# US 2002/0101338 A1 · Reversing alarm

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- Number: US 2002/0101338 A1
- Document ID: US20020101338A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/103,319
- Filed: 2002-03-19
- Published: 2002-08-01
- Earliest claimed: 2000-03-28
- Assignees: Brigade Electronics Plc; Yamaguchi Electric Ind. Co. Limited
- Inventors: Christopher Hanson-Abbott; Masato Yamashita
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20020101338A1

## CPC

- B60Q 5/00: Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
- B60Q 1/22: for reverse drive
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A reversing alarm 16 for a vehicle emits an audible signal in the form of pulses of broad band sound when the vehicle is put into reverse gear. The broad band sound allows persons in the vicinity to locate the vehicle, as the human brain is able to process broad band sound to pinpoint the location of the sound source in a way which is not possible with single tone sounds. The alarm 16 is implemented via a simple electronic circuit which uses a zener diode as a signal generator 20 to generate the broad band sound.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A reversing alarm for a vehicle which in use produces an audible signal comprising broad band sound.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A reversing alarm according to claim 1, in which the alarm comprising a signal generating device to generate a broad band sound signal and bandwidth narrowing means for narrowing the bandwidth of the broad band sound signal before emission of the audible signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 2 in which the bandwidth narrowing means comprises a band-pass filter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 1, in which the audible broad band sound signal is emitted in pulsed bursts.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 4, comprising a muting circuit, driven by an intermittent signal generator, which acts to alternately block and pass the broad band sound signal to produce pulsed bursts of sound.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising a clipper circuit which compresses and reshapes the corners of the pulsed signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 4, in which the pulsed bursts of sound have a repetition frequency of substantially 1.5 Hz (90 pulses per minute).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 1, in which the signal generating device comprises a zener diode.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 1, which is powered by a standard 12 V DC or 24 V DC vehicle battery.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 9, comprising a voltage regulator which acts to regulate the voltage from the battery before the voltage is applied to power the reversing alarm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 10, in which the voltage regulator produces a voltage of substantially 8 V DC.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 1, and comprising a speaker from which the broad band sound is emitted.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 12, in which the speaker is waterproof.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 1, in which the components of the alarm are mounted within a housing adapted for mounting on the exterior of a vehicle.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 1, and further comprising a light source which provides a visible signal when the alarm is in use.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A reversing alarm for a vehicle according to claim 1, which, when fitted to a vehicle, is automatically activated when the vehicle is put into reverse.