Forward-looking radar signals alert via driver's phone

Abstract

When an automobile's risk alerting forward looking radar senses a risk, or the GPS circuit with map indicates that a zone of high risk (such as certain intersections) is being entered, this system instructs the phone to play an alert sound into any on-going telephone conversation or suspend the call so that both parties know the driver needs to pay attention.

1 . A system for use in a vehicle to reduce traffic accidents, comprising:
 (a) a forward-looking radar detector of objects in front of the vehicle; coupled to   (b) a processor that, when an object that presents a risk of accident is detected by the radar detector, sends an alert signal to a telephone of a driver of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein, when the alert signal is received by the telephone of the driver, the telephone plays an alert sound. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein, when the alert signal is received by the telephone of the driver, the telephone suspends on-going voice communications. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the alert signal is sent to the telephone via Bluetooth radio communications. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a speed determining circuit, coupled to the processor, which speed determining circuit provides input to the processor which the processor uses to assess risk. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the speed determining circuit receives speed data input from one or more sensors in the vehicle that detect speed and report detected speed to the system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a radio communications circuit coupled to the processor which radio communications circuit sends information to a remote server. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising an authenticating circuit coupled to the radio communications circuit which authenticating circuit authenticates the system via a radio network to a remote server coupled to the radio network. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  where the components are assembled into a device adapted for retrofit into a pre-existing automobile. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  where the components are built into a new vehicle as the vehicle is constructed. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a rechargeable battery power supply coupled to a solar cell that charges the battery.