Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

Abstract

A communication system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a parameter correlated to the speed of the vehicle, an acceleration monitoring system, a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle, an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, and a control device. The acceleration monitoring system is configured to compute the acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the parameter of the periodic function of the vehicle speed sensor and to output a deceleration status of the vehicle. The control device is coupled to the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the alerting device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A communication system for a vehicle located within the vehicle comprising:
 a. an acceleration monitoring system;   b. a speed sensor for detecting a speed of the vehicle and sending a signal to the acceleration monitoring system representing the speed of the vehicle;   c. a braking system engagement detector;   d. a throttle engagement detector; and   e. a control device that receives a signal from the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the throttle engagement detector and enters one of a plurality of states, wherein the vehicle emits a signal based upon the state of the control device.   
     
     
         43 . The communication system of  claim 42 , wherein the control device comprises a state machine which processes the plurality of states. 
     
     
         44 . The communication system of  claim 42 , wherein the signal is emitted by a signaling lamp of the vehicle. 
     
     
         45 . The communication system of  claim 44 , wherein the signaling lamp is part of the original vehicle system installed by the manufacturer. 
     
     
         46 . The communication system of  claim 44 , wherein the signaling lamp is an aftermarket add-on. 
     
     
         47 . The communication system of  claim 44 , wherein the signaling lamp is a conventional brake lamp which is activated when the brake pedal is depressed. 
     
     
         48 . The communication system of  claim 42 , wherein the signal is modulated at a constant rate, a variable rate, and a variable rate correlated to a rate of deceleration. 
     
     
         49 . The communication system of  claim 42 , wherein the vehicle emits visible light. 
     
     
         50 . The communication system of  claim 42 , wherein the vehicle emits non-visible radiation. 
     
     
         51 . The communication system of  claim 50 , wherein the non-visible radiation is infrared or radio frequency. 
     
     
         52 . A communication method for a vehicle and for indicating that the vehicle is slowing down comprising:
 a. calculating an acceleration status of the vehicle based on a speed of the vehicle;   b. detecting a braking system engagement of the vehicle;   c. detecting a throttle engagement of the vehicle; and   d. sending a signal to a control device based upon the acceleration status of the vehicle, the braking system engagement of the vehicle, and the throttle engagement of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle emits a signal if the acceleration status, the braking engagement, and the throttle engagement of the vehicle indicate that the vehicle is slowing down.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein once a braking system is engaged, a conventional brake lamp system is activated and the signal is not emitted. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the signal is emitted by a signaling lamp of the vehicle. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the signaling lamp is part of the original vehicle system installed by the manufacturer. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the signaling lamp is an aftermarket add-on. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the signaling lamp is a conventional brake lamp which is activated when the brake pedal is depressed. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the signal is modulated at a constant rate, a variable rate, and a variable rate correlated to a rate of deceleration. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the vehicle emits visible light. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the vehicle emits non-visible radiation. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the non-visible radiation is infrared or radio frequency. 
     
     
         62 . A communication system for a vehicle located within a vehicle comprising:
 a. an acceleration monitoring system;   b. a speed sensor for detecting a speed of the vehicle and sending a signal to the acceleration monitoring system representing the speed of the vehicle;   c. a braking system engagement detector;   d. a throttle engagement detector; and   e. a control device comprising a state machine for processing a state of the control device, wherein the control device enters one of a plurality of states based upon an acceleration of the vehicle, an engagement of the braking system, and an engagement of the throttle; and   f. an alerting device that emits a signal based upon the state of the control device.   
     
     
         63 . The communication system of  claim 62 , wherein the control device receives input from the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the throttle engagement detector in cycles and operates the alerting device within each cycle. 
     
     
         64 . The communication system of  claim 62 , wherein once a braking system is engaged, a conventional brake lamp system is activated and the communication system is de-activated.