AU5837199A - Emergency signalling system - Google Patents

Description

P00011 Regulation 3.2 Revised 2/98

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act, 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD

PATENT

TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: ROBERT NORMAN GANLEY ROBERT NORMAN GANLEY Peter Maxwell Associates Level 6 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 EMERGENCY SIGNALLING SYSTEM INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NOS: PP 7281 11 November 1998 -Australia PP 9074 9 March 1999 Australia The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:t r 2 EMERGENCY SIGNALLING SYSTEM FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to emergency warning devices and more particularly to a warning device which is remotely activated by a radio signal.

BACKGROUND ART Road Safety can be improved if drivers of motor vehicles or pedestrians could be notified, of a situation which requires particular caution. In many instances, drivers of motor vehicles would benefit from an alert, in advance, that an actual or potential hazard is approaching. It would also be an advantage if in some instances, the alert broadcast to drivers or pedestrians could also be used to trigger traffic warning signals or to alter the display of existing traffic lights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a radio transmitter which may 15 be activated by a user to broadcast, within a particular range, an alert. The alert broadcast is detectable by a radio receiver. The receiver acts on the alert by triggering an indicator.

In one embodiment of the invention the indicator is mounted within a vehicle to provide a visual or audible indication to a driver of that vehicle.

S 20 In another embodiment of the invention, the indicator is mounted on a traffic signal and provides a visual or audible indication.

In some embodiments of the invention the transmitter is portable.

In other embodiments of the invention, the transmitter has variable range.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portable personal transmitter; Fig. 2 is a schematic elevation of a vehicle dashboard incorporating a receiver and transmitter; Fig. 3 is a schematic elevation of a vehicle dashboard incorporating a receiver; Fig. 4 is an elevation of a traffic light incorporating a receiver and indicator.

As shown in Fig. 1, a personal radio transmitter 10 comprises a small or pocket sized housing on which is mounted an activation switch 11. Upon activation, the transmitter 10 emits a radio frequency signal which is used to broadcast to any number of specially adapted receivers which are within range.

Additional switches or labelled user inputs 12 on the housing may be used to **transmit either different coded broadcasts over a single frequency or broadcasts of different frequencies. The different codes or frequencies may be used to designate different alert categories or messages or situations. For example, one switch may send one encoded broadcast which is interpreted by suitable receivers as a "school zone" warning and another switch sends an encoded signal that may be interpreted as a "stop" such that these messages are displayed on an alphanumeric display.

As shown in Fig. 2, a dashboard 20 of a vehicle may be equipped with a transmitter 10 (of the type discussed above) as well as a receiver 21 with a visual display 22 or audio alarm 23. Although the entire transmitter 10 need not be dashboard mounted, the transmitter must have dash mounted switches that allow the driver to activate it. The receiver 21 is adapted to receive the broadcast from a transmitter and resolve the encoded message or identify the frequency and trigger in response, the appropriate visual display or audible alert. The alphanumeric display might consist of the words "stop", "pull over", "accident ahead" or "school zone" etc. The visual display might also include a flashing light 24 intended to gain the driver's attention. The particular audible or visual display is made according to the predetermined broadcast signal or signals that the transmitter or transmitters are adopted to send.

As shown in Fig. 3, a vehicle dashboard 30 may incorporate only a receiver 21 and indicators 22 or 23 but not a transmitter.

When used on a vehicle, the transmitter contemplated by the present invention could be adapted to vary its output power or frequency so that the range of the transmitter may be increased or decreased as required under different hazard circumstances.

15 As shown in Fig. 4, a traffic light 40 may be equipped with a receiver 41.

The receiver 41 receives the alert broadcast and act accordingly to perform the action indicated by the received signal. The receiver 41 may cause the lights 42 to go to red, or flashing yellow etc. The receiver may also cause an auxiliary strobe 43 to flash or cause an audible alarm to be emitted from a 20 speaker 44 within the enclosure 45. The strobe indicates to approaching vehicles that the receiver has been activated and that the lights may be *:***affected. The receiver and enclosure are preferably mounted atop the post 46 which supports the traffic lights 42. The receiver 41 is activated by broadcasts from a personal transmitter 47 or vehicular transmitter 48.

It can be appreciated that a personal or vehicular transmitter may broadcast only one signal or a plurality of different radio signals according to user input or command. the signal received by an appropriate receiver is interpreted and acted upon to cause an audible or visual display or both. The receivers may be mounted within other vehicles or on traffic lights or other traffic signs. The resulting system allows one user to warn others, in advance, of hazardous traffic conditions or other situations demanding caution.

These visual or audible warnings may persist for a fixed interval, say seconds or may persist according to a predetermined interval associated (by the receiver) with the received broadcast.

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Claims (11)

1. A traffic warning system comprising:- a transmitter having a user input for causing a broadcast of a radio signal; and a receiver, the receiver adapted to activate one or more indicators when the broadcast is received.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:- the transmitter is a pocket sized personal transmitter and the user input comprises one or more user activated switches.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:- the transmitter is mounted within a vehicle and useable by the driver.

4. The system of either of claims 2 or 3 wherein:- the transmitter broadcast may be varied in accordance with the user *"input; the receiver adapted to recognise each variation an cause in response to each variation, a different indicator.

5. The system of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein:- the receiver is mountable in a vehicle; the receiver having means to alert a driver of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:- at least one indicator is mounted on a dashboard of the vehicle.

7. The system of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein:- the receiver is mountable on a traffic light or sign.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:- an indicator comprises a strobe light carried by the receiver.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein:- an indicator comprises the alteration of the traffic light's emission.

The system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein:- the indicator comprises an alphanumeric display.

11. A traffic warning system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. oo oi Dated this 4 day of November 1999 ROBERT NORMAN GANLEY Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: PETER MAXWELL ASSOCIATES i