Patent ID: 7095317

Claim:
A brake early warning system for a vehicle, the vehicle having (1) a steering column assembly having a plurality of components, and (2) a vehicle broadcast system, said brake early warning system comprising: at least one movement sensor connected to the steering column assembly; the steering column assembly components including a steering shaft, a steering column tube, and a steering assembly having a steering wheel; said movement sensor sensing relative deflective movement at least one of (1) the steering shaft and the steering column, (2) the steering shaft and the steering column tube, and (3) the steering column and the steering column tube; so that when a driver pushes against the steering wheel certain of the steering column components are deflected thereby causing relative deflective movement between two of the steering column components; said movement sensor sensing said relative deflective movement, and generating a signal which activates the vehicle broadcast system; at least one of (1) a weight sensor, and (2) a weight adjuster, providing an input to said movement sensor which is proportional to a weight of the driver; and, said input modifying an amount of said relative deflective movement necessary to generate said signal which activates the vehicle broadcast system.