Abstract: With the advancement and improvement of technology in the field of traffic system and autonomous cars, it has become necessary to introduce an unconventional system to reduce the current noise pollution and the current energy consumption level, thereby enhancing it’s efficiency. Moreover, as it is to be used by major portion of the society, the system needs to be accurate and affordable. RF-based Energy efficient vehicle alert system is a potential solution to it. The invention proposes a systematic, economical and energy efficient model which targets to replace the external vehicle horn system with internal vehicle horn system so as to reduce the noise pollution level and to save most of the energy lost due to honking.
Claims:1) An energy efficient, low pollution causing, internal vehicle horn system for vehicle communication, comprising:
• A transmitter, an antenna, a human (obstacle) detector, a receiver and an internal buzzer-alert system.
• a wireless communication device for communicating between the source and sink.
• an ear-wear for the alert system.
Said transmitter establishes an energy efficient path through said intermediate devices, to said receiver for transferring the signal.
Said transmitter also
• establishes different signal for different category vehicles.
Said antenna
• directs the source signal in appropriate forward and sideway direction.
said human (obstacle) detector comprises of :
• infrared detector.
• image processor.
said human (obstacle) detector
• establishes high accuracy detection both at day and night.
said receiver comprises of :
• a microcontroller.
• Internal-buzzer system.
said receiver reacts to the signal received, according to preference, and triggers the internal buzzer-alert system and the ear-wear device.
said internal buzzer-alert system acts as an alert signal to prevent accidents and maintain smooth traffic flow.
said ear-wear comprises of :
• a device that serves the purpose of the aforesaid internal-buzzer alert system.
2) A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein two signals are produced by the transmitter, one for vehicle used by normal vehicles and other for ambulances or vehicles of higher dignitaries.
3) A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said transmitter maintains a certain range in the direction that is to be maintained by the antenna.
4) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system maintains two modes, Incognito(Auto) mode for implementing internal vehicle-horn system and Normal mode for the conventional vehicle-horn system.
5) A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein human (obstacle) detection controls the transition between the transitions of the two modes.
6) A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein automatic speed controlling system is implemented to avoid accidents.
7) A method as claimed in claim 1, to reduce the noise pollution and power consumption considerably.
8) A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver is provided to the vehicles that uses mechanical horn-system so as not to affect the cost of production to a considerable extent.
9) A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the different modes of the system does not affect each other which ensures the breakdown of one mode does not affects the other, thus maintaining continuity which is absent in the conventional vehicle-horn system.
10) A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ear-wear device ensures better focus at driving, nullifying the effect of the noises produced in the surroundings, thereby reducing the chances of accidents. , Description:The current invention aims to replace the conventional vehicle-horn system by an internal vehicle-horn system which helps in the communication between vehicles without disturbing the surroundings. For this, 2 Modes are to be defined – Incognito (Auto) and Normal Mode.
Incognito Mode is basically the internal vehicle-horn system mode which enables vehicles to communicate internally using RF transceiver and internal buzzer-alert system that replaces the conventional honking system.
Normal Mode is the conventional honking system mode. When there is a human (obstacle) intervention or there is no receiver in range, then this mode is activated as to alert the surrounding which is essentially necessary to avoid accidents.
Therefore, the current invention transits between these 2 modes as per the circumstance demands.
Fig. 1 explains the overall control flow of the system to be integrated.
Initially, the transmitter generates a signal either of Type-1 or Type-2. The signal is divided considering the emergency situations. Type-1 corresponds to vehicles used by common people and Type-2 corresponds to ambulances and vehicles of higher dignitaries. Type-2 vehicles have got more preference than Type-1 vehicles as can be concluded from the fact that Type-2 vehicles are used for special purposes.
The next step is to direct the signal in the forward and partial sideway directions which is done by a suitable antenna. The purpose of doing this is to ensure the signal does not interfere with the vehicle at the back because horns are generally used to alert/overtake the vehicles In front.
Next the system detects whether or not any vehicle is present in range. If at least one vehicle is in range of the transmitter, then the Auto mode prevails else the system automatically changes to Normal mode which is just a precautious step.
Next, Human (Obstacle) intervention is checked. Now, if intervention is not present then the system retains it’s Auto mode else it transits to Normal mode to alert the obstacle and consequently avoid accidents.
This process is being done using image processing and infrared detection. Image processing can be helpful to detect human figures and other predefined obstacles in range. Infrared detector can be used to detect presence human/animal flesh present in range during the day and night as well. The integration of these 2 systems are firstly made to operate at Line of Sight, defining the range as required. This can assure us accuracy in detection over 24 hours, ultimately discarding the possibility of accidents.
Fig.2 explains the response system of the current concept. The vehicles at back and the vehicles that are not in range aren’t disturbed by the source signal. The vehicles that are in range and in the required orientation receives the signal and accordingly the response(s) is/are produced.
Moreover, as the system needs power to operate, so the vehicles which are not in their running state aren’t disturbed which is quite analogous to the current road-traffic system.
Fig.3 explains the signal preferences to be offered which is again analogous to the conventional system. Type-2 signals will be preferred over Type-1 signals.
Fig.4 describes the transition between Auto and Normal Mode as per required. Presence of human/obstacle in range of suitable detectors as discussed above decides the transition between the two modes that is to be set to meet the requirements.
Vehicles using the mechanical horn/bell system are to be provided with the receiver only to receive the signal of any other vehicle behind it. Mechanical horns/bells are retained owing to its property of no electrical power consumption and less noise pollution.
Traffic Guards are given portable receiver device to manage traffic efficiently.
The portable receiver to be provided can be made an ear-wear which will ensure smooth flow of the system. It can be provided to the drivers, which actually helps if compared to the conventional horn system. Many vehicles turns on loud music which distracts the driver’s concentration but an ear-wear will necessarily keep him/her focused.
Lastly, if in rare cases there happens to be any malfunction in the Auto mode circuit, then the system is likely to work on Normal mode which is acceptable. Breakdown of one system mode does not affect the other.
Thus, the current invention discards almost all of the possibilities of adverse circumstances justifying it’s superiority over the conventional vehicle-horn system.
| # | Name | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 201731033601-DRAWINGS [22-09-2017(online)].pdf | 2017-09-22 |
| 2 | 201731033601-COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [22-09-2017(online)].pdf | 2017-09-22 |
| 3 | 201731033601-FORM 18 [10-03-2022(online)].pdf | 2022-03-10 |
| 4 | 201731033601-FORM 13 [23-03-2022(online)].pdf | 2022-03-23 |
| 5 | 201731033601-FER.pdf | 2023-12-26 |
| 1 | 201731033601E_22-12-2023.pdf |