MONITORING SYSTEMSField of the InventionThis invention relates to monitoring systems and is concerned with the provision of a monitoring system for use in a motor vehicle to provide an indication to the driver if he is travelling too close to the vehicle in front of him, or whether the vehicle travelling immediately behind him is too close.
Summary of the InventionAccording to the invention, there is provided a monitoring system for use in a motor vehicle comprising:1. a transmitter for transmitting a signal either forwardly or rearwardly of the vehicle, 2. a receiver for receiving a reflected signal from another vehicle located either forwardly or rearwardly of said vehicle from which the signal was transmitted, 3. a computing device for calculating the spacing between said vehicle and said other vehicle and the relative velocities of said vehicles 4. means providing an input to the computing device to provide information concerning the velocity of the vehicle and the conditions under which the vehicle is being driven, and 5. means providing an audible and/or visible warning in the event that the computing device assesses a condition of potential danger.
The monitoring system preferably includes two transmitters, one for transmitting a forward signal and the other for transmitting a rearward signal, with two receivers positioned respectively to receive reflected signals from either the front or the rear of the vehicle.
Brief Description of the DrawingThe single Figure of the accompanying drawing illustrates diagramatically three vehicles travelling along a motorway, the second of the three vehicles being fitted with a monitoring system in accordance with the invention.
Description of the Preferred EmbodimentThe single Figure of the accompanying drawing shows a motor vehicle 'A' travelling along a motorway between two other vehicles 'B' and 'C', the vehicle 'A' being fitted with a monitoring system in accordance with the invention. The vehicle 'A' is provided at the front with a combined transmitter and receiver 10 from which a signal is transmitted to the vehicle 'B' and by which the reflected signal from vehicle 'B' is received. On receipt of this signal, data is transmitted by the combined transmitter and receiver 10 to a computing device 11, the computing device 11 being programmed to enable it to calculate the spacing between vehicles 'A' and 'B' and their relative velocities. The computing device 11 is al-so provided with continuous information concerning the speed of vehicle 'A'.A facility may also be provided whereby the driver can select different programmes to allow for changing weather conditions, for example, there may be separate programmes for rain, snow and fog. This will improve the effectiveness of the monitoring system since adverse weather conditions affect visibility and braking distances.
The computing device 11 compares the data it receives from the combined transmitter and receiver 10 and it can immediately identify whether the distance between the two vehicles 'A' and 'B' at that given speed is too close and therefore unsafe.
If the computing device assesses an unsafe condition it activates a signal to warn the driver of the potential danger. This warning signal may be audible or visible or both. For Example, when the computing device assesses that vehicle 'A' is too close to the vehicle in front, it may illuminate a warning light on the dashboard of the vehicle or set off an audible alarm for so long as the distance between the two vehicles and the speed of vehicle 'A' is such as to be unsafe.
In addition to the transmitter/receiver 10, the vehicle 'A' may also be provided with a second combined transmitter and receiver 12, this being fitted at the rear of the vehicle and arranged to transmit a signal towards a following vehicle 'C' and to receive a reflected signal from vehicle 'C', information then being transmitted to the computing device 11 to enable it to carry out calculations to assess whether, for the conditions of vehicle 'A', vehicle 'C' is too close to vehicle 'A'. In the event that the computing device 11 assesses that vehicle 'C' is too close for those particular travelling conditions, the computing device may cause operation of a small illuminated sign in the rear window of car 'A' or it may initiate actuation of the brake lights or rear tail lights of vehicle 'A'.
The equipment installed in vehicle 'A' may also have the facility to be actuated by a transmitter 13 located alongside the motorway, the transmitter 13 being arranged to provide an emergency signal to warn drivers of impending dangers or hazards. The operation of transmitter 13 may be such as to alert the driver of vehicle 'A' to otherwise unforeseen dangers with a recommendation of a maximum speed or distance from the preceding vehicle. The warning signal initiated by transmitter 13 will remain activated until the speed of vehicle 'A' is appropriately reduced or until the distance between vehicle 'A' and the preceding vehicle 'B' is itself appropriately reduced.