Siren sound sychronized light bar system

• US 5,140,304 A
• Filed: 10/11/1988
• Issued: 08/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jack V. Miller
• Original Assignee: Jack V. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Jack V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US07/155,169
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 340/472, 340/405, 340/326, 340/331, 340/332, 340/471, 340/474, 340/475, 340/463, 340/468, 340/478, 362/219, 116/147
• US Class Current: 340/472
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P

Abstract

A light bar system for a motor vehicle including a plurality of forward-facing lights and a plurality of rear-facing lights transversely spaced on a bar across a motor vehicle, sequentially operating the forward-facing lights in a pattern moving from one light to the next light in a pattern in a preferred direction, and simultaneously operating the rear-facing lights in a pattern moving from one light to the next light in a pattern in the direction opposite that of the forward-facing lights; and sequentially operating the lights with a frequency modulating ramp generator optionally driving an acoustic siren and producing an electrical ramp signal of changing frequency, including a means for selecting a series of time-spaced frequencies in the changing frequency ramp signal, and a means for operating at least one specific forward-facing light and one specific rear-facing light in the light bar at each selected frequency of the ramp signal.

A preferred embodiment includes a joy-stick light control switch having a detented central "OFF" position in which the lights are inoperative, and four detented orthogonal positions including "PURSUIT", "TAKE-DOWN", "REAR ONLY" and "PARK" positions selecting programmed light patterns; and a siren control joy-stick switch having a detented "OFF" position, wherein the siren is silent, and four detented orthogonal positions including "SIREN", "P.A.", a "HORN" and "RADIO" positions selecting programmed audio signal functions.

Claims

1. A light bar for a motor vehicle including:

a plurality of forward-facing lights and a plurality of rear-facing lights arranged in a light bar having a right-hand end, a center and a left-hand end on a line perpendicular to the length of the vehicle;

a frequency-modulating siren ramp generator producing an electrical ramp signal of linearly changing audio frequency between a high and low acoustic pitch;

a frequency divider for selecting a series of time-spaced frequency bands in the changing frequency ramp signal;

a light selection programmer sequentially operating the lights in any one of a plurality of programmed modes in which at least one specific light is operated in the light bar at each selected frequency band of the frequency divider;

a light control switch having a plurality of mode positions that select the respective programmed modes of the light selection programmer;

an acoustic speaker siren driven by the frequency modulating ramp generator; and

a siren control switch having a plurality of mode positions that select operating modes for the acoustic speaker siren.

2. A light bar system according to claim 1 in which the ramp signal is a generally linear bidirectional undulation pattern also operating the siren in a wail mode of successive increasing and decreasing frequencies.

3. A light bar system according to claim 1 in which the ramp signal is a saw-tooth pattern of linearly increasing frequencies from a low audio frequency to a high audio frequency, also driving the siren in a yelp mode of repeated successive frequency modulating ramps of increasing frequencies.

4. A light bar system according to claim 1 in which the light control switch is a joy-stick switch having a detented central "OFF" position, in which the lights are inoperative, and four detented orthogonal positions including a "PURSUIT" position, a "TAKE-DOWN" position, a "REAR ONLY" position and a "PARK" position.

5. A light bar system according to claim 4 in which the "PURSUIT" position selects a mode in the light selection programmer which is programmed to sequence the forward-facing and rear-facing lights in a pattern in synchronism with the siren in which the lowest selected frequency of the ramp generator operates the two forward-facing lights and the two rear-facing lights nearest the center of the light bar, each successive higher frequency operating the next adjacent light in each direction from the center lights, and the highest frequency operating the light at each end of the light bar;

whereby the ramp signal results in an illumination pattern that sequentially switches symmetrically between the center and both ends of the light bar in synchronism with the siren;

wherein a siren wail signal sequentially switches the illumination pattern from the center of the light bar to both ends with the increasing siren frequency and then back to the center with the decreasing siren frequency, and a yelp signal sequentially switches the illumination pattern from the center of the light bar to both ends with increasing siren frequency and then begins again at the center at the lower frequency of the yelp signal.

6. A light bar system according to claim 4 in which the "TAKE DOWN" position selects a mode in the light selection programmer which is programmed to sequence the forward-facing and rear-facing lights in a pattern in synchronism with the siren ramp generator in which the forward-facing lights and rear-facing lights in the light bar are sequentially operated by switching in a pattern in which the lowest selected frequency of the frequency modulating ramp generator operates a light at one end of the light bar, each successive higher frequency band operates the next sequential light in the pattern across the light bar, and the highest frequency band operates the light at the opposite end of the light bar;

and a wail mode ramp signal produces an illumination pattern that sequentially switches back and forth between the opposite ends of the light bar sychronously with the siren ramp generator wail signal.

7. A light bar system according to claim 4 in which the "REAR ONLY" position selects a mode in the light selection programmer which is programmed to sequence the rear-facing lights only.

8. A light bar system according to claim 4 in which the "PARK" position selects a mode in the light selection programmer which is programmed to sequence only a portion of the forward-facing and rear-facing lights in a pattern in synchronism with the siren ramp generator in which the forward-facing lights and rear-facing lights in the light bar are sequentially operated by switching in a pattern in which the lowest selected frequency of the frequency modulating ramp generator operates a light at one end of the light bar, each successive higher frequency band operates the next sequential light in the pattern across the light bar, and the highest frequency band operates the light at the opposite end of the light bar;

and a wail mode ramp signal produces an illumination pattern that sequentially switches back and forth between the opposite ends of the light bar synchronously with the siren ramp generator wail signal.

9. A light bar system according to claim 6 or 8 which includes an electrical switching means operable by the left-turn signal selector of the motor vehicle to operate a sequentially operated illumination pattern in which the forward-facing lights sequentially switch from the right-hand end of the light bar to the left-hand end, and the rear-facing lights sequentially switch from the left-hand end of the light bar to the right-hand end;

and operable by the right-turn signal selector of the motor vehicle in which the forward-facing lights sequentially switch from the left-hand end of the light bar to the right-hand end and the rear-facing lights sequentially switch from the right-hand end of the light bar to the left-hand end.

10. A light bar system according to claim 9 in which the left-turn signal actuated light pattern also includes a continuously operating uncolored spotlight aimed in the left-oblique direction, and the right-turn signal actuated light pattern also includes a continuously operating uncolored spotlight aimed in the right-oblique direction.

11. A light bar system according to claim 2 or 3 in which the ramp signal is provided with an electric switch means operable by the horn button of the motor vehicle and also includes a means for doubling the number of ramps generated per unit of time.

12. A light bar system according to claim 1 in which the siren control switch is a joy-stick switch having a detented central "OFF" position, wherein the siren is silent, and four detented orthogonal positions including a "SIREN" position, a "P.A." position, a "HORN" position and a "RADIO" position.

13. A light bar system according to claim 12 in which the "SIREN" position selects a mode in which the siren ramp generator drives the acoustic speaker siren.

14. A light bar system according to claim 12 in which the "P.A." position selects a mode in which the acoustic speaker siren is connected to a radio microphone.

15. A light bar system according to claim 12 in which the "HORN" position selects a mode in which the acoustic speaker siren is connected to the siren ramp generator through a switching means connected to a horn relay of the motor vehicle, whereby operating the vehicle horn energizes the siren.

16. A light bar system according to claim 12 in which the "RADIO" position selects a mode in which the acoustic speaker siren is connected to a radio receiver of the motor vehicle, whereby incoming radio signals can be heard over the acoustic speaker siren.

17. A light bar system according to claim 4 in which the orthagonal position for the "PURSUIT" mode is towards the front of the vehicle, the "TAKE DOWN" mode is towards the right of the vehicle, the "REAR ONLY" mode is towards the left of the vehicle, and the "PARK" mode is towards the rear of the vehicle.

18. A light bar according to claim 12 in which the orthagonal position for the "SIREN" mode is towards the front of the vehicle, the "P.A." mode is towards the right of the vehicle, the "HORN" mode is towards the left of the vehicle, and the "RADIO" mode is towards the rear of the vehicle.