Multi-level illumination control system for automotive signalling use
First Claim
1. An improved illumination control system for vehicular use for automatically controlling the intensity of a signal light source as a function of at least one safety-affecting parameter, comprising a vehicular electrical power source for powering the light source;
- controllable semiconductor means for controlling energization provided by the power source for the light source and capable of providing a plurality of different illumination levels of the light source;
at least one sensor for sensing such a parameter;
microcontroller means, responsive to said at least one sensor, for controlling the semiconductor means as a function of such parameter and operative to cause the semiconductor means to vary energization provided by the power source to the light source for transition thereof between said different illumination levels.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular-borne illumination control system of the invention for vehicular use automatically controls intensity of a signal light source, i.e., center mounted brake signal, as a function of one or more safety-affecting parameters, e.g., deceleration and/or light level or other ambient condition including fog or precipitation as sensed by sensor(s) of the system. MOSFET switching controls energization of the light from vehicle power, with capability of providing different possible illumination levels by duty cycle control. A microcontroller is responsive sensor input for controlling the duty cycle to vary energization of the light source for transition between said different illumination levels. The transition is thus able to be varied according to a time-varying function, as effectively by spiked overdriving or underdriving, to compensate for human physiological inability to perceive change in the different intensity levels or states.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. An improved illumination control system for vehicular use for automatically controlling the intensity of a signal light source as a function of at least one safety-affecting parameter, comprising a vehicular electrical power source for powering the light source;
- controllable semiconductor means for controlling energization provided by the power source for the light source and capable of providing a plurality of different illumination levels of the light source;
at least one sensor for sensing such a parameter;
microcontroller means, responsive to said at least one sensor, for controlling the semiconductor means as a function of such parameter and operative to cause the semiconductor means to vary energization provided by the power source to the light source for transition thereof between said different illumination levels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- controllable semiconductor means for controlling energization provided by the power source for the light source and capable of providing a plurality of different illumination levels of the light source;
- 20. In an illumination control system for vehicular use for automatically controlling the intensity of a signal light source as a function of at least one safety-affecting parameter, including a vehicular electrical power source for powering the light source, means for controlling energization provided by the power source for the light source by a change of the degree of energization thereof, means for sensing such a parameter, the improvement comprising means, responsive to the sensing means, for causing the energization controlling means to change the degree of energization of the light source in an accelerated degree in response to the sensed parameter, whereby to shorten the response time in perceiving change in intensity resulting from overcompensated energization.
-
24. An improved illumination control system for vehicular use for automatically controlling the intensity of a signal light source as a function of at least one safety-affecting parameter, comprising a vehicular electrical power source for powering the light source;
- controllable semiconductor means for controlling energization provided by the power source for the light source and capable of providing a plurality of different illumination states of the light source;
at least one sensor for sensing such a parameter;
microcontroller means, responsive to said at least one sensor, for controlling the semiconductor means as a function of such parameter and operative to cause the semiconductor means to vary energization provided by the power source to the light source for transition thereof between different illumination states according to a time-varying function acceleratively compensating for physiological inability to perceive change in said different intensity levels by overcompensated energization of the light source for at least one state, whereby to shorten response time in perceiving change in intensity resulting from energization of the light source.
- controllable semiconductor means for controlling energization provided by the power source for the light source and capable of providing a plurality of different illumination states of the light source;
Specification