Stop light converter for dual stop and turn lamps
First Claim
1. An interface apparatus for providing energizing current to activate indicator lamps on a towed vehicle responsive to a towing vehicle signaling circuit, comprising:
- an isolation and control circuit having at least one input adapted to be coupled to said towing vehicle signaling circuit and having first and second output terminals, together with means for isolating said one input and a towing vehicle signal circuit coupled thereto from said first and second output terminals in a manner such that signals appearing on said first and second output terminals do not appear on said one input, and means for applying first and second output control signals to said first and second output terminals in response to operation of said towing vehicle signaling circuit, said at least one input of said isolation and control circuit includes a first input, a second input, a third input, said first and second inputs adapted to be separately coupled to opposite turn-signaling portions of said towing vehicle signaling circuit, isolating means including first and second logic gates coupled to said first and second inputs respectively and generating said first and second output control signals, and said third input adapted to be coupled to the towed vehicle brakes to receive a towed vehicle brake signal, a logic means having an input coupled to said third input and an output coupled to at last one input of said first and second logic gates, said logic means including a third logic gate responsive to said towed vehicle brake signal to output a third control signal to said first and second logic gates; and
an output driver for energizing said towed vehicle lamps responsive to said first and second output control signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A towed vehicle conversion and isolation circuit is disclosed for coupling dual stop and turn indicator lamps on a towed vehicle to towing vehicles having either dual stop and turn lamps or separate stop and turn lamps. Additionally, the circuit provides a small load to the towing vehicle signaling circuit and isolates the towed vehicle indicator lamps from the towing vehicle signal circuits. Furthermore, the circuit may be coupled to the towed vehicle brake coils to illuminate the towed vehicle lamps responsive to manual actuation of the towed vehicle brake for providing energizing current to the indicator lamps.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An interface apparatus for providing energizing current to activate indicator lamps on a towed vehicle responsive to a towing vehicle signaling circuit, comprising:
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an isolation and control circuit having at least one input adapted to be coupled to said towing vehicle signaling circuit and having first and second output terminals, together with means for isolating said one input and a towing vehicle signal circuit coupled thereto from said first and second output terminals in a manner such that signals appearing on said first and second output terminals do not appear on said one input, and means for applying first and second output control signals to said first and second output terminals in response to operation of said towing vehicle signaling circuit, said at least one input of said isolation and control circuit includes a first input, a second input, a third input, said first and second inputs adapted to be separately coupled to opposite turn-signaling portions of said towing vehicle signaling circuit, isolating means including first and second logic gates coupled to said first and second inputs respectively and generating said first and second output control signals, and said third input adapted to be coupled to the towed vehicle brakes to receive a towed vehicle brake signal, a logic means having an input coupled to said third input and an output coupled to at last one input of said first and second logic gates, said logic means including a third logic gate responsive to said towed vehicle brake signal to output a third control signal to said first and second logic gates; and an output driver for energizing said towed vehicle lamps responsive to said first and second output control signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An interface apparatus for providing energizing current to activate indicator lamps on a towed vehicle responsive to a towing vehicle signaling circuit, comprising:
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an isolation and control circuit having at least one input adapted to be coupled to said towing vehicle signaling circuit and having first and second output terminals, together with means for isolating said one input and a towing vehicle signal circuit coupled thereto from said first and second output terminals in a manner such that signals appearing on said first and second output terminals do not appear on said one input, and means for applying first and second output control signals to said first and second output terminals in response to operation of said towing vehicle signaling circuit, said at least one input of said isolation and control circuit includes a first input, a second input, and a third input, said first and second inputs adapted to be separately coupled to opposite turn-signaling portions of said towing vehicle signaling circuit, isolating means including first and second logic gates coupled to said first and second inputs respectively and generating said first and second output control signals, and said third input adapted to be coupled to a stop signaling portion of the towing vehicle signaling circuit, a logic means having an input coupled to aid third input and an output coupled to said first and second logic gates, said logic means including a third logic gate responsive to said vehicle brake signal to output a third control signal to said first and second logic gates; and an output driver for energizing said towed vehicle lamps responsive to said control signals; wherein said isolation and control circuit further includes a fourth input adapted to be selectively coupled to the towed vehicle brakes, said logic means having an input coupled to said fourth input. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An interface apparatus for providing energizing current to activate indicator lamps on a towed vehicle responsive to a towing vehicle signaling circuit, comprising:
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an isolation and control circuit having at least one input adapted to be coupled to said towing vehicle signaling circuit and having at least one output terminal, together with means for isolating said one input and a towing vehicle signal circuit coupled thereto from said at least one output terminal in manner such that signals appearing on said at least one output terminal do not appear on said one input, and means for applying an output control signal to said one output terminal in response to operation of said towing vehicle signalling circuit, wherein said isolation and control circuit includes input means for generating a signal indicating that the towed vehicle brakes are actuated, said input means including an input terminal adapted to be coupled to said towed vehicle brakes to receive a signal current when the towed vehicle brakes are actuated and having an output terminal connected to said isolating means; and an output driver for energizing said towed vehicle lamps responsive to said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. An interface apparatus for providing energizing current to activate indicator lamps on a towed vehicle in response to signals from a towing vehicle circuit, comprising:
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logic means for coupling to said towing vehicle circuit to receive said signals therefrom and outputting logically ordered control signals based upon said signals; MOSFET elements coupled to said logic means for outputting said energizing current activating said indicator lamps responsive to said control signals; and input means including a first input adapted to be coupled to a left turn signal lead on the towing vehicle, a second input adapted to be coupled to a right turn signal lead on said towing vehicle, a third input adapted to be coupled to a stop signal lead, and a fourth input adapted to be coupled to receive the towed vehicle brake current, and wherein said logic means is connected to said input means to receive said inputs. - View Dependent Claims (15, 17, 18)
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16. A method of illuminating dual stop and turn indicator lamps on a towed vehicle in response to towing vehicle signal operation, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring input signals corresponding to the stop and turn signal excitation of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle brake current, logically processing said input signals to develop corresponding but logically reordered output control signals; and using said output control signals to actuate drive means for illuminating said stop and turn indicator lamps of the towed vehicle in a manner electrically isolating such towed vehicle drive means from said towing vehicle signal excitation. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification