Device for indicating speed levels for motor vehicles

Claim 2

Method of indicating operational conditions, including speed levels, in motor vehicles, comprising the steps of; deriving from a speed of a vehicle a first signal indicative of the speed; determining whether danger factors are present and if so, driving from each an additional signal of a nature similar to a nature of the first signal and having a predetermined value, modulating each additional signal in accordance with safety factors dependent on characteristics of the vehicle and on characteristics of a driver for the vehicle; combining the first signal with the modulated additional signals to obtain a combined value; comparing the combined value with a pre-determined threshold; and actuating an alarm in response to the comparison, when the value compared with the threshold exceeds the threshold.

Claim 3

Method according to claim 1 in which the transforming of speed and of danger factors is performed to provide the first and the additional signals as electrical signals, and the modulating, combining, comparing and actuating steps are performed electrically.

Claim 4

Method according to claim 2 in which the modulating of the additional signals is performed according to mechanical characteristics of the vehicle, performance data thereof, and the vehicle's age.

Claim 5

Method according to claim 2 in which the determining of danger factors includes determining weather and visibility factors.

Claim 6

Method according to claim 2, in which the determining of danger factors includes determining factors corresponding to a nature and configuration of a route.

Claim 7

Method according to claim 2 in which the determining of danger factors includes determining factors corresponding to a load of the vehicle.

Claim 8

Method according to claim 2 in which the determining of danger factors includes determining a factor corresponding to a traffic incident.

Claim 9

Method according to claim 2 in which the determining of danger factors includes determining a factor corresponding to a difference between running and rest times of the vehicle and pre-determined times.

Claim 10

Method according to claim 8 including providing a time base in the vehicle, and in which the combining of the additional signals with the first signal is performed in response to time data supplied by the time base.

Claim 11

Method according to claim 1 in which the combining of the first and additional signals is performed manually.

Claim 12

Method according to claim 1 in which the combining of the first and additional signals is performed automatically in response to operating characteristics of mechanisms of the vehicle.

Claim 13

Method according to claim 2 in which the combining of the first and additional signals is performed automatically in response to factors, such as road conditions, electronically transmitted to the vehicle from outside the same.

Claim 14

Method according to claim 2 wherein each of the electrical signals is a voltage, the combining thereof being performed by adding the voltages to one another.

Claim 15

Method according to claim 1 in which the modulating of each additional signal is performed in accordance with a safety factor including a physical and mental condition of a driver of the vehicle.

Claim 16

Device for indicating operational conditions, including speed levels, in a motor vehicle, comprising; a speed circuit for deriving from a vehicle's speed an electrical signal having a value corresponding to the speed of the vehicle; means for determining whether danger factors are present and for deriving from each determined danger factor an electrical danger signal of a predetermined value corresponding to the respective danger factor; means for modulating each derived danger signal in accordance with a safety factor dependent on characteristics of the vehicle and on characteristics of a driver for the vehicle; means for combining the modulated electrical danger signals with the electrical signal corresponding to the vehicle's speed into a resilient value; a comparing circuit including a flip-flop relay for comparing the resultant value with a pre-determined threshold; and a warning system actuatable by the relay upon the comparison, for indicating a danger existing at the danger existing at the detected speed.

Claim 17

Device for indicating operational conditions, including speed levels, in a motor vehicle, comprising; a speed circuit for deriving from a vehicle's speed an electrical signal having a value corresponding to the speed of the vehicle; means for determining whether danger factors are present and for deriving from each determined danger factor an electrical danger signal of a predetermined value corresponding to the respective danger factor; means for modulating each derived danger signal in accordance with a safety factor dependent on characteristics of the vehicle and on characteristics of a driver for the vehicle; means for combining the modulated electrical danger signals with the electrical signal corresponding to the vehicle's speed into a resilient value; a comparing circuit including a flip-flop relay for comparing the resultant value with a pre-determined threshold; and a warning system actuatable by the relay upon the comparison, for indicating a danger existing at the danger existing at the detected speed.

Claim 18

Device according to claim 15 in which the means for modulating the electrical danger signals comprises an adjustable data medium which is removable from the vehicle.

Claim 19

Device according to claim 15 in which the means for deriving and modulating danger factors includes elements for modulating the electrical danger signals according to a condition of a driver of the vehicle, the elements comprising an adjustable, removable and interchangeable data medium specific to the driver and indicative of the condition.

Claim 20

Device according to claim 17 in which the data medium comprises means for identifying the driver.

Claim 21

Device according to claim 18 in which the data medium comprises means for locking it in the vehicle.

Claim 22

Device according to claim 15 including means for converting weather danger factors and visibility conditions into a danger signal for combining it with the other danger signals.

Claim 23

Device according to claim 15 in which the means for determining danger factors includes means for determining such factors related to a nature and configuration of a road.

Claim 24

Device according to claim 15 in which the means for determining danger factors includes a load means for determining such factors related to a load of the vehicle.

Claim 25

Device according to claim 22 in which the load means comprises a separate, removable and interchangeable medium specific to a load being carried.

Claim 26

Device according to claim 15 in which the means for determining danger factors includes means for determining such factors related to a traffic incident.

Claim 27

Device according to claim 15 in which the means for determining danger factors includes an element for determining such factors related to a difference between running and rest times adopted for the vehicle and corresponding predetermined times.

Claim 28

Device according to claim 25 in which the element includes an adjustable time base for providing a corresponding danger parameter at pre-determined times.

Claim 29

Device according to claim 26 in which the time base comprises an adjustable, separate, removable and interchangeable medium responsive to a speed of traffic around the vehicle.

Claim 30

Device according to claim 15 in which the means for determining danger factors includes a keyboard having keys for selecting respective danger factors.

Claim 31

Device according to claim 15, in which the means for determining danger factors comprises data detectors distributed over the vehicle for detecting corresponding danger factors.

Claim 32

Device according to claim 15 in which the means for combining the signals includes a receiving device for receiving information relating to route conditions and for converting such information into one of the danger signals.

Claim 33

Device according to claim 15 in which the circuit for deriving the signal corresponding to speed and the means for determining danger factors are constructed to produce the corresponding electrical signals as voltages, the means for combining the signals including means for adding the voltages to one another and the comparing circuit having a relay for comparing a sum of the added voltages with a pre-determined voltage corresponding with the threshold, and the warning system being actuated by the relay when the sum of voltages exceeds the predetermined voltage.

Claim 34

Device according to claim 31 in which the means for determining danger factors and for deriving danger signals include corresponding resistors and means for placing the resistors in parallel with each other.

Claim 35

Device according to claim 32 in which one of the resistors comprises several resistor elements disposed in series with one another and adjustable respectively in accordance with technical features of the vehicle and with a condition of a driver of the vehicle for the modulating of the danger signals.

Claim 36

Device according to claim 33 in which the resistor elements are mounted as a separate, removable and interchangeable medium.

Claim 37

Device according to claim 32 in which the resistors include a resistor element corresponding to a load of the vehicle.

Claim 38

Device according to claim 35 in which the resistor element is mounted as a separate, movable and interchangeable medium.

Claim 39

Device according to claim 36 in which the medium has relays and alarm circuits associated therewith.

Claim 40

Device according to claim 37 in which one of the relays and alarm circuits has means for energizing a visible signal on the vehicle.

Claim 41

Device according to claim 38 in which the visible signal comprises alarm lights for the vehicle.

Claim 42

Device according to claim 37 in which one of the relays and alarm circuits has means for energizing a horn of the vehicle.

Claim 43

Device according to claim 37 in which one of the relays has a circuit for effecting compulsory slowing down of the vehicle when the speed exceeds the threshold.

Claim 44

Device according to claim 41 in which the circuit has means for automatically locking itself when energized, the vehicle having means for unlocking the circuit which means can be operated only by a person who is perfectly lucid.

Claim 45

Device according to claim 15 including a device for detecting speed, having a rotor movable at a rotary speed proportional to that of the vehicle, and means for detecting a rate of rotation of the rotor for the deriving of the corresponding signal.

Claim 46

Device according to claim 15 in which the circuit for deriving a signal corresponding to speed and the means for deriving danger factors are constructed to produce the electrical signals as voltages, the means for combining the electrical signals being constructed to add together the voltages representing respectively each danger factor and the speed of the vehicle.

Claim 47

Device according to claim 28, in which the keyboard has means visible from outside the vehicle to indicate selection of a key corresponding to a danger factor.

Claim 48

Apparatus for adjustably setting operational conditions of a device in a vehicle for indicating the vehicle's operation with respect to such conditions, the device having removable and interchangeable media for controlling corresponding speed and danger factors, the apparatus comprising; a console; means thereon for plugging onto the console a medium, removed from a device for controlling speed and danger factors for a vehicle; means on the console for simulating different speed and danger factors and correspondingly adjusting the controlling of the speed and danger factors; and means on the console for determining safety factors, dependent on characteristics of the vehicle and of a driver, and for correspondingly controlling the adjusting means.

Claim 49

Apparatus for adjustably setting operational conditions of a device in a vehicle for indicating the vehicle's operation with respect to such conditions, the device having removable and interchangeable media for controlling corresponding speed and danger factors, the apparatus comprising; a console; means thereon for plugging onto the console a medium, removed from a device for controlling speed and danger factors for a vehicle; means on the console for simulating different speed and danger factors and correspondingly adjusting the controlling of the speed and danger factors; and means on the console for determining safety factors, dependent on characteristics of the vehicle and of a driver, and for correspondingly controlling the adjusting means.