System for automatically sensing and indicating the acceleration and deceleration of a vehicle

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, further comprising: third means of differentiation with respect to time, differentiating said first signal, for generating a fourth signal upon either an increase or a decrease in said first signal with time; and means responsive to said fourth signal for providing a continuous reading of the acceleration or deceleration of said vehicle.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 2 wherein said continuous reading means comprises a current amplifier driven by said fourth signal, and an ammeter, biased to a zero center position, for measuring the output of said amplifier.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 2 wherein said continuous reading means comprises a galvanometer responsive to said fourth signal.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 1 wherein said first means of differentiation comprises an RC circuit in which the signal corresponding to acceleration is developed across a resistor connected in shunt with a diode arranged with a polarity for blocking signals decreasing in magnitude with time, and said second means of differentiation comprises an RC circuit in which the signal corresponding to deceleration is developed across a resistor connected in shunt with a diode arranged with a polarity, opposite to said first-named polarity, for blocking signals increasing in magnitude with time.

Claim 7

Apparatus for automatically indicating a level of deceleration of a vehicle which exceeds a given threshold of deceleration, comprising: means for separately developing a signal representative of the deceleration of a vehicle; a relay including a relay coil; combined level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said combined means being responsive to a deceleration input signal and, said switching means turning on when said input signal reaches a threshold level of deceleration to permit current flow through said relay coil, said relay coil being connected in series with said switching means for actuating said relay and; an indicator responsive to the actuation of said relay, said deceleration signal being applied as an input to said level sensing and switching means whereby said relay is actuated only when said signal reaches and exceeds said threshold input signal level.

Claim 8

Apparatus for automatically indicating a level of deceleration of a vehicle which exceeds a given threshold of deceleration, comprising: means for separately developing a signal representative of the deceleration of a vehicle; a relay including a relay coil; combined level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said combined means being responsive to a deceleration input signal and, said switching means turning on when said input signal reaches a threshold level of deceleration to permit current flow through said relay coil, said relay coil being connected in series with said switching means for actuating said relay and; an indicator responsive to the actuation of said relay, said deceleration signal being applied as an input to said level sensing and switching means whereby said relay is actuated only when said signal reaches and exceeds said threshold input signal level.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said combined level sensing and switching means comprises a current amplifier biased for substantial cut off in the absence of an input signal of a level exceeding said threshold signal level, and said relay coil is connected in series with the output of said switching means.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said combined level sensing and switching means comprises a two-branch trigger circuit including a first branch wherein a first transistor conducts substantially only when the input signal level is smaller than said threshold signal level and a second branch wherein a second transistor conducts substantially only when the input signal level is larger than said threshold signal, and said relay coil is connected in series with said second branch.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said combined level sensing and switching means comprises a monostable multivibratOr circuit which is destabilized by an input signal of a level equal to or greater than said threshold signal level to thereby generate a destabilization current, and said relay coil is connected in series with said destabilization current.

Claim 12

Apparatus for automatically indicating a level of deceleration of a vehicle, when said vehicle exceeds a given threshold of deceleration, comprising: means for separately developing a signal representative of the deceleration of a vehicle; combined electronic level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said combined means being responsive to a deceleration input signal, said switching means turning on when said input signal reaches a threshold level of deceleration; and an indicator in series with said switching means, said deceleration signal being the input of said level sensing and switching means whereby said switching means turns on and passes substantial current directly through said indicator only when said signal reaches and exceeds said threshold input signal level.

Claim 13

Apparatus for automatically indicating a level of deceleration of a vehicle, when said vehicle exceeds a given threshold of deceleration, comprising: means for separately developing a signal representative of the deceleration of a vehicle; combined electronic level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said combined means being responsive to a deceleration input signal, said switching means turning on when said input signal reaches a threshold level of deceleration; and an indicator in series with said switching means, said deceleration signal being the input of said level sensing and switching means whereby said switching means turns on and passes substantial current directly through said indicator only when said signal reaches and exceeds said threshold input signal level.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said combined electronic level sensing and switching means comprises a current amplifier biased for substantial cut off in the absence of an input signal of a level exceeding said threshold signal level, and said indicator is connected in series with the output of said current amplifier.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said combined electronic level sensing and switching means comprises a two-branch trigger circuit including a first branch wherein a first transistor conducts substantially only when the input signal level is smaller than said threshold signal level and a second branch wherein a second transistor conducts substantially only when the input signal level is larger than said threshold signal level, and said indicator is connected directly to said second branch.

Claim 18

A system according to claim 13 wherein said first level sensing and switching means comprises a first current amplifier to which said deceleration input signal is applied, said first amplifier being biased for substantial cutoff in the absence of an input signal exceeding said first threshold value, said first level sensing and switching means further comprises a first relay having a coil in series with said first current amplifier, said first relay being activated by the output current of said first amplifier whenever said first current amplifier is caused to conduct by an input signal which is substantially at or beyond said first threshold value; and said second level sensing and switching means comprises a second current amplifier to which said same deceleration signal is applied, said second amplifier being biased for substantial cutoff in the absence of an input signal exceeding said second threshold value, said second level sensing and switching means further comprises a second relay having a coil in series with saiD second current amplifier said second relay being activated by the output current of said second amplifier whenever said second current amplifier is caused to conduct by an input signal which is substantially at or beyond said second threshold value.

Claim 19

A system according to claim 2 wherein said continuous reading means provides a quantitative indication of the magnitude of the acceleration or deceleration of said vehicle, and further comprises interior visual display means responsive to said fourth signal for the direct and continuous reading of acceleration or deceleration.

Claim 20

A system according to claim 13 wherein said first level sensing and switching means includes a first two-branch trigger circuit to which said acceleration or deceleration input signal is applied, said first trigger circuit having a first branch which conducts substantially only when the input signal level is smaller than said first threshold value and a second branch which conducts substantially only when the input signal level is larger than said first threshold value, said first level sensing and switching means further having a first relay having a coil in series with said second branch, said first relay being activated by the current in the second branch of said first two-branch trigger circuit whenever said second branch is caused to conduct by an input signal which is substantially at or beyond said first threshold value; and, said second level sensing and switching means including a second two-branch trigger circuit to which said same acceleration or deceleration signal is applied, said second trigger circuit having a third branch which conducts substantially only when the input signal level is smaller than said second threshold value and a fourth branch which conducts substantially only when the input signal level is larger than said second threshold value, said second level sensing and switching means further having a second relay having a coil in series with said fourth branch, said second relay being activated by the current in the fourth branch of said second two-branch trigger circuit whenever said fourth branch is caused to conduct by an input signal which is substantially at or beyond said second threshold value.

Claim 21

A system according to claim 13 wherein said first level sensing and switching means includes a first monostable multivibrator circuit to which said acceleration or deceleration input signal is applied, said first multivibrator circuit is destabilized substantially only when the input signal level is larger than said first threshold value, said first level sensing and switching means further including a first relay having a coil in series with the branch of said multivibrator which carries a first destabilization current whenever the multivibrator becomes destabilized, said first relay being activated by said first destabilization current of said first monostable multivibrator circuit whenever said first current is caused to appear by an input signal which is substantially at or beyond said first threshold value; and, said second level sensing and switching means includes a second monostable multivibrator circuit to which said same acceleration or deceleration input signal is applied, said second multivibrator circuit is destabilized substantially only when the input signal level is larger than said second threshold value, said second level sensing and switching means further including a second relay having a coil in series with the branch of said second multivibrator which carries a second destabilization current whenever the multivibrator becomes destabilized, said second relay being activated by said second destabilization current of said second monostable multivibrator circuit whenever said second current is caused to appear by an input signal which is substantially at or beyond said second threshold value.

Claim 22

Apparatus for automatically indicating a level of acceleration of a vehicle which exceeds a given threshold of acceleration, comprising: means for separately developing a signal representative of the acceleration of a vehicle; a relay including a relay coil; combined level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said combined means being responsive to an acceleration input signal and, said switching means turning on when said input signal reaches a threshold level of acceleration to permit current flow through said relay coil, said relay coil being connected in series with said switching means for actuating said relay and; an indicator responsive to the actuation of said relay, said acceleration signal being applied as an input to said level sensing and switching means whereby said relay is actuated only when said signal reaches and exceeds said threshold input signal level.

Claim 23

Apparatus for automatically indicating a level of acceleration of a vehicle which exceeds a given threshold of acceleration, comprising: means for separately developing a signal representative of the acceleration of a vehicle; a relay including a relay coil; combined level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said combined means being responsive to an acceleration input signal and, said switching means turning on when said input signal reaches a threshold level of acceleration to permit current flow through said relay coil, said relay coil being connected in series with said switching means for actuating said relay and; an indicator responsive to the actuation of said relay, said acceleration signal being applied as an input to said level sensing and switching means whereby said relay is actuated only when said signal reaches and exceeds said threshold input signal level.

Claim 24

Apparatus for automatically indicating a level of acceleration of a vehicle, when said vehicle exceeds a given threshold of acceleration, comprising means for separately developing a signal representative of the acceleration of a vehicle; combined electronic level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said combined means being responsive to an acceleration input signal and, said switching means turning on when said input signal reaches a threshold level of acceleration; and an indicator in series with said switching means, said acceleration signal being the input of said level sensing and switching means whereby said switching means turns on and passes substantial current directly through said indicator only when said signal reaches and exceeds said threshold input signal level.

Claim 25

Apparatus for automatically indicating a level of acceleration of a vehicle, when said vehicle exceeds a given threshold of acceleration, comprising means for separately developing a signal representative of the acceleration of a vehicle; combined electronic level sensing and switching means incorporating semiconductor means, said combined means being responsive to an acceleration input signal and, said switching means turning on when said input signal reaches a threshold level of acceleration; and an indicator in series with said switching means, said acceleration signal being the input of said level sensing and switching means whereby said switching means turns on and passes substantial current directly through said indicator only when said signal reaches and exceeds said threshold input signal level.