Arrangement for recognizing whether or not a vehicle is slowing down

• US 5,111,181 A
• Filed: 08/29/1989
• Issued: 05/05/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Wolfgang Priesemuth
• Inventors: Priesemuth, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Popovici, Dov
• Application Number:
  US07/400,164
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 340/467, 340/479, 340/463
• US Class Current: 340/467
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/093 by photoelectric pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/12 by alteration of electrical resistance G01P15/0897, G01P15/105 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up

Abstract

An arrangement for recognizing, via brake lights provided on a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle, whether or not the vehicle is slowing down, whereby the brake lights can be turned on upon activation of a vehicle brake. A sensor mechanism is provided that delivers a signal and/or a succession of signals having a value that corresponds to the deceleration state of the vehicle at any given time. The brake lights are electrically activated in a manner that corresponds to the value of the signal at least upon activation of the vehicle brake.

Claims

1. An arrangement for recognizing, via brake light means provided on a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle, whether or not said vehicle is slowing down, whereby said brake light means can be turned on upon activation of a vehicle brake via a switch that is connected therewith, said arrangement further comprising:

a sensor mechanism for delivering to said brake light means signal means having a value that corresponds to the deceleration state and intensity of deceleration of said vehicle at any given time, whereby said brake light means is electrically activated in a manner that corresponds to said value of said signal means at least upon activation of said vehicle brake, whereby said sensor mechanism includes an element for detecting deceleration of said vehicle, with said element essentially including a capacitor as part of a resonant circuit, the capacitance of which varies as a function of the deceleration of said vehicle.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, in which said capacitor is formed by an air capacitor having two capacitor plates that are disposed essentially transverse to a longitudinal axis of said vehicle.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, in which said sensor mechanism includes a casing, with said capacitor having a first fixed capacitor plate that is disposed on said casing, and a second movable capacitor plate that is movable essentially perpendicular to said first fixed capacitor plate while being disposed parallel thereto.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, which includes a guide element that extends essentially centrally from said casing into the interior thereof and serves for a parallel guidance of said second movable capacitor plate.

5. An arrangement according to claim 3, which includes spring means for keeping said first fixed capacitor plate and said second movable capacitor plate spaced from one another.

6. An arrangement for recognizing, via brake light means provided on a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle, whether or not said vehicle is slowing down, whereby said brake light means can be turned on upon activation of a vehicle brake via a switch that is connected therewith, said arrangement further comprising:

a sensor mechanism for delivering to said brake light means signal means having a value that corresponds to the deceleration state and intensity of deceleration of said vehicle at any given time, whereby said brake light means is electrically activated in a manner that corresponds to said value of said signal means at least upon activation of said vehicle brake, whereby said sensor mechanism includes an element for detecting deceleration of said vehicle, with said element being part of a resonant circuit and being coupled with a frequency voltage transformer that as a function of the dissonance of said resonant circuit delivers a voltage having a corresponding level.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, in which said frequency voltage transformer is coupled with a voltage-controlled pulse-enlarging modulator that generates a signal of a specific length in conformity with a level of a voltage delivered by said frequency voltage transformer.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, in which an output of said pulse-enlarging modulator is delivered to an output switch step for activating said brake light means.