Vehicle acceleration/deceleration warning system having turn signal features
First Claim
1. In combination with an electronic acceleration or deceleration warning system for a vehicle comprising an electromechanical transducer for converting deceleration of the vehicle into an electrical quantity which changes in proportion to the vehicle rate of deceleration, an oscillator for generating a variable frequency output signal, means operatively connected to said transducer and to said oscillator for varying the frequency of said oscillator output signal in proportion to the vehicle rate of deceleration, first and second warning lamps located in horizontally spaced relation on at least one exterior end of the vehicle and operatively connected to said oscillator in a manner such that said lamps flash visibly at a rate determined by the vehicle rate of deceleration:
- (a) manually operated switch means having a first state manually selectable to indicate turning of the vehicle in one direction, a neutral state in which no turning is indicated, and a second state manually selectable to indicate turning of the vehicle in another direction; and
(b) circuit means connected to said switch means and to said warning lamps and to said oscillator, said circuit means including means for causing said oscillator to apply a substantially constant frequency signal to said first warning lamp and means for preventing application of said oscillator signal to said second warning lamp when said switch is in said first state, and said circuit means further including means for causing said oscillator to apply a substantially constant frequency signal to said second warning lamp and means for preventing application of said oscillator signal to said first warning lamp when said switch is in said second state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic acceleration/deceleration warning system for a vehicle includes an electro mechanical transducer, for example an arrangement of pendulum, light source and photocells, for converting acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle into an electrical quantity, changing in proportion with the rate of deceleration, an oscillator having a variable frequency output, a circuit connected to the transducer and oscillator for varying the frequency of the oscillator output signal in proportion to the vehicle deceleration, and a pair of warning lamps horizontally displaced on the rear end of the vehicle and connected to the oscillator in a manner such that the lamps flash alternately and at a rate determined by the vehicle deceleration. The warning lamps can also serve as turn indicators for the vehicle. A manually-operated switch has two selectable states corresponding to the two turn directions for the vehicle. A circuit connected to the switch, oscillator and lamps applies a constant frequency signal to either one of the lamps and prevents application of the signal to the other lamp as determined by the manually selected state of the switch. A priority arrangement operative in response to a predetermined level of deceleration prevents disabling of either warning lamp thereby allowing operation of the warning system irregardless of the state or position of the turn selector switch.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. In combination with an electronic acceleration or deceleration warning system for a vehicle comprising an electromechanical transducer for converting deceleration of the vehicle into an electrical quantity which changes in proportion to the vehicle rate of deceleration, an oscillator for generating a variable frequency output signal, means operatively connected to said transducer and to said oscillator for varying the frequency of said oscillator output signal in proportion to the vehicle rate of deceleration, first and second warning lamps located in horizontally spaced relation on at least one exterior end of the vehicle and operatively connected to said oscillator in a manner such that said lamps flash visibly at a rate determined by the vehicle rate of deceleration:
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(a) manually operated switch means having a first state manually selectable to indicate turning of the vehicle in one direction, a neutral state in which no turning is indicated, and a second state manually selectable to indicate turning of the vehicle in another direction; and (b) circuit means connected to said switch means and to said warning lamps and to said oscillator, said circuit means including means for causing said oscillator to apply a substantially constant frequency signal to said first warning lamp and means for preventing application of said oscillator signal to said second warning lamp when said switch is in said first state, and said circuit means further including means for causing said oscillator to apply a substantially constant frequency signal to said second warning lamp and means for preventing application of said oscillator signal to said first warning lamp when said switch is in said second state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification