[0001] The present invention relates to a signal warning system and more particularly to
an automatic signal warning system which activates the brake lights of vehicles.
[0002] Large numbers of automobiles commonly follow closely behind each other at high rates
of speed on today's modern highways and expressways. If one automobile decelerates
and brakes in an unexpected manner, the following cars often collide in a series of
rear end chain reaction collisions.
[0003] It is known that those collisions are the majority of car collisions. In the U.S.
these collisions are 23% of all car collisions while in Israel it is as high as 30%.
[0004] There are a number of reasons which cause these car collisions:
a) not keeping sufficient distance between two travelling vehicles relative to the
speed of travelling,
b) short time of response of the driver,
c) bad driver, and
d) unalerted driver.
[0005] In other words, the drivers fail to anticipate, for various reasons, the deceleration
or stopping of the cars ahead of him.
[0006] By the time a first car immediately ahead of a second automobile begins to decelerate,
the driver of a third car does not have sufficient time in which to react and stop
his vehicle. Consequently, it is not unusual for a large number of cars to be involved
in a series of rear end collisions which results in serious personal injuries and
extensive property damage.
[0007] It is quite obvious that the best mode to avoid such accidents is to keep a large
distance between the cars, nevertheless, the fact is that most drivers do not keep
sufficient distance between cars.
[0008] To employ warning systems on the rear of automobiles is the most common form of prior
art used to solve the problem described above. The warning system lights warn a following
driver that the car immediately ahead is slowing down or braking. However, the warning
signal of a car further ahead of a following car cannot warn a following driver of
a sudden slowdown or stop in the line of cars further ahead.
[0009] In order to give a following car an even earlier signal, it has been suggested to
equip vehicles with a device which will activate the brake lights even before the
driver has depressed the brake pedal i.e. the removal of the foot from the accelerator
pedal will activate the brake lights. This device will no doubt improve the situation
a little, however, will certainly not prevent chain or reactive collisions.
[0010] It is thus the main object of the present invention to provide an improved signal
warning system which will provide warning to several car drivers behind a vehicle
that decelerates or stops.
[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved signal warning
system which is actuated either by depressing the brake pedal or by removing the foot
from the accelerator.
[0012] According to the invention there is provided a signal warning system which comprises
a receiver to be mounted on the front part of a given vehicle, said receiver being
connected to an OR gate and a transmitter to be mounted on the rear part of the vehicle,
said transmitter being connected to said OR gate, which is connected to the vehicle's
existing electric brake light system.
[0013] The invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematical illustration of three vehicles following each other.
Fig. 2 is a schematical illustration of the new device.
[0014] Turning first to Fig. 1, as can be seen a convoy of lorries, on the front of each
lorry a receiver 2 is mounted while at the rear end a transmitter 4 is mounted.
[0015] The transmitter will have to be of a directional type, probably a light transmitter
in the infra-red range or similar, with an operating range of about 100 meters and
an angular divergence of about ± 15
o.
[0016] When the brake pedal is pressed and the brake light switch is activated, the signal
from the brake switch will go through the OR gate 5 to activate the transmitter 4
mounted on the rear end of the vehicle, and the brake light.
[0017] Receiver 2 upon receiving the signal from the transmitter 4 will give a signal which
will operate - through the OR gate 5 - both the brake light and the transmitter mounted
on the rear side of the vehicle.
[0018] In a practical operation, lorry A brakes. The braking operation causes the transmitter
4 and the brake light to be activated. The signal from the activated transmitter will
activate the receiver in car B which is following car A. This in turn will cause the
brake light of car B to be activated, and its transmitter. This process will continue
for all cars in a line, as long as the distance between any two cars is less than
100 meters. This is to say, that if there are 100 cars in a row, and car A pressed
on the brake pedal, immediately all cars in the row will have their brake lights activated,
each by the car in front of it, and in a matter of a fraction of a second.
[0019] It is quite obvious that in this manner many collisions could be avoided.
[0020] It is within the scope of the invention to add to the system flickering means so
as the brake lights will flicker to attract the attention of the following drivers.
1. A signal warning system which comprises a receiver (2) to be mounted on the front
part of a given vehicle (A, B, C), said receiver (2) being connected to an activating
means (5) which is operated when at least one signal is received, and a transmitter
(4) to be mounted on the rear part of the vehicle (A, B, C), said transmitter (4)
being connected to said activating means (5), which is connected to the vehicle's
existing electric brake light system.
2. A signal warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activating means (5) is
an OR gate (5).
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 where the transmitter (4) is a light transmitter
(4) in the infra-red range or similar range.
4. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the transmitter (4) operates in
the range of about 100 meters.
5. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the transmitter (4) has an angular divergence
of about ± 15°.
6. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is activated
by depressing the brake pedal.
7. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is activated
on releasing the accelerator.
8. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the brake lights
flicker.