GB2412795A

GB2412795A - Collision warning system

Info

Publication number: GB2412795A
Application number: GB0407426A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Mcintosh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-01
Filing date: 2004-04-01
Publication date: 2005-10-05
Also published as: GB0407426D0

Abstract

A collision warning system using sensors, relays and switches is incorporated into a vehicle's wiring system to automatically illuminate the vehicle's rear external lighting array in response to the output of impact sensors. The system provides warning to the drivers of following vehicles that the vehicle in front has suffered a collision and will deploy regardless of the switched condition of any of the vehicle's lights at the time of impact. The lighting array would continue to be illuminated until such time as the ignition key 5 or card (9, fig 4) is removed from the ignition switch and inserted into a reset switch 1. A lamp 7 may be incorporated in the reset switch to illuminate as a warning to the driver that the system has been activated, the light being visible through a bezel 6 provided around the reset switch. Audible warnings to the driver that the system has been activated may also be given. A diode (D1, drawing 2) may be included in the circuit to prevent feedback.

Description

COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM

The invention relates to a collision warning system of the type which includes collision sensors, relays and switches which can be incorporated into a motor vehicles wiring system so as to illuminate the rear lighting array of the vehicle in the event of a collision.

Drivers often forget to switch on the rearward facing fog lights ofthere vehicles in fog and inclement weather conditions and/or lamps can fail. This can make it very difficult to see the vehicle should it be Involved in a collision and a following driver can end up colliding with the first vehicle due to the lack of illumination and finding a stopped vehicle in there path when its to late to bring the vehicle to a safe and controlled stop.

The object of the invention is to provide an automatic warning system that will help to improve road safety by reducing the number of vehicles involved in accidents.

The collision warning system would help reduce the risk of collateral accidents as all the rear lights of the vehicle would illuminate automatically at the moment of impact giving a following driver advanced warning of an impending danger and give them a better chance of bringing there vehicle to a safe and controlled stop thus reducing the risk of death and injuries.

The collision warning system works automatically on impact, and remains engaged until the ignition key or card is removed from the ignition switch and inserted into the reset switch.

The collision warning system is incorporated into the vehicles wiring system at the time manufacture using components of the manufactures preference.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings 1 and 2 shows the schematics for the system including diode (D1).

Drawings 3 and 4 shows the schematics for the system replacing diode (D1) with relay (R8) Drawing 5 Fig 1 shows the plan of the reset switch (ignition key type).

Fig 2 shows a cross section of reset switch (ignition key type) Fig 3 shows the plan of the reset switch (ignition card type).

Fig 4 shows a cross section of reset switch (ignition card type).

Fig 5 shows the general view of the reset switch (ignition key type).

The following is a list of reference numbers and component parts for drawings 1,2,3 &4.

G I battery Sl ignition switch S2 collision warning system reset switch S3 bivalve light switch S4 reversing light switch S5 fog light switch S6 side light switch S7 indicator switch S8 hazard warning switch Dl diode D2 diode SKI front impact sensor SE2 side impact sensor Fl collision warning system fuse F2 collision warning system brake light relay fuse F3 collision warning system reversing light relay fuse F4 collision warning system fog light relay fuse F5 collision warning system side light relay fuse F6 collision warning system flasher unit hazard warning light relay fuse F7 hazard warning lights fuse F8 indicator system fuse FUI indicator flasher unit Rl collision warning system relay R2 collision warning system brake light relay R3 collision warning system reversing light relay R4 collision warning system fog light relay R5 collision warning system side light relay R6 collision warning system indicator light relay R7 collision warning system flasher unit hazard warning light relay R8 collision wanting system ignition isolation relay (normally closed contacts) alternative to diode Dl BZ I collision warning system buzzer WLI collision warning system dashboard warning light WL2 collision warning system reset switch illuminated bezel (optional) WL3 hazard warning system dashboard warning light Ll LIH brake light L2 R/H brake light L3 11 mversing light L4 R/H reversing light L5 LtH fog light L6 R/H fog light L7 rear 141 side light L8 Wont L/H side light L9 number plate light L10 front R/H side light Ll I rear L/H side light L12 L/H front indicator light L13 IIH side indicator light L14 L/H rear indicator light L15 RIH front indicator light L16 RfH side indicator light L17 RIH rear indicator light I battery live wire 2 ignition live wire 3 battery negative wire As shown in drawings I 2 when the ignition switch (S I) is closed, power from the battery ((31) is then provided to the sensors {SKI) (SE2? via wire (2).

In the event of a collision, sensor (SE I) if frontal impact or (SE2) if side impact sends power to the collision warning system relay (Rl), (power to any other part of the system is stopped at this point by the diode (D2) to insure that all available power from the sensor energises and closes the collision warning system relay).

On closure the collision warning system relay (Rl ? draws power from the permanent live from the battery (Gl) Ha wire (1) and fuse (Fl) it then self latches via the reset switch (S2) and diode (D2) to maintain closure.

At the same time relay (Rl) sends power to the buzzer (BZ1), the dashboard warning light (WLI), the illuminated reset switch bezel (WL2) (optional), brake light relay (R2), reversing light relay (R3), fog light relay (R4), side light relay (R5), indicator lights relay (R6) and flasher unit do hazard warning light relay (R.7).

Each relay on closure then draws power from the battery live wire (I) via its associated fuse (F2 to F6) to power and illuminate the brake lights (Lake), the reversing lights (:L3&4), the fog lights (LSdt;6), the side lights and number plate light (L7 to Ll 1), the indicator lights (L12 to L17) the hazard warning light dashboard warning light (WL3) and activates the flasher unit (FU I).

All rear lights and front side lights switch on and remain on regardless of there switched condition from the vehicles normal lighting switches (S3 to S8) at the time of impact or after the collision warning system has activated.

The lights can only be switched of by removing the ignition key or card from the ignition switch (Sl) and inserting the key/card into the collision warning system reset switch (S2), the collision warning system then switches off.

As shown in drawing 2 the indicator flasher emit is powered under normal conditions from the ignition live via fuse (F8) and the hazard warning switch (S8).

If the hazard warning switch (S8) were in the off position at the time when the collision warning system was activated this would result in a voltage from the Collision warning system flasher unit relay to feed back to the ignition live, preventing the ignition from turning off when the ignition key was removed To overcome this problem diode (D1) has been introduced to prevent this happening.

Alternatively, the diode can be substituted with a ignition isolation relay (R8) as shown in drawings 3 4. This relay has normally closed contacts that open when the collision warning system is activated thus preventing feedback to the ignition live if the hazard warning switch is off et the time of impact.

As shown in ISg 1&2 (key type) & fig 34 (card type) The reset switch that would be mounted into the dashboard comprises ofthe main body 1. with a slot 2 to receive the key 5 or card g. When the key 5 or the card 9 is inserted into the slot 2, it pushes against the switch 3, and opens the contacts 4. This then cuts the power to the collision warning system relay R1 (drawing 1) and resets the system Should the system be activated the bezel 6, will illuminate with the bulb 7. The bulb 7, is connected to the collision warning system relay R1 (drawing I) via the wire 8.

Preferably the reset switch will be made of a plastic material of the manufactures choice to suit the vehicles dashboard s

Claims

CLAMES

I A Collision wanting system comprising of sensors, relays and switches that will illuminate a vehicles rear lighting array in the event of a collision.
2 A Collision warning system as clamed in claim I where the vehicles ignition key or ignition card will reset the system by inserting the key or card into a reset switch after activation ofthe collision warning system to return the system to standby mode.
3 A Collision wannug system as clamed in claim 1 where any feedback to the ignition live wire is prevented by a diode or relay
4 A reset switch as clamed in claim 2 where the bezel of the reset switch illuminates on activation ofthe collision warning system.
A Collision warning system as claimed in claim 1 where a dashboard warnmg light illuminates on activation of the collision warning system.
6 A Collision warning system as claimed in claim 1 where a buzzer sounds on activation of the collision warning system
7 A Collision warning system as claimed in claim I where the system will illuminate the rear lighting array of a vehicle regardless of the switched condition of any of the vehicles normal lighting.
8 A Collision warning system as claimed in any proceeding claim that can be constructed with components and materials of the manufactures choice to suit the vehicle that it is being applied to.
9 A Collision warning system substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and schematic drawings.