Turn signal cancelling apparatus for use in vehicles

• US 4,660,020 A
• Filed: 11/22/1985
• Issued: 04/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Shibata, Yasuo, Miyamaru, Yukio, Hatanaka, Kaoru, Kawada, Shigeo
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/800,711
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 340/55, 340/56, 340/62, 340/73, 340/134
• US Class Current: 340/477
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/385 Electronic temporisation with relay amplification
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/40 having mechanical, electric or electronic automatic return to inoperative position

Abstract

A turn signal cancelling apparatus for a vehicle having a handlebar and a blinker unit which is operable to be activated by a manual operation and is operable to be deactivated by a cancelling signal. The apparatus comprises a handlebar turning angle detecting arrangement which detects the turning angle of the handlebar and provides a signal when the return angle of the handlebar exceeds a specified degree following turning operation of the vehicle, at least one of a time measuring arrangement which measures the time which elapses after the blinker unit has been activated and provides a signal when the specified time has elapsed, and a distance measuring arrangement which measure the travel distance of the vehicle after the blinker unit has been activated and provides a signal when the specified travel distance has been exceeded, and an output arrangement which provides the turn signal cancelling signal in response to at least one of the aforesaid signals, thereby providing an appropriate timing for automatically cancelling the turn signal of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A turn signal cancelling apparatus for use in a motorcycle having a turning handlebar, comprising:

speed detecting means for providing a speed signal responsive to the speed of said motorcycle;

handlebar turning angle detecting means providing an output signal responsive to the turning angle of said handlebar;

2. switch means for controlling a pair of blinker lamps, said switch means being manually operable by a driver of said motorcycle and having selectable positions including a neutral position and a pair of operative positions for selectively activating said blinker lamps, said switch means providing a selection signal responsive to the selection of said positions;

electrical returning means for driving said switch means to return from one of said operative positions to said neutral position;

time measuring means for receiving said selection signal so as to provide an output signal responsive to the time elasped after said blinker lamp has been activated;

distance measuring means for receiving said speed signal and said selection signal so as to provide an output signal responsive to the distance covered by said motorcycle after said blinker lamp has been activated;

an AND gate for receiving said output of said time measuring means and said output of said distance measuring means so as to provide an output signal;

an OR gate for receiving said output of said turning angle detecting means and said output of said AND gate so as to provide an output signal;

said electrical returning means being connected with said OR gate for driving said switch means upon receipt of said output signals of said OR gate;

said turning angle detecting means comprises a return angle detecting means for detecting the return angle of said handlebar by comparing the turning angle of said handlebar with the maximum turning angle of said handlebar after said blinker lamp has been activated; and

said return angle detecting means has a peak holding circuit.

3. A turn signal cancelling apparatus for use in a motorcycle having a turning handlebar, comprising:

speed detecting means for providing a speed signal responsive to the speed of said motorcycle;

handlebar turning angle detecting means for providing an output signal responsive to the turning angle of said handlebar;

switch means for controlling a pair of blinker lamps, said switch means being manually operable by a driver of said motorcycle and having selectable positions including a neutral position and a pair of operative positions for selectively activating said blinker lamps, said switch means providing a selection signal responsive to the selection of said positions;

electrical returning means for driving said switch means to return from one of said operative positions to said neutral position;

time measuring means for receiving said selection signal so as to provide an output signal responsive to the time elasped after said blinker lamp has been activated;

distance measuring means for receiving said speed signal and said selection signal so as to provide an output signal responsive to the distance covered by said motorcycle after said blinker lamp has been activated;

an AND gate for receiving said output of said time measuring means and said output of said distance measuring means so as to provide an output signal;

an OR gate for receiving said output of said turning angle detecting means and said output of said AND gate so as to provide an output signal;

said electrical returning means is connected with said OR gate for driving said switch means upon receipt of said output signals of said OR gate;

said turning angle detecting means comprises a return angle detecting means for detecting the return angle of said handlebar by comparing the turning angle of said handlebar with the maximum turning angle of said handlebar after said blinker lamp has been activated; and

said return angle detecting means has a noise suppressing circuit.