Abstract:
A vehicle accident warning system comprises a sensor, detecting an external acoustic signal; an identifying device, receiving a signal from said sensor according to said acoustic signal and performing analysis of frequency and repetition rate thereof for identifying said signal as a warning signal; and a controlling device, receiving an identification signal from said identifying device according to said analysis thereof and issuing a corresponding alerting message.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a vehicle accident warning system, particularly to a vehicle accident warning system which is self-contained, upon installation in a vehicle does not need a change in design thereof or impair driving experience, and is capable of alerting a driver to imminent danger.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     During driving, music and radio or TV programs are often played at too high a volume. In addition, effective insulation of sound by car windows block acoustic signals from outside, like sirens of police cars, ambulances or fire engines, or warning signals from railway crossings. Inattentiveness to warning signals possibly results in serious, even fatal accidents.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,291 “Vehicle hazard warning system” and patent application file no. 2000-404620 “Apparatus of automatically lowering sound volume of audio apparatus by sensing sirens and warning sounds of fire engines, ambulance, police cars, crossing gates and the like” disclose apparatuses that receive radio frequency and acoustic signals and identify these as external warning signals. However, these conventional devices often generate false alarms which subsequently cause loudspeakers in the vehicle to lower volume, without a specific or friendly-sounding alert being issued. Furthermore, these conventional devices do not provide for manual or automatic resetting of the vehicle&#39;s audio and video system and do not allow for wireless operation. Therefore, conventional vehicle hazard warning systems still are not convenient to use and fail to prevent traffic hazards.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle accident warning system having an improved identification device for generating alarms based on repetition rates of received sounds, so as to avoid false alarms.  
         [0007]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle accident warning system which, upon a generated alarm, issues a friendly-sounding alert message.  
         [0008]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle accident warning system which, after having issued an alerting message, resets the audio and video system of the car into an original state.  
         [0009]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle accident warning system which allows for wireless data transmission between a receiving and an identifying device.  
         [0010]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle accident warning system which allows for various repetition rates of external acoustic signals to be identified as warning signals.  
         [0011]     The present invention can be more fully understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]     The vehicle accident warning system of the present invention is installed in a vehicle a self-contained system, requiring no changes in the structure of the vehicle and not impairing comfort of driver and passengers.  
         [0013]     Regardless of wired or wireless operation, like a receiving device working according to various standards, the present invention is capable of sieving out from dozens or hundreds of frequencies and characteristics warning signals. Upon identification of a warning signal, a running radio or audio program is interfered with and turned down in volume or completely stopped. Then, according to the kind of warning signal identified, an alerting message is issued, like “Attention please, a fire engine is coming near”, “Attention please, a police car is coming near”, “Attention please, an ambulance is coming near” or “Attention please, you are approaching a crossing gate”. The alerting message is repeated several times. Then the radio or audio program is manually, by pressing a button, or automatically resumed. Thereby driver and passenger are able to enjoy a radio or audio program without worrying to miss a warning signal from outside that is blocked by well-insulating windows. The value of the vehicle as well as safety of driver and passengers are preserved.  
         [0014]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the vehicle accident warning system of the present invention, in a first embodiment operating with wires for data transmission, has a sensor  400 , which is installed on a roof of a vehicle at a suitable position for receiving acoustic signals of certain frequencies (like of fire engines, police cars, ambulances and crossing gates). The detected signal is transmitted via a signal cable  300  to a receiver  200  (including an identifying device  210  and a controlling device  250 , as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and undergoes analysis for identification as a warning signal of a certain type. After identification, volume of an audio system inside the vehicle is turned down or audio operation is stopped, and an alerting message that is stored in the receiver  200  is issued. In the first embodiment of the present invention, a power cable  100  with end connectors  101  and  102  is used, which are connected with a cigarette lighter and a socket on the receiver  200 , respectively, so that the receiver  200  and the sensor  400  are supplied with electricity from the vehicle. A direct connection with a power circuit of the vehicle or battery operation of the sensor  400  are also possible.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of operation of the present invention. The sensor  400  detects an external acoustic signal. The detected signal is transmitted via the signal cable  300  to the identifying device  210 . The identifying device  210  comprises an amplifier  215 , a filter  220 , an identifier  220  and a timer  240 . The amplifier  215  amplifies the signal, and the filter  220  filters out noise, then the signal is sent to the identifier  230 . There frequency changes of the signal are sensed and repetition rates of the signal are recognized using the timer  240 . An identification signal is sent to the controlling device  250 . The controlling device  250  has a controller  270  receiving the identification signal from the identifier  230 . Upon receiving an identification signal, the controller  270  drives audio/video devices  260  to lower volume or to stop operating. Then a sound generator  280  is driven to issue an alerting signal depending on the identification signal received, like “Attention please, a fire engine is coming near”, “Attention please, a police car is coming near”, “Attention please, an ambulance is coming near” or “Attention please, you are approaching a crossing gate”.  
         [0016]     The present invention allows the audio/video devices  260  to resume previous operation automatically after issuing the alerting message or manually by having a button pressed. The timer  240  deactivates re-issuing an alerting message for a preset time, e.g., 30 seconds or one minute to avoid confusion by repeated issuing of alerting messages.  
         [0017]     The connecting ends  101 ,  102  of the power cable  100  are connected with a cigarette lighter and a socket on the receiver  200 , respectively, so that the receiver  200  and the sensor  400  are supplied with electricity from the vehicle. Battery operation of the sensor  400  is also possible.  
         [0018]     The present invention in a second embodiment allows for wireless data transmission. Referring to  FIG. 3 , a sensor  401  having a wireless transmitter is mounted on the roof of the vehicle. A detected acoustic signals of certain frequencies is wirelessly transmitted to a receiver  201  (including an identifying device  210  and a controlling device  250 , as shown in  FIG. 4 ) and undergoes analysis for identification as a warning signal of a certain type.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of wireless operation of the present invention. The sensor  401  detects an external acoustic signal. The detected signal is wirelessly transmitted to an amplifier  215  of the identifying device  210  for being amplified. The sensor  401  is powered by a battery. Further structural parts of the second embodiment of the present invention are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  and do not need further explanation.  
         [0020]     The present invention operates independent of the vehicle and can be purchased and installed separately, with the signal cable  300  being laid along the roof of the vehicle or wireless operation being chosen. Power is supplied by the cigarette lighter or another direct current source.  
         [0021]     Decreeing the vehicle accident warning system of the present invention as required installation in vehicles not only reduces accidents, but also clearly points out responsibilities for accidents caused by drivers crossing closed crossing gates or not yielding to emergency vehicles.  
         [0022]     While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or variations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of this invention which is defined by the appended claims.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of the vehicle accident warning system of the present invention in the first embodiment.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing operation of the present invention in the first embodiment.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of the vehicle accident warning system of the present invention in the second embodiment.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing operation of the present invention in the second embodiment.