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US 2018/0009372 A1Published application
Systems, Apparatus, and Methods for Signaling Sudden Deceleration
OwnerJeffery Hammockinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for indicating sudden deceleration may involve modifying a vehicle brake lighting system with a support frame supporting a deceleration sensor, microcontroller, an energy storage component, and power circuitry. A portable deceleration warning system includes a portable sensor unit with an accelerometer, a transmitter, a power supply, and a microprocessor, and at least one portable illumination unit with a light emitter, a receiver, and a power supply. The portable sensor unit mounts reversibly to a vehicle and the portable illumination unit can be worn by an operator or passenger of the vehicle or be temporarily attached to the vehicle.
Claims20
A sensor and control apparatus for modifying a vehicle lighting system comprising:
- a support frame supporting a deceleration sensor unit comprising a deceleration sensor, a power storage unit, and a microprocessor controller;
- means for attaching the support frame to a fixed element of the vehicle;
- a first electrical connector configured for connection to the vehicle's electrical system through an existing electrical connector configured for connection to a brake lamp;
- a second electrical connector configured for connection to a brake light of the vehicle;
- a charging circuit coupled to said first electrical connector and to said energy storage component and configured for conveying power diverted from the vehicle's electrical system to said energy storage component;
- and
- a bypass circuit coupled to said first and second electrical connectors and configured to deliver power directly to said brake lamp when braking is indicated by the vehicle electrical system;
- an illumination circuit coupled to the power storage unit and configured to provide electrical power through the second electrical connector to illuminate the brake lamp;
- wherein:
- the accelerometer measures acceleration in three orthogonal axes for each time t and provides an output signal for each time t representing measured acceleration values at time t for each of said three axes to the microprocessor;
- said microprocessor controller comprises control logic configured to:
- compare a combination of said three measured acceleration values at time t to a first threshold value and
- issue a first signal to activate the illumination circuit in the event said combination of three measured acceleration values at time t is greater than or equal to said combination of first threshold values.
10 more elements
A method for installing an apparatus for modifying a vehicle lighting system, said apparatus comprising:
- a support frame supporting a deceleration sensor unit comprising an accelerometer, a power storage unit, and a microprocessor controller;
- a first electrical connector configured for connection to the vehicle's electrical system through an existing electrical connector configured for connection to a brake lamp;
- a second electrical connector configured for connection to a brake light of the vehicle;
- a charging circuit coupled to said first electrical connector and to said energy storage component and configured for conveying power diverted from the vehicle's electrical system to said energy storage component;
- and
- a bypass circuit coupled to said first and second electrical connectors and configured to deliver power directly to said brake lamp when braking is indicated by the vehicle electrical system;
- and
- an illumination circuit coupled to the power storage unit and configured to provide electrical power through the second electrical connector to illuminate the brake lamp;
- said method comprising:
- mounting the apparatus to the vehicle,
- connecting said first electrical connector to an electrical connector configured for connection to a brake lamp, and
- connecting said second electrical connector to a brake light of the vehicle.
9 more elements
A portable deceleration warning system comprising:
- a portable sensor unit comprising an accelerometer, means for reversibly mounting the sensor unit to a vehicle, a transmitter, a power supply, and a microprocessor;
- a first portable illumination unit comprising a light emitter, a receiver, a power supply, and at least one of:
- means for reversible attachment to the vehicle and means for reversible attachment to an operator or passenger of the vehicle
- wherein:
- the accelerometer measures acceleration of the vehicle in three orthogonal axes for each time t and provides acceleration values for each of said three axes to the microprocessor;
- the microprocessor is configured to determine whether or not a combined acceleration value for said three axes at time t exceeds a first threshold for combined values for said three axes at time t and, if the first threshold value is exceeded, to cause the transmitter to send a first signal to the receiver to energize the light emitter;
- and
- the portable sensor unit is configured for attachment to the vehicle.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.