Radio warning system
A radio-based system with a fixed frequency and manual activation mechanism addresses the limitations of existing warning systems by ensuring direct and efficient communication between road users, reducing accident risks through targeted alerts.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- OKYAY DEMET
- Filing Date
- 2019-08-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-22
AI Technical Summary
Existing proximity warning systems for road users fail to provide a reliable and efficient mechanism for cyclists or pedestrians to alert motorists of their presence, often due to reliance on communication networks, inaccurate geolocation, and lack of direct control over warning signals, leading to increased accident risks.
A radio-based system with a fixed frequency and modulation type, using a transmitter on bodyless vehicles coupled to a vibration sensor and an actuating device, sends unmodulated signals when in motion and additional modulated signals upon manual activation, triggering acoustic and optical alerts in the motor vehicle receiver.
Enables direct, fast, and reliable communication between road users, reducing the risk of accidents by ensuring motorists are alerted to the presence of vulnerable road users, even in noisy environments, without overloading radio channels.
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a radio-based warning system for preventing accidents involving motor vehicles and bodyless means of transport.
[0002] Most road accidents are caused by human error. This includes misjudging situations, such as driving too fast around a curve; recklessness, such as overtaking in blind spots; and overlooking hazards, such as failing to see other road users. While the first two examples are indeed due to human error, the latter is different. In this case, a hazard is not recognized, and if the driver had been aware of it, they would likely have taken timely countermeasures, thus preventing such accidents.
[0003] A fairly common situation is that motorists overlook cyclists or even pedestrians, especially at intersections or junctions. At such locations, a motorist is forced to cross the normal flow of traffic, including cyclists and pedestrians, when turning. If, for example, another road user is approaching from behind on foot or on a bicycle, it is the turning motorist's duty to yield the right-of-way. If the other road user is noticed, any responsible motorist will stop, let them pass, and only then turn. However, if the other road user is overlooked, the motorist in question usually sees no reason to stop.
[0004] Continuing to drive could, in the worst case, lead to an accident, whereby the risk of injury to a pedestrian or two-wheeler rider is significantly higher than to the driver who actually caused the accident.
[0005] While a motorcyclist at least has the option of ringing a bell to draw attention to themselves, such a bell can easily be missed, especially inside a closed motor vehicle, particularly if the driver is listening to the radio or engaged in conversation. Furthermore, the early ringing of a motorcyclist still some distance from the intersection or junction may not be recognized by the driver and thus filtered out along with the other road noise.
[0006] US Patent 2013 / 0127638 A1 discloses a proximity warning system for cyclists and motor vehicles, in which a transmitter on a bicycle can contact a receiver in a motor vehicle via a communication network, and in particular, in which location data of the various road users is stored on a server of the communication network and can be transmitted to the motor vehicles. Such a system generates vast amounts of data, and in the event of an imminent danger, a transmitter must first locate the phone number of the relevant receiver. Even if this information is found on the server via location data, a connection to the receiver must then be established via the network. However, due to inaccuracies in a geolocation system, it is by no means certain that the located participant is actually the correct road user.
[0007] Therefore, such a system is unsuitable as a warning system. Naturally, a large number of diverse messages and information are transmitted in a communication network, so that receiving a signal does not in itself provide any information about the proximity of other road users; rather, the content of a received signal must first be demodulated and evaluated.
[0008] A similar system is revealed in WO 2016 / 115259 A1, with the difference that an app on the smartphone of the road user on the bodyless vehicle is used as the transmitter. In any case, with this system as well, all information must be transmitted via a communication network, although it is questionable how the smartphone app can obtain the exact phone number of the approaching vehicle.
[0009] US Patent 2014 / 0085106 A1 describes a proximity warning system for road users. This system also requires the transmission of a large amount of information to detect an approach between two road users.
[0010] The arrangement proposed in US 2004 / 0263330 A1 suffers from similar problems. There, too, there is no fixed radio frequency used exclusively for approach warnings, meaning that even with this previously known system, information must be modulated onto a signal and then demodulated at the receiver. This is all the more serious because the road user in the bodyless vehicle does not consciously trigger a warning signal; rather, the transmitter continuously emits radio signals, quickly overloading the relevant radio channel.
[0011] The arrangement according to GB 2 508 500 A does not involve an active transmitter, but only an RFID tag, which is normally passive and is only activated by a vehicle with a corresponding transmitting device approaching very closely. This requires, on the one hand, that the vehicle continuously emits a transmission signal, and on the other hand, that the road user in the bodyless vehicle has no way of sending a warning signal until they are in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, at which point it is likely too late even for an emergency stop by the vehicle.
[0012] According to WO 2016 / 055674 A1, a transmitter on a bodyless vehicle continuously emits a signal after being switched on, which can be received by a receiver in a motor vehicle and then trigger a warning. Here too, the road user in the bodyless vehicle has no way of consciously triggering a warning signal.
[0013] The same applies to the state of the art according to FR 2 814 579 A1. There, too, a road user on a bodyless vehicle has no possibility of deliberately triggering a warning signal.
[0014] The DE 10 2010 022 282 A1 also does not provide for the deliberate triggering of a warning signal by a road user on a bodyless vehicle.
[0015] Both JP2008 143 221 A and BE 1 019 221 A5 only provide for a warning signal to be triggered by a road user in a bodyless vehicle; this does not adequately address every traffic situation. Often, traffic moves too fast for those involved to consciously take precautionary measures such as a first road user sending a warning signal and a second road user receiving and registering it. It would therefore be desirable to have a largely automatic warning mechanism for such situations that signals a potential hazard.
[0016] The disadvantages of the described prior art therefore give rise to the problem initiating the invention: to create a way in which a two-wheeler rider or other road user can draw the attention of a motorist in a dangerous situation so that the motorist can recognize them and avoid an accident.
[0017] This problem is solved by a radio channel with a fixed frequency and modulation type for transmitting signals from at least one transmitter on at least one bodyless means of transport to at least one receiver in at least one motor vehicle, wherein the transmitter (i) is coupled to a vibration sensor for triggering an unmodulated radio signal and (ii) is coupled to an actuating device for the manual triggering of an additional modulated warning signal by the road user on the bodyless means of transport, while the receiver is coupled to an acoustic and / or optical signaling device to trigger the emission of an acoustic and / or optical signal to a road user in the motor vehicle, wherein the transmitter sends an unmodulated radio signal at a normal volume at the receiver as long as the vibration sensor detects movement, and in the event thatIf the road user in the motor vehicle does not react to this, the transmitter is additionally designed to send an additional warning signal when the road user on the bodyless means of transport activates the operating element, whereby a message is modulated into the additional warning signal, which is demodulated in the receiver in order to trigger a maximum loud warning tone.
[0018] Such a radio channel allows the targeted transmission of information between two road users involved in a shared situation. In particular, it enables a road user outside a vehicle to send a signal to the road user inside the vehicle, alerting the driver to a person outside the vehicle. This direct radio connection is comparatively fast and independent of other information, unlike the use of mobile phones, which would require knowledge of each other's phone numbers.
[0019] The invention provides for the transmitter's power supply by equipping it with a battery or rechargeable battery. It is also possible to connect it, either directly or via an integrated battery, to a dynamo or other power generator of a two-wheeled vehicle. Recharging the battery using one or more solar cells is also conceivable.
[0020] A switch or push button can be provided for general on / off control, connecting or interrupting the power supply as desired by the road user. Visual feedback for the road user can be provided by means of a light-emitting diode (LED) that illuminates when the transmitter is switched on.
[0021] It has proven advantageous that the transmitter is designed for mounting on a vehicle without an enclosed body; many of these vehicles include handlebars to guide the direction of travel, such as two-wheelers; in such a case, the transmitter can be mounted on the handlebars. Road users on vehicles without bodies are particularly vulnerable because they are not surrounded by a protective body; furthermore, they must either share the road with cars or cross the path of other road users when a cycle path intersects a roadway at an intersection or junction.Suitable bodyless means of transport include, in particular, bicycles, with or without auxiliary motors such as e-bikes, folding bikes, tandems, cargo bikes, senior tricycles, bicycles with trailers, for example for children, as well as motorcycles, with and without sidecars, mopeds, motor scooters, electric scooters such as e-scooters and normal kick scooters, or also Segways, Scootys, motor-driven tricycles, so-called trikes, but also quads, bumper cars and buggies with road approval, small industrial trucks such as forklifts, also wheelchairs with or without auxiliary drive, possibly also prams and handcarts, even hoverboards or skateboards, whereby the transmitter may then have to be worn on the wrist, even pedal cars and soapbox cars for children can be secured in this way when they have to cross the road.
[0022] The transmitter can be integrated with a bicycle bell. In this case, pressing the bell triggers both an immediate audible signal and a radio signal that can be received by motor vehicles equipped with appropriate receivers and relayed to their drivers to alert them to the approaching cyclist. When the radio signal is manually triggered in this way, information can be modulated onto it, for example, to signal to the receiver the particular urgency of the manually triggered warning.
[0023] According to the invention, indirect triggering of a radio signal is also possible, wherein the transmitter module is connected to a sensor that detects the operation of the two-wheeler. According to the invention, a vibration sensor detects the vibrations of the two-wheeler in question, which are caused by movement or at least by the presence of the rider. If the sensor provided for this purpose does not detect any movement, i.e., in particular no vibrations, the transmitter unit is muted, i.e., it is essentially in a standby mode where the device is switched on but does not transmit.
[0024] Necessary or optional components of a transmitter according to the invention are a housing, a fastening device, for example clamps or the like, for fixing to a handlebar or other strut of a bodyless means of transport or a strap, for example with Velcro fastener, for wearing on the arm of the road user concerned, a battery or accumulator, an on / off switch, a light-emitting diode for feedback of the switching-on state, the actual radio module, preferably with an antenna, in particular with an antenna integrated into or attached to the housing, optionally a vibration sensor for fully automatic activation or deactivation of the radio module, optionally a push button or other switch for actively manually triggering a radio signal, the electronics for controlling the device, optionally plug connectors for charging a battery, or in the form of a data interface such as, for example, a USB port.USB for programming the electronics or for reading information.
[0025] The casing should be waterproof and round or have rounded corners to minimize the risk of accidental damage. The electronics and battery should be heat and cold resistant, and the antenna and radio module should be interference-suppressed so that no other interfering signals are transmitted or emitted besides the desired radio signal.
[0026] On the other hand, the receiver should be designed for installation in a vehicle with a body, such as a motor vehicle, specifically for mounting in, on, or under the dashboard. There, it is within the driver's reach and can therefore be acknowledged by them, i.e., a signal can be stopped by pressing an acknowledgment button. While road users in vehicles with bodies are relatively safe because they are relatively well protected from injury in a collision by the surrounding body, as well as by bucket seats, seat belts, and airbags, the body often obstructs all-around visibility, and there are frequently blind spots at the periphery of the field of vision. As a result, some road users, especially those in smaller vehicles such as bodyless vehicles, are often overlooked, which increases the risk of accidents.Suitable vehicles for the installation of a receiver according to the invention include, in particular, passenger cars with or without trailers, especially also passenger cars with electric or hybrid drive, which do not make themselves audibly noticeable in certain situations, so that the risk of accidents is particularly high, as well as off-road vehicles, motorhomes, buses and trucks with or without trailers, semi-trailer trucks, Unimogs, tractors, crane trucks, excavators, heavy goods vehicles, fire engines, military vehicles including tracked vehicles such as tanks.
[0027] Furthermore, in the case of a motor vehicle, the receiver can be connected to the vehicle's battery or accumulator for power supply. This eliminates the need for a separate battery and the associated battery replacement.
[0028] Since there is generally no danger from a motor vehicle when the engine is switched off, the receiver can be connected to the car battery via the ignition switch, so that the car battery is not burdened when the vehicle is stationary.
[0029] Alternatively or additionally, a switch or push button can be provided for general activation or deactivation, allowing the driver to connect or disconnect the power supply at their discretion. This enables the driver to deactivate the warning function in specific situations, such as maneuvering or parking, to better concentrate. Visual feedback for the driver can be provided by an LED that illuminates when the transmitter is switched on.
[0030] Furthermore, it is also possible to derive an activation / deactivation signal from a sensor, e.g., from a vibration sensor, or from the vehicle's locking status (locking the vehicle with the key), so that the warning system according to the invention remains active until the last passenger has left the vehicle; this is important because otherwise there is a real risk that, when a vehicle door is suddenly opened to exit, a road user passing by on a nearby cycle path in a vehicle without a body is overlooked.
[0031] Necessary or optional components of a receiving device according to the invention are a housing, a mounting device, for example for mounting in or on a dashboard of a vehicle with a body, optionally a battery or accumulator or a means of connection to a vehicle's own power or voltage source, in particular via cable, an on / off switch, a light-emitting diode for feedback of the switching-on state, the actual radio receiving module, preferably with an antenna, in particular with an antenna integrated into or attached to the housing, or with a connection for coupling to a vehicle's own antenna, a vibration sensor for fully automatic activation or deactivation of the radio receiving module, signaling devices such as loudspeakers, buzzers, optical indicators such as light-emitting diodes or lamps, the electronics for controlling the device, optionally.Plug connectors for connecting an external signaling device, or in the form of a data interface such as USB for connecting the electronics to a vehicle's on-board computer or an existing navigation device, or for programming or reading information.
[0032] The housing can be recessed into the dashboard, be rounded, or have rounded corners to minimize the risk of accidents. The electronics and battery should be heat- and cold-resistant, and the antenna and radio receiver module should be interference-suppressed to prevent the emission of disruptive signals. A visual display should be positioned within the driver's field of vision, for example, on or below the windshield, in or on the dashboard, or near a rearview mirror.
[0033] If not a single receiving antenna is used, but several, each with a specific directional characteristic—for example, with main reception lobes pointing towards the four corners or fenders of the vehicle, or in or against the direction of travel, as well as perpendicular to it—the direction from which a road user is approaching on a bodyless vehicle can also be detected. This information can be additionally displayed, for example, by means of spatially offset light sources such as LEDs or lamps, to immediately indicate the location of the other road user to the other road user. With an optical display device, the distance can also be signaled by a flashing frequency or by a color change, for example, from green (approx. 30 to 50 m away) through yellow (approx. 10 to 30 m away) to red (closer than 10 m).With an (additional) acoustic display, the distance information can be conveyed to the road user via the volume of the tone signal, or the buzzers located at the front and rear and / or at the four corners of the vehicle as part of a parking aid are used for this purpose.
[0034] Preferably, the specified frequency lies above 10 MHz, for example above 20 MHz, and particularly above 26.1 MHz. In this range, radio waves already exhibit quasi-optical propagation, meaning that in a city, a signal is no longer received after just one or a few city blocks, whereas the radio signal can propagate considerably further along a country road. Furthermore, this frequency band contains free frequencies for purposes other than broadcasting, television, and telephony, so that assigning a frequency to the radio warning system according to the invention does not cause any conflict with other radio users.
[0035] Depending on the frequency band used, the transmission power should be adjusted so that a signal distinguishable from background noise is detectable within a radius of approximately 50 meters. A larger range is unnecessary, as the road users in question are not yet in a shared traffic situation; in this case, a received signal can be confusing because the road user might then search in vain for the source of the transmitted signal and be distracted from the actual traffic situation.
[0036] One possible modulation method is amplitude modulation. Ideally, however, no information is transmitted at all except a single bit: "send radio warning signal" or "do not send radio warning signal." This requires no modulation whatsoever, only the switching on and off of a radio signal.
[0037] A key feature of the invention is that the receiver uses a bandpass filter to process only relevant radio signals, while other radio signals with different frequencies are masked out. This enables the receiver to distinguish genuine warning signals from other radio signals.
[0038] The transmission power should be uniformly specified so that the receiver can estimate the distance between transmitter and receiver based on the field strength of a received signal. This is advantageous because, on the one hand, weak signals from distant road users can be safely masked without creating a dangerous situation, and on the other hand, the road user in the vehicle can be informed how far away the other road user is.
[0039] Further advantages arise from the inclusion of a comparator module in the receiver, which compares the amplitude of the filtered and demodulated signal to a threshold value. This threshold value should be set so that it is reliably exceeded within a so-called "near range," for example, when the distance between transmitter and receiver is less than 80 m, or possibly even less than 100 m. Road users at greater distances are normally not involved in a single accident, and when the near range limit defined by the threshold value is reached, the road user equipped with the transmitter still has sufficient time to draw attention to themselves by sending a radio warning signal.
[0040] It is within the scope of the invention that a timer module is connected downstream of the comparator module in order to generate a signal for a predetermined minimum duration when the threshold value is exceeded. This ensures that the received signal is not merely a random interference signal, but a signal deliberately transmitted on the relevant frequency, which is otherwise kept clear.
[0041] The invention can be further developed by connecting a relay module or a switching module downstream of the comparator module or the timer module. This creates a switching output to which a DC-powered load, in particular a signal transmitter, can be connected.
[0042] Another design requirement stipulates that at least one optical signal generator, preferably one or more light sources such as lamps and / or LEDs, must be connected downstream of the relay or switching module. Optical signal generators are particularly noticeable in the area of the dashboard. If necessary, a signal generator can be positioned so that it shines onto the windshield from the inside and is reflected from there towards the driver, so that the light signal is in the immediate field of vision of the driver traveling straight ahead and can be perceived immediately.
[0043] On the other hand, it is also possible that an oscillator module is connected downstream of the comparator or timer module. Such a circuit is suitable for operating devices that do not require a DC voltage, but rather an AC voltage, such as loudspeakers.
[0044] The distance information, i.e., the strength of the received signal, can optionally be communicated via the amplitude of the oscillator oscillation, in particular by increasing the amplitude as the approach increases, or via the frequency, so that a foreign road user is made identifiable as the frequency increases during its approach.
[0045] A preferred embodiment of the invention consists in connecting an amplifier module downstream of a rectifier or demodulator, the comparator module, the timer module, and / or the oscillator module. This makes it possible to provide an oscillating signal with sufficient power to, for example, drown out typical traffic noise or a car radio.
[0046] Finally, it corresponds to the teaching of the invention that at least one acoustic signal generator is connected downstream of the comparator module, the timer module, the oscillator module or the amplifier module, preferably an electroacoustic transducer, for example one or more loudspeakers and / or buzzers.
[0047] Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a logical (switching) output for connection to a car radio, so that the car radio can be muted at the same time.
[0048] Further features, details, advantages and effects based on the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and from the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a radio warning system for transmitting information from a first road user outside a motor vehicle to a second road user inside the motor vehicle; Fig. 2 a transmitter of the radio warning system made of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 a block diagram of the transmitter from Fig. 2 ; Fig. 4 a front view of a receiver for the radio warning system installed in a motor vehicle according to Fig. 1 Fig. 5 shows a block diagram of the receiver. Fig. 4 ; and Fig. 6 a block diagram of a modified embodiment of the transmitter made of Fig. 2 .
[0049] The radio-based warning system 1 shown in the drawing is intended to prevent accidents involving motor vehicles 2.
[0050] For this purpose, a radio-based warning system 1 according to the invention has at least one receiver 3 arranged in a motor vehicle 2 and at least one transmitter 4 arranged outside the motor vehicle 2, which can send a radio signal to the receiver 3 via a defined radio channel.
[0051] While the receiver 3 may preferably be arranged in, on, or under the dashboard 5 of the motor vehicle 2, i.e., attached there, the transmitter 4 is preferably attached to the handlebars 6 of a two-wheeled vehicle 7, for example, a bicycle. Of course, the transmitter 4 could also be attached to a scooter, for example, to its handlebars, or to a walker or wheelchair, for example, to a handlebar.
[0052] The transmitter 4 is preferably housed in a casing 8 and equipped with a manual actuating element 9 by which it can be activated. Preferably, the actuating element 9 is designed as a lever-shaped element that is movable relative to the casing 8.
[0053] On the other hand, the transmitter 4 can be integrated with a bell, for example with a bicycle bell, in which case a part of the housing 8, preferably its upper part 10, serves as a bell to produce an acoustic bell or chime sound.
[0054] Within the housing 8, the movement of the actuating element 9 is converted into an electrical signal. For example, a specific movement of the actuating element 9 can close a contact 13, such as in a push button, thereby applying, for example, a positive level from a battery or other supply voltage 14 to a timer circuit 15 (not shown), which then generates a preferably logical output signal of a predetermined minimum duration.
[0055] This controls a transistor 16 such that it switches from a normally off state to a conducting state. Simultaneously, a current oscillation is impressed on the collector 17 of this transistor 16 via a second transistor 18, synchronized to an oscillation generated by an oscillator 19. This oscillation causes a voltage drop across the emitter resistor 20 of the first transistor 16 that fluctuates according to this current oscillation. This voltage oscillation is then fed to a coupling resonant circuit 21 with an inductor 22, to which a second inductor 24, connected to a transmitting antenna 23, is magnetically coupled.
[0056] For this period, a radio signal with a predetermined frequency is transmitted, which also reaches receiver 3, among others.
[0057] The receiver 3 contains a receiving antenna 25, to which a tuned or tunable bandpass filter is connected, i.e., for example, a resonant circuit 26 set to the specified radio frequency, which only allows a high, clearly perceptible oscillation signal to pass in the range of the specified frequency, while suppressing signals with other frequencies.
[0058] An amplifier module 27 is preferably connected downstream of the output of such a bandpass filter or resonant circuit 26 to amplify a weak received signal. If—as further provided by the invention—a fixed gain factor is set on the amplifier module 27, the amplified signal is proportional to the received signal, and the amplitude of the amplified signal allows direct conclusions to be drawn about the amplitude of the received signal strength. A constant gain factor can optionally be achieved by feeding back a portion of the amplified signal and subtracting it from the received signal. This difference is then fed to a controller module, which generates the amplified signal as its output signal. This signal is then divided, for example, by a voltage divider in the desired ratio and fed back.The division factor of this voltage divider should be inversely proportional to the desired gain ratio. Both the difference calculation and the gain can preferably be performed using an operational amplifier.
[0059] The signal, amplified by a defined amount, can then be demodulated, i.e., rectified, to convert the oscillation into a DC voltage whose instantaneous value is proportional to the current oscillation amplitude. In the simplest case, rectification can be performed with a diode or with a rectifier 28.
[0060] Preferably, the output of the diode or rectifier 28 should be smoothed, which can preferably be achieved by a downstream low-pass filter 29. This can be a first-order low-pass filter, i.e., for example, consisting of a capacitor C and a resistor R, preferably with a time constant τ = R * C approximately on the order of one oscillation period of the radio signal.
[0061] This amplified, rectified, and smoothed radio signal is then fed to a downstream comparator module 30, which is supplied at a second input with a reference signal that serves as a threshold. The threshold reference signal can be generated, for example, by means of a voltage divider 31 from the supply voltage 14 on one side and from the circuit ground 32 on the other. If the received, amplified, and rectified signal is greater than the comparison threshold, the comparator module 30 provides a logic output signal at its output, indicating that an oscillation signal with a predefined minimum amplitude has been received on the relevant radio channel.
[0062] To prevent errors, a further timer module can be connected downstream of the comparator module 30. This timer module only passes a signal at its input to the output after the input signal has been continuously active for at least a predetermined delay time. Alternatively or additionally, a switching hysteresis can be provided to dampen or suppress unwanted oscillations.
[0063] Only when a radio signal has been detected in receiver 3 will an optical and / or acoustic signal be emitted in the vehicle 2 in question to alert the driver of that vehicle to the other road user who possesses transmitter 4.
[0064] For example, at least one light source 11 in the form of a lamp and / or a light-emitting diode can be provided to emit an optical signal.
[0065] To control the light source 11, it is connected in a common circuit together with a battery and an electrical or electronic switching element. When the switching element is closed, a current flows through the light source 11, and it begins to light up.
[0066] The switching element can be either electromechanical, for example as a relay or solenoid, which closes a contact when activated, or electronic, for example as a bipolar transistor switch or a low-impedance transistor amplifier. The output signal of comparator 30 can be used directly for control, or an amplified signal derived from it.
[0067] At least one electroacoustic transducer 12 can be provided for the output of an acoustic signal, for example in the form of a loudspeaker and / or a buzzer.
[0068] Buzzers operating on the principle of the Wagner hammer can be controlled with a DC voltage; the corresponding control circuit can then be constructed in the same way as for an optical signal transmitter 11, i.e. with a controlled switching element in the circuit together with the buzzer and a battery or other supply voltage 14.
[0069] Other buzzers and loudspeakers require an alternating voltage for activation. To achieve this, an oscillator 33 tuned to an audible frequency can be used. Upon detection of a radio signal, the oscillator's signal, amplified if necessary by a transistor 34, is switched by a conducting transistor 35 to an emitter resistor 36, where it generates a voltage drop in the form of an alternating voltage superimposed on a voltage average. This oscillation is then filtered by a capacitor 37 and passed to the electroacoustic transducer 12, which thereby produces a loud warning tone to alert the driver of the motor vehicle 2 to the two-wheeler 7 and its rider.
[0070] In the embodiment according to Fig. 6The button 13 is designed as an electronic switch, which is controlled by an output signal from a vibration sensor 38. When the bodyless means of transport in question is used, it will vibrate, at least while driving, but even when waiting at a traffic light it will not remain completely still, so that movements are detected by a sensor and a switch-on command for the radio module is generated accordingly. Fig. 6 is derived. This then transmits continuously and is detected by the other road user with a compatible receiving device every time it approaches, as long as its receiver is switched on.
[0071] According to the invention, the two operating variants are as follows: Fig. 3 and Fig. 6Combined, this means that as long as the vibration sensor detects (vibrational) movement, a normal, for example, unmodulated radio signal is sent and reproduced at the receiver as a warning signal at normal volume. However, if the road user in the body-mounted vehicle does not react to this, the road user in the bodyless vehicle has the additional option of manually sending an additional warning signal via an actuation element 9. A message is then modulated onto this signal, for example, an amplitude code, which can be demodulated at the receiver and then triggers a maximum loud warning tone. Reference symbol list
[0072] 1 Warning system 26 tunable resonant circuit 2 motor vehicle 27 amplifier 3 Recipient 28 rectifier 4 Sender 29 Low-pass filter 5 dashboard 30 Comparator 6 handlebars 31 Voltage divider 7 two-wheeler 32 Circuit ground 8 Housing 33 oscillator 9 Actuating element 34 transistor 10 Part 35 transistor 11 light bulbs 36 emitter resistor 12 electroacoustic transducer 37 capacitor 13 contact 38 Vibration sensor 14 Supply voltage 15 circuit 16 transistor 17 collector 18 transistor 19 oscillator 20 emitter resistor 21 Coupling oscillation circle 22 first inductance 23 Transmitting antenna 24 second inductor 25 Receiving antenna
Claims
1. Radio based warning system (1) for the avoidance of accidents with contribution of motor vehicles and means of transportation without a body, wherein a radio channel with a fixed preset frequency is provided for the transmission of signals from at least one transmitter (4) at at least one means of transportation without a body to at least one receiver (3) in at least one motor vehicle, wherein the transmitter (4) (i) is coupled to a vibration sensor (38) for the triggering of an unmodulated radio signal, and (ii) is coupled to an actuating element (9) for a manual triggering of an additional modulated warning signal by the traffic participant on the means of transportation without a body, while the receiver (3) is coupled to an acoustic and / or optic signalling device (11,12) for the release of an acoustic and / or optic signals to the traffic participant in the motor vehicle, characterized in that an unmodulated radio signal pursuant to a normal sound level at the receiver (3) is sent as long as the vibration sensor (38) senses a movement, and, for the case that the traffic participant in the motor vehicle (2) fails to react, the transmitter (4) is designed to transmit the additional warning signal upon actuation of the actuating element (9) by the traffic participant on the means of transportation without a body, wherein a message is modulated onto the additional warning signal which is demodulated in the receiver (3) in order to induce an acoustic warning signal of maximum loudness there.
2. Warning system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter (4) is designed for affixing it to a handlebar (6) of a bicycle (7), for example by integration with a bell of a bicycle (7).
3. Warning system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmitter (4) is provided with a battery or an accumulator, and / or is connected to a dynamo of the regarding vehicle.
4. Warning system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transmitter (4) a) triggers the radio signal directly upon a manual actuation via the actuating element, and b) triggers the radio signal indirectly upon an actuation by the vibration sensor.
5. Warning system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver (3) is designed for a mounting in a motor vehicle (2), espcially for a mounting in, at or under a dashboard (5), and / or for the connection to a car computer or to a navigation6. Warning system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver (3) is connectable to a car battery for energy supply, especially wherein the receiver (3) is connectable to the car battery via the ignition switch.
7. Warning system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the preset frequency is located above 10 MHz, preferably above 20 MHz, especially above 26.1 MHz.
8. Warning system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein te signal is unmodulated or is modulated with an amplitude modulation.
9. Warning system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission power is preset or is fixedly adjusted, so that the receiver (13) can estimate the distance between the transmitter (4) and the receiver (3) by means of the field intensity.
10. Warning system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the receiver (3), a rectifier is provided in order to regain the amplitude or, respectively, the reception field strength of the received signal as a signal strength, and / or a demodulator is provided in order to demodulate the information modulated on the signal.
11. Warning system (1) according to claim 10, wherein a comparator component is provided in the receiver (3) in order to compare the rectified or demodulated signal in view of ist amplitude with a threshold value, and, upon exceeding of said threshold value, to pass it on, especially to a downstream connected signal generator.
12. Warning system (1) according to claim 11, wherein a timer component is arranged downstream of the comparator component in order to pass the rectified or demodulated signal on after a preset minimum interval upon exceeding of said threshold value.
13. Warning system (1) according to one of claims 11 to 12, wherein a signal generator is arranged downstream of the rectifier or of the demodulator or of the comparator component or of the timer component, preferably an oscillator component, especially in order to generate an acoustic and / or optic signal, wherein the signal strength of the rectified signal is converted into an audio frequeny or into a blink frequency or into a loudness or intensity of the acoustic and / or optic signal.
14. Warning system (1) according to claim 13, wherein an amplifier component is arranged downstream of the comparator component, the timer component and / or the oscillator component.
15. Warning system (1) according to one of claims 11 to 14, wherein at least one audio signal generator is arranged downstream of the rectifier or of the demodulator or of the comparator component, the timer component, the oscillator component or the amplifier component, preferably an electroacoustic transducer (12), for example at least one loudspeaker and / or buzzer.
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