Collision Control Communication's: Eliminator™

This drawing illustrates the features on the vehicle’s display (actual size is 3 ½” by 5 1/2“). The features are labeled 1 through 26. An explanation indexed by feature number follows.

(1) Collision avoidance system display reading (shows collision impending directly from the right)
(2) Audio alarm (2-position toggle switch) allows the operator to manually “silence” the intrusive audible collision alarm (particularly useful if an ambulance has a heart attack patient on board). “On” and “off” positions of this switch are visually confirmed by green “on” L.E.D. (3) and red “off” L.E.D. (4).
(3) L.E.D. lights green indicating the audio alarm toggle switch (2) is in the “on” position.
(4) L.E.D. lights red indicating the audio alarm toggle switch (2) is in the “off” position.
(5) Audio alarm volume knob is a rheostat that allows the operator to adjust the volume of the audible collision alarm. It also adjusts the volume of the female voice which audibly gives the direction of the impending collision (in this example, following the alarm, the voice will say “collision alert at three o’clock”).
(6) 2-position High/Low power switch. This switch allows the operator to change the preemption distance of affected traffic signals “on the fly”. For example, in downtown areas, you may want to only preempt traffic signals four or five blocks in front of you at a time, while at higher speeds, or in areas with heavy traffic congestion, a longer preemption distance may be desired. The preemption distance (transmitted power output) for the ‘high” and ‘low” settings can be programmed according to the city’s wishes. Each of these two settings can be preset to preempt traffic signals from as little as a few feet to one mile.
(7) L.E.D. lights green indicating the High/Low power switch is in the “High” position.
(8) L.E.D. lights green indicating the High/Low power switch is in the “Low” position.
(9) 3-position “mode” toggle switch (with L.E.D. visual confirmation next to each mode position of the toggle switch).
(10) L.E.D. lights green when the “mode” toggle switch (9) is in “smart” mode. This is the mode that would most typically be used. When in the “smart” mode, the emergency vehicle automatically preempts traffic signals when the siren or light bar is activated on the vehicle, and deactivates preemption when the vehicle arrives at the scene and its transmission is put into “park”. This allows the system the ability to discern whether the vehicle is stuck in traffic (when you still want preemption to occur) or has arrived at an accident scene (when you want preemption to be deactivated). This mode makes the operation of the device virtually “hands free” (particularly effective for use by a motorcycle officer who would not have to remove his hands from the handlebars); when in this “smart” mode, it automatically knows when to engage/disengage traffic signal preemption. Even when siren and light bar are not activated, the audio and visual collision avoidance features remain operative.
(11) L.E.D. lights green when toggle switch (9) is in this “manual” mode. When in the “manual” mode, the traffic signal preemption is constantly engaged, and both audio and visual collision avoidance features are operational. This mode may be used by an unmarked police car, for example, which desires full use of the “Eliminator’s” preemption features but does not wish to announce its presence by use of siren and/or light bar.
(12) L.E.D. lights red when in this “off” mode. In this mode, traffic signals are not preempted. Visual and audible collision alarms still remain operative (unless audio alarm toggle (2) is in the “off” position, then you get visual collision alert only).
(13) L.E.D. “status” indicator – verifies communication link with traffic signal by lighting the L.E.D. green, indicating that preemption command has been received and accepted by the traffic signal.
(14) L.E.D. “status” indicator lights red, indicating that preemption command has either not been received or not been accepted by the traffic signal (for example where a conflict with another emergency vehicle gives the other emergency vehicle preemption first). In the case of a preemption conflict where two or more emergency vehicles are attempting to preempt the same traffic signal from different directions, the traffic signal will resolve the conflict and decide which emergency vehicle will gain preemption first (based on multiple criteria, the primary one being “first come, first served”). The emergency vehicle which will be given preemption first will hear the words “preemption active” from the female voice preprogrammed inside the device, and the opposing vehicles which must wait for that vehicle to pass through the intersection first before receiving preemption, will hear the device say “preemption pending”. All vehicles will also receive collision avoidance data (both audible and visual) regarding potential collisions with all other vehicles within range.
(15) Compass calibration button. When depressed, this recessed button puts the device into “compass calibration” mode, and the compass calibration L.E.D. (16) will illuminate. To calibrate the compass, first hit the compass calibration button (15), check to make sure the compass calibration L.E.D. (16) is illuminated. While in this mode, the vehicle needs to be driven in a circle twice (e.g. in a parking lot, or driving around a block twice). Following this, hit the compass calibration button again. An easy way to determine whether or not the compass needs calibration is to park the vehicle in such a fashion that you know it is facing true north. Then hit the “compass display” button (17) and the L.E.D. in the twelve o’clock position should illuminate for roughly 3 seconds. If it is off by more than a few degrees (i.e., if a different L.E.D. illuminates), the compass should be recalibrated.
(16) Compass calibration L.E.D. This L.E.D. illuminates when the compass is in “calibration” mode.
(17) Compass Display button When depressed, this switches the circular display function from displaying impending collisions, to a compass function. When the system is switched to “compass display” mode, the compass display L.E.D. (18) illuminates. In this function the device can be used as a compass to show what direction is north. The system automatically reverts to the collision avoidance display after 3 seconds.
(18) Compass display L.E.D. This L.E.D. illluminates when the display is in “compass display” mode. The system will automatically revert from this mode back to displaying collisions after about 3 seconds.
(19) Reset button Resets the processor
(20) System fault L.E.D. This L.E.D. illuminates to show a fault following a self check of the system software. When this light illuminates, the system needs to be returned to CCC, Inc. to determine the issue.
(21) Aperture for ambient light sensor. The ambient light sensor determines the amount of ambient light in the vehicle. At night (when ambient light is decreased), the system display L.E.D.s automatically dim.
(22) Light Bar sensor L.E.D. Illuminates when the system senses that the light bar is on.
(23) Parking Brake/transmission status sensor L.E.D. Illuminates when the parking brake is set or when the transmission is set to Park or Neutral
(24) Heart Beat L.E.D. Flashes ON/OFF once per second to indicate that the microcontroller is operating normally
(25) Transmission (Tx) Active L.E.D. Lights whenever data is being written to the 900MHz and/or 2.4 GHz transmitters. It will not light if the Remote Vehicle RF module is not connected.
(26) Receive (Rx) Active L.E.D. Lights whenever data is being read from the 900MHz and/or 2.4 GHz receivers. It will not light if the Remote Vehicle RF module is not connected.