Title: GPS Vehicle Speed Controller The present invention relates to a vehicle speed controller.
It is often a requirement to control the speed of a vehicle on a road. It is standard practice to place speed limit signs on roads to control traffic speed, but these are often ignored by motorists.
A more effective tool to control vehicle speed has been the use of un-manned speed cameras which photograph the number plates of speeding vehicles and fines are sent out to the registered owners. A problem with these cameras is that they are expensive to install and maintain, and hence it is impractical to install these in all speed restricted areas. They are unsightly, and also they only identify the number plate of a speeding vehicle and not the driver.
Despite the heavy investments by governments in speed cameras and other speed control gadgets (some of which are in themselves a source of distraction to the motorists), the success rate is unimpressive especially because drivers know to avoid being caught by these gadgets. In fact, avoiding speed cameras and allied gadgets is a thriving commercialised art that is getting increasingly sophisticated, which in turn means the future effectiveness of these gadgets are even bleaker.
The invention seeks to provide an improved speed controller for vehicles, which also may be used for other purposes.
According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle speed controller comprising: a) a vehicle GPS giving the position and speed and direction of a vehicle in which it is mounted, said vehicle GPS further having a database of roads and speed limits therefore, b) a comparator to compare the speed of the vehicle with the speed limit for the road on which the vehicle is travelling, said comparator generating a speed violation' signal when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed limit for the road, and c) a mobile telephone network transmitter connected to the comparator to transmit on receipt of a speed violation signal details that the vehicle has committed a speeding offence to a central unit.
Preferably a vehicle camera is further provided to take a picture of the driver of the vehicle on receipt of the speed violation signal. Preferably the picture of the driver is also transmitted to the central unit.
Preferably the mobile telephone network transmitter transmits SMS type signals.
Preferably a vehicle speed limiter is provided to limit the speed of a vehicle on receipt of a speed violation signal. The speed limiter may control the brakes or accelerator of a vehicle.
Preferably the speed controller further comprises a driver warning alarm which operates upon generation of a speed violation signal.
Preferably the vehicle GPS further includes a direction to destination navigation system.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a schematic circuit and drawing.
Referring to the drawing there is shown a vehicle "X" whose speed may need to be controlled.
A vehicle speed controller 10 is provided for fitment into vehicle "X" (as schematic circuit of speed controller 10 is shown additionally above the vehicle for ease of explanation).
Controller 10 has a vehicle GPS 11 which communicates with a satellite "Y" giving the position and speed and direction of the vehicle "X" in which it is mounted.
Vehicle OPS further has a database 12 of roads and speed limits therefore. 1+
A comparator 13 is provided to compare the speed of the vehicle with the speed limit for the road on which the vehicle is travelling. The comparator 13 generates a "speed violation" signal when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed limit for the road. For example if the vehicle should exceed 30mph on a 30mph road, a "speed violation" signal would be generated (in practice this may in fact be a predetermined amount above the speed limit e.g. 10% above).
A mobile telephone network transmitter 14 is connected to the comparator 13 to transmit through its aerial 14A, on receipt of a "speed violation" signal, details of the vehicle "X" has committed a speeding offence to a central unit "Z". It is envisaged that the central unit "Z" would be a designated authority for speed control offences or the like, able to issue fines, prosecute etc. In practice, such transmission may be through an exclusive circuitry of the commercial mobile phone system using the already established base stations from where it may be further transmitted to the central unit "Z".
The mobile telephone network transmitter 14 may transmit details in the form of SMS or other communication type signals. The details transmitted may include the name and address of the vehicle owner (or these details may already be available at the central unit to be simply matched with the mobile telephone number concerned), the speed it was travelling at and its location at the time of the offence. It may also be in the form of a simple graphical presentation or other such means showing the variation in speed violation over a period.
A vehicle camera 15 in vehicle "X" is connected to comparator 15 and is positioned to take a picture of the driver of the vehicle on receipt of a "speed violation signal".
Camera 15 is also connected to mobile telephone network transmitter 14 so the picture of the driver (which may be different to the owner) can also be transmitted to the central unit "Z". Other means of identifying the driver at the time of the offence may also be employed and will be within the scope and spirit of this invention.
A vehicle speed limiter 16 is connected to the comparator to limit the speed of a vehicle on receipt of a "speed violation" signal. The speed limiter 16 may be connected mechanically or electronically to the vehicle to control the brakes or accelerator of a vehicle.
The speed controller 10 further comprises a driver warning alarm 17 connected to the comparator 13 which operates upon generation of a "speed violation" signal.
The alarm 17 may be an audible and/or visual, vibrating, humming or other such action.
In use when a driver exceeds a speed limit on a road, the driver alarm 17 operates to indicate to the driver to slow down. Alarm 17 could even "speak" the speed limit in force at the time. At the same time the speed of the vehicle of the vehicle could be automatically reduced by the speed limiter 16. Also notification of the speed violation is received by the control unit "Z" and a fine (or other action) issued to the driver of the vehicle.
Preferably the vehicle GPS Ii also includes a conventional direction to destination navigation system of the type known in the art.
It is also envisaged that the speed controller of the invention may have other uses.
For example the speed limiter may be externally controlled, e.g. by police, through a wireless transmission or other system to slow a vehicle down or bring it to a gradual halt if it is being chased. The speed limiter may be externally controlled, e.g. by a vehicle owner, through a wireless transmission system to slow a vehicle down or immobilise the engine if it was stolen. The speed of the vehicle used by the comparator may be derived from the mechanics of the vehicle (e.g. from the gearbox) rather than from the GPS.
The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above.
Further modifications will be apparent o those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.