Abstract:
A pass-alert system can be mounted on bicycle handlebars to relieve a user (bicyclist) of having to vocalize passing alerts. When the bicyclist approaches a pedestrian from behind, the bicyclist can push a left or right trigger button to cause a phrase such as “passing on the left” to be sounded, alerting the pedestrian of the oncoming bicycle and providing a directional indication to aid in avoiding the bicycle. After a delay, a confirmatory message is sounded such as “thank you” to let the pedestrian know that the source of the alert has passed or is passing. Alternative embodiments accommodate joggers, runners, boaters, skiers, etc.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention provides for safe passing as one person, e.g., a bicyclist, overtakes another, e.g., a jogger. Herein, related art is discussed to aid in understanding the invention: related art labeled “prior art” is admitted prior art; and related art not labeled “prior art” is not admitted prior art. 
         [0002]    Bicyclists often sound an alert when they approach from behind other people, who may be walking, jogging, or bicycling more slowly along a common path. The alert makes the person being approached aware of the oncoming bicycle and allows them to take an appropriate action or avoid taking an inappropriate action. For example, the alert may prevent the person being passed from inadvertently moving laterally into the bicyclist&#39;s path. Where the path is narrow, the alert may allow the person being passed to move to the side to make way for the bicyclist to pass. 
         [0003]    A classic alert involves a bell mounted on the bicycle handlebars. The bicyclist would actuate a lever that generated a pair of bell tones. Alternatively, some bicyclists use a horn, generating the necessary air flow by squeezing a bulb attached to the horn&#39;s “mouthpiece”. In lieu of such a device, a bicyclist may issue a vocal warning such as “beep beep”. The person being alerted can turn toward the oncoming bicyclist, then determine and take the required action (or inaction) for avoidance. 
         [0004]    A more informative alert such as “passing on your left” or “passing on your right” reduces the time and effort required of the recipient to respond appropriately to the alert. The recipient is not required to turn around to determine the intentions of the oncoming bicyclist. Instead, the recipient can either hold course or move slightly to the side away from the passing. Despite the advantages of the more informative alert, many bicyclists rather not utter an extended phrase repeatedly (as they may pass several people in the course of a ride) while they are exerting themselves. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a “passer-by” device that generates virtual voice alerts for passing, i.e., electronically produced human-language phrases designed to alert a person that is about to be passed (e.g., by a bicycle). The alert phrase informs the person of the side (e.g., left or right) on which the passing is intended to occur. The alert phrase can be issued in response to a manual activation by the user. 
         [0006]    For example, “left” and “right” buttons can be respectively mounted at or near respective handlebar ends where they are readily reachable by respective hands of the bicyclist. When the left button is actuated, the device, which can be separately mounted near the center of the handlebar, emits an informative phrase such as “passing on your left”. Likewise, actuating the right button can cause “passing on your right” to be emitted. In some cases, only one trigger and one phrase may be required, such as “passing on your left”, where passing on the left predominates. 
         [0007]    Preferably, the extended phrases continue with a confirmatory message. For example, after the left button is pushed, the phase emitted can be “passing on your left . . . thank you”. With the “thank you” occurring after a delay designed to ensure that the user has overtaken or is overtaking the person at the time the confirmatory phrase is sounded. The “thank you” is not only polite, but lets the person being passed recognize that the act anticipated by the alert has now occurred. 
         [0008]    In addition to bicycling, the invention applies to many activities in which someone can pass another on either side. Examples include running, jogging, walking, skating, skiing, snowboarding, and boating. 
         [0009]    Of course, the manner of mounting the device and its physical characteristics are adapted to the application. These and other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the description below with reference to the following drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of the invention in use. Pentagons represent humans. Some objects are shown in both the upper and lower halves of  FIG. 1 , corresponding to their presence at both times T 1  and T 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is plan view of components of a pass-alert system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the pass-alert system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method of the invention practiced using the pass-alert system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  schematically depicts changes in a scene over a several-second interval T 12  from a time T 1  to a time T 2 . At time T 1 , a bicyclist  11  riding a bicycle  13  approaches a pedestrian  15  from behind. As bicyclist  11  intends to pass pedestrian  15  to the left, bicyclist  11  manually depresses a button  17  on a left trigger module  19 . This causes a phrase “passing on your left”  21  to be sounded from a speaker module  23 , thereby providing an informative alert to pedestrian  15  with minimal effort on the part of bicyclist  11 . 
         [0015]    As interval T 12  passes, bicyclist  11  passes pedestrian  15 . 2.5 seconds after the alert phrase is sounded, a confirmatory phrase “thank you”  25  is emitted from speaker module  23 . This confirmatory phrase is sounded in response to the original trigger action, but on a delayed basis. The “thank you” is not just an act of simulated politeness, but serves to identify the bicycle that sounded the alert to the pedestrian, allowing the latter to leave a state of alert. 
         [0016]    Speaker module  23  and left trigger module  19  are part of a pass-alert system AP 1  that also includes a right trigger module  27  with its own trigger button  29 . Trigger button  29 ; when actuated, causes a “right” pass alert phrase “passing on your right”  31  and then a respective confirmatory “thank you”  33  to be sounded by speaker module  23 . The loudness of phrases  21 ,  25 ,  31 ,  33  can be controlled by rotating a volume wheel  35  on speaker module  23 . 
         [0017]    Each of these modules  23 ,  19 ,  27  includes a respective clamp  35 ,  37 ,  39  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) for attachment to bicycle handlebars  41  ( FIG. 1 ). Left and right trigger modules are disposed near respective left and right ends of handlebars  41  to provide convenient access by respective left and right hands  43  and  45  of bicyclist  11 . Speaker module  23  is attached to handlebars  41  at a position between left and right trigger modules  19  and  27 . Trigger modules  19  and  27  are communicatively coupled with speaker module  23  via respective cables  47  and  49 . 
         [0018]    Cables  47  and  49  have connectors at their ends, allowing them to be readily attached and detached from modules  19 ,  23 , and  27  for convenient assembly and disassembly of pass-alert system AP 1 . 
         [0019]    A functional block diagram of pass-alert system AP 1  is shown in  FIG. 3  including trigger modules  19  and  27  and speaker module  23 . Speaker module  23  includes a phrase generator  51 , an amplifier  53 , volume control  35 , a speaker  55 , and battery power  57 . Volume control  35  controls the gain of amplifier  53 , and, thus, the loudness of the phrases emitted by speaker module  23 . Phrase generator  51  includes a controller  61  and memory  63 . Memory  63  stores digital versions of left pass-alert phrase  21 , right pass-alert phrase  31 , and confirmatory “thank you” phrase  25  (also serving as “thank you” phrase  31 ). Power is provided by a pair of AA batteries, but AAA batteries or other batteries can be used. 
         [0020]    A method of the invention implemented using pass-alert system AP 1  is flow charted in  FIG. 4 . Bicyclist  11  approaches person  15  from behind at method segment MS 1 . Bicyclist  11  presses either the left or the right trigger button  17 ,  29  at method segment MS 2 . In response to the trigger, speaker module  23  generates the respective pass-alert phrase  21 ,  31  corresponding to the trigger module  19 ,  27  activated at method segment MS 3 . In the meantime, controller  61  counts down a 2.5-second delay at method segment MS 4 . Bicyclist  11  passes person  15  at method segment MS 5 . When the delay counted down in method segment MS 4  lapses, speaker module  23  sounds a confirmatory “thank you” at method segment MS 5 . 
         [0021]    The timing of the confirmatory message is tied to the delay of method segment MS 4  rather than to the passing at method segment MS 5 . This can cause the confirmatory method to be issued earlier or later than optimal. In alternative embodiments, the timing of the confirmatory “thank you” message can be controlled independently of the pass-alert messages. For example, in one embodiment, if the user presses and immediately releases a trigger button, the confirmatory phrase is delayed by a fixed amount, but if the user holds the trigger button down more than one second, the confirmatory phrase is issued upon release of the trigger button. Alternatively, pushing a trigger button twice within a few seconds can cause the second phrase to be confirmatory rather than another alert. In another embodiment, a separate trigger is provided for the confirmatory message. 
         [0022]    The invention provides for alternative pass-alert and confirmatory phrases, including phrases in different languages and vocal styles (e.g., male versus female). Pass-alert systems can have fixed phrases or permit selection of phrases. Also, time between fixed alert and confirmatory phrases can be adjustable. In the illustrated embodiment, phrases are generated by playing back prerecorded vocal samples. However, the invention provides as well for synthesized voices. 
         [0023]    In the illustrated unit, the trigger modules are separate from the speaker modules. In alternative embodiments, the trigger buttons can be included in a monolithic module including the speaker and phrase generator. Separate buttons can be used for “left” and “right” triggers, or a single lever can be used, moved to the left for “left” and moved to the right for “right”. 
         [0024]    The illustrated pass-alert system is powered by batteries. Some embodiments include solar cells for recharging the batteries or a generator that converts vehicle motion into electricity for charging the batteries. In other embodiments, solar or mechanical energy can be converted to electrical energy to power a pass-alert system without storing the electricity in a battery. 
         [0025]    The illustrated embodiment comprises three modules that can be attached separately, allowing optimal placement of triggers near handlebar grips and of the speaker in a central location, which gives the person being approached the most accurate location of the bicycle. 
         [0026]    However, the present invention allows for all components to be integrated into a single module, which can be attached either at a central position or at a handlebar end (e.g., the end most commonly used for passing, which is normally left). Alternatively, a two-module approach can be used, one module bearing the control circuitry and one trigger, with a second trigger module mounted on the opposing end of the handlebars. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  depicts the present invention in use by a bicyclist about to pass a pedestrian, e.g., a person walking, running, or jogging. Obviously, the invention would apply regardless of how the person to be passed is moving. The person to be passed could be on skates, a tricycle, a unicycle, bicycle, a tandem bicycle, skates, a skateboard, a scooter, etc. The invention can also accommodate a variety of user “types”. For example, the invention can be used by runners, a joggers, skiers, snowboarders, boaters, etc. Some adjustment is required in the location and means for attaching the pass-alert system. For example, a jogger or a skier might need to attach some or all of the system to self. The invention also provides for attaching a pass-alert system to a scooter, a boat, a snow mobile, etc. Of course, a pass-alert system in accordance with the invention can be built into a vehicle prior to first sale. These and other variations upon and modifications to the disclosed embodiments are provided for by the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.