Signal apparatus for facilitating safe backup of vehicles
AssigneeReverse Control, Inc.
InventorsChristopher L. Oelrich, Curtis John Oelrich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods which allow a spotter external to a vehicle to provide signals to a driver of the vehicle in order to facilitate safe backup operations of the vehicle are disclosed. A wireless transmitter, in wireless communication with a receiver positioned within the vehicle, is operated by the spotter. An indicator, also in communication with the receiver, is configured to provide a plurality of audible and/or visible signals perceivable by the driver in response to a wireless signal received by the receiver from the transmitter. The audible and/or visible signals may comprise selected patterned tones and lights which inform the driver whether they should proceed to backup the vehicle or stop the vehicle.
Claims11
(canceled)
A vehicle safety system, comprising:
- a spotter computing device;
- a driver computing device configured to receive communication signals transmitted from the spotter computing device,
- wherein the spotter computing device is controlled by a first individual outside of a vehicle and the driver computing device is positioned inside the vehicle and near a driver of the vehicle;
- the spotter computing device:
- provides to the spotter a selector having only a first position and a second position;
- and
- transmits a first signal to the driver computing device only when the selector is in the first position, and
- the driver computing device provides at least one indicator indicating whether the vehicle is safe or not safe to move based at least on whether the driver computing device receives the first signal from the spotter computing device.
A storage medium storing instructions configured for execution by a spotter computing device in order to:
- provide a selector having only a default position and a depressed position, wherein the selector is in the depressed position only so long as a spotter operating the spotter computing device is depressing the selector and automatically returns to the default position in response to the spotter releasing the selector;
- and
- in response to determining that the selector is in the depressed position, transmit a signal from the spotter computing device to a driver computing device located in a vehicle, the signal indicating that the selector is in the depressed position such that the vehicle is safe to back up.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.