Automotive indicator system
First Claim
1. A rare gas automobile indicator light system comprising;
- an elongated rare gas tube having a pair of electrodes, one disposed at each end of the tube,means for mounting said rare gas tube at the rear of the automobile in a position viewable behind the automobile,means for controlling power applied to both electrodes on a selective basis to provide illumination of the rare gas tube,said means for controlling including first control means operative from first switch means for exciting only one electrode at a variable increasing power level to cause light intensity to progress from the end of the tube at which is disposed the excited electrode to the other end of the tube to thereby provide a light sweeping effect to indicate one of right and left turn indication,and second control means operative from second switch means for simultaneously exciting both electrodes at a substantially constant power level to provide a substantially constant light output to indicate one of park and brake indication.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rare gas automobile indicator light system employing a single horizontally disposed indicator tube operated to provide braking, parking, emergency flasher and turn indications. The indicator tube is operated at partial intensity for a parking function and at full intensity for braking function. The indicator is further operated by excitation of a single electrode on either side thereof to provide respective left and right-hand turn indications by providing a sweeping action of the light propagation to provide a pointing effect in the desired direction. The emergency flasher indication is carried out by virtue of causing periodic on and off switching of the indicator tube.
52 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A rare gas automobile indicator light system comprising;
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an elongated rare gas tube having a pair of electrodes, one disposed at each end of the tube, means for mounting said rare gas tube at the rear of the automobile in a position viewable behind the automobile, means for controlling power applied to both electrodes on a selective basis to provide illumination of the rare gas tube, said means for controlling including first control means operative from first switch means for exciting only one electrode at a variable increasing power level to cause light intensity to progress from the end of the tube at which is disposed the excited electrode to the other end of the tube to thereby provide a light sweeping effect to indicate one of right and left turn indication, and second control means operative from second switch means for simultaneously exciting both electrodes at a substantially constant power level to provide a substantially constant light output to indicate one of park and brake indication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification