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US5436835A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Motor vehicle collision avoidance method and means

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-03-04
•
Granted: 1995-07-25
•
Expires: 2014-03-04
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Abstract

Abstract In a preferred embodiment, a method of determining a safe stopping distance for a motor vehicle, including: storing into computing apparatus weighting factors corresponding to a range of vehicle parameters and driving conditions; entering into the computing apparatus actual vehicle parameters and driving conditions and a desired travel speed; and the computing apparatus calculating and indicating a suggested safe stopping distance from the weighting factors, the actual driving conditions, and the desired travel speed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lewis D. Emry

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 03:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/12; B60T7/22

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 77 words
An apparatus for determining a safe stopping distance for a motor vehicle, comprising: (a) computing means having stored therein weighting factors corresponding to a range of vehicle parameters and driving conditions; and (b) means to enter into said computing means actual vehicle parameters and driving conditions and a desired travel speed for said computing means to calculate and indicate a suggested safe stopping distance from said weighting factors, said actual driving conditions, and said desired travel speed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 77 words
An apparatus for determining a safe stopping distance for a motor vehicle, comprising: (a) computing means having stored therein weighting factors corresponding to a range of vehicle parameters and driving conditions; and (b) means to enter into said computing means actual vehicle parameters and driving conditions and a desired travel speed for said computing means to calculate and indicate a suggested safe stopping distance from said weighting factors, said actual driving conditions, and said desired travel speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for said computing means to indicate when said desired travel speed is unsafe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said vehicle parameters are selected from the group consisting of: vehicle type, brake type, and tire type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method, as defined in claim 5, wherein said driving conditions are selected from the group consisting of: road surface, road type, traffic conditions, pavement conditions, time of day, and weather.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 114 words
A method of determining a safe stopping distance for a motor vehicle, comprising: (a) storing into computing means weighting factors corresponding to a range of vehicle parameters and driving conditions; (b) entering into said computing means actual vehicle parameters and driving conditions and a desired travel speed; and said vehicle parameters are selected from the group consisting of: vehicle type, brake type, and tire type; said driving conditions are selected from the group consisting of: road surface, road type, traffic conditions, pavement conditions, time of day, and weather; and (c) said computing means calculating and indicating a suggested safe stopping distance from said weighting factors, said actual driving conditions, and said desired travel speed.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 114 words
A method of determining a safe stopping distance for a motor vehicle, comprising: (a) storing into computing means weighting factors corresponding to a range of vehicle parameters and driving conditions; (b) entering into said computing means actual vehicle parameters and driving conditions and a desired travel speed; and said vehicle parameters are selected from the group consisting of: vehicle type, brake type, and tire type; said driving conditions are selected from the group consisting of: road surface, road type, traffic conditions, pavement conditions, time of day, and weather; and (c) said computing means calculating and indicating a suggested safe stopping distance from said weighting factors, said actual driving conditions, and said desired travel speed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method, as defined in claim 5, further comprising the step of said computing means providing an indication when said desired travel speed is unsafe.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-07-24 1999-01-23 1999-07-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-07-24 2003-01-23 2003-07-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-07-24 2007-01-23 2007-07-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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