Elevated light system for vehicles

• US 20060220825A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ODELO GmbH (Bayraktarlar Holding AS)
• Original Assignee: ODELO GmbH (Bayraktarlar Holding AS)
• Inventors: Mertens, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 7,642,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/20 Fog lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window

Abstract

The present invention relates to an elevated brake light system (2) for a vehicle (1), in particular a motor vehicle, having a light casing (3) in which at least one lighting means (4) for emitting brake light is arranged.

To increase the functionality of the brake light system (2) an in particular the safety of the vehicle equipped with it, at least one lighting means (4) for emitting rear fog light is arranged in the light casing (3).

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A light system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a light casing fixedly secured to the motor vehicle, said light casing including a brake section, a fog section and spacer section;

a controller fixedly secured to said light casing for receiving electrical power and control signals from the motor vehicle;

a brake light source disposed within said brake section of said light casing, said brake light source electrically connected to said controller to receive the control signals and to selectively emit light based on the control signals; and

a fog light source disposed within said fog section of said light casing, said fog light source electrically connected to said controller to selectively emit light based on the control signals, wherein said brake light source and said fog light source are separated by said spacer section.

11. A light system as set forth in claim 10 including a spacer light source disposed within said spacer section of said light casing for selectively emitting light when said fog light source is off.

12. A light system as set forth in claim 11 including a fog sensor electrically connected to said controller for sensing the presence of fog.

13. A light system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said brake light source includes a plurality of brake light units.

14. A light system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said fog light source emits light at two different intensities wherein a first intensity is equivalent to said fog light source and a second intensity is equivalent to said brake light source.

15. A light system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said fog light source includes a plurality of fog light units.

16. A light system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said fog section is divided in two and spaced on either side of said brake section.

17. A light system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said spacer section is divided in two wherein each of said spacer sections separates one of said fog sections from said brake section.

18. A method for operating a fog light source housed within a light casing having a controller and spaced from a brake light source, the method comprising the steps of:

emitting light from the brake light source and the fog light source at a brake light level of intensity when the controller receives a brake signal; and

increasing the intensity of the light emitted by the fog light source when the controller receives a fog signal while maintaining the emission of the brake light source at the brake light level of intensity.

19. A method for operating a light system in a light casing having a controller, a brake light source, a fog light source and a spacer light source disposed between the brake light source and the fog light source, the method comprising the steps of:

emitting light from the brake light source and the spacer light source and the fog light source at a brake light level of intensity when the controller receives a brake signal;

increasing the intensity of the light emitted by the fog light source when the controller receives a fog signal while maintaining the emission of the brake light source at the brake light level of intensity; and

turning off the spacer light source when the controller receives a fog signal to create a non-illuminated space between the brake and fog light sources when the controller receives the brake signal and the fog signal.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the fog light source reduces the emissions when the fog signal is turned off.

21. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the spacer light source emits light at the brake light level of intensity after the fog signal is turned off and while the controller receives the brake signal.