"Emergency mobile signal generating device"

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The present invention relates to an emergency mobile signal generating device.

In particular, the present invention relates to a device for generating an emergency mobile signal, of the type of virtual triangle for terrestrial vehicles such as cars, motorcycles and bicycles.

As it is known, terrestrial vehicles are equipped with accessories and devices able to signal an emergency situation for the vehicle and / or for the driver of the vehicle. These accessories and devices can be a traditional emergency triangle that can be manually positioned on the road at a convenient distance, or the parking lights activated by the driver by pressing a button showing a hazard warning triangle normally present on the vehicle dashboard of the type shown in Figure 1 that illustrates a system 100 comprising buttons which activate different car functions, including the function of activating the parking lights via the button 101.

Therefore, in any dangerous situation the driver needs to communicate, he is obliged to perform intermittent parking lights first, then stop the vehicle and finally, when he is dropped from the car, he must place the triangle on the road in such a way that it can be visible from all vehicles in the lane.

These phases represent both a risk for the driver because he is exposed to running vehicles, and for other drivers who risk to overwhelm the pawn without the possibility of slowing down.

This situation, can also be amplified by particular environmental and road conditions, such as fog, rain and blind curves.

A solution to this problem is described in the patent application EP 1262935 assigned to Siemens AG, that describes a method for the transmission of predetermined packet data at predetermined time with direct radio connections between a first transmitting user terminal and a second receiving user terminal, at ranges of at least a second. User terminals that receive at least part of the status information are updated on each user terminal up to the next transmission time. In this way, emergency information can be exchanged, such as the location or speed of a motor vehicle, or even traffic information.

The receiving user terminal communicates with the vehicle in such a way as to determine its reaction, such as automatic speed reduction, or braking, or activate an alarm signal. These communications occur automatically via radio.

Although advantageous in several respects, this solution presents the problem of running without any input sent by the driver and without any real-time alert for the driver of the emergency situation that has occurred. Therefore, if a breakdown of auto-mismatch occurs due to driver's uncontrollable causes, there is no way of communicating the emergency situation.

Object of the present invention is to provide an emergency mobile signal generating device of the type suitable for land vehicles, enabling the driver to interact directly to signal the emergency situation both in transmission and in reception, having characteristics such as to overcome the limits that still affect the systems previously described with reference to the prior art.

According to the present invention an emergency mobile signal generating device is provided as defined in claim 1.

For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment, purely by way of non-limiting example, is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the schematic view of a set of buttons on a car dashboard and activating different functions, according to the prior art;

- Figure 2 is a schematic view of an emergency mobile signal generating device, according to the invention;

- Figure 3 shows a working scheme of the emergency mobile signal generating device, according to the invention .

Referring to such figures and in particular to Fig. 2, an emergency mobile signal generating device is shown, according to the invention. More in detail, the emergency mobile signal generating device 200 comprises at least one dashboard 201 comprising at least one manually activated button 202 configured to transmit an emergency or virtual "triangle" signal, hereby referred as 202T, and at least one manually activated button 203 configured to transmit signals hereby referred as 203E related to the type of emergency occurred.

The emergency mobile signal generating device 200 comprises also at least one audible emergency signaler 204, vocal activation means 205, a group of sensors and shock detectors 206, at least one transmitter-receiver group 207, a connection group 208 and a battery 209. The emergency mobile signal generating device 200 is configured to generate a sort of virtual "triangle"

replacing the "triangle" positioned by the driver of a vehicle in an emergency situation.

The buttons 202T and 203E are configured to light when the device 200 on a first vehicle is activated while the audible emergency signaler 204 on a second vehicle equipped with another passive or receiving device 200 is configured so that it can emit a tone or a voice tone increasing as the distance of the first vehicle from the second vehicle decreases .

Advantageously according to the invention, this allows the driver to communicate the emergency situation vocally and can be warned more closely by the increasing tone of the received acoustic signal.

Therefore, the emergency mobile signal generating device 200 for land vehicles can be activated vocally by means of vocal activation means 205, although in some embodiments it is contemplated that the user be automatically or manually activated via the buttons 202, 203.

Furthermore, the second button 203 may comprise a plurality of buttons, each used to signal a different type of emergency: for example 203E to signal a mechanical failure of the vehicle; 203F to signal an electronic fault of the vehicle; 203G to report an accident ...; 203H to report a health emergency; .... 203N to report an N-th cause of emergency warning.

As shown in FIG. 2, the emergency mobile signal generating device 200 is interfaced with the group 207 so that after it has been activated it can transmit radio signals, GSM, GPS, WIFI.

In fact, in the specific case that the device 200 is positioned on a first vehicle and is activated manually, the driver may decide to use only the button 202 or the button 202 together with one or more buttons that activate the signals 203E ... 203N. This type of activation is useful when the vehicle is still stationary and the driver can use his hands to press the buttons at his disposal.

Instead, if the driver cannot or does not want to use hands, he can use the voice command to launch the emergency signal .

According to another aspect of the invention, the device 200 is connected to the group 206 connected to bumper, door, body, dashboard and electrical system so that they can automatically detect the impacts of a certain intensity and malfunction of the vehicle on which the device 200 is installed. In fact, the emergency mobile signal generating device 200 automatically activates through the sensor group 206 when they detect an impact or malfunction of the vehicle. In fact, if the device 200 of a first vehicle is automatically activated through the sensors group 206, both the emergency triangle signal 202T and the signals 203E ... 203N indicating the specific emergency signal are transmitted. This type of activation is useful when the vehicle still in motion gets hit and does not require the driver to use his own hands as the vehicle is moving.

Advantageously according to the invention, the emergency mobile signal generating device 200 is always operating in a passive state, i.e. from a receiver.

Advantageously, according to the invention, upon activation, the emergency mobile signal generating device 200 transmits, by means of the transmission-receiving group 207, the emergency signal 202T and 203E ... 203N of the emergency type, in order to be able to be received from other devices 200.

In addition, the signals transmitted by the group 207 of the device 200 which may be equipped with a first vehicle have different identification codes depending on the type of information to be sent to a second vehicle also equipped with the system 200: an emergency triangle or type emergency or both. Thus, if the device 200, installed on a second receiving vehicle, intercepts the signals 202T and 203E ... .203N, the audible emergency signaler 204 emits a specific sound or voice announcement, while the corresponding buttons 202, 203 illuminate on both vehicles. Thus, virtually a virtual triangle is generated that avoids the driver from getting out of the car to signal the emergency. In addition, the type of emergency that may occur may also be indicated: mechanical failure, electrical failure, accident, etc.

According to an aspect of the invention, the emergency mobile signal generating device 200 is provided with a connection group 208 configured to be connected to the vehicle electrical system.

Advantageously according to the invention, the device

200 can be connected with the onboard instrumentation.

Advantageously according to the invention, the device 200 having its own power supply battery 209 is transportable and also applicable to other vehicles, such as bicycles.

Figure 3 shows a diagram of the operation of the emergency mobile signal generating device 200 for terrestrial vehicles, according to the invention. According to an aspect of the invention, the signals 202T and 203E ... 203N are configured to be received within a radius of about 300 meters from the transmitting station.

Therefore, the emergency mobile signal generating device according to the invention allows to send alarms and / or emergency signals in a simplified manner, specifying the type of emergency and preventing the driver from coming out of the vehicle to signal the danger.

Another advantage of the emergency mobile signal generating device according to the invention is the ability to emit such hazard signals even in road and weather conditions of poor safety or visibility for the vehicle driver and surrounding drivers .

Finally, the emergency mobile signal generating device according to the invention facilitates the perception of danger signals by drivers while driving even in distracting moments .

Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the emergency mobile signal generating device here described and illustrated without thereby leaving the protective scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.