WO2016116863A1

WO2016116863A1 - A vehicle speed indication system

Info

Publication number: WO2016116863A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/050258
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rahul Harikrishna GHADIA; Jatin Vasant Thakkar
Original assignee: Ghadia Rahul Harikrishna; Jatin Vasant Thakkar
Priority date: 2015-01-20
Filing date: 2016-01-20
Publication date: 2016-07-28

Abstract

A speed indication system is described herein. The speed indication system comprises a first sensor to sense acceleration and de-acceleration of the vehicle, and generate and transmit a first signal and a second signal respectively, a second sensor to sense pressing of the brake pedal, a controller to generate control signals based on the received the first signal, the second signal and the third signal, a first indicator to indicate accelerating operation, a second indicator to indicate de-accelerating operation and a third indicator to indicate braking operation.

Description

A VEHICLE SPEED INDICATION SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to the field of speed indication system for vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Outer Lighting system of a vehicle is indicative of the driving state of the vehicle. Conventional systems include the use of a pair of red lights coupled with yellow lights on the front and rear side of the vehicle. The red lights, referred to as brake lights or taiUights, only communicate the braking status of the vehicle. Lack of information of the status of the vehicle often confuses the driver of the rear/ following vehicle leading to mishaps.

The present disclosure introduces a system which overcomes the above-mentioned drawback.

OBJECTS

Some of the objects of the system of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle speed indication system which is easy to interpret.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle speed indication system which uses distinguishing colors.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle speed indication system which makes driving safer.

A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle speed indicator lighting system which can easily be retrofitted to any make of the vehicle as well as to the existing vehicular lighting systems. Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a vehicle speed indication system which is further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the disclosure nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the disclosure.

According to an embodiment, a speed indication system comprises a first sensor to sense acceleration and de-acceleration of the vehicle to generate and transmit a first signal and a second signal respectively, a second sensor to sense pressing of the brake pedal to generate and transmit a third signal, a controller to generate control signals based on the received first signal , second and third signal, a first indicator to indicate accelerating operation, a second indicator to indicate de-accelerating operation and a third indicator to indicate braking operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

A vehicle speed indication system of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a vehicle speed indication system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 illustrates the vehicle speed indication system with three color light sources installed at the rear of the vehicle in accordance to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and Figure 3 illustrates the vehicle speed indicator lighting system with two color light sources installed at the rear of the vehicle in accordance to one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of vehicle speed indication system of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The preferred embodiment does not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.

Most of the conventional lighting systems attached to the rear of the vehicle include the use of two red lights supplemented by yellow lights. The main function of the lighting system is to communicate the vehicle's driving status to the driver of the rear vehicle. The conventional system include a single pair of red color display lights which serve the function of indicating the running condition of the vehicle along with indication in case the brakes are actuated by simply affecting the brightness of the red color display. This often leads to confusion in the mind of the driver of the rear vehicle as whether the brakes are really actuated or not. Another concern with the conventional systems is a single point of failure. Failure of a single color taillight often renders the indication system ineffective. The information communicated by the conventional lighting system is limited only to braking. In order to overcome these limitations, the present disclosure introduces a system which is easy to interpret and provides additional information about the driving status of the vehicle.

The present disclosure discloses the speed indication system for vehicles. Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of the vehicle speed indication system 100. The vehicle speed indication system 100 comprises a first sensor SI, a second sensor S2, a controller 10, a first indicator Ii, a second indicator and third indicator ½.

The first sensor SI is configured to sense acceleration and de-acceleration of the vehicle and further configured to generate and transmit a first signal and second signal respectively.

In an embodiment, the first sensor SI is selected from the group consisting of speedometers, accelerometers and the like.

In another embodiment, the first sensor SI is configured to generate and transmit a fourth signal, when the first sensor SI senses the zero acceleration or the constant speed.

The second sensor S2 is configured to sense pressing of a brake pedal of the vehicle and further configured to generate and transmit a third signal corresponding to the brake pedal pressing.

In an embodiment, the second sensor S2 is selected from a group consisting of pressure sensors, motion sensors, piezoelectric sensors and the like.

The controller 10 is configured to cooperate with the first sensor SI and the second sensor S2 to receive said the signal, the second signal and the third signal respectively. The controller 10 is further configured to respectively generate a first control signal, a second control signal and a third control signal based on the first signal, the second signal and the third signal.

In an embodiment, the controller 10 is also configured to cooperate with the first sensor to receive the fourth signal, and further configured to generate and transmit a fourth control signal.

The controller 10 may be a microcontroller, a PIC controller, an embedded controller, ARM controller or a combination of controllers thereof. The first indicator Ij is configured to cooperate with the controller 10 to receive the first control signal and is further configured to indicate an accelerating operation. The second indicator is configured to cooperate with the controller 10 to receive the second control signal and is further configured to indicate a de- accelerating operation. In an embodiment, the second indicator I2 can also indicate that the vehicle is moving at a constant speed. The first sensor S I senses the zero acceleration or the constant speed. The second indicator receives the fourth signal from the controller 10 and is further configured to indicate that the vehicle is moving at constant speed.

The third indicator ¾ is configured to cooperate with the controller 10 to receive the third control signal and is further configured to indicate braking operation.

In one embodiment, the first indicator Ij, the second indicator ½ and the third indicator I3 are colored light sources selected from the group of LED's, filament light bulbs and neon tubes.

In another embodiment, the first indicator Ii, the second indicator I2 and the third indicator ¾ can be installed as: a single filament bulb, a row or cluster of filament bulbs or LEDs, or a strip of Neon tube .

In another embodiment, a numeric display screen is installed at the rear of the vehicle for displaying the numbers, wherein each of the number represents the status of the vehicle. For example, number '2' represents that the vehicle is accelerating, number T represents that the vehicle is de- accelerating and number '0' represents the braking operation. In another embodiment, the numeric display screen displays the current vehicle speed.

Referring to the accompanied drawing, Figure 2 illustrates the vehicle speed indication system 200 with three color light sources installed at the rear of the vehicle 202 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the three colored lights are red light 204R, orange light 204O and green light 204G. The switching on of the red light 204R is indicative of the braking operation, the switching on of the green light 204G is indicative of accelerating operation. The switching on of the orange light 204O is indicative of the de-accelerating operation of vehicle 202. With the switching on/off of any of the lights (204R, 204O and 204 G), the driver of the rear/following vehicle identifies the status of the vehicle 202 and is able to react accordingly. The system 200 is easily retrofitted to any make of the vehicle 202 as well as to existing vehicular lighting systems.

In an embodiment, the orange light 204O also indicate that the vehicle is moving at the constant speed.

Table 1 illustrates the various arrangements different color lights (Red light 204R, orange light 204O and green light 204G) that can be used to represent the vehicle status:

Table 1

Referring to the accompanied drawing, Figure 3 illustrates the vehicle speed indication system 300 with two color light sources installed at the rear of the vehicle 302 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The two colors include red 304R and green 304G. The switching on of the red light 204R is indicative of the braking operation, the switching on of the green light 204G is indicative of accelerating/constant speed operation.

Table 2 illustrates the various arrangements that can be used to show the vehicle status with two lights:

Table 2

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

The following description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS

The technical advancements offered by the present disclosure include the realization of: a vehicle speed indication system which is easy to interpret; a vehicle speed indication system which can easily be retrofitted to any make of the vehicle as well as to existing vehicular lighting systems; a vehicle speed indication system which uses distinguishing colors; and a vehicle speed indication system which makes driving safer.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An indication system for a vehicle having a brake pedal, said indication system comprising:

• a first sensor configured to sense acceleration and de-acceleration of the vehicle and further configured to generate and transmit a first signal and a second signal respectively;

• a second sensor configured to sense pressing of the brake pedal and further configured to generate and transmit a third signal;

• a controller configured to cooperate with said first sensor and said second sensor to receive said first signal, said second signal and said third signal, and further configured to respectively generate a first control signal, a second control signal and a third control signal;

• a first indicator configured to cooperate with the controller to receive said first control signal and further configured to indicate an accelerating operation;

• a second indicator configured to cooperate with the controller to receive said second control signal and further configured to indicate a de-acceleration operation; and

• a third indicator configured to cooperate with the controller to receive said third control signal and further configured to indicate a braking operation.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first indicator, the second indicator and the third indicator are different colored light sources installed in the rear side of the vehicle.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first sensor is selected from the group consisting of speedometers and accelerometers.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said second sensor is selected from the group consisting of pressure sensors, motion sensors and piezoelectric sensors.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the colored light sources are selected from the group consisting of: LED, filament light bulbs and neon tube.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first sensor is further configured to sense either of constant speed and zero acceleration to generate and transmit a fourth signal.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first indicator, the second indicator and the third indicator indicate the status of the vehicle by displaying numbers on a numeric display screen installed at the rear side of the vehicle.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 and 6, wherein said controller is further configured to receive said fourth signal to generate a fourth control signal.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 and 7, wherein said second indicator is further configured to receive the fourth control signal to indicate that the vehicle is moving at a constant speed.