Alert attenuator and method for managing alerts
A vehicle alert management system that manages alert lights and tones in accordance with vehicle speed and other inputs is described. The vehicle alert management system is configured so that in use the alert management system attenuates an alert lamp or click or tone after a selected time interval if the system detects that vehicle speed is below a selected speed or within a selected threshold, or if the system detects no change outside a threshold speed range, or other suitable speed algorithm. The system in embodiments is configured to attenuate the in-vehicle cabin sound associated with a direction indicator on a vehicle so that it is inhibited after a selected time period, and allowed to play in the cabin after the vehicle speed moves out of a selected threshold range.
1 . A vehicle alert management system that manages an actuated vehicle alert comprising a signal or alarm; the system comprising:
a computer processor;
one or more data inputs to the computer processor relating to a user actuator for a vehicle operation;
one or more data inputs to the computer processor relating to a speed sensor;
one or more data inputs to the computer processor from a timer or an internal timer; and
a data output to a light actuator, sound amplifier or sound system or speaker that causes the signal or alarm;
the computer processor being configured to transmit an inhibiting command from the data output to the light actuator, the sound amplifier, or the sound system, or the speaker to inhibit the signal or alarm if the processor receives data relating to the speed sensor and timer that vehicle speed has been below a selected threshold for a selected period of time, or if the computer processor calculates that speed data from the speed sensor has been within a selected threshold speed range over a selected period of time,
wherein the inhibiting command corresponds to the signal or alarm, and
wherein the inhibiting command is generated only after the corresponding alert or signal has been activated, without requiring a change in the condition that originally triggered the signal or alarm.
2 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to send a pass-through command to the light actuator, sound system, sound amplifier, or speaker if a further data signal is received from another signal actuator.
3 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to send a pass-through command to the sound system or speaker or amplifier if the computer processor calculates that the speed data from the speed sensor is outside the selected threshold speed range.
4 . The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the computer processor is further configured to send a pass-through command to the sound system or speaker or amplifier if the computer processor calculates that the inhibiting command has been inhibiting the sound for more than a selected time period.
5 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to receive data from a speedometer or an onboard GPS to inform the decision relating to sound inhibiting by the computer processor.
6 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the computer processor receives data from a brake pedal sensor, steering wheel sensor, accelerator sensor, or an onboard compass or onboard gyroscope, to calculate whether a vehicle action has been taken to inform the sound inhibiting command decision.
7 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the data inputs are from an OBD (on board diagnostic) system or onboard management module via a plug or network module.
8 . The system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the data inputs are via a wireless or wired network module which is connected directly or indirectly to the OBD plug or onboard vehicle management module.
9 . The system in accordance with claim 8 , further comprising a network module for communication with the OBD or onboard vehicle management module.
10 . The system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to perform a step of attenuating, increasing or muting the selected alert after a selected number of dings, tocks, ticks, beeps, clangs, or other sound events.
11 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising an OBD or onboard management module interface plug or socket.
12 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to monitor:
alert tone noise with a microphone.
13 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:
recording in the computer processor a length of time that a selected alert has been in operation.
14 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to transmit
attenuation commands to an amplifier to decrease and/or mute the noise from the sound amplifier, after about 5 seconds, or about 10 seconds, or about 15 seconds, or about 20 seconds, or about 30 seconds.
15 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to receive data from a microphone to record a number of repetitive noise events, the repetitive noise events selected from a tick, beep, tock, dong, and a clang.
16 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to perform steps of:
recording in a processor a time of alert commencement;
commencing in a processor a timer from the time of alert receipt;
silencing by use of a processor module the alert for a selected period of time;
recording and assessing in a processor module the speed of the vehicle; and then
increasing the volume of the alert after the selected period of time or after a threshold speed range has been exceeded.
17 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to perform a step of assigning a weight to selected alerts for use in an alert prioritisation algorithm.
18 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a threshold speed variation to cause the processor to take action to inhibit the cabin light or sound signal is within a difference of 10 km/h, or 1 km/h, 2 km/h, 3 km/h, 4 km/h, 5 km/h, 15 km/h, 20 km/h, 25 km/h, 30 km/h, 35 km/h, 40 km/h, 50 km/h, 60 km/h.
19 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a threshold speed range to cause the computer processor to take action to inhibit the cabin light or sound signal, is inside the range of 0-10 km/h, or 10-20 km/h, or 20-30 km/h, or 30-40 km/h, or 40-50 km/h, or 50-60 km/h.
20 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the vehicle speed is detected as below 10 km/h for at least 5 or at least 10 seconds.