US 5,942,979 AGranted

On guard vehicle safety warning system

OwnerRichard Luppinoinventor

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Abstract

An on guard vehicle warning system (10) for monitoring bodily conditions of an operator of the vehicle. The vehicle warning system comprises a sensor device (12) and an analysis device (20) contained within the dashboard (18) of the vehicle. The sensor device (12) includes at least one sensing device (44) for placement on the body of the operator and monitoring a bodily condition of an operator of the vehicle and a signal generator for generating a signal indicative of the sensed condition. A transmitter (48) is connected to transmit the generated signal to the analysis device (20). The analysis device (20) includes a processing circuit/comparator (56) and (58) for analyzing the signal received from the sensor device, determining whether an emergency situation exists and generating one of a first signal indicative of a safe or non-emergency situation and a second signal indicative of an emergency situation. The generated signal is transmitted to a display unit (26) for visually indicating a safe situation upon receipt of the first signal and to both the display unit (26) and car speakers (24) for audibly and visually indicating an emergency situation exists upon receipt of the second signal. The processing circuit can also send a signal to the horn (30) and emergency lights (28) to activate both, thereby alerting people in the vicinity as to an emergency situation. A signal can also be transmitted to the brake system (32) and/or a fuel metering valve (36) to bring the vehicle to a safe stop.

An on guard vehicle warning system for monitoring bodily conditions of an operator of the vehicle, said vehicle warning system comprising:

a) monitoring means including:
sensor means for monitoring the operator of the vehicle for seizure disorders, heart conditions, diabetes or other debilitating illnesses and generating a signal indicative of the sensed condition;
and
transmitter means connected to said sensor means for receiving said generated signal and transmitting said signal;
b) analysis means for receiving and analyzing said transmitted signal and determining if said transmitted signal is indicative of an emergency situation, including:
receiver means for receiving said transmitted signal from said sensor means;
processing means connected to said receiver means for analyzing said transmitted signal to determine if said emergency situation exists;
signal generator means for generating one of a first signal indicative of a safety situation upon said processing means determining said emergency situation does not exist and a second signal indicative of said emergency situation upon said processing means determining said emergency situation exists;
and
display means connected to said signal generator for visually indicating said emergency situation does not exist upon receipt of said first signal from said signal generator means and audibly and visually indicating said emergency situation exists upon receipt of said second signal from said signal generator means;
c) means for taking action in response to receipt of said second signal that an emergency situation exists to halt operation of said vehicle and provide horn and light signals external to said vehicle announcing the presence of an emergency situation;
and
d) means comprising a delay circuit for allowing a visual and audible display to notify the operator that an emergency situation exists and action is about to be taken and delaying said action for a predetermined period of time to allow said operator to cancel said action.

10 more elements

Abstract

Claims16