Patent · US Expired

Automobile erratic behavior monitoring apparatus

US5719554A · kind A · utility

71Cited by
8References
18Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 24, 1997
Grant dateFeb 17, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 24, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R16/0232
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A driving behavior monitoring system mountable within a vehicle and having a board member on which are mounted first and second accelerometer devices for measuring acceleration in mutually orthogonal directions. Each accelerometer device includes an arm member in the form of a generally L-shaped crank or elbow. The crank is pivotable at the elbow joint thereof, and one arm of the crank is provided with a weight at the end thereof with the other arm having the free end thereof attached to one end of a tension spring, the other end of which is fixedly attached to the board member. A pair of electrical switch contacts are positioned in spaced relation on either side of the spring, with each contact being placed at approximately the same distance from the axial centerline of the spring. Movement of the weight translates to deflection of the spring in a direction orthogonal to its axis. The spring is in circuit relation with a suitable power source and upon deflection of the spring, contact of the spring is made with one of the switch contacts, each of which is connected to its own terminal of electrical circuitry which records the closures. The circuitry includes a keypad, a segmented …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.