Automotive light and wiper control circuit

• US 5,250,850 A
• Filed: 01/14/1991
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alan S. Lipman, Albert Pace, William R. Neuhaus
• Original Assignee: Alan S. Lipman, Albert Pace, William R. Neuhaus
• Inventors: Neuhaus, William R., Lipman, Alan S., Pace, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US07/640,810
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 315/77, 315/82, 315/83, 361/173, 361/175
• US Class Current: 307/10.8
• 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 2300/312 Adverse weather

Abstract

A circuit for coupling the operation of the headlights and parking lights of an automobile to the operation of the windshield wipers consists of a first switch controlled by the presence of wiper motor voltage. The switch is in parallel with the headlights switch to effect operation of the headlights. A latch provides for the continuous operation of the switch in the event of loss of wiper motor voltage, such as when the wipers are operated in a pulsed mode. A second switch, controlled by operation of the first, operates the parking lights. The circuit includes elements to release the latch to disengage the first and second switches to turn the lights off when the wiper motor is turned off, and preferably includes the parking lights switch as a part thereof.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling the operation of automobile headlights and parking lights in conjunction with operation of windshield wipers, comprising:

a transistor serving as a first switch means operable by the presence of a voltage applied to a windshield wiper motor, said switch means coupled to first relay means, a pair of contacts of said first relay means being in parallel with a switch for the automobile headlights;

latch means operable by said first switch means to latch said first switch means in a closed position upon first closing of said first switch means;

second relay means coupled to said first relay means contacts, a pair of contacts of said second relay means being in series with the automotive parking lights to cause energization thereof upon closure and operable in response to the closing of said first relay means contacts;

a transistor serving as a means for decoupling said latch means from said first switch means, said decoupling means further including a parking lights switch of the automobile, said parking lights switch being coupled to said decoupling means transistor whereby said decoupling means transistor is energized to decouple said first switch means from said latch means upon momentary parking lights switch energization and said decoupling means transistor grounds an interconnection between said first switch means and latch means upon energization, whereby said first relay means becomes disengaged in the absence of wiper motor voltage such that said headlights and parking lights are extinguished.

2. Apparatus for controlling the operation of automobile headlights and parking lights in conjunction with operation of windshield wipers, comprising:

a transistor serving as a first switch means operable by the presence of a voltage applied to a windshield wiper motor, said switch means coupled to first relay means, a pair of contacts of said first relay means being in parallel with a switch for the automobile headlights;

latch means operable by said first switch means to latch said first switch means in a closed position upon first closing of said first switch means;

second relay means coupled to said first relay means contacts, a pair of contacts of said second relay means being in series with the automotive parking lights to cause energization thereof upon closure and operable in response to the closing of said first relay means contacts;

a transistor serving as a means for decoupling said latch means from said first switch means, said decoupling means further including a parking lights switch of the automobile, said parking lights switch being coupled to said decoupling means transistor whereby said decoupling means transistor is energized to decouple said first switch means from said latch means upon momentary parking lights switch energization and said decoupling means transistor grounds an interconnection between said first switch means and latch means upon energization, whereby said first relay means becomes disengaged in the absence of wiper motor voltage such that said headlights and parking lights are extinguished, and wherein said parking lights switch is connected in series with a parking lights relay and said decoupling means further comprises a transistor coupled to the interconnection between said parking lights switch and said parking lights relay and to said decoupling means transistor such that said transistor coupled to said parking lights switch and parking lights relay interconnection constitutes a controlled switch energizing said decoupling means transistor upon momentary parking lights switch energization.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the base of said transistor coupled to said parking lights switch and parking lights relay interconnection is coupled to said interconnection between said parking lights switch and parking lights relay and the collector of said transistor is coupled to said decoupling means transistor.