Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

Abstract

A communication system for a vehicle comprises a mechanism for sensing a motion status of a vehicle, a control device, plurality of data acquisition sensors, and one or more alerting device activation circuits. The communication system is customizable with the plurality of data acquisition sensors and one or more alerting device activation circuits based upon the needs of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the communication system is customized before it is installed within the vehicle. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the communication system is customizable after it is installed within the vehicle by turning on and/or turning off one or more of the data acquisition sensors and one or more alerting device activation circuits. The communication system is able to be implemented on a bus or other such fleet vehicles.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A communication device for a vehicle comprising:
 a. a movement sensor for detecting the vehicle reentry into traffic;   b. a yield warning activation circuit for activating a warning that the vehicle is reentering traffic; and   c. a control device;   wherein the control device receives a signal from the movement sensor that the vehicle is reentering traffic and the control device sends a signal to the yield warning activation circuit which activates a warning that the vehicle is reentering traffic.   
     
     
         33 . The communication device of  claim 32 , wherein the vehicle is moving from a stopped position to reenter traffic. 
     
     
         34 . The communication device of  claim 32 , wherein the warning comprises a lighted sign. 
     
     
         35 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the lighted sign comprises a lighted YIELD or a lighted MERGE symbol. 
     
     
         36 . The communication device of  claim 32 , further comprising a blinker engagement detector for sensing an engagement of a blinker. 
     
     
         37 . The communication device of  claim 32 , wherein the device is implemented within a fleet vehicle. 
     
     
         38 . The communication device of  claim 32 , further comprising a braking system engagement detector for sensing an engagement of the brakes. 
     
     
         39 . The communication device of  claim 32 , wherein the device is installed as aftermarket-equipment. 
     
     
         40 . The communication device of  claim 32 , wherein the movement sensor comprises one of an acceleration monitoring system, a vehicle speed sensor, an accelerometer and a lateral acceleration sensor. 
     
     
         41 . The communication device of  claim 32 , wherein the warning comprises a wireless signal. 
     
     
         42 . The communication device of  claim 41 , wherein the warning comprises a RF signal. 
     
     
         43 . A communication system for a vehicle comprising:
 a. a movement sensor for separately detecting a movement and non-movement of the vehicle;   b. one or more data acquisition sensors for acquiring data related to a current status of the vehicle;   c. a control device; and   c. one or more alerting device activation circuits,   wherein the movement sensor and the one or more data acquisition sensors send a signal to the control device and the control device sends a signal to the one or more alerting device activation circuits based on the signal from the movement sensor and the one or more data acquisition sensors.   
     
     
         44 . The communication system of  claim 43 , wherein the one or more alerting device activation circuits activate an alert that the vehicle is moving from a stopped position to reenter traffic. 
     
     
         45 . The communication system of  claim 43 , wherein the one or more data acquisition sensors comprise one or more of a vehicle door sensor and a location sensor. 
     
     
         46 . The communication system of  claim 43 , wherein the one or more alerting device activation circuits activate an internal alert. 
     
     
         47 . The communication system of  claim 43 , wherein the one or more alerting device activation circuits activate an external alert. 
     
     
         48 . The communication system of  claim 47 , wherein the external alert comprises a lighted sign. 
     
     
         49 . The communication system of  claim 48 , wherein the lighted sign comprises a lighted YIELD or a lighted MERGE symbol. 
     
     
         50 . The communication system of  claim 43 , further comprising a blinker engagement detector for sensing an engagement of a blinker. 
     
     
         51 . The communication system of  claim 43 , further comprising a braking system engagement detector for sensing an engagement of the brakes. 
     
     
         52 . The communication system of  claim 43 , wherein the system is implemented within a fleet vehicle. 
     
     
         53 . The communication system of  claim 43 , wherein the system is installed as aftermarket-equipment. 
     
     
         54 . The communication system of  claim 43 , wherein the movement sensor comprises one of an acceleration monitoring system, a vehicle speed sensor, an accelerometer and a lateral acceleration sensor. 
     
     
         55 . The communication system of  claim 43 , wherein the warning comprises a wireless signal. 
     
     
         56 . The communication system of  claim 55 , wherein the warning comprises a RF signal. 
     
     
         57 . A communication method for a vehicle comprising:
 a. sensing a vehicle reentry into traffic; and   b based on the vehicle's reentry into traffic, activating a warning that the vehicle is reentering traffic.   
     
     
         58 . The communication method of  claim 57 , wherein the vehicle is moving from a stopped position to reenter traffic. 
     
     
         59 . The communication method of  claim 57 , wherein the warning comprises a lighted sign. 
     
     
         60 . The communication method of  claim 59 , wherein the lighted sign comprises a lighted YIELD or a lighted MERGE symbol. 
     
     
         61 . The communication method of  claim 57 , further comprising sensing an engagement of a blinker. 
     
     
         62 . The communication method of  claim 57 , further comprising sensing an engagement of the brakes. 
     
     
         63 . The communication method of  claim 57 , further comprising sensing one or more of a vehicle door status and a location status. 
     
     
         64 . The communication method of  claim 57 , wherein the method is implemented within a fleet vehicle. 
     
     
         65 . The communication method of  claim 57 , wherein the warning comprises a wireless signal. 
     
     
         66 . The communication method of  claim 65 , wherein the warning comprises a RF signal. 
     
     
         67 . A communication device for a vehicle comprising:
 a. a lateral acceleration sensor for detecting a lateral acceleration of the vehicle;   b. a yield warning activation circuit for activating a warning that the vehicle is reentering traffic; and   c. a control device;   wherein the control device receives a signal from the lateral acceleration sensor that the lateral acceleration is greater than a preset threshold and the control device sends a signal to the yield warning activation circuit which activates a warning.   
     
     
         68 . The communication device of  claim 67 , wherein the vehicle is moving from a stopped position to reenter traffic. 
     
     
         69 . The communication device of  claim 67 , wherein the warning comprises a lighted sign. 
     
     
         70 . The communication device of  claim 69 , wherein the lighted sign comprises a lighted YIELD symbol. 
     
     
         71 . The communication device of  claim 67 , wherein the lighted sign comprises a lighted MERGE symbol. 
     
     
         72 . The communication device of  claim 67 , wherein the warning comprises a lighted signal. 
     
     
         73 . The communication device of  claim 67 , wherein the device is installed as aftermarket-equipment. 
     
     
         74 . The communication device of  claim 67 , wherein the warning comprises a wireless signal. 
     
     
         75 . The communication device of  claim 67 , wherein the warning comprises a RF signal.