Vehicle proximity alarm system and method

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of proximity detection based on transmitting at random intervals burst of a RF signal at a power level, and receiving, while not transmitting, a received RF signal. When detecting said received RF signal emitted by a target in range; an alarm signal is provided to warn of the proximity of the target. Another broad aspect of the invention is to deploy the above method among members of a territory and provide a monitoring patrol to verify if the proximity of those members can be detected from their RF signal. Another broad aspect of the invention is to provide to those members a plurality of status from which each member selects one corresponding to its current status and to transmit that status in the RF signal he is transmitting, thereby informing other members in range of his current status and enabling them to evaluate the potential danger associated with him.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority of application number GB200300000689 filed on Mar. 26, 2003 and U.S. provisional application, Serial number unknown, filed on Feb. 26, 2004.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the general field of safety and is particularly concerned with a vehicle proximity alarm system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In recent years, an increased number of vehicles combined with increased driving speeds have been giving rise to a concurrent increase in the number of collision accidents. Such accidents each year result in a relatively large number of fatalities and injuries and cause significant property damage. [0004] As is well known, collisions may occur as a result of numerous factors including operator inattentiveness, incompetence, errors in judgment, and so forth. Typically, operator reaction time also plays a part in determining whether a potential collision, once detected, can be ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The system effectively reduces collision risks by providing timely alerts of nearby vehicles or pedestrians across all directions, even in adverse conditions, enhancing safety by informing users of potential dangers and allowing them to adjust their behavior accordingly.

Problems solved by technology

In recent years, an increased number of vehicles combined with increased driving speeds have been giving rise to a concurrent increase in the number of collision accidents.

Such accidents each year result in a relatively large number of fatalities and injuries and cause significant property damage.

As is well known, collisions may occur as a result of numerous factors including operator inattentiveness, incompetence, errors in judgment, and so forth.

As will be recognized, the various interior and exterior mounted mirrors of the vehicle typically yield a selective area in the vicinity of the vehicle commonly referred to as a blind spot which cannot be properly observed, thereby rendering a driving manoeuvre dangerous while the turning of the driver's head to visually observe the desired area requires the drivers to be momentarily inattentive to the vicinity in front of the vehicle.

Thus, these two alternatives for observing the selected areas in the vicinity of the vehicle prior to making a driving manoeuvre have proven less than ideal and usually have posed a significant safety hazard to the driver of the vehicle or adjacent vehicles.

However, most of these systems or devices suffer from numerous drawbacks.

Also, some prior art devices and systems have limited effectiveness when used for measuring distances of less than a few hundred meters.

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