United States Patent [19]
`Okada et al.
`
`[n] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,166,656
`Dec. 26, 2000
`
`[54] EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR
`AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Tsuyoshi Okada; Takumi Ajima, both
`of Kanagawa, Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
`Ltd., Osaka, Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 09/401,001
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Sep. 21, 1999
`
`[30]
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Sep. 21, 1998
`
`[JP]
`
`Japan
`
` 10-283610
`
`[51] Int. C1.7
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`
` GO8G 1/00
` 340/901; 340/573.1; 340/825.36;
`342/457
` 340/539, 573.1,
`[58] Field of Search
`340/471, 425.5, 426, 825.36, 825.49; 379/37,
`38; 342/457
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`7/1974 Messmer et al.
`3,823,384
`1/1988 Murakami
`4,717,904
`6/1993 Mansell et al.
`5,223,844
`8/1994 Simms et al.
`5,334,974
`5/1996 Garrett, Sr. et al.
`5,515,285
`5,570,087 10/1996 Lemelson
`
` 340/84
` 340/52 H
` 342/357
` 340/990
` 364/460
` 340/870.05
`
`5,576,952 11/1996 Stutman et al.
`5,757,284
`5/1998 Trizzino et al.
`5,808,564
`9/1998 Simms et al.
`5,960,337
`9/1999 Brewster et al.
`
`364/413.02
`340/902
`340/990
`455/404
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`06-028590
`08-124069
`09-198592
`
`2/1994
`5/1996
`7/1997
`
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`
`Primary Examiner—Daniel J. Wu
`Assistant Examiner—Phung Nguyen
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Ratner & Prestia
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An emergency assistance system for summoning first-aid
`assistance of persons and vehicles within the vicinity of a
`person involved in an automobile accident, while also mak-
`ing an emergency call to rescue and police authorities. An
`accident alarm is provided for announcing the occurrence of
`an accident to vehicles and persons in the vicinity of an
`accident in order to seek their help and to prevent a sec-
`ondary disaster. In addition, first-aid equipment is provided
`to give first-aid treatment, for example, to maintain body
`temperature and restoration consciousness to prolong life of
`an injured person. In a automobile accident, an emergency
`measure is taken by the emergency equipment provided in
`the accident vehicle, such as notification of the occurrence
`of the accident and the need for medical assistance.
`
`19 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`f
`
`Vehicle location
`estimator
`
`Id Accident
`
`etector
`
`\_ 2
`
`3
`
`External
`communicator
`
`Accident
`alarm
`
`4
`
`Occurrence of accident,
`vehicle location,
`time of accident etc,
`
`Occurrence of accident
`
`Person injury
`detector
`
`k_ 5
`
`First aid equipment
`
`6
`
`FORD EX. 1026, p. 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`6,166,656
`
`Vehicle location
`estimator
`
`Accident
`detector
`
`FIG. 1
`3
`
`External
`communicator
`
`Accident
`alarm
`
`4
`
`Occurrence of accident,
`vehicle location,
`time of accident etc,
`■
`Occurrence of accident
`
`1
`
`FIG. 2
`3
`
`Vehicle location
`estimator
`
`r 1
`A
`
`External
`communicator
`
`Id
`
`Accident
`etector
`
`k. 2
`
`Person injury
`detector
`
`k_ 5
`
`Accident
`alarm
`
`4
`
`First aid equipment
`
`l" 6
`
`Occurrence of accident,
`vehicle location,
`time of accident etc,
`
`Occurrence of accident
`
`FORD EX. 1026, p. 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 26,2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`6,166,656
`
`FIG. 3A Hazard lamp flashing
`
`111111111111
`1
`
`I
`
`FIG. 3B
`
`Normal car stop
`
`Light-ON
`
`Light-OFF
`
`FIG. 3C Emergency
`Light-ON
`
`Light-OFF
`
`Time
`
`Time
`
`FORD EX. 1026, p. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`6,166,656
`
`FIG. 4A Hazard lamp ON
`
`4
`
`AMA
`
`V
`
`FIG. 4B Brake lamp ON
`
`;I
`
`FORD EX. 1026, p. 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`6,166,656
`
`FIG. 5
`
`8 Person injury
`detector
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`9 First aid equipment
`
`-
`
`•
`
`•
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`•
`
`.
`
`•
`
`•
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`•
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`7 Seat
`
`FORD EX. 1026, p. 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`6,166,656
`
`FIG. 6
`
`1: 21\ -------- 9 First aid equipment
`/ I \
`(Voice)
`
`9
`First aid equipment
`(Lighting)
`
`• . ' . • . • .
`
`8 Person injury
`detector
`
`' . • . ' . • . • . '
`
`7 Seat
`
`FIG. 7
`
`L7
`
`9 First aid equipment
`
`8 Person injury
`detector
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`a
`
`•
`
`7 Seat
`
`FORD EX. 1026, p. 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`6,166,656
`
`FIG. 8
`3
`
`I
`
`communicator
`
`/ External
`
`1
`1
`Vehicle location
`estimator
`
`Accident
`detector
`
`2
`
`occurrence of accident,
`vehicle location
`Time of accident etc,
`
`FORD EX. 1026, p. 7
`
`

`

`1
`EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR
`AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`6,166,656
`
`2
`to ask for help from nearby persons by publicly announcing
`the occurrence of an accident as soon as possible, or to apply
`first-aid treatment to prolong life until the rescue squad
`arrives.
`
`The present invention relates to the field of emergency
`assistance system (hereinafter referred as emergency
`equipment) for automobile accidents, and more particularly
`to emergency equipment for saving the lives of drivers or the
`passengers (hereinafter referred as persons) and minimizing
`injury after the occurrence of accidents such as collisions.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`A number of convent ional invention s related too emer-
`gency equipment for use in the case of automobile accidents
`are disclosed, including Japanese Laid-open Patents Nos.
`H9-198592, H6-28590, and H8-124069.
`An emergency equipment of the prior art for use in the
`case of automobile accidents is described next with refer-
`ence to a drawing. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the
`conventional emergency equipment for use in the case of
`automobile accidents. In FIG. 8, a vehicle location estimator
`1 identifies the direction by integrating a gyro output, and its
`accumulated distance by integrating the output of the vehicle
`velocity pulse, while correcting its absolute position using a
`GPS (Global Positioning System), for example. The GPS
`identifies an absolute signal receiving position based on
`information transmitted from satellites. The present position
`of the vehicle is then calculated by finding the travel
`trajectory based on the direction and accumulated distance
`information. The vehicle's actual position may be more
`accurately identified by collating the current vehicle position
`or trajectory with map data stored typically on a CD-ROM
`or DVD.
`An accident detector 2 is a device for recognizing whether
`an accident has occurred by means of either manual opera-
`tion or detection of specific abnormalities in the car using an
`onboard sensor. For manual operation, one example is to
`provide a button for initiating the accident detector 2 near
`the driver's or the passenger's seat. The occurrence of an
`accident may also be detected by providing an acceleration
`sensor for detecting an impact of collision or a roll sensor for
`detecting overturning (by detecting the rolling of a small
`object inside, or using a gyroscope), and detecting any
`change in its output.
`An external communicator 3 transmits information to
`prescribed addresses typically using a modem and mobile
`phone when the accident detector 2 detects the accident.
`Information communicated may include the vehicle owner,
`accident time, and the present position identified by the
`vehicle location estimator 1. Probable prescribed addresses
`may include a district police station or fire station for
`notifying the occurrence of an accident, and a rescue asso-
`ciation if there is any damage to the vehicle.
`Using the above configuration, any abnormalities such as
`accidents are promptly notified to prescribed addresses so
`that emergency situations such as vehicle breakdown or
`injury of the passengers due to an automobile accident can
`be promptly informed to the relevant external organizations.
`With the above configuration of conventional emergency
`equipment for use in the case of automobile accidents,
`however, insufficient measures are provided with respect to
`the rescue or prolongation of the life of the persons in the
`vehicle, since the conventional equipment merely transmits
`information to the prescribed addresses.
`In many automobile accidents, life is in danger even while
`the emergency is being reported. It may be further necessary
`
`5
`
`0
`
`5
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is for providing an injured person
`with first-aid or life-prolonging treatment and prolong life
`by detecting the degree of injury.
`The emergency equipment of the present invention is for
`use in automobile accidents and includes an accident alarm
`to alert persons and vehicles in the vicinity of an accident
`site. With this configuration, nearby vehicles and persons are
`notified of the occurrence of the accident and an injured
`person can receive immediate attention and ask for help.
`The present invention is also equipped with an person
`injury detector for detecting the degree of injury and a
`first-aid equipment for giving an injured person first-aid and
`life-prolonging treatment based on the results of the person
`injury detector. This configuration enables to detect the
`degree of injury of the person, and give the person first-aid
`and life prolonging treatment.
`As described above, the emergency equipment for use in
`the case of automobile accidents of the present invention
`25 comprises the vehicle location estimator for estimating a
`vehicle position, accident detector for detecting the accident
`by person's manual operation or onboard sensor, external
`communicator for informing of the accident and the driver's
`health condition to emergency response organizations such
`30 as a police station and fire station, and an accident alarm for
`the surrounding area to announce to the surrounding
`vehicles and pedestrians that an accident has occurred so as
`to get their attention and ask for help. This configuration
`enables the notification to prescribed addresses and the
`35 calling of the immediate attention of vehicles and pedestri-
`ans near the accident site. A victim of the accident may also
`be rescued promptly.
`Since the present invention is equipped with the person
`injury detector for detecting the degree of injury of the
`40 person and the first-aid equipment for applying first-aid or
`life-prolonging treatment to the person based on information
`from the person injury detector, active life-prolonging mea-
`sures may be applied after confirming the injury suffered by
`the person. This enables the increasing of the survival rate of
`45 any injured persons.
`The accident alarm for the surrounding area is configured
`to flash the hazard lamps in a faster cycle than normal car
`parking based on driver's instruction so that the surrounding
`vehicles and pedestrians are notified immediately of an
`so emergency situation due to an accident. This enables to
`notify surrounding people immediately of a vehicle in a
`trouble due to an accident or other problems.
`The accident alarm for the surrounding area further turns
`on the hazard lamps and brake lamps alternately or the
`55 hazard lamps and head lamps alternately so that the sur-
`rounding vehicles and pedestrians are notified immediately
`of an emergency situation due to an accident. This enables
`to notify surrounding people immediately of a vehicle in a
`trouble due to an accident or other problems.
`The accident alarm for the surrounding area further turns
`on the hazard lamps or brake lamps mounted on both sides
`of the car alternately, such as right lamp, left lamp, and then
`right lamp again; so that the surrounding vehicles and
`pedestrians are notified immediately of an emergency situ-
`65 ation due to accident. This enables to notify surrounding
`people immediately of a vehicle in a trouble due to an
`accident or other problems.
`
`0
`2
`
`60
`
`FORD EX. 1026, p. 8
`
`

`

`6,166,656
`
`3
`The accident alarm for the surrounding area is further a
`small broadcasting equipment for locally transmitting infor-
`mation to notify unspecified third party nearby of accident
`information including an accident site location and accident
`occurrence time, so that the surrounding vehicles and pedes-
`trians are notified immediately of an emergency situation
`due to accident. This enables the informing of surrounding
`vehicles and residents who cannot directly look at the site of
`the accident or any problem, and catch their attention to ask
`for help.
`The person injury detector in the present invention has a
`detector embedded in the person's seat for measuring the
`person's body temperature, blood pressure, or pulse, and
`recognizing the person's condition from changes in body
`temperature, blood pressure, or pulse. This makes it possible
`to obtain a range of data related to the person's condition
`simply by having the person contacting the seat without
`requiring any specific operation of the person.
`The first-aid equipment turns on the heater embedded
`under the person's seat to suppress drop in body temperature
`as much as possible in response to recognition of injury to
`the person based on drop in body temperature, blood
`pressure, or pulse detected by the person injury detector.
`This delay weakening caused by lowering body temperature
`of the injured person in danger of death, and prolongs life by
`maintaining physical strength as much as possible.
`The first-aid equipment further tries to bring back the
`weakening person, due to fainting, to full consciousness by
`means of voice encouragement or a blinking light in
`response to the recognition of damage to the person based on
`drop in body temperature, blood pressure, or pulse. This
`enables to restore full consciousness of the injured person in
`danger of death, and encourage the person as much as
`possible to prolong life.
`The first-aid equipment further explains the first-aid pro-
`cedures to the person by voice and images. This calms down
`the person even if a person is in a state of panic due to the
`sudden accident and resultant injury, allowing first-aid treat-
`ment to be promptly self-administered.
`The first-aid equipment still further detects the condition
`of the damaged car and surrounding area to give instructions
`for refuge, guidance, and emergency measures as well as
`information on the condition of the person to allow a person
`to be given first-aid treatment. This enables to give first-aid
`in a broader sense including refuge and emergency mea-
`sures.
`The first-aid equipment still further determines whether
`the car is on ordinary road or freeway based on information
`from the car navigation system, and informs the person
`suitable for each type of road. This enables the application
`of more appropriate emergency instructions in accordance
`with the characteristics of each type of road and the degree
`of danger.
`The person injury detector is further equipped with a
`conversation equipment or interactive information input
`device in order to obtain information directly from the
`person as well as that from the person injury detector. The
`first-aid equipment can give appropriate first-aid instructions
`to the person based on the injury recognition result of the
`person injury detector. By obtaining information directly
`from the persons after calming them if they are upset due to
`the sudden accident, or by making the persons treat
`themselves, appropriate first-aid treatment may be given
`promptly.
`The accident alarm for the surrounding area further auto-
`matically honks the horn intermittently for long time so that
`
`4
`surrounding vehicles and pedestrians are immediately
`informed of an emergency situation due to an accident. This
`enables to notify the surrounding people of the car in the
`accident or in trouble by hearing continuous horn sound and
`5 changes which normally does not happen.
`The accident alarm for the surrounding area further auto-
`matically sounds the horn when receiving signals from the
`emergency vehicle such as an ambulance. This enables
`emergency vehicles such as an ambulance to find the car
`10 involved sooner, reducing the time taken for rescue.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`5
`
`20
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of emergency equipment for use
`in the case of automobile accidents in accordance with a first
`exemplary embodiment in the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of emergency equipment for use
`in the case of automobile accidents in accordance with a
`second exemplary embodiment in the present invention.
`FIGS. 3(a) to 3(c) illustrate an accident alarm for the
`surrounding area of an emergency equipment for use in the
`case of automobile accidents in accordance with a third
`exemplary embodiment in the present invention.
`FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate an accident alarm for the
`25 surrounding area of an emergency equipment for use in the
`case of automobile accidents in accordance with a fourth
`exemplary embodiment in the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is an person injury detector of an emergency
`equipment for use in the case of automobile accidents in
`accordance with a seventh exemplary embodiment, and a
`first-aid equipment of an emergency equipment for use in the
`case of automobile accidents in accordance with an eighth
`exemplary embodiment.
`FIG. 6 is first-aid equipment of emergency equipment for
`use in the case of automobile accidents in accordance with
`a ninth exemplary embodiment.
`FIG. 7 is first-aid equipment of emergency equipment for
`use in the case of automobile accidents in accordance with
`40 a tenth exemplary embodiment.
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram of emergency equipment for use
`in the case of automobile accidents of the prior art.
`
`3 0
`
`35
`
`45
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are
`described below in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.
`
`First exemplary embodiment
`
`50
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an emergency equipment for
`use in the case of automobile accidents in accordance with
`a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The
`emergency equipment in the first exemplary embodiment, as
`55 shown in FIG. 1, comprises a vehicle location estimator 1
`based on a location system such as GPS, an accident detector
`2 such as an acceleration sensor, an external communicator
`3 such as a mobile phone, and an accident alarm for the
`surrounding area 4. Since the operation of the vehicle
`60 location estimator 1, accident detector 2, and external com-
`municator 3 are the same as that of the prior art, their
`description is omitted here.
`In the case of automobile accidents, a person may be
`injured and in danger of death. In such a situation, it is
`65 necessary to call immediately for rescue to the maximum
`extent possible, including the surrounding area, as well as
`calling prescribed emergency numbers such as the closest
`
`FORD EX. 1026, p. 9
`
`

`

`6,166,656
`
`5
`police station. In addition, to prevent secondary disaster, it
`is preferable to catch the immediate attention of anyone in
`the surrounding area to the occurrence of accident.
`In the first exemplary embodiment, the external commu-
`nicator 3 notifies prescribed addresses, and at the same time
`the accident alarm 4 notifies nearby vehicles and pedestrians
`of the occurrence of some breakdown or accident. More
`specifically, a red lamp and reflector are mounted in advance
`on the inside surface of the trunk hatch. If an accident
`occurs, drivers in cars behind are notified of a problem by
`the opening of the trunk, and turning on the red lamp. There
`are still other ways as described later.
`As described above, the emergency equipment in the first
`exemplary embodiment of the present invention is equipped
`with the vehicle location estimator, accident detector such as
`a sensor, external communicator such as a mobile phone,
`and accident alarm for the surrounding area such as a hazard
`lamp. This enables the notification of prescribed addresses
`and immediately alerts drivers in surrounding vehicles and
`pedestrians. As a result, the victim of the accident may be
`rescued promptly.
`Second exemplary embodiment
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an emergency equipment for
`use in the case of automobile accidents in a second exem-
`plary embodiment of the present invention. The second
`exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises
`the vehicle location estimator 1 such as a GPS, accident
`detector 2 such as a sensor, external communicator 3 such as
`a mobile phone, accident alarm 4 such as a hazard lamp, an
`person injury detector 5, and first-aid equipment 6.
`Since the operation of the vehicle location estimator 1,
`accident detector 2, external communicator 3, and accident
`alarm 4 have been discussed, their description is omitted
`here.
`When the accident detector 2 detects the occurrence of an
`accident, the person injury detector 5 collects the health
`check data of the person in order to confirm the safety of the
`person. The health check data may include blood pressure,
`pulse, body temperature, dilation of pupils, and physical
`injury. More specifically, blood pressure, pulse, and body
`temperature after the accident may be measured by insertion
`of the finger into a tube sensor already installed in the car.
`Physical injury may be confirmed by installing a camera on
`board to visually identify a person's condition.
`The first-aid equipment 6 may apply measures to prolong
`life of an injured person based on the information collected
`by the person injury detector 5. For example, the first-aid
`equipment 6 may increase the temperature inside the car if
`it determines that the person is in danger as a result of a drop
`in body temperature. Other forms of first-aid may include
`automated providing of an oxygen inhalator or a styptic.
`The person's health check data obtained by the person
`injury detector 5 is also sent to a fire station and ambulance
`on its way to the accident site, through the external com-
`municator 3. This will enable identification of the degree of
`damage and preparation of appropriate remedies.
`As described above, the second exemplary embodiment
`comprises the vehicle location estimator, accident detector,
`external communicator, accident alarm for the surrounding
`area, person injury detector, and first-aid equipment. This
`configuration provides for attracting the attention of emer-
`gency parties and vehicles and pedestrians surrounding the
`accident site. Furthermore, active life-prolonging measures
`may be applied after confirming the injury suffered by the
`persons while requesting rescue of an injured person. This
`enables the increasing of the survival rate of any injured
`persons.
`
`6
`Third exemplary embodiment
`
`5
`
`FIGS. 3(a) to (c) show the accident alarm for the sur-
`rounding area 4 employed in an emergency equipment for
`use in the case of automobile accidents in a third exemplary
`embodiment of the present invention.
`In the third exemplary embodiment, hazard lamps are
`flashed at a rate faster than the normal flashing cycle.
`FIG. 3(a) illustrates the lighting of the hazard lamps as the
`10 accident alarm 4 in the third exemplary embodiment of the
`present invention. FIG. 3(b) is a timing chart for turning on
`the hazard lamps when the hazard lamps are used in non-
`emergency situations such as when the car stops. The x-axis
`represents elapse of time for turning on the hazard lamps.
`is FIG. 3(c) is a timing chart for turning on the hazard lamps
`when the accident alarm for the surrounding area 4 is
`activated by the occurrence of an accident.
`As shown in FIG. 3(a), the accident alarm 4 of the
`emergency equipment in the third exemplary embodiment
`20 notifies surrounding vehicles and pedestrians of an emer-
`gency situation due to the occurrence of an accident by
`flashing the hazard lamps. However, a driver may flash the
`hazard lamps during normal parking. If the flashing condi-
`tion is identical, people will not be able to differentiate
`25 between emergency and non-emergency situations.
`Accordingly, the accident alarm in the third exemplary
`embodiment flashes the hazard lamps in a faster cycle than
`normal flashing in emergency situations, as shown in FIG.
`3(c), in order to inform surrounding vehicles and pedestrians
`30 of emergency due to an accident.
`As described above, in the third exemplary embodiment,
`the accident alarm for the surrounding area 4 flashes the
`hazard lamps in a faster cycle than normal flashing so that
`people in the vicinity are notified immediately of a vehicle
`35 in a trouble due to an accident or other problems without
`regarding the sign as of no importance.
`
`Fourth exemplary embodiment
`
`4 0
`
`FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show the accident alarm for the
`surrounding area 4 employed in an emergency equipment
`for use in the case of automobile accidents in a fourth
`exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
`In the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present
`45 invention, the emergency equipment for use in the case of
`automobile accidents turns on the hazard lamps and brake
`lamps alternately or the hazard lamps and head lamps
`alternately. FIG. 4(a) illustrates the case of turning on the
`hazard lamps as the accident alarm 4 in the fourth exemplary
`50 embodiment. FIG. 4(b) illustrates the case of turning on the
`brake lamps according to other timings as the operation of
`the same accident alarm 4.
`The accident alarm 4 of the emergency equipment in the
`fourth exemplary embodiment notifies particularly the cars
`55 and pedestrians behind the automobile accident or other
`problem by alternately flashing the hazard lamps and brake
`lamps. Under normal conditions, this type of flashing never
`occurs. Accordingly, surrounding vehicles and pedestrians
`will immediately be alerted to the abnormal situation.
`The fourth exemplary embodiment describes the case of
`using the brake lamps. By the use of the head lamps and
`hazard lamp, the same information may be notified to those
`in front of the vehicle involved.
`As described above, in the fourth exemplary embodiment,
`65 the accident alarm for the surrounding area 4 alternately
`turns on the hazard lamps and brake lamps, or the hazard
`lamps and head lamps in order to ensure that the surrounding
`
`60
`
`FORD EX. 1026, p. 10
`
`

`

`6,166,656
`
`7
`people is notified immediately of a vehicle in a trouble due
`to an accident or other problems without regarding the sign
`as of no importance.
`
`Fifth exemplary embodiment
`
`The accident alarm for the surrounding area 4 employed
`in an emergency equipment for use in the case of automobile
`accidents in a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present
`invention alternately turns on and off left and right hazard
`lamps, brake lamps, or head lamps mounted on both sides of
`the car so as to inform surrounding vehicles and pedestrians
`of an emergency due to an accident. Since this phenomenon
`never occurs under normal conditions, this 'winking,' if a
`pair of lamps are compared to human eyes, catches the
`attention of the surrounding people. Moreover, if the smog
`lamps are employed instead of the head lamps, attention may
`be attracted even under low visibility conditions such as in
`fog.
`As described above, the fifth exemplary embodiment of
`the present invention alternately turns on and off the hazard
`lamps or brake lamps on the left and right. The blinking
`combination which never occurs under normal conditions
`enables to notify the surrounding people of the accident or
`problem of the car involved.
`
`Sixth exemplary embodiment
`
`The accident alarm for the surrounding area 4 employed
`in an emergency equipment for use in the case of automobile
`accidents in a sixth exemplary embodiment is a small
`broadcasting equipment for locally transmitting radio waves
`around an accident site. For example, the occurrence of an
`accident is automatically broadcast on a mini FM broad-
`casting station around the accident site. By transmitting
`information on a normal multiplex broadcast such as a FM
`multiplex broadcast, emergency information may be broad-
`cast without interfering with normal programming.
`Naturally, this emergency information is ineffective unless
`nearby receivers are tuned to this particular frequency.
`Another way is to receive always an applicable frequency
`using equipment on the road, which identify an accident site
`and time when receiving an emergency broadcast, and notify
`it to nearby vehicles and pedestrians.
`As described above, the sixth exemplary embodiment
`employs a small radio transmitter for broadcasting accident
`information including the accident location and time of
`occurrence to unspecified people nearby. This enables the
`informing of surrounding vehicles and residents who cannot
`directly look at the site of the accident or any problem, i.e.,
`not in a normal state, and catch their attention to ask for help.
`
`Seventh exemplary embodiment
`
`8
`sured with a thermometer. Pulse may be measured by
`detecting and counting minute vibration changes in the
`blood flow in the back contacting the seat 7. Blood pressure
`may also be estimated from the amplitude of the minute
`5 vibration changes. (It may also be measured from the change
`relative to that in the normal state.)
`The condition of the person is identifiable from the
`changes in detected body temperature, blood pressure, or
`pulse. For example, as a person weakens, body temperature,
`1° blood pressure, and pulse decreases. Accordingly, it may be
`determined whether the person is still strong, slightly
`weakened, or in critical condition.
`As described above, in the seventh exemplary
`embodiment, the detector embedded in the person's seat
`15 measures the person's body temperature, blood pressure, or
`pulse for recognizing the person's condition from changes in
`body temperature, blood pressure, or pulse. This makes it
`possible to obtain a range of data related to the person's
`condition simply by having the person contacting the seat
`20 without requiring any specific operation of the person.
`
`Eighth exemplary embodiment
`
`An emergency equipment for use in the case of automo-
`25 bile accidents in an eighth exemplary embodiment of the
`present invention activates a heater embedded in the seat of
`the person in response to recognition of damage to the
`person based on drop in body temperature, blood pressure,
`or pulse detected by the person injury detector 8.
`30 As shown in FIG. 5, when the person injury detector 8
`detects injury to the person based on drop in body
`temperature, blood pressure, or pulse and sends such infor-
`mation to the first-aid equipment 9, the first-aid equipment
`9 employed in the emergency equipment in the eighth
`35 exemplary embodiment activates the heater embedded in the
`persons' seat to warm the person from the back so as to
`suppress any drop in body temperature. The entire car
`interior could be warmed; however, the engine often stops
`after the accident, and to turn on the engine when it is
`40 severely damaged may be dangerous. The heater therefore
`needs to be operated using the car battery or an emergency
`auxiliary battery. Accordingly, the heating of the person
`locally would be more effective than warming of the entire
`car interior.
`45 As described above, in the eighth exemplary embodiment,
`the heater embedded under the person's seat is turned on in
`response to recognition of injury to the person based on drop
`in body temperature, blood pressure, or pulse detected by the
`person injury detector 8. This delays weakening caused by
`50 lowering body temperature of the injured person in danger
`of death, and prolongs life by maintaining physical strength
`as much as possible.
`
`FIG. 5 illustrates a person injury detector 8 and first-aid
`equipment 9 employed in an emergency equipment for use
`in the case of automobile accidents in a seventh exemplary
`embodiment of the present invention.
`In the seventh exemplary embodiment of the present
`invention, a detector embedded in the person's seat mea-
`sures the person's body temperature, blood pressure, or
`pulse so as to recognize the condition of the person from any
`changes in body temperature, blood pressure, or pulse.
`In FIG. 5, the person injury detector 8 employed in the
`emergency equipment in the seventh exemplary embodi-
`ment measures the person's body temperature, blood
`pressure, or pulse with the detector embedded in a seat 7 of
`the person. For example, body temperature may be mea-
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Ninth exemplary embodiment
`
`FIG. 6 is the first-aid equipment 9 employed in an
`emergency equipment for use in the case of automobile
`accidents in a ninth exemplary embodiment of the present
`invention.
`The emergency equipment in the ninth exemplary
`embodiment helps awaken the consciousness of the person
`through voice encouragement or a