function as an automatic turn signal. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention encompasses many variations in the preferred embodiment described herein. For example, the various lights and visual displays can be configured in a wide variety of configurations and to be activated and deactivated under other circumstances and speeds if desired. Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the following is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A vehicle alerter apparatus for use with a vehicle comprising: a speed sensor configured to couple with a vehicle and to sense the velocity thereof; a lamp assembly configured to couple with the vehicle at a location visible from the exterior of the vehicle; and a signal processor configured to connect to said to said lamp assembly and said speed sensor and responsive thereto to determine a change in the velocity of the vehicle and to activate said lamp assembly upon a predetermined change in the velocity of the vehicle. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 , said lamp assembly being positioned for visibility from the rear of the vehicle, said predetermined change including deceleration. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, said lamp assembly emitting an amber light upon activation. 4. The apparatus of claim 2, said lamp assembly emitting a red light upon activation. 5. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a pair of said lamp assemblies configured for coupling with the vehicle adjacent respective sides thereof at a location visible from the rear of the vehicle, each of said assemblies being operable to produce an amber light upon a first predetermined change in the velocity of the vehicle and to produce a red light upon a second predetermined change, greater than said first predetermined change, in the velocity of the vehicle. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a pair of headlamp assemblies configured to couple with the vehicle adjacent opposed sides thereof at locations visible from the front of the vehicle, said signal processor being configured to connect to said headlamp assemblies and operable to activate said assemblies when said vehicle is in operation with the brake thereof released and to deactivate said assemblies when the velocity thereof drops below a predetermined velocity. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, said signal processor being operable to flash said headlamp assemblies when the vehicle velocity exceeds a selected velocity. 8. The apparatus of claim 6 further including a steering sensor configured to couple with the vehicle and operable to sense the steering position of the steering wheel, said headlamp assemblies including a left assembly and a right assembly, said signal processor being operable to flash said left assembly upon turning of the steering wheel to the left and to flash said right assembly upon turning of the steering wheel to the right. 9. The apparatus of claim 6, said vehicle being a monitored vehicle, said apparatus further including a distance sensor configured to couple with the monitored vehicle and operable to sense the distance to a second vehicle at one of the front and rear of the monitored vehicle and including a display screen configured to couple with the interior of the vehicle at a location visible to the driver thereof, said signal processor being configured to connect with said distance sensor and with said display screen and operable to determine whether said another vehicle is within a predetermined distance from said monitored vehicle and to produce a visual display representative thereof on said screen. 10. A vehicle alerter apparatus for use with a vehicle comprising: a speed sensor configured to couple with a vehicle and operable to sense the velocity thereof; a pair of headlamp assemblies configured to couple with the vehicle adjacent respective sides thereof at locations visible from the front of the vehicle; a signal processor configured to connect with said headlamp assemblies and said speed sensor and responsive thereto to activate said assemblies when the vehicle is in operation with the brake released and to deactivate said assemblies when the velocity of the vehicle drops below a predetermined velocity. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, said predetermined velocity including ten miles per hour. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, said signal processor being operable to flash said assemblies when the vehicle velocity exceeds a selected velocity. 13. The apparatus of claim 10 further including a steering sensor configured to couple with the vehicle and operable to sense when the steering wheel of the vehicle is turned left and right, said assemblies including a left assembly and a right assembly, said signal processor being responsive to said steering sensor to flash said left assembly upon turning of the steering wheel to the left and to flash said right assembly upon turning of the steering wheel to the right. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, said signal processor being operable to flash said assemblies for a time period correlated with the speed of the vehicle and operable to flash said assemblies simultaneously when the vehicle brake is applied. 15. A vehicle alerter apparatus for use with a vehicle comprising: a speed sensor operable to couple with a monitored vehicle and operable to sense the velocity thereof; at least one distance sensor configured to couple with the monitored vehicle and operable to sense the distance to a second vehicle located in front of or behind the monitored vehicle; a display screen configured to couple with the interior of the monitored vehicle at a location visible to the driver thereof; and a signal processor configured to connect to said screen and said sensors and responsive thereto to determine whetherthe second vehicle is less than a predetermined distance from the monitored vehicle and to produce a visual display representative thereof on said screen. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, said at least one distance sensor including at least one forward sensor operable to sense the distance to a second vehicle located in front of the monitored vehicle and at least one rearward sensor operable to sense the distance to and speed of a second vehicle behind the monitored vehicle, said predetermined distance being a function of the velocity of the monitored vehicle when the second vehicle is in front of the monitored vehicle, and being a function of the velocity of the second vehicle when the second vehicle is behind the monitored vehicle. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, said predetermined distance being about one vehicle length for each ten miles per hour of velocity of the monitored vehicle when the second vehicle is in front thereof and of the second vehicle when the second vehicle is behind the monitored vehicle. 18. The apparatus of claim 17 further including a pair of rear lamp assemblies configured to couple with the monitored vehicle respectively adjacent opposed sides thereof at locations visible from the rear of the vehicle, said signal processor being configured to connect with said rear lamp assemblies and operable to activate said rear lamp assemblies when the second vehicle is behind monitored vehicle and within said predetermined distance. 19. The apparatus of claim 17, each of said rear lamp assemblies being operable to emit red light and amber light, said signal processor being operable to activate said rear lamp assemblies to emit said amber light at a first deceleration rate of the monitored vehicle and to emit said red light at a second deceleration rate, greater than said first deceleration rate, of the monitored vehicle, said apparatus further including a pair of headlamp assemblies configured to couple with the vehicle adjacent opposed sides thereof at locations visible from the front of the vehicle, said signal processor being configured to connect to said headlamp assemblies and operable to activate said assemblies when said vehicle is in operation with the brake thereof released and to deactivate said assemblies when the velocity thereof drops below a predetermined velocity, said apparatus further including a steering sensor configured to couple with the vehicle and operable to sense when the steering wheel of the vehicle is turned left and right, said assemblies including a left assembly and a right assembly, said signal processor being operable to flash said left assembly upon turning of the steering wheel to the left and to flash said right assembly upon turning of the steering wheel to the right. 20. The apparatus of claim 16 including a left forward sensor, a center forward sensor and a right forward sensor respectively operable to sense the distance to a second vehicle in front of the monitored vehicle in the left, center or right driving lane relative to the monitored vehicle, and including a left rearward sensor, a center rearward sensor and a right rearward sensor respectively operable to sense the distance to a second vehicle rearward of the monitored vehicle in the left, center or right driving lane relative to the monitored vehicle. 21. The apparatus of claim 20 further including a left side sensor and a right side sensor. 22. The apparatus of claim 21 , said sensor including a radar sensor.

Inventors: SMITH DONALD WAYNE, SMITH, DONALD, WAYNE
Applicants: SMITH DONALD WAYNE, SMITH, DONALD, WAYNE
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G08G1
IPC codes: B60Q1, B60R21, G08B21, G08G1