Method for automotive lamp control

• US 20060114108A1
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safecode, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Safecode, Inc.
• Inventors: Counts, Richard C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,646,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

A light control system may include a signal coder (e.g., a flasher module), one or more motor vehicle light sources, and a signal decoder. The light control system may be a part of a motor vehicle taillight system. The signal coder may provide a selected signal. The selected signal may be a voltage signal having a modified portion when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch. The selected signal may be a substantially non-modified voltage signal when the signal coder is activated by a brake signal switch. The signal decoder may be coupled to the signal coder. The signal decoder may assess the selected signal from the signal coder to determine a selected lighting output of the motor vehicle light sources. The motor vehicle light sources may be coupled to the signal decoder. The motor vehicle light sources may provide the selected lighting output.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle light control system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a signal coder configured to provide a selected signal;

one or more motor vehicle light sources; and

a signal decoder coupled to the signal coder and the motor vehicle light sources, wherein the signal decoder is configured to assess the selected signal to determine a selected lighting output for the motor vehicle light sources.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle light sources comprise motor vehicle taillight bulbs.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle light sources comprise one or more LEDs.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle light sources are part of a taillight assembly of the motor vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the lighting control system comprises a portion of a taillight system of the motor vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal coder comprises a motor vehicle flasher module.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal decoder is part of a taillight assembly of the motor vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal coder and the signal decoder are part of a taillight system of the motor vehicle, and wherein the signal coder and the signal decoder are configured to operate in the existing taillight system of the motor vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal coder is configured to provide power to the motor vehicle light sources.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected signal comprises a voltage signal configured to provide power to the motor vehicle light sources.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected signal comprises a voltage signal having a modified portion.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the modified portion comprises a portion of the voltage signal modulated at a frequency of at least about 60 Hz.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the signal coder is configured to form the modified portion of the voltage signal to determine the selected lighting output of the motor vehicle light sources.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the signal coder is programmable to form the modified portion of the voltage signal to determine the selected lighting output of the motor vehicle light sources.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the signal decoder is configured to assess the modified portion of the voltage signal to determine the selected lighting output of the motor vehicle light sources.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected signal comprises a voltage signal having a modified portion when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch on the motor vehicle.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected signal comprises a substantially non-modified voltage signal when the signal coder is activated by a brake signal switch on the motor vehicle.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal coder is configured to be able to provide both a selected signal comprising a voltage signal having a modified portion when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch on the motor vehicle and a selected signal comprising a substantially non-modified voltage signal when the signal coder is activated by a brake signal switch on the motor vehicle.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected lighting output comprises a light sequencing output when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch on the motor vehicle.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected lighting output comprises a variable rate, light flashing output when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch on the motor vehicle.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected lighting output comprises a variable brightness, light flashing output when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch on the motor vehicle.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected lighting output comprises a brake lighting output when the signal coder is activated by a brake signal switch on the motor vehicle.

23. A motor vehicle light control system kit for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a signal coder configured to provide a selected signal;

one or more motor vehicle light sources configured to provide a selected lighting output, wherein the motor vehicle light sources are configured to be located in a taillight assembly of the motor vehicle; and

a signal decoder coupled to the signal coder and the light sources, wherein the signal decoder is configured to assess the selected signal to determine the selected lighting output of the motor vehicle light sources.

24. The kit of claim 23, further comprising a wiring assembly configured for coupling the signal coder to the motor vehicle light sources and the signal decoder.

25. The kit of claim 23, further comprising a wiring assembly configured for coupling the signal coder to the motor vehicle light sources and the signal decoder, wherein the wiring assembly is configured to couple to existing wiring in the motor vehicle.

26. The kit of claim 23, wherein the motor vehicle light sources comprises motor vehicle taillight bulbs.

27. The kit of claim 23, wherein the motor vehicle light sources comprise one or more LEDs.

28. The kit of claim 23, wherein the motor vehicle light sources and the signal decoder are coupled to a taillight assembly mount.

29. The kit of claim 23, wherein the motor vehicle light sources are configured to replace at least one existing light source on the motor vehicle.

30. The kit of claim 23, wherein the motor vehicle light sources are configured to replace at least one existing dual filament light source on the motor vehicle.

31. The kit of claim 23, wherein the kit is configured to replace part of a taillight system of the motor vehicle.

32. The kit of claim 23, wherein the kit is configured to be a part of an existing taillight system of the motor vehicle.

33. The kit of claim 23, wherein the signal coder is configured to replace a flasher module of the motor vehicle.

34. The kit of claim 23, wherein the signal decoder is configured to be located in the taillight assembly of the motor vehicle.

35. The kit of claim 23, wherein the selected signal comprises a voltage signal configured to provide power to the motor vehicle light sources.

36. The kit of claim 23, wherein the selected signal comprises a voltage signal having a modified portion.

37. The kit of claim 36, wherein the modified portion comprises a portion of the voltage signal modulated at a frequency of at least about 60 Hz.

38. The kit of claim 36, wherein the signal coder is configured to provide the modified portion of the voltage signal to determine the selected lighting output of the motor vehicle light sources.

39. The kit of claim 36, wherein the signal coder is programmable to provide the modified portion of the voltage signal to determine the selected lighting output of the motor vehicle light sources.

40. The kit of claim 36, wherein the signal decoder is configured to assess the modified portion of the voltage signal to determine the selected lighting output of the motor vehicle light sources.

41. The kit of claim 23, wherein the selected signal comprises a voltage signal having a modified portion when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch on the motor vehicle.

42. The kit of claim 23, wherein the selected signal comprises a substantially non-modified voltage signal when the signal coder is activated by a brake signal switch on the motor vehicle.

43. The kit of claim 23, wherein the signal coder is configured to be able to provide both a selected signal comprising a voltage signal having a modified portion when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch on the motor vehicle and a selected signal comprising a substantially non-modified voltage signal when the signal coder is activated by a brake signal switch on the motor vehicle.

44. The kit of claim 23, wherein the selected lighting output comprises a light sequencing output when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch on the motor vehicle.

45. The kit of claim 23, wherein the selected lighting output comprises a variable rate, light flashing output when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch on the motor vehicle.

46. The kit of claim 23, wherein the selected lighting output comprises a variable brightness, light flashing output when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch on the motor vehicle.

47. The kit of claim 23, wherein the selected lighting output comprises a brake lighting output when the signal coder is activated by a brake signal switch on the motor vehicle.

48. A method for controlling motor vehicle light output on a motor vehicle, comprising:

providing a voltage signal to one or more motor vehicle light sources located on the motor vehicle;

assessing one or more characteristics of the voltage signal; and

providing a selected output from the motor vehicle light sources based on at least one assessed characteristic of the voltage signal.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the motor vehicle light sources are part of a taillight assembly on the motor vehicle.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the motor vehicle light sources comprise one or more motor vehicle taillight bulbs.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein the motor vehicle light sources comprise one or more LEDs.

52. The method of claim 48, further comprising providing the voltage signal to the motor vehicle light sources using a signal coder.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the signal coder comprises a flasher module for the motor vehicle.

54. The method of claim 48, further comprising assessing the one or more characteristics of the voltage signal using a signal decoder coupled to the motor vehicle light sources.

55. The method of claim 48, further comprising modifying at least one characteristic of the voltage signal using a signal coder.

56. The method of claim 48, further comprising modifying at least one characteristic of the voltage signal using a signal coder when a turn signal switch on the motor vehicle is activated.

57. The method of claim 48, further comprising modifying at least one characteristic of the voltage signal using a signal coder, wherein modifying the at least one characteristic comprises modulating a portion of the voltage signal at a frequency of at least about 60 Hz.

58. The method of claim 48, further comprising modifying at least one characteristic of the voltage signal using a signal coder, and determining the selected output based on the modified characteristic of the voltage signal.

59. The method of claim 48, further comprising providing a substantially constant voltage signal when a brake signal on the motor vehicle is activated.

60. The method of claim 48, wherein at least one assessed characteristic of the voltage signal comprises a waveform of the voltage signal.

61. The method of claim 48, further comprising providing a light sequencing output from the motor vehicle light sources when at least one assessed characteristic of the voltage signal comprises a modulated waveform of a portion of the voltage signal.

62. The method of claim 48, further comprising providing a variable rate, light flashing output from the motor vehicle light sources when at least one assessed characteristic of the voltage signal comprises a modulated waveform of a portion of the voltage signal.

63. The method of claim 48, further comprising providing a variable brightness, light flashing output from the motor vehicle light sources when at least one assessed characteristic of the voltage signal comprises a modulated waveform of a portion of the voltage signal.

64. The method of claim 48, further comprising providing a brake lighting output from the motor vehicle light sources when at least one assessed characteristic of the voltage signal comprises a non-modulated waveform of the voltage signal.

65. The method of claim 48, further comprising providing power to the motor vehicle light sources with the voltage signal.

66. A method for controlling motor vehicle light output on a motor vehicle, comprising:

providing a voltage signal to one or more motor vehicle light sources located on the motor vehicle;

modifying a portion of the voltage signal if a selected input signal is detected;

assessing if the modified portion of the voltage signal is present in the voltage signal; and

providing a first selected lighting output from the motor vehicle light sources if the modified portion is present;

or

providing a second selected lighting output from the motor vehicle light sources if the modified portion is not present.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the motor vehicle light sources are part of a taillight assembly on the motor vehicle.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein the motor vehicle light sources comprise one or more motor vehicle taillight bulbs.

69. The method of claim 66, wherein the motor vehicle light sources comprise one or more LEDs.

70. The method of claim 66, further comprising providing the voltage signal to the motor vehicle light sources using a signal coder.

71. The method of claim 66, further comprising assessing if the modified portion of the voltage signal is present in the voltage signal using a signal decoder coupled to the motor vehicle light sources.

72. The method of claim 66, wherein the selected input signal comprises a turn signal for the motor vehicle.

73. The method of claim 66, further comprising modifying the portion of the voltage signal using a signal coder to determine the first selected lighting output.

74. The method of claim 66, further comprising determining the first selected lighting output based on the modified portion of the voltage signal.

75. The method of claim 66, wherein the first selected lighting output comprises a light sequencing output for the motor vehicle.

76. The method of claim 66, wherein the second selected lighting output comprises a brake lighting output for the motor vehicle.

77. The method of claim 66, wherein modifying the portion of the voltage signal comprises modulating a waveform of the portion of the voltage signal at a frequency of at least about 60 Hz.

78. The method of claim 66, further comprising providing power to the motor vehicle light sources with the voltage signal.