Sudden-stop brake-light warning system
First Claim
1. A sudden-stop brake-light warning system that functions in combination with an existing vehicle brake-light circuit comprising a power source, a brake pedal operated brake switch connected between the power source and at least one brake light, said system comprising:
- a) a flashing brake-light circuit comprising;
(1) a multivibrator circuit,(2) an inertia-operative switching switch circuit that includes an inertia-activated switch having a first contact A connected to the power source through the brake switch and a second contact B,(3) a silicon controlled rectifier circuit that includes a silicon controlled rectifier having its gate connected to the second contact B of said inertia-activated switch and its anode connected to said multivibrator circuit,(4) a relay drive/relay circuit connected to the output of said multivibrator circuit, whereupon the closing of said inertial-activated switch, due to a panic stop of a vehicle, the current from the power source turns ON said silicon controlled rectifier which then enables said multivibrator circuit which in turn, applied a pulsating current to a coil of a relay located in said relay drive/relay circuit causing said relay to pulsate a normally closed contact of said relay causing said at least one brake light to rapidly flash ON and OFF in accordance with the pulsating current set by a time constant in said multivibrator circuit, andb) wherein said existing vehicle brake-light circuit under normal braking conditions, provide means for bypassing said flashing brake light circuit to allow the power source to be applied directly to said at least one brake light through the normally closed contact of said relay.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sudden-stop brake-light warning system (10) that causes the brake lights (56) of a vehicle to intermittently pulsate. The pulsation of the lights (56) is achieved by a flashing brake-light circuit (12) that is only activated when the brake pedal is depressed during a panic stop. The circuit (12) consists of a mercury switch (51), located in an inertia operative switching circuit (16), that closes only when the brake switch (54) is depressed during a panic stop. When the switch (54) closes, the power from the vehicle battery (52) is applied to the gate of a silicon controlled rectifier (CR1) located in a silicon controlled rectifier circuit (18). The energizing of CR1 enables a multivibrator circuit (14) connected via a relay driven transistor (Q3) to the coil (20A) of a relay (K1) located in a relay drive/relay circuit (20). The relay is pulsed in accordance with the time constant of the multivibrator and as the coil (20A) pulses, so are the brake lights (56).
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A sudden-stop brake-light warning system that functions in combination with an existing vehicle brake-light circuit comprising a power source, a brake pedal operated brake switch connected between the power source and at least one brake light, said system comprising:
-
a) a flashing brake-light circuit comprising; (1) a multivibrator circuit, (2) an inertia-operative switching switch circuit that includes an inertia-activated switch having a first contact A connected to the power source through the brake switch and a second contact B, (3) a silicon controlled rectifier circuit that includes a silicon controlled rectifier having its gate connected to the second contact B of said inertia-activated switch and its anode connected to said multivibrator circuit, (4) a relay drive/relay circuit connected to the output of said multivibrator circuit, whereupon the closing of said inertial-activated switch, due to a panic stop of a vehicle, the current from the power source turns ON said silicon controlled rectifier which then enables said multivibrator circuit which in turn, applied a pulsating current to a coil of a relay located in said relay drive/relay circuit causing said relay to pulsate a normally closed contact of said relay causing said at least one brake light to rapidly flash ON and OFF in accordance with the pulsating current set by a time constant in said multivibrator circuit, and b) wherein said existing vehicle brake-light circuit under normal braking conditions, provide means for bypassing said flashing brake light circuit to allow the power source to be applied directly to said at least one brake light through the normally closed contact of said relay. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification