Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

Abstract

A communication system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a parameter correlated to the speed of the vehicle, an acceleration monitoring system, a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle, an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, and a control device. The acceleration monitoring system is configured to compute the acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the parameter of the periodic function of the vehicle speed sensor and to output a deceleration status of the vehicle. The control device is coupled to the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the alerting device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A device for a vehicle comprising:
 a. an accelerometer-gyroscope; and   b. a vehicle computer unit,   wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope sends a signal to the vehicle computer unit and the vehicle computer unit compares the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope to a baseline engine performance data and the vehicle computer unit performs an operation based on the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope and the baseline engine performance data.   
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42  wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope senses an absolute acceleration of the vehicle. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope senses an absolute vertical acceleration of the vehicle. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope senses an absolute longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope senses an absolute lateral acceleration of the vehicle. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 42  wherein the vehicle computer unit performs a self-correct operation based on the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope and the baseline engine performance data. 
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 47  wherein the self-correct operation matches the baseline engine performance data. 
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 42  wherein the vehicle computer unit issues a warning through the warning system based on the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope and the baseline engine performance data. 
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 49  wherein the warning is a vehicle performance warning. 
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 42  wherein the device is installed within the vehicle as an aftermarket add-on. 
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 42  wherein the device is installed within the vehicle at a factory. 
     
     
         53 . A system for monitoring and controlling one or more performance characteristics of a vehicle comprising:
 a. an accelerometer-gyroscope for sensing an absolute acceleration of the vehicle;   b. a vehicle computer unit that receives a signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope based upon the absolute acceleration of the vehicle,   wherein the vehicle computer unit compares the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope to a baseline engine performance data and the vehicle computer unit performs an operation based on the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope and the baseline engine performance data.   
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope senses an absolute vertical acceleration of the vehicle. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope senses an absolute longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the accelerometer-gyroscope senses an absolute lateral acceleration of the vehicle. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the vehicle computer unit performs a self-correct operation based on the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope and the baseline engine performance data. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57  wherein the self-correct operation matches the baseline engine performance data. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the vehicle computer unit issues a warning through a warning system based on the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope and the baseline engine performance data. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 59  wherein the warning is a vehicle performance warning. warning. 
     
     
         61 . The system of of  claim 53  wherein the system is installed within the vehicle as an aftermarket add-on. 
     
     
         62 . The system of of  claim 53  wherein the system is installed within the vehicle at a factory. 
     
     
         63 . A method of monitoring and controlling one or more performance characteristics of a vehicle comprising, comprising:
 a. sensing an absolute acceleration of the vehicle at the vehicle;   b. sending a signal to a vehicle computer unit based upon the absolute acceleration of the vehicle; and   c. comparing the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope to a baseline engine performance data and the vehicle computer unit performs an operation based on the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope and the baseline engine performance data.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63  further comprising sensing a vertical acceleration of the vehicle. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63  further comprising sensing an absolute longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 63  further comprising sensing an absolute lateral acceleration of the vehicle. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the vehicle computer unit performs a self-correct operation based on the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope and the baseline engine performance data. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the self-correct operation matches the baseline engine performance data. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the vehicle computer unit issues a warning through a warning system based on the signal from the accelerometer-gyroscope and the baseline engine performance data. 
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 69  wherein the warning is a vehicle performance warning. warning.