Vehicle Safety and Alert System

Abstract

A system for automatic controlling of sonic and visual warnings on a vehicle is provided. The system uses a controller and software configured to the task of initiating sonic and light emission warnings of vehicle movement to surrounding workers in the area of the vehicle. Signals from engaged light and sound sensors may be employed to alter the sonic warnings to a more easily heard frequency and the light emitted warnings to a more easily seen color and brightness.

Claims

1. A system for automatic controlling of sonic and visual warnings on a vehicle, comprising: a controller having a computer processor and electronic memory engaged therewith, said controller operatively positioned on a vehicle; a sonic alarm positioned on said vehicle; a light emitting alarm positioned on said vehicle; an ignition sensor communicating an ignition signal to said controller only when an engine on said vehicle is being started; engine operation software operating in said electronic memory of said controller, said engine operating software operating to the task upon receipt of said ignition signal to emit a startup signal to one or both of said sonic alarm and said light emitting alarm; said startup signal actuating said sonic alarm to emit a sonic warning sound therefrom; and said startup signal actuating said light emitting alarm to emit a startup warning light therefrom.

2. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising: a driver identifier for inputting a driver identity correlating to said vehicle being driven by said driver; software running in said electronic memory operating to the task of recording a driver skill record of the individual driving skills driver of said vehicle during the operation thereof by said driver; driver proficiency determination software operating to the task of employing said driver skill record to make a determination if said skill record of said driver is proficient to drive said vehicle or not proficient to drive said vehicle; and said driver proficiency software deactivating said vehicle and preventing said driver from driving said vehicle where it is determined said driver is not proficient to drive said vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising: geolocation software operating to the task of determining a terrestrial location of said vehicle and activating said automatic controlling of sonic and visual warnings on said vehicle when said terrestrial location is determined to be on a job site, and deactivating said automatic controlling of sonic and visual warnings on said vehicle when said terrestrial location is determined to be off said job site.

4. The system of claim 1, additionally comprising: a vehicle direction sensor engaged to said vehicle, said vehicle direction sensor communicating a forward direction signal to said controller when said vehicle is moving forward and communicating a reverse direction signal when said vehicle is moving rearward; directional software running in said electronic memory of said controller; said directional software operating to the task upon receipt of said forward direction signal, of causing said sonic alarm to emit a forward motion sonic warning and concurrently causing said light emitting alarm to emit a forward motion light emission therefrom; and said directional software operating to the task upon receipt of said reverse direction signal, of causing said sonic alarm to emit a reverse motion sonic warning and concurrently causing said light emitting alarm to emit a reverse motion light emission therefrom.

5. The system of claim 2, additionally comprising: a vehicle direction sensor engaged to said vehicle, said vehicle direction sensor communicating a forward direction signal to said controller when said vehicle is moving forward and communicating a reverse direction signal when said vehicle is moving rearward; directional software running in said electronic memory of said controller; said directional software operating to the task upon receipt of said forward direction signal, of causing said sonic alarm to emit a forward motion sonic warning and concurrently causing said light emitting alarm to emit a forward motion light emission therefrom; and said directional software operating to the task upon receipt of said reverse direction signal, of causing said sonic alarm to emit a reverse motion sonic warning and concurrently causing said light emitting alarm to emit a reverse motion light emission therefrom.

6. The system of claim 3, additionally comprising: a vehicle direction sensor engaged to said vehicle, said vehicle direction sensor communicating a forward direction signal to said controller when said vehicle is moving forward and communicating a reverse direction signal when said vehicle is moving rearward; directional software running in said electronic memory of said controller; said directional software operating to the task upon receipt of said forward direction signal, of causing said sonic alarm to emit a forward motion sonic warning and concurrently causing said light emitting alarm to emit a forward motion light emission therefrom; and said directional software operating to the task upon receipt of said reverse direction signal, of causing said sonic alarm to emit a reverse motion sonic warning and concurrently causing said light emitting alarm to emit a reverse motion light emission therefrom.

7. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising: a light condition sensor which communicates a lighting signal to said controller, said lighting signal correlating to the current lighting conditions of an area surrounding said vehicle in which human workers are positioned; light sampling software running in said electronic memory of said controller; said light sampling software operating to the task of receiving said lighting signal from said light condition sensor and determining from a database of a corrected light color best seen by humans during said current lighting conditions; and a color change signal from said controller communicating color change signal to said light emitting alarm whereafter said light emitting alarm emits light therefrom in said corrected light color for said startup warning light, said forward motion light emission and said reverse motion light emission.

8. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising: a sound condition sensor which communicates a sound signal to said controller, said sound signal correlating to the current sound present in an area surrounding said vehicle in which human workers are positioned; sound sampling software running in said electronic memory of said controller; said sound sampling software operating to the task of receiving said sound condition signal from said sound condition sensor and determining a corrected sound frequency from a database of a corrected sound frequencies best heard by humans positioned in said area having said current sound present; and a sound change signal from said controller communicating a sound frequency change signal to said sonic alarm whereafter said sound emitting alarm emits sound therefrom in said corrected sound frequency for said startup sonic warning, said forward sonic warning and said reverse sonic warning.

9. The system of claim 2 additionally comprising: a sound condition sensor which communicates a sound signal to said controller, said sound signal correlating to the current sound present in an area surrounding said vehicle in which human workers are positioned; sound sampling software running in said electronic memory of said controller; said sound sampling software operating to the task of receiving said sound condition signal from said sound condition sensor and determining a corrected sound frequency from a database of a corrected sound frequencies best heard by humans positioned in said area having said current sound present; and a sound change signal from said controller communicating a sound frequency change signal to said sonic alarm whereafter said sound emitting alarm emits sound therefrom in said corrected sound frequency for said startup sonic warning, said forward sonic warning and said reverse sonic warning.

10. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising: an emergency switch in operative communication with said controller to communicate an emergency signal thereto upon an activation thereof; and emergency sensing software running on said electronic memory of said controller to the task of energizing said sonic alarm to emit an emergency sonic alarm upon receipt of said emergency signal and energizing said light emitting alarm to emit an emergency light signal therefrom upon receipt of said emergency signal.

11. The system of claim 2 additionally comprising: an emergency switch in operative communication with said controller to communicate an emergency signal thereto upon an activation thereof; and emergency sensing software running on said electronic memory of said controller to the task of energizing said sonic alarm to emit an emergency sonic alarm upon receipt of said emergency signal and energizing said light emitting alarm to emit an emergency light signal therefrom upon receipt of said emergency signal.

12. The system of claim 3 additionally comprising: an emergency switch in operative communication with said controller to communicate an emergency signal thereto upon an activation thereof; and emergency sensing software running on said electronic memory of said controller to the task of energizing said sonic alarm to emit an emergency sonic alarm upon receipt of said emergency signal and energizing said light emitting alarm to emit an emergency light signal therefrom upon receipt of said emergency signal.

13. The system of claim 4 additionally comprising: an emergency switch in operative communication with said controller to communicate an emergency signal thereto upon an activation thereof; and emergency sensing software running on said electronic memory of said controller to the task of energizing said sonic alarm to emit an emergency sonic alarm upon receipt of said emergency signal and energizing said light emitting alarm to emit an emergency light signal therefrom upon receipt of said emergency signal.

14. The system of claim 5 additionally comprising: an emergency switch in operative communication with said controller to communicate an emergency signal thereto upon an activation thereof; and emergency sensing software running on said electronic memory of said controller to the task of energizing said sonic alarm to emit an emergency sonic alarm upon receipt of said emergency signal and energizing said light emitting alarm to emit an emergency light signal therefrom upon receipt of said emergency signal.

15. The system of claim 7 additionally comprising: said light sampling software also operating to the task of receiving said lighting signal from said light condition sensor and determining from a second database of a corrected light brightness best seen by humans during said current lighting conditions; and a brightness change signal from said controller communicating a brightness change signal to said light emitting alarm whereafter said light emitting alarm emits light therefrom in said corrected light brightness for said startup warning light, said forward motion light emission and said reverse motion light emission.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

[0052] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the disclosed vehicle movement warning system. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting in any fashion.

[0053] In the drawings:

[0054] FIG. 1 depicts a flow chart of the system herein showing the computer or controller which is configured with electronic memory in which software running therein to accomplish the tasks herein operates to thereby actuate a sound emitter or horn and light emitters such flashing lights to emit vehicle movement warnings to surrounding workers.

[0055] FIG. 2 graphically depicts the system herein operatively employed on a vehicle which may employ computers, software and memory to the tasks noted using onboard computers or computers and servers in network communication with each vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0056] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms of direction or position, refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only, and such are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

[0057] Now referring to the drawings wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there can be seen in FIGS. 1-2, a graphic depictions of the system 10 herein and the operation thereof as described herein for control of visual and sonic alarms from a vehicle 11.

[0058] As shown, and as noted and explained above, the system 10 herein, employs a computer controller 12 having a microprocessor and having available electronic memory operatively engaged or in communication therewith, in which software operating to accomplish the various tasks noted herein is running.

[0059] In all modes of the system 10, the controller 12 will be in electronic communication with an ignition sensor 14 which operates to communicate an electronic signal to the controller 12 when a driver of the vehicle has actuated a switch or key to a start position for the engine of the vehicle. Engine operation sensing software running on the controller 12, upon receipt of an electronic ignition signal from the ignition sensor 14, will generate a signal to the controller to cause a sonic alarm 16 such as a horn or transducer or loudspeaker, to generate a startup sonic warning sound to areas surrounding the vehicle, which correlates to the action of starting the vehicle.

[0060] In all modes of the system 10 herein when it is noted that the controller 12 activates a component, such may be by direct electric communication with that component or by activation of a remote switch such as a solenoid or electronically activated switch, or by communication of a signal directly to a component which has a unique identifier such as a MAC ID on a network, to activate or deactivate its respective function. Such communication between the components communicating with the controller may be by wired or fiberoptic cabling or by wireless communication. Further, while not shown, all components requiring electric power will be operatively engaged to onboard electric power of the vehicle in a conventional fashion using wires and where being remotely controlled appropriate switching controlled by the controller 12 to turn them on or off.

[0061] Where each driver is tracked irrespective of each respective vehicle they are operating, a driver identifier 13 will be employed. Such a driver identifier 13 may be a keypad wherein the driver inputs a driver code, or may be automatic such as using bluetooth to communicate with the cell phone of each driver to identify them as being in the vehicle and operating it, or the keypad or driver identifier display screen may be communicated to the cell phone of the driver when such is sensed as being in the vehicle, and be activated to display to the driver for input of the driver identifier. Once the driver is identified, using the input their driving record will be paired to the respective vehicle they are driving for the time therein and stored in electronic memory.

[0062] Where a sound is generated by the system herein, the number and length of such sonic signals may vary with industries and companies. As described herein, a startup sonic warning is provided by a single honk or other single sound emission from a sonic alarm 16, such as a speaker or transducer. Such is generated as a vehicle startup warning sound, upon a vehicle startup, for surrounding workers to hear. Such a startup sonic warning may vary in the number of sounds or honks emitted in various industries and job sites and the system 10 herein can be adjusted for such.

[0063] Concurrent with actuating the sonic alarm 16 to generate a honk or other audible signal as a vehicle startup sonic warning or sound correlating to an engine start, the controller 12 will also actuate a light-emitting alarm 18, such as LEDs or strobe lights, which are positioned on at least the front and rear of the vehicle to emit a number of flashes of light equal to the number of honks or sounds generated by the speaker for the startup sonic warning, such as to flash once. This concurrent startup sonic warning and startup warning light, so emitted in equal numbers, provides humans proximate to the vehicle both visual and audible warnings that the vehicle engine is started and running.

[0064] With the engine running, the controller 12 is in ongoing electronic communication with a vehicle direction sensor 20 such as one engaged with the transmission selector employed by drivers to engage the vehicle with the engine to move in a particular direction. This vehicle direction sensor 20 will communicate electronic signals to the controller 12, which correlate to a current vehicle movement direction selection by the driver, such as primarily forward or reverse.

[0065] When the vehicle direction sensor 20 communicates a signal to the controller 12 that a forward driving direction has been selected, the directional software running on the controller 12 to the task of receiving a signal from the direction sensor 20 and determining the upcoming directional movement of the vehicle, will cause the controller 12 to initiate a visual and an audible warning correlating to the direction of vehicle movement. For example, the directional software, once it determines forward vehicle movement, will signal and cause the controller 12 to actuate the sonic alarm 16 or horn to honk or emit sounds twice as a forward movement sonic warning. Preferably the controller 12 will also concurrently actuate the light-emitting alarm 18, such as LED's or strobe lights, to flash the same number of times as the number of sounds emitted by the sonic alarm 16 which in forward movement is twice. Such will provide a concurrent forward direction warning light to be emitted and seen by surrounding workers.

[0066] As noted, increased risks to the humans proximate to the vehicle are present when the driver chooses to move in a reverse direction. Upon receipt of an electronic signal by the controller 12 from the direction sensor 20 that the driver actuated a selector to cause the vehicle to move in reverse, the directional software running on the controller 12 will actuate the controller to initiate a different sonic and visual signal pattern. For example, the directional software upon determining reverse vehicle movement, will cause the controller 12 to actuate the sonic alarm 16 to honk or emit other sounds three times as a reverse movement sonic warning.

[0067] Concurrently, with the actuation of the sonic alarm 16 to emit a reverse movement sonic warning, the controller upon communication of reverse movement being determined by the directional software will actuate rear-facing light-emitting alarms 18 to flash three times simultaneous with the sounds from the sound emitter 16. The flashes of light from the light emitting alarms 18 in the same number of flashes or emissions as the number of sounds or honks of the reverse movement sonic warning, will provide the surrounding workers with a rearward direction warning light and a visual cue that the vehicle is moving rearward.

[0068] Additionally and preferred, for the duration of time that the vehicle remains moving in the reverse direction, the controller 12 will continue to actuate the sonic alarm 16 to emit three sounds in short durations for the reverse movement sonic warning, and at least the rear facing light-emitting alarms 18 such as LED's or strobe lights to blink rearward direction warning light emissions at for the same number of times. This will result in a continuous sonic and visual warning, to surrounding workers, that the vehicle continuous reverse movement. For example, the concurrent sonic alarms 16 and light-emitting alarms 18 from strobe lights will both activate every five seconds until a transmission selector direction sensor 20 communicates to the directional software running on the controller 12, that the vehicle is shifted out of reverse.

[0069] Additionally, the system 10 may be enabled to communicate visually and audibly to workers and pedestrians proximate to the vehicle that an emergency exists. Such may be an emergency button 22 or switch which the driver manually activates which communicates to the controller 12 that an emergency exists. Upon receipt of such an emergency signal from the button 22, emergency sensing software running on the controller 12 running to the task, will cause an emergency sonic and light emission signaling to be actuated. For such an emergency sonic and light emission signaling, both the sonic alarm 16 and the light-emitting alarm 18 concurrently generate audible emissions and visual light emissions continuously, in a different number than that of forward movement or reverse movement or engine startup.

[0070] For example, the controller 12 in an emergency will actuate the sonic alarm 16 and all forward and rearward facing light-emitting alarms 18 to energize simultaneously and generate bursts of four honks and four flashes respectively, with short durations between each segment or burst of no sound or light. For example, four sound bursts and four light flashes over two seconds, and a one second break with no sound or light. Such will continue until the emergency switch 22 is deactivated.

[0071] As noted, to enhance the system 10 performance, a proximate sound sensor 24 may be included which will communicate information to the controller 12 and software thereon, concerning the current sound and noise conditions which are proximate to the vehicle and the workers surrounding it. Sound sampling software on the controller 12 running to the task of optimizing the audible signal emitted from the sonic alarm 16 to one maximizing 25 what humans can best hear based on the sensed sound and noise conditions of the sound sensor 24, will choose a sound and volume for emission from the sonic alarm 16, which is optimized for hearing by workers and pedestrians proximate to the vehicle and being subjected to the current sound and noise sensed. Such will insure that the audible sounds from the sonic alarm 16 are generated in a tone, frequency, and volume best suited to the current conditions.

[0072] Finally, the system 10, herein, may also optimize the color and frequency and flashing duration and the brightness of the light emitted from the light-emitting alarm 18, to adjust and maximize such for human eyesight according to the current lighting conditions surrounding the vehicle. Using electronic signals from a light condition sensor 26 as to the current brightness and darkness conditions, the controller 12 running light sampling software operating to the task of adjusting light emissions to maximize viewing 27, can choose the most visible light color or frequency which can be discerned by humans under current lighting conditions. The light sampling software running to the task of maximizing viewability will calculate a light color and/or light frequency and/or flash duration or other light emission aspect to that which a human will most easily see and discern while positioned proximate to the vehicle in the determined lighting conditions from the light condition sensor 26.

[0073] The controller 12 based on the determination of the light sampling software running to the task of determining a light emission to maximize it for human viewing, will cause the light emitting alarm 18 such as an LED or strobe light, to alter the emitted light to a color or to a frequency determined and or to a brightness, to be best seen by humans proximate to the vehicle at the current time. Further, adjustments can be made to the duration of the flashes of light generated, as well as the brightness, in order to maximize the discerning of light emitted by the light emitting alarm 18, by humans and to avoid causing a blinding effect which can occur in low light conditions.

[0074] Additionally, as noted above, the system 10 herein can include the function of automatically adapting the number of emissions of the sonic and visual light warnings to the company using the vehicle. This automatic adjustment of the number of sounds generated and number of light emissions for each specific company may be accomplished using GPS or Cellular Phone triangulation software to determine the geographic location of the vehicle from a location receiver 29. Using company determination software running on or engaged with the controller 12, which operates to the task of determining a company using the vehicle from a geographic location of the vehicle and correlating such to a user company and the sonic warnings and light emission warnings employed by the company, in a warning generation database. The company determination software will then cause the controller 12 to adjust the sound emissions generated for movements of the vehicle and the lighting emissions by light emitters of that vehicle to those associated with the company. Alternatively, the location receiver 29, can be configured to scan an employee driver company identification and ascertain the company employing the driver, and then adjusting the lighting emissions and sonic emissions accordingly.

[0075] In another preferred mode of the system 10 herein, it can include the step of automatically activating and deactivating the system 31 on a respective vehicle. Using electronic geolocation of each vehicle and software running in electronic memory on the vehicle located computer or a computer or server in communication with the vehicle, the exact terrestrial location of the vehicle can be determined. In operation, geolocation software will use this determined terrestrial location, to determine when a vehicle is leaving a job site or employment site, and when the vehicle comes to a terrestrial determined location which is on a job site or at an employer building or location. When the terrestrial location, determined from geolocation, indicates the vehicle is leaving or has moved to a location off the job site or employment site, the system on each vehicle can be automatically activated or deactivated 31.

[0076] Additionally, the system herein can include the step of monitoring the driving habits or actions of each driver 33. Employing software operating to the task of vehicle driving monitoring, and running in electronic memory of one or both of a computer in the vehicle or a server receiving data from the vehicle, once a driver identifier 13 relating to an individual driver is ascertained, the driving actions of that driver while in the individual vehicle associated with the driver during the driver identifier 13 step, can be monitored 33 and recorded electronically as a driver record for each individual driver during their operation of each individual vehicle.

[0077] This electronic driving record can be recorded to electronic memory in the vehicle, or can otherwise be communicated to a driver performance database on or electronically available to the employer computer system 35. The recorded driving record can be correlated for each driver and to each individual vehicle they drive for work. As noted above, this driving record of individual driving habits, of each driver correlated to each vehicle they drive, can later be employed to provide each respective driver education courses in driving each type of respective vehicle. In a preferred mode of the system 10 the recorded driving record from monitoring each driver 33 will be automatically transmitted to electronic memory of the computers of the employer or their driving educator concurrent with the geolocation 31 determining the driver and/or vehicle are leaving the confines of the job site or employer building or location. In this fashion, each day the driving skills of each driver can be reviewed after they leave the work site, and if it is determined an individual driver is unsafe, is making poor or unsafe driving actions, or lacks individual driving skills required to operate a specific vehicle, when the return for their next shift drivers in need of education or intervention can be stopped from driving a vehicle and/or summoned for driver training or other education to enhance any lacking driver skills. While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the system herein have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are considered included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.