# US 9,751,457 B1 · Vehicle control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,457 B1 - Document ID: US9751457B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/190,710 - Filed: 2016-06-23 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-07 - Assignees: Emergency Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Emergency Technology, Inc. - Inventors: William S. Buehler; Kevin Carpenter; Kyle Israels; Michael Walma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751457B1 ## CPC - B60Q 1/2611: {Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle} - B60Q 1/0035: {relative to the vehicle} - B60Q 1/0088: {Details of electrical connections (B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195)} - B60Q 1/26: the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic - B60Q 1/2661: {mounted on parts having other functions (on wheels B60Q1/326)} - 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 5/00: Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices - B60Q 5/005: {automatically actuated} - B60Q 9/00: Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} - B60R 19/44: Bumper guards - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An control system for use in a vehicle includes at least one functional unit adapted to be mounted in the vehicle, each functional unit having an alert device, connector and a remote controller configured to control a desired state of the respective alert device, and a central controller configured to sense a state of the vehicle and generate a desired state of the functional units based at least partially on the sensed state of the vehicle a functional connection between the central controller and the at least one functional unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle control system comprising: at least one functional warning unit adapted to be mounted to the vehicle, each functional warning unit having an alert device, connector and a remote controller configured to control a desired state of the respective alert device, and wherein the at least one functional warning unit is configured to sense a state of the vehicle and the remote controller is further configured to transmit the sensed state of the vehicle to a central controller; the central controller configured to generate a desired state of the functional warning units based at least partially on the sensed state of the vehicle and encode the desired state into an encoded packet; and a functional connection between the central controller and the at least one functional warning unit and configured to transmit the encoded packet from the central controller to each of the at least one functional warning unit; wherein the remote controller is configured to parse the desired state of the respective alert device in the encoded packet and set the state of the respective alert device based on the parsed encoded packet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein the functional warning unit includes at least one of a user input device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle control system of claim 2 wherein the at least one user input device includes an interface configured to receive a user selection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle control system of claim 3 wherein the interface is configured for selecting a different operation of the at least one functional warning unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle control system of claim 4 wherein the interface is configured for selecting at least one of the following operations of the at least one functional warning unit: a visual warning, an audible warning, a rate of warning, a pattern of warning, a warning sequence, or an intensity of warning. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The vehicle control system of claim 2 wherein the at least one user input device includes at least one of a switch, an antenna, a plug, or a button panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein the at least one functional warning unit includes at least one sensor configured to sense the state of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle control system of claim 7 wherein the at least one sensor includes an accelerometer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The vehicle control system of claim 7 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense the presence of a vehicle operator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The vehicle control system of claim 7 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense the state of at least one of the brake pedal or acceleration pedal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The vehicle control system of claim 7 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense the state of the vehicle transmission. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The vehicle control system of claim 7 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense the state of at least one of the vehicle lights. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle control system of claim 12 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense the state of at least one of the turn signal indicators or the bright light indicators. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The vehicle control system of claim 7 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense the state of a vehicle door. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The vehicle control system of claim 7 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense the state of the vehicle hatch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The vehicle control system of claim 7 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense the speed of the vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 7) The vehicle control system of claim 7 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense the state of the vehicle based at least in part on a set of engine data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein the functional alert device includes at least one of an audio or visual alert device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle control system of claim 18 wherein the at least one of an audio or visual alert device includes at least one of a light, a lightbar, a siren, a horn, a speaker, a strobe, a headlight, a taillight, a directional light, a spotlight, a public address system, an air horn or a load light. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein the encoded packet includes a visual pattern forming at least one of an arrow, a symbol or a reverse character. ### Claim 21 A vehicle control system comprising: at least one functional warning unit adapted to be mounted to the vehicle, each functional warning unit having an alert device, connector and a remote controller configured to control a desired state of the respective alert device, and wherein the at least one functional warning unit is configured to sense a state of the vehicle and the remote controller is further configured to transmit the sensed state of the vehicle to a central controller; the central controller configured to generate a desired state of the functional warning units based at least partially on the sensed state of the vehicle and encode the desired state into an encoded packet; and a functional connection between the central controller and the at least one functional warning unit and configured to transmit the encoded packet from the central controller to each of the at least one functional warning unit; wherein the remote controller is configured to parse the desired state of the respective alert device in the encoded packet and set the state of the respective alert device based on the parsed encoded packet, and wherein the cumulative number of at least one functional connections is greater than cumulative number of connections from the central controller to the remote controller.