Vehicle light, windshield wiper control system

• US 5,136,209 A
• Filed: 09/07/1990
• Issued: 08/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles E. Benedict
• Original Assignee: Benedict Engineering Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Stumpf, Donald M., Benedict, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, SON T
• Application Number:
  US07/578,788
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.8, 307/10.1, 315/80, 315/82, 315/83, 315/77, 315/155, 315/159, 340/641
• US Class Current: 315/80
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/146 Abnormalities, e.g. fail-safe
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0818 including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/087 including an ambient light sensor control of vehicle lights B60Q

Abstract

A control system for automatically turning on the headlights (and parking lights) of a vehicle has an input section that includes the ignition switch, the manually operated windshield wiper switch, and condition responsive light sensor and moisture sensor switches. These switches operate through a logic circuitry through an output section to turn on and to keep turned on the lights when any of certain switch combinations are turned on:

a) ignition, windshield wiper, light sensor and moisture sensor;

b) ignition, windshield wiper and light sensor;

c) ignition, windshield wiper and moisture sensor;

d) ignition and windshield wiper;

e) ignition, light sensor and moisture sensor;

f) ignition and light sensor; or

g) ignition and moisture sensor.

In the event that the windshield wiper is turned off the light level sensor causes the lights to be turned off.

The windshield wipers are turned on with the following switch combinations even though the manual windshield wiper switch is turned off:

a) ignition, light sensor and moisture sensor; or

b) ignition and moisture sensor.

Claims

1. An automatic system for controlling the turning on of vehicle headlights when any of the following switch combinations are turned on:

a) ignition, windshield wiper, light sensor;

b) ignition, and windshield wiper;

c) ignition and light sensor;

and keeping them on as long as any of such switch combinations are on, comprising manual on-off switches for the ignition and windshield wiper and a condition responsive switch for the light sensor, a multistage digital logic circuit having a first stage which comprises a plurality of gates coupled to the outputs of said switches, at least one additional stage of gates connected to the outputs of said first stage of gates, a first relay circuit, an electronic relay switch, said relay switch having means for connecting said headlights to power supply means, said first relay circuit being alternately connectable to actuating means for said relay switch which governs the connection of said headlights to said power supply means, said power supply means connected to said first relay circuit, and control means for said first relay circuit, said multistage digital logic circuit connecting the outputs of said ignition, windshield wiper and light sensor switches to the control means for said first relay circuit.

2. The invention of claim 1, and opto-isolator semi-conductor means between the ignition, windshield wiper and light sensor switches and the relay circuit which isolates the input voltages from the outputs of the semi-conductor means.

3. The invention of claim 1, in which time delay means it interposed between the ignition switch and the logic circuitry to protect the logic means from transient voltages and to maintain a high level of voltage for a limited time after the logic circuitry of the ignition switch is turned off.

4. The invention of claim 1, in which time delay means is interposed between the windshield wiper switch and the logic means so that the windshield wipers will appear to be continuously on during intermittent operation.

5. The invention of claim 1, and a moisture sensor switch, said system controlling the turning on of the vehicle headlights when any of the following additional switch combinations are turned on:

a) ignition, windshield wiper, light sensor and moisture sensor;

b) ignition, windshield wiper, and moisture sensor;

c) ignition, light sensor and moisture sensor;

d) ignition and moisture sensor.

6. The invention of claim 1, in which the relay switch is a solid state switch.

7. The invention of claim 1, in which the relay switch is a solid state switch and in which the control means is a triac metal oxide semiconductor (TMOS).

8. The invention of claim 1, in which the relay switch is a solid state switch and in which the control means is a gate turnoff switch (GTO).

9. The invention of claim 1, in which said logic circuitry comprises a plurality of first logic circuit means connected in parallel, said first logic circuit means producing a first signal output to said first relay circuit.

10. The invention of claim 9, in which a plurality of first signal outputs are operative in series to activate said first relay circuit.

11. The invention of claim 9, in which a plurality of first signal outputs are operative in parallel to activate said first relay circuit.

12. The invention of claim 5, and a second relay circuit, said second relay circuit being alternately connectable to said activating means for said relay switch, said power supply means connected to said second relay circuit, control means for said second relay circuit, said logic circuitry connecting the outputs of said ignition, windshield wiper and light sensor switches to the control means for said second relay circuit, said second relay circuit operating to turn the headlights off when any of the following are turned off:

a) ignition;

b) windshield wiper, light sensor and moisture sensor.

13. The invention of claim 12, in which a plurality of second signal outputs are operative in series to activate said second relay circuit.

14. An automatic system for controlling the turning on of vehicle windshield wipers when any of the following switch combinations are turned on:

a) ignition, light sensor and moisture sensor;

b) ignition and moisture sensor;

and keeping them on as long as any of such switch combinations are on, comprising manual on-off switches for the ignition and condition responsive switches for the light sensor and moisture sensor, a multistage digital logic circuit having a first stage which comprises a plurality of gates coupled to the outputs of said switches, at least one additional stage of gates connected to the outputs of said first stage of gates, a first relay circuit, an electronic relay switch, said relay switch having means for connecting said windshield wipers to power supply means, said first relay circuit being alternately connectable to actuating means for said relay switch which governs the connection of said windshield wipers to said power supply means, said power supply means connected to said first relay circuit, and control means for said first relay circuit, said multistage digital logic circuit connecting the outputs of said ignition, light sensor and moisture sensor switches to the control means for said first relay circuit.

15. The invention of claim 14, and opto-isolator semi-conductor means between the ignition, light sensor and moisture sensor switches and the relay circuit which isolates the input voltages from the outputs of the semi-conductor means.

16. The invention of claim 14, in which time delay mean sis interposed between the ignition switches and the logic circuitry to protect the logic means from transient voltages and to maintain a high level of voltage for a limited time after the logic circuitry of the ignition switch is turned off.

17. The invention of claim 14, in which the relay switch is a solid state switch.

18. The invention of claim 14, in which the relay switch is a solid state switch and in which the control means is a triac metal oxide semiconductor (TMOS).

19. The invention of claim 14, in which the relay switch is a solid state switch and in which the control means is a gate turnoff switch (GTO).

20. The invention of claim 14, in which a plurality of first signal outputs are operative in series to activate said first relay circuit.

21. The invention of claim 14, in which a plurality of first signal outputs are operative in parallel to activate said first relay circuit.

22. The invention of claim 14, said vehicle having a manual windshield wiper switch, and a second relay circuit, said second relay circuit being alternately connectable to said activating means for said relay switch, said power supply means connected to said second relay circuit, control means for said second relay circuit, said logic circuitry having first means connecting the outputs of said ignition, windshield wiper, light sensor and moisture sensor switches to the control means for said second relay circuit, said logic circuitry having auxiliary means connecting the outputs of said ignition and said windshield wiper switch to said control means for said second relay circuit, said auxiliary means, bypassing said first connecting means to permit turning off of said windshield wipers by said windshield wiper switch.

30. The invention of claim 19, in which a plurality of first signal outputs are operative in series to activate said first relay circuit.

31. The invention of claim 19, in which a plurality of first signal outputs are operative in parallel to activate said first relay circuit.

32. The invention of claim 22, and a second relay circuit, said second relay circuit being alternately connectable to said activating means for said relay switch, said power supply means connected to said second relay circuit, control means for said second relay circuit, said logic circuitry connecting the outputs of said ignition, windshield wiper and light sensor switches to the control means for said second relay circuit, said second relay circuit operating to turn the headlights off when any of the following are turned off:

a) ignition;

b) windshield wiper, light sensor and moisture sensor.

33. The invention of claim 32, in which said logic circuitry comprises a plurality of first and a plurality of second logic circuit means, each connected in parallel, said first logic circuit means producing a first signal output to said first relay circuit and said second logic circuit means producing a second signal output to said second relay circuit.

34. The invention of claim 32, in which a plurality of second signal outputs are operative in series to activate said second relay circuit.

23. An automatic system for controlling the turning on of vehicle headlights when any of the following switch combinations are turned on:

a) ignition, windshield wiper, light sensor;

b) ignition, and windshield wiper;

c) ignition and light sensor;

and keeping them on as long as any of such switch combinations are on, comprising manual on-off switches for the ignition and windshield wiper and a condition responsive switch for the light sensor, a multistage digital logic circuit having a first stage which comprises a plurality of gates coupled to the outputs of said switches, at least one additional stage of gates connected to the outputs of said first stage of gates, a first relay circuit, an electronic relay switch, said relay switch having means for connecting said headlights to power supply means, said first relay circuit being alternately connectable to actuating means for said relay switch which governs the connection of said headlights to said power supply means;

said power supply means connected to said first relay circuit, and control means for said first relay circuit, said multistage digital logic circuit connecting the outputs of said ignition, windshield wiper and light sensor switches to the control means for said first relay circuit, said control means including pulse generator means.

24. The invention of claim 23, and opto-isolator semi-conductor means between the ignition, windshield wiper and light sensor switches and the relay circuit which isolates the input voltages from the outputs of the semi-conductor means.

25. The invention of claim 23, in which time delay means is interposed between the ignition switch and the logic circuitry to protect the logic means from transient voltages and to maintain a high level of voltage for a limited time after the logic circuitry of the ignition switch is turned off.

26. The invention of claim 23, in which time delay means is interposed between the windshield wiper switch and the logic means so that the windshield wipers will appear to be continuously on during intermittent operation.

27. The invention of claim 23, and a moisture sensor switch, said system controlling the turning on of the vehicle headlights when any of the following additional switch combinations are turned on:

a) ignition, windshield wiper, light sensor and moisture sensor;

b) ignition, windshield wiper, and moisture sensor;

c) ignition, light sensor and moisture sensor;

d) ignition and moisture sensor.

28. The invention of claim 23, in which the relay switch is a solid state switch.

29. The invention of claim 23, in which said logic circuitry comprises a plurality of first logic circuit means connected in parallel, said first logic circuit means producing a first signal output to said first relay circuit.

35. An automatic system for controlling the turning on of vehicle headlights when any of the following switch combinations are turned on:

a) ignition, windshield wiper, light sensor;

b) ignition, and windshield wiper;

c) ignition and light sensor;

and keeping them on as long as any of such switch combinations are on, comprising manual on-off switches for the ignition and windshield wiper and a condition responsive switch for the light sensor, a multistage digital logic circuit having a first stage which comprises a plurality of gates coupled to the outputs of said switches, at least one additional stage of gates connected to the outputs of said first stage of gates, a first relay circuit, an electronic relay switch, said relay switch means having means for connecting said headlights to power supply means, said power supply means connected to said first relay circuit, and control means for said first relay circuit, said multistage digital logic circuit connecting the outputs of said ignition, windshield wiper and light sensor switches to the control means for said first relay circuit, in which the relay switch means is a solid state gate turnoff switch.

36. The inventions of claim 35, and opto-isolator semi-conductor means between the ignition, windshield wiper and light sensor switches and the relay circuit which isolates the input voltages from the outputs of the semi-conductor means.

37. The invention of claim 35, in which time delay means is interposed between the ignition switch and the logic circuitry to protect the logic means from transient voltages and to maintain a high level of voltage for a limited time after the logic circuitry of the ignition switch is turned off.

38. The invention of claim 35, in which time delay means is interposed between the windshield wiper switch and the logic means so that the windshield will appear to be continuously on during intermittent operation.

39. The invention of claim 35, and a moisture sensor switch, said system controlling the turning on of the vehicle headlights when any of the following additional switch combinations are turned on:

a) ignition, windshield wiper, light sensor and moisture sensor;

b) ignition, windshield wiper, and moisture sensor;

c) ignition, light sensor and moisture sensor;

d) ignition and moisture sensor.

40. The invention of claim 35, in which said logic circuitry comprises a plurality of first logic circuit means connected in parallel, said first logic circuit means producing a first signal output to said first relay circuit.

41. The invention of claim 40, in which a plurality of first signal outputs are operative in parallel to activate said first relay circuit.

42. The invention of claim 39, and a second relay circuit, said second relay circuit being alternately connectable to said activating means for said relay switch means, said power supply means connected to said second relay circuit, control means for said second relay circuit, said logic circuitry connecting the outputs of said ignition, windshield wiper and light sensor switches to the control means for said second relay circuit said second relay circuit operating to turn the headlights off when any of the following are turned off:

a) ignition;

b) windshield wiper, light sensor and moisture sensor.

43. The invention of claim 42, in which said logic circuitry comprises a plurality of first and a plurality of second logic circuit means, each connected in parallel, said first logic circuit means producing a first signal output to said first relay circuit and said second logic circuit means producing a second signal output to said second relay circuit.

44. The invention of claim 35, in which the relay switch means has means for connecting the parking lights to said power supply means.

45. The invention of claim 39, in which the relay switch means has means for connecting the parking lights to said power supply means.

46. The invention of claim 42, in which the relay switch means has means for connecting the parking lights to said power supply means, and in which said second relay circuit operates to turn off the parking lights when it operates to turn off the headlights.

47. The invention of claim 44, in which the relay switch means has a first section connecting the headlights and a second section connecting the parking lights to said power supply means.

48. The invention of claim 44, in which the relay switch means has a common means connecting the headlights and parking lights to said power supply means.

49. The invention of claim 45, in which the relay switch means has a first section connecting the headlights and a second section connecting the parking lights to said power supply means.

50. The invention of claim 45, in which the relay switch means has a common means connecting the headlights and parking lights to said power supply means.

51. The invention of claim 46, in which the relay switch means has a first section connecting the headlights and a second section connecting the parking lights to said power supply means.

52. The invention of claim 46, in which the relay switch means has a common means connecting the headlights and parking lights to said power supply means.