Brake alert device

• US 4,663,609 A
• Filed: 10/21/1985
• Issued: 05/05/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George M. Rosario
• Original Assignee: George M. Rosario
• Inventors: Rosario, George M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rittmaster, T.
• Application Number:
  US06/789,565
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 340/72, 340/52 B, 340/67, 340/71, 340/81 R, 340/659, 315/72
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence

Abstract

A brake light warning system for a motor vehicle causes the brakes lights to flash in a manner to attract the attention of a driver to the rear of the vehicle and provide a more effective warning of a slow down or stopping of the vehicle especially during foggy days or nights and when the view of a vehicle is partially obscured. Upon application of the brakes the brake lights are first caused to flash rapidly for 2 or 3 times for a first interval of time followed by prolonged "on" periods interrupted periodically by a short "off" period followed by a short "on" period followed by a short "off" period for a second interval of time as long as pressure is applied to the brake pedal of the vehicle.

Claims

1. In an automotive braking system including at least one brake light, means for energizing said brake light including a power source, a brake switch connected between said power source and said brake light and a brake pedal connected to said brake switch, said brake switch being actuated by pressure applied to said brake pedal, a brake alert warning apparatus comprising

means connected between said brake switch and said brake light for rapidly flashing said brake light on and off several times at a frequency ranging from 1 to 10 flashes per second during a first period of time after application of pressure to said brake pedal, said means comprising

a first nand gate,

means for generating a plurality of short pulses having its output side connected to one input side of said first nand gate,

means for generating a single long pulse having its output side connected to another input side of said first nand gate to produce, at the output side of said first nand gate, a plurality of short pulses having a total duration of said single long pulse, and

means connected between said brake switch and said brake light for cyclically flashing said brake light on for periods ranging from 2 to 10 seconds and off for periods from 0.1 to 1.5 seconds during a second period of time after said first period of time.

2. In an automotive braking system including at least one brake light, means for energizing said brake light including a power source, a brake switch connected between said power source and said brake light and a brake pedal connected to said brake switch, said brake switch being actuated by pressure applied to said brake pedal, a brake alert warning apparatus comprising

a first pulse generator connected to said power source for generating electrical pulses ranging from 1 to 10 pulses per second,

means for limiting the output of said first pulse generator to generate several pulses upon initial actuation of said first pulse generator,

a second pulse generator adapted to generate a series of electrical pulses cyclically varying in duration,

means for consolidating said pulse from said first pulse generator with the pulses from said second pulse generator to produce a first pattern of electrical pulses during a first period of time and a second and different pattern of pulses during a second period of time,

a relay having an actuating coil and a pair of relay contacts,

said actuating coil connected to and actuated by said electrical pulses from said means for consolidating said pulses, said relay contacts serially connected between said brake switch and said brake light.

3. In an automotive braking system including at least one brake light, means for energizing said brake light including a power source, a brake switch connected between said power source and said brake light and a brake pedal connected to said brake switch, said brake switch being actuated by pressure applied to said brake pedal, a brake alert warning apparatus comprising

means connected to said power source for generating a first signal comprising a plurality of short electrical pulses,

means controlled to said power source for generating a second signal comprising a single long electrical pulse approximately equal to 2 to 5 short pulses,

means for combining said first signal and said second signal to generate a third signal comprising 2 to 5 short pulses during a first interval of time followed by a continuous electrical signal during a second interval of time as long as said means are energized,

means for generating a fourth signal comprising a long electrical pulse followed by a short electrical pulse which combination of pulses is repeated as long as said means are energized by said power source during said second interval of time,

means for combining said third signal and said fourth signal to produce a fifth signal comprising a series of 2 to 5 short electrical pulses during a first interval of time followed, during a second interval of time, by a long electrical pulse followed by a short electrical pulse which combination of pulses is repeated as long as said means are energized by said power source during said second interval of time,

means for connecting said electrical pulses to said brake light.

4. In an automotive braking system including at least one brake light, means for energizing said brake light including a power source, a brake switch connected between said power source and said brake light and a brake pedal connected to said brake switch, said brake switch being actuated by pressure applied to said brake pedal, a brake alert warning apparatus comprising

means connected between said power source and said brake light comprising

a first timer for generating a short duration timing pulse,

a second timer for generating a short duration timing pulse,

means for connecting said first timer to said second timer for generating a plurality of short duration pulses,

a third timer for generating a long duration pulse having a pulse length equal to from 2 to 5 short duration pulses generated by said first and second timers,

a first nand gate having 4 input terminals and one output terminal,

means for connecting the output signal from said first timer to one input terminal of said first nand gate,

means for connecting the output signal from said third timer to another input terminal of said first nand gate whereby the signal generated at said output terminal of said first nand gate comprises a series of 2 to 5 electrical pulses during a first interval of time equal to the duration of said long duration pulse generated by said third timer followed by a continuous voltage for a second interval of time,

a second nand gate having 4 input terminals and one output terminal,

a 4-bit up down counter having 4 output terminals and one input terminal,

means for connecting said output signal from said first timer to said input terminal of said 4-bit up down counter,

means for connecting 3 of said 4 output terminals of said 4-bit up down counter to 3 of said input terminals of said second nand gate,

means for connecting said output signal from said first timer to the fourth terminal of said second nand gate for generation of a signal comprising a long duration electrical pulse followed by a short duration electrical pulse that is repeated during a second interval of time as long as said timers are energized by said power source,

an and gate having a two input terminals and one output terminal,

means for connecting the output terminal of said first nand gate to one of said input terminal of said and gate,

means for connecting the output terminal of said second nand gate to the other input terminal of said and gate for generating an electrical signal at the output terminal of said and gate comprising 2 to 5 short duration electrical pulses during a first interval of time followed by an electrical signal comprising a long duration electrical pulse followed by a short duration electrical pulse which is repeated so long as said timers are energized during said second interval of time,

means for connecting said output side of said and gate to said brake light to energize said brake light according to said electrical pulses generated at said output terminal of said third nand gate.

5. The automotive braking system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for connecting said output side of said AND gate to said brake light to energize said brake light comprises

a power supply,

a relay comprising an actuating coil and a pair of normally open contacts,

a transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, the base of said resistor connected to the output side of said and gate,

the actuating coil of said relay connected in series with the collector of said transistor and said power supply, and

said contacts of said relay connected in series with said brake lights and said power supply.

6. In an automotive braking system including at least one brake light, means for energizing said brake light including a power source, a brake switch connected between said power source and said brake light and a brake pedal connected to said brake switch, said brake switch being actuated by pressure applied to said brake pedal, a brake alert warning apparatus comprising

means connected between said brake switch and said brake light for rapidly flashing said brake light on and off several times at a frequency ranging from 1 to 10 flashes per second during a first period of time after application of pressure to said brake pedal, said means comprising

a first nand gate,

means for generating a single long pulse having its output side connected to one input side of said first nand gate,

means for generating a plurality of short pulses having its output side connected to another input side of said first nand gate, and

means connected between said brake switch and said brake light for cyclically flashing said brake light on for periods ranging from 2 to 10 seconds and off for periods from 0.1 to 1.5 seconds during a second period of time after said first period of time, said means comprising

a second nand gate,

a synchronous four-bit, up/down counter having an input side and three output sides,

means for generating a plurality of short pulses having its output side connected to one input side of said second nand gate and the input side of said synchronous four-bit, up/down counter,

said three output sides of said synchronous four-bit, up/down counter connected to three input sides of said second nand gate,

means for consolidating the output signals from said first and second nand gates connected to the output side of said first and second nand gates.