# US 12,109,938 B2 · System for communication of hazardous vehicle and road conditions

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- Number: US 12,109,938 B2
- Document ID: US12109938B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/991,595
- Filed: 2020-08-12
- Published: 2021-02-18
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-08-12
- Assignees: ESS-Help, Inc.
- Applicants: Ess-Help, Inc.
- Inventors: David M. Tucker; Stephen T. Powers; Mike Incorvaia; Austin Reece Tucker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109938B2

## CPC

- B60Q 1/525: {automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data}
- B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
- B60K 35/23: Head-up displays [HUD] (optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01)
- B60K 35/26: using acoustic output
- B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
- B60K 35/29: Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
- B60K 35/85: Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
- B60Q 1/46: for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights {or hazard lights}
- B60Q 9/008: {for anti-collision purposes}
- B60W 30/0956: {the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters}
- B60W 30/16: Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
- B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
- G01S 19/42: Determining position
- G08G 1/0962: having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
- G08G 1/096791: {where the origin of the information is another vehicle}
- G08G 1/162: {event-triggered}
- G08G 1/205: {Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental}
- G08G 1/22: {Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles}
- H04B 1/3822: specially adapted for use in vehicles (H04B1/3827 takes precedence)
- B60K 2360/178: Warnings
- B60K 2360/1868: according to driving situations
- B60K 2360/21: using cameras
- B60K 2360/5915: Inter vehicle communication
- B60W 2050/146: {Display means}
- B60W 2420/403: Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
- B60W 2556/45: External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
- B60W 2556/50: of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
- B60W 2556/65: Data transmitted between vehicles
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93})
- H04B: TRANSMISSION

## Abstract

A system for signaling a hazard condition of a vehicle includes a microprocessor configured to receive an electronic signal from the vehicle that is indicative of a hazardous condition involving the vehicle, and a first radio transmitter in operative communication with the microprocessor. In response to receiving the signal indicative of a hazardous event, the microprocessor sends a first wireless signal via the first radio transmitter that indicates the vehicle is involved in the hazardous condition.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for providing real time indication of a hazardous vehicle condition comprising:
a server in communication with a first microprocessor of a first vehicle, the first microprocessor operative to receive a first communication sent from the first vehicle to the server indicating the first vehicle is in a hazardous condition and a location of the first vehicle;
wherein the server receives a second communication sent from a second vehicle to the server indicative of a location of the second vehicle; and
wherein the server provides a third communication to the second vehicle when it is determined that the locations of the first and second vehicle lie on a common roadway path and within a predetermined distance of one another.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle is equipped with a second microprocessor in communication with the server that provides an alert to an occupant of the second vehicle upon receipt of the third communication.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first microprocessor is in communication with a global positioning system associated with the first vehicle to determine the location of the first vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the alert to the occupant of the second vehicle is a visual indication.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4 wherein the visual indication is provided on a heads-up display.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the alert to the occupant of the second vehicle is an audio alert.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle is equipped with a high conspicuity external visual indicator that is activated when the alert is provided.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the high conspicuity external visual indicator is activated to strobe the lights at the rear of the second vehicle.