Speed reduction warning system

Abstract

A speed reduction warning system that senses vehicle deceleration rate and upon reaching preset limits flashes an illumination device at different rates signaling the operator following the vehicle to the rate of deceleration. The system generally includes a processing unit, an input to the processor that senses deceleration or acceleration rate from the odometer of the vehicle, and an output illumination device. The illumination device includes an indicator that flashes at varying rates controlled by the processor. The processor includes storage having a plurality of ranges stored that are the deceleration rates that the system responds to. In application, with the vehicle in motion, the deceleration or acceleration rate of the vehicle is detected by the input device and supplied to the processor. A value is calculated by the processor representing whether the vehicle is decelerating and if so, the rate of deceleration. If the value is within one of the ranges in storage, the processor sends a corresponding output signal to the illumination device. Once the vehicle is stopped or begins to accelerate the output signal is extinguished by the processor, automatically. The system can further include means such that the indicator of the illumination device activates a selected illumination when the vehicle's anti-lock brake system is applied, or a steady illumination when the vehicle's speed is below 5 mph.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the overall system configuration.

Claims

1. A speed reduction warning system comprising: a processing unit, an input to the processor, and an output, wherein said output is an illumination device, wherein the input includes means to sense deceleration or acceleration rate from an odometer of a vehicle, said illumination device includes an indicator that flashes at varying rates controlled by the processor,processing means for determining the current rate the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating,said processor further includes storage for storing a plurality of ranges that are the deceleration rates that the system responds to, wherein when the rate the vehicle is decelerating is within one of the ranges, the processor sends a corresponding output signal to the illumination device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, further including activation means such that the indicator of the illumination device activates selected illumination when the vehicle's anti-lock brake system is applied.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, further including activation means such that the indicator of the illumination device activates steady illumination when the speed of the vehicle is below 5 mph.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said input means is a CR-module.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the processor receives input on a controlled time basis.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said illumination device is oriented so as to be viewed from the rear of the vehicle and preferably mounted high as is practical for maximum visibility.

7. A speed reduction warning system comprising: a processing unit, an input to the processor, and an output, wherein said output is an illumination device, wherein the input includes a sensor that directly measures an actual rate of speed of said vehicle, said illumination device includes an indicator that flashes at varying rates controlled by the processor,said processor further includes storage for storing a plurality of stored value ranges that are the deceleration rates that the system responds to, wherein when the rate of the vehicle is decelerating within one of the ranges, the processor sends a corresponding output signal to the illumination device such that the rate of said flashings vary with the actual rate of change of vehicle speed measured directly.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said illumination device activates steady illumination when the speed of the vehicle is below 5 mph.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the sensor is the vehicle odometer.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the processor receives the input on a controlled time basis and stores a first vehicle speed.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said processor stores a second vehicle speed and calculates a rate of acceleration of said vehicle by subtracting said second speed from said first speed to obtain a speed difference and divides said speed difference by said controlled time to obtain a vehicle deceleration rate.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein if said deceleration rate is a positive number, said processor will compare said deceleration rate with stored value ranges to determine said corresponding output signal.

13. A speed reduction warning system comprising: a processing unit, an input to the processor, and an output, wherein said output is an illumination device facing outward from the vehicle, wherein the input includes a sensor that directly measures an actual rate of speed of said vehicle, said illumination device includes an indicator that flashes at varying rates controlled by the processor,said processor further includes storage for permanently storing a plurality of ranges that are the deceleration rates that the system responds to, wherein when the rate the vehicle is decelerating is within one of the ranges the processor sends a corresponding output signal to the illumination device such that the rate at which the illumination device flashes varies with the actual rate of change of vehicle speed measured directly.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the processor receives the input at regular time intervals and stores a first vehicle speed.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said processor stores a second vehicle speed and calculates a rate of acceleration of said vehicle by subtracting said second speed from said first speed to obtain a speed difference and divides said speed difference by said time interval to obtain a rate of vehicle deceleration.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said illumination device displays steady illumination when the speed of the vehicle is below 5 mph.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the vehicle speed is taken from the vehicle odometer.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein said processor will compare said deceleration rate with stored value ranges to determine said corresponding output signal to control the rate at which said illumination device flashes.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the indicator of the illumination device activates a selected illumination when the vehicle's anti-lock brake system is applied.

20. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said output faces outward from the rear of the vehicle.