Automatic illumination circuit
First Claim
1. In an automotive vehicle having a source of electrical energy, an ignition system including an ignition switch coupled to the source, the ignition switch being operable in a first operating state for rendering the engine operable, a lighting system adapted to be energized by the source, the lighting system including at least one light selected from the group consisting of at least one light, at least one park light and at least one illuminated sign, and at least one light switch coupled to the source for energizing the at least one light;
- an automatic illumination circuit including a single relay control mechanism, said circuit coupled to the ignition switch and in parallel with the at least one light switch for continuously energizing the at least one light when the ignition switch is in the first operating state and the source supplies electrical energy to the automatic illumination circuit, the automatic illumination circuit further including a first pair of normally open points connected to the relay control mechanism including a relay coil, and a resistor coupled between the relay control mechanism and a pair of normally open points, the resistor decreasing the current flowing to the relay control mechanism, the relay control mechanism becoming energized and closing the first pair of normally open points when sufficient current is delivered to the relay coil, thereby delivering electrical current to the at least one light.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic illumination circuit (36) coupled to an ignition switch (14) of an automotive vehicle and to at least one light switch (24) therein. The circuit (36) continuously energizes at least one light (22) when a source of electrical energy (10) such as an alternator supplies electrical energy to the circuit (36) and the ignition switch (14) is in a first operating state for rendering the engine of the vehicle operable. At least one light (22) is automatically illuminated whenever the engine is running, regardless of the time of day or night, regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion, and regardless of whether the operator remembers to activate the light switch (24).
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. In an automotive vehicle having a source of electrical energy, an ignition system including an ignition switch coupled to the source, the ignition switch being operable in a first operating state for rendering the engine operable, a lighting system adapted to be energized by the source, the lighting system including at least one light selected from the group consisting of at least one light, at least one park light and at least one illuminated sign, and at least one light switch coupled to the source for energizing the at least one light;
an automatic illumination circuit including a single relay control mechanism, said circuit coupled to the ignition switch and in parallel with the at least one light switch for continuously energizing the at least one light when the ignition switch is in the first operating state and the source supplies electrical energy to the automatic illumination circuit, the automatic illumination circuit further including a first pair of normally open points connected to the relay control mechanism including a relay coil, and a resistor coupled between the relay control mechanism and a pair of normally open points, the resistor decreasing the current flowing to the relay control mechanism, the relay control mechanism becoming energized and closing the first pair of normally open points when sufficient current is delivered to the relay coil, thereby delivering electrical current to the at least one light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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6. In an automotive vehicle having an engine, a driving transmission system, an ignition switch which is selectively movable to a closed setting for rendering the engine operable, a lighting system including at least one light and at least one light switch for energizing the at least one light, and a source of electrical energy including an engine-driven alternator and a battery for energizing the ignition switch and the lighting system;
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a method for automatically energizing the at least one light for safety and display of the vehicle whenever the ignition switch is closed, regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion, the method comprising the steps of; conducting electrical energy to an automatic illumination circuit from the ignition switch; and supplying electrical energy to a resistor within the automatic illumination circuit, a single relay control mechanism, a plurality of pairs of normally open points and means for grounding, so that at least one light is energized whenever the source supplies more than a predetermined voltage to the circuit, regardless of the position selected for the driving transmission system, regardless of the setting selected for the at least one light switch, and regardless of the time of day or night. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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13. In an automotive vehicle having such conventional features as an engine, a driving transmission system including a plurality of selectable positions, a source of electrical energy, an ignition system conductably energized from the source through an ignition switch, the ignition switch having a first and second end terminal, the ignition switch being selectably movable to a closed setting for entering the engine operable, a lighting system adapted to be energized by the source, the lighting system including at least one light and a light switch having a first end terminal connected to the source of electrical energy for energizing head lights and park lights, the light switch also including a head light terminal connected to the head lights, and a park light terminal connected to the park lights, and a high-low beam head light switch connected to the head light terminal,
an automatic illumination circuit connected to the second end terminal of the ignition switch and to the head light and the park light terminals of the light switch for energizing the at least one light whenever the source applied electrical energy to the ignition system after the ignition switch is moved to a closed setting, regardless of the position selected for the driving transmission system, regardless of the setting selected for the light switch and the high-low beam head light switch, and regardless of the time of day or night, the circuit further including: -
a relay control mechanism coupled to the ignition switch; a resistor coupled to the relay control mechanism, the resistor having a second end node, the relay control mechanism having a first end terminal connected to the second end node of the resistor, and a second end terminal; means for grounding connected to the second end terminal of the relay control mechanism; a first pair of normally open points having a first pole and a second pole, the second connectable to the head light terminal of the light switch; a second pair of normally open points having a first pole and a second pole, the second pole connectable to the park light terminal of the light switch; a common connection point being adapted for connecting the first pole of the first pair of normally open points, the first pole of the second pair of normally open points, the first end node of the resistor and a second end terminal of the ignition switch; and a fuse interposed between the second end terminal of the ignition switch and the common connection point, whereby the at least one light is automatically energized for safety and display of the vehicle without further action of an operator of the vehicle after the ignition is moved to the closed setting, regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion.
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Specification