SPEED RESPONSIVE TIMING CIRCUIT FOR VEHICLE LIGHT OPERATION

• US 3,829,828 A
• Filed: 11/21/1972
• Issued: 08/13/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Don W. Hutchinson, Richard A. Kniesly, Richard O. Stants
• Original Assignee: Don W. Hutchinson, Richard A. Kniesly, Richard O. Stants
• Inventors: Kniesly, Richard A., Hutchinson, Don W., Stants, Richard O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US05/308,474
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 340/62,56,76 307/1LS 180/106,110 315/79
• US Class Current: 340/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/54 for indicating speed outside of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/103 by comparing the value of the measured signal with one or several reference values in general G01R17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/11 by the detection of the position of the indicator needle
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/4807 by using circuits for the detection of the pulses delivered by the ignition system of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

An electrical circuit controls vehicle lights proportionally to the vehicle speed with a time holding capability. One circuit connects the vehicle lights to a source of electrical energy upon attainment of a predetermined vehicle speed. Another circuit connects and disconnects in cyclical manner the vehicle lights to a source of electrical energy. In one embodiment, both circuits have a trigger subcircuit with a variable resistor responsive to cyclical operation of a light. A transistorized amplifier is connected to the output of a speed responsive signal generator and is also connected to the trigger subcircuit. A switch is connected to the variable resistor being activated as the resistance of the variable resistor decreases. An adjustable time delay subcircuit delays deactivation of the switch. In another embodiment, both circuits have light emitting diodes and photodetectors for the trigger subcircuits.

Claims

1. A system for operating lights on a vehicle having an engine comprising:

first means having an output of electrical energy of a variable level increasing proportionally to engine speed;

a first trigger circuit connected to said output and being operable when said level reaches an adjustable predetermined first value; and

, a timer having time control means connected to said circuit and timer switching means operable by said control means to connect said lights to a source of electrical energy after a first period of time has expired subsequent to said level reaching said predetermined first value;

a first adjustable time delay holding circuit operable to delay deactivation of said timer control means when said level falls below said predetermined first value;

a second trigger circuit operable when said level reaches a value different than said first value and identical to said first trigger circuit being connected to said first means; and

, a switch having switch control means operable by said second trigger circuit and having a switching means operable by saId switch control means to cyclically connect and disconnect said lights to a source of electrical energy.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said first means is a pair of contacts cyclically closable by the rotating distributor cam of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein:

said first trigger circuit has two transistors with a light module having a variable resistance connected therebetween, one of said two transistors receives the electrical energy from said first means and operates said light module, said variable resistance decreases as said light module is operated and triggers the other of said two transistors.

4. The system of claim 3 and further comprising:

a relay with relay control means connected to said other of said two transistors and relay contacts connected to said timer control means; and

, said holding circuit has a pair of capacitors and a variable resistor connected across said relay control means.

5. A system for cyclically operating lights on a vehicle comprising:

means having a variable current output signal increasing proportionally to engine speed;

a first amplifier connected to said means and operable to amplify said current output signal;

a first current limiting variable resistor connected to said amplifier;

a light module connected to said variable resistor and having a decreasing resistive output as said signal increases;

a trigger transistor connected to said resistive output and operable when said resistive output decreases below a certain value;

a second transistor connected to the base of said trigger transistor and operable to deactivate said trigger transistor when said trigger transistor is activated by said light module, said second transistor deactivating when said trigger transistor deactivates; and

, a switch operably connected to said trigger transistor and being operable to cyclically connect and disconnect the vehicle lights to a source of electrical energy as said trigger transistor cyclically activates and deactivates.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein:

said switch is operably connected to the vehicle horn.

7. The system of claim 6 and further comprising:

a trigger circuit connected to said means and being operable when said signal reaches an adjustable predetermined second value; and

, a timer having timer control means connected to said trigger circuit and timer switching means operable by said timer control means to connect said vehicle lights to a source of electrical energy after a first period of time has expired subsequent to said signal reaching said second value.

8. A system for operating lights on a vehicle comprising:

first detecting means for detecting the speed of said vehicle and having an output with a first electrical state upon vehicle attainment of a first vehicle speed;

first switching means connected to said first means output and operable to operate said lights upon establishment of said first electrical state;

time delay means connected to said switching means and operable to delay the application of said first electrical state to said switching means;

second detecting means for detecting the speed of said vehicle and having an output with a second electrical state upon vehicle attainment of a second vehicle speed greater than said first vehicle speed; and

, second switching means connected to said second detecting means output and operable to cyclically operate said lights upon establishment of said second vehicle speed and said second electrical state.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein:

said first detecting means includes a light emitting diode and a photo-transitor; and

, said second detecting means includes a light emitting diode and a photo-transistor.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein:

said time delay means includes a capacitor and a resistor connected together and to said photo-transistor of said first means; and

, said first switching means and said second switching means are connected respectively to said phototransistor of said first detecting means and said second detecting means to operate said lights in response to activation and deactivation of said photo-transistors.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein:

said vehicle includes a speedometer with said first detecting means and said second detecting means mounted on said speedometer.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein:

said speedometer includes a pair of spaced apart walls with said light emitting diode of said first detecting means and said second detecting means mounted on one of said walls and with said photo-transistor of said first detecting means and said second detecting means mounted on the other of said walls; and

, said speedometer includes an indicator movably mounted between said pair of walls.

13. A system for operating lights on a vehicle comprising:

first detecting means for detecting the speed of said vehicle and having an output with a first electrical state upon vehicle attainment of a first vehicle speed;

first switching means connected to said first means output and operable to operate said lights upon establishment of said first electrical state;

second detecting means for detecting the speed of said vehicle and having an output with a second electrical state upon vehicle attainment of a second vehicle speed greater than said first vehicle speed;

second switching means connected to said second detecting means output and operable to cyclically operate said lights upon establishment of said second vehicle speed and said second electrical state;

said first detecting means includes a light emitting diode and a photo-transistor; and

, said second detecting means includes a light emitting diode and a photo-transistor.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein:

said vehicle includes a speedometer with said first detecting means and said second detecting means mounted on said speedometer.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:

said speedometer includes a pair of spaced apart walls with said light emitting diode of said first detecting means and said second detecting means mounted on one of said walls and with said photo-transistor of said first detecting means and said second detecting means mounted on the other of said walls; and

, said speedometer includes an indicator movably mounted between said pair of walls.

16. An indicator comprising:

a vehicle speedometer including a pair of spaced apart walls and first means movably mounted between said walls operable to indicate vehicle speed;

a light emitting diode connected to a source of electrical energy and mounted to one of said walls;

a photo-transistor connected to said source and mounted to the other of said walls across from said diode to receive light therefrom with said photo-transistor and diode positioned to allow said first means to pass through and interrupt said light upon attainment of a predetermined speed; and

, second means connected to said diode and photo-transistor operable to provide an indication when said first means moves through said light.