Method and apparatus for controlling auxiliary lighting using a vehicle electric plug
First Claim
1. An auxiliary apparatus for use with an associated vehicle having:
- a vehicle light that is designed to illuminate a ground surface in front of the vehicle; and
, an electric plug, the auxiliary apparatus comprising;
an auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement that;
is removably mountable to the vehicle; and
, obscures light from the vehicle light when mounted to the vehicle;
an auxiliary lighting system that;
is for use with the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement; and
, comprises at least one auxiliary headlight designed to illuminate the ground surface in front of the vehicle; and
,a controller that;
is electrically connectable to the electric plug and the auxiliary lighting system; and
, comprises a microprocessor that is programmed to perform at least one of the following function sets;
function set A;
(1) operate a front facing auxiliary turn signal light of the auxiliary lighting system into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle has a turn signal that is in an ON condition;
(2) operate the front facing auxiliary turn signal light into an OFF condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
,(3) operate to prevent the front facing auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that;
(a) the vehicle'"'"'s turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
, (b) a brake on the vehicle has been activated;
function set B;
(1) operate a first auxiliary turn signal light of the auxiliary lighting system into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle has a first turn signal that is in an ON condition;
(2) operate the first auxiliary turn signal light into an OFF condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s first turn signal is in an OFF condition;
(3) operate a second auxiliary turn signal light of the auxiliary lighting system into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle has a second turn signal that is in an ON condition;
(4) operate the second auxiliary turn signal light into an OFF condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s second turn signal is in an OFF condition;
(5) operate to prevent the first auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that;
(a) the vehicle'"'"'s first turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
, (b) a brake on the vehicle has been activated;
(6) operate to prevent the second auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that;
(a) the vehicle'"'"'s second turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
, (b) a brake on the vehicle has been activated;
(7) operate the first and second auxiliary turn signal lights into ON and OFF conditions that match the ON and OFF conditions of the vehicle'"'"'s first and second turn signals when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s first and second turn signals are simultaneously alternating between ON and OFF conditions; and
,function set C;
(1) operate at least one auxiliary light of the auxiliary lighting system based on an indication from the electric plug; and
,(2) operate to prevent an electronic control unit on the vehicle from detecting that the controller is electrically connected to the electric plug.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An auxiliary lighting system may operate with a controller that is electrically connectable to a vehicle'"'"'s electric plug. The controller may have a microprocessor that is programmed to perform at least one of these functions: (A) prevent a front facing auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when a brake on the vehicle has been activated; (B) operate auxiliary turn signal lights into alternating ON and OFF conditions that match the simultaneous ON and OFF conditions of the vehicle'"'"'s turn signals; and, (C) prevent the vehicle'"'"'s electronic control unit from detecting that the controller is electrically connected to the electric plug.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An auxiliary apparatus for use with an associated vehicle having:
- a vehicle light that is designed to illuminate a ground surface in front of the vehicle; and
, an electric plug, the auxiliary apparatus comprising;an auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement that;
is removably mountable to the vehicle; and
, obscures light from the vehicle light when mounted to the vehicle;an auxiliary lighting system that;
is for use with the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement; and
, comprises at least one auxiliary headlight designed to illuminate the ground surface in front of the vehicle; and
,a controller that;
is electrically connectable to the electric plug and the auxiliary lighting system; and
, comprises a microprocessor that is programmed to perform at least one of the following function sets;function set A; (1) operate a front facing auxiliary turn signal light of the auxiliary lighting system into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle has a turn signal that is in an ON condition; (2) operate the front facing auxiliary turn signal light into an OFF condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
,(3) operate to prevent the front facing auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that;
(a) the vehicle'"'"'s turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
, (b) a brake on the vehicle has been activated;function set B; (1) operate a first auxiliary turn signal light of the auxiliary lighting system into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle has a first turn signal that is in an ON condition; (2) operate the first auxiliary turn signal light into an OFF condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s first turn signal is in an OFF condition; (3) operate a second auxiliary turn signal light of the auxiliary lighting system into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle has a second turn signal that is in an ON condition; (4) operate the second auxiliary turn signal light into an OFF condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s second turn signal is in an OFF condition; (5) operate to prevent the first auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that;
(a) the vehicle'"'"'s first turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
, (b) a brake on the vehicle has been activated;(6) operate to prevent the second auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that;
(a) the vehicle'"'"'s second turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
, (b) a brake on the vehicle has been activated;(7) operate the first and second auxiliary turn signal lights into ON and OFF conditions that match the ON and OFF conditions of the vehicle'"'"'s first and second turn signals when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s first and second turn signals are simultaneously alternating between ON and OFF conditions; and
,function set C; (1) operate at least one auxiliary light of the auxiliary lighting system based on an indication from the electric plug; and
,(2) operate to prevent an electronic control unit on the vehicle from detecting that the controller is electrically connected to the electric plug. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- a vehicle light that is designed to illuminate a ground surface in front of the vehicle; and
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8. An auxiliary apparatus for use with an associated vehicle having an electric plug, the auxiliary apparatus comprising:
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an auxiliary implement that;
is removably mountable to the vehicle; and
, obscures light from at least one vehicle light designed to illuminate a ground surface in front of the vehicle when mounted to the vehicle;an auxiliary lighting system for use with the auxiliary implement; and
,a controller that;
is electrically connectable to the electric plug and, the auxiliary lighting system; and
, comprises a microprocessor that is programmed to perform at least one of the following function sets;function set A; (1) operate a front facing auxiliary turn signal light of the auxiliary lighting system into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle has a turn signal that is in an ON condition; (2) operate the front facing auxiliary turn signal light into an OFF condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
,(3) operate to prevent the front facing auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that;
(a) the vehicle'"'"'s turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
, (b) a brake on the vehicle has been activated;function set B; (1) operate a first auxiliary turn signal light of the auxiliary lighting system into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle has a first turn signal that is in an ON condition; (2) operate the first auxiliary turn signal light into an OFF condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s first turn signal is in an OFF condition; (3) operate a second auxiliary turn signal light of the auxiliary lighting system into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle has a second turn signal that is in an ON condition; (4) operate the second auxiliary turn signal light into an OFF condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s second turn signal is in an OFF condition; (5) operate to prevent the first auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that;
(a) the vehicle'"'"'s first turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
, (b) a brake on the vehicle has been activated;(6) operate to prevent the second auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that;
(a) the vehicle'"'"'s second turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
, (b) a brake on the vehicle has been activated; and
,(7) operate the first and second auxiliary turn signal lights into ON and OFF conditions that match the ON and OFF conditions of the vehicle'"'"'s first and second turn signals when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s first and second turn signals are simultaneously alternating between ON and OFF conditions; and
,function set C; (1) operate at least one auxiliary light of the auxiliary lighting system based on an indication from the electric plug; and
,(2) operate to prevent an electronic control unit on the vehicle from detecting that the controller is electrically connected to the electric plug. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An auxiliary lighting system and controller for use with:
- (A) an associated vehicle having;
a vehicle light that is designed to illuminate a ground surface in front of the vehicle; and
, an electric plug; and
, (B) an associated implement that obscures light from the vehicle light;
the auxiliary lighting system and controller comprising;an auxiliary lighting system that;
is removably mountable to at least one of the vehicle and the implement; and
, comprises at least one auxiliary headlight designed to illuminate the ground surface in front of the vehicle; and
,a controller that;
is electrically connectable to the electric plug and the auxiliary lighting system; and
, comprises a microprocessor that is programmed to perform at least one of the following function sets;function set A; (1) operate a front facing auxiliary turn signal light of the auxiliary lighting system into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle has a turn signal that is in an ON condition; (2) operate the front facing auxiliary turn signal light into an OFF condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
,(3) operate to prevent the front facing auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that;
(a) the vehicle'"'"'s turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
, (b) a brake on the vehicle has been activated;function set B; (1) operate a first auxiliary turn signal light of the auxiliary lighting system into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle has a first turn signal that is in an ON condition; (2) operate the first auxiliary turn signal light into an OFF condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s first turn signal is in an OFF condition; (3) operate a second auxiliary turn signal light of the auxiliary lighting system into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle has a second turn signal that is in an ON condition; (4) operate the second auxiliary turn signal light into an OFF condition when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s second turn signal is in an OFF condition; (5) operate to prevent the first auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that;
(a) the vehicle'"'"'s first turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
, (b) a brake on the vehicle has been activated;(6) operate to prevent the second auxiliary turn signal light from going into an ON condition when the electric plug indicates that;
(a) the vehicle'"'"'s second turn signal is in an OFF condition; and
, (b) a brake on the vehicle has been activated; and
,(7) operate the first and second auxiliary turn signal lights into ON and OFF conditions that match the ON and OFF conditions of the vehicle'"'"'s first and second turn signals when the electric plug indicates that the vehicle'"'"'s first and second turn signals are simultaneously alternating between ON and OFF conditions; and
,function set C; (1) operate at least one auxiliary light of the auxiliary lighting system based on an indication from the electric plug; and
,(2) operate to prevent an electronic control unit on the vehicle from detecting that the controller is electrically connected to the electric plug. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- (A) an associated vehicle having;
Specification