Automatic defensive driving illumination system

• US 5,483,107 A
• Filed: 07/23/1993
• Issued: 01/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wilmer R. Xander
• Original Assignee: Wilmer R. Xander
• Inventors: Xander, Wilmer R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M.
• Application Number:
  US08/097,085
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.6, 307/10.7, 307/10.8, 307/141.4, 361/170, 361/171, 361/195-202, 315/77-83, 315/360, 340/468, 364/424.05, 180/271
• US Class Current: 307/10.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/146 Abnormalities, e.g. fail-safe
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light

Abstract

The automatic defensive driving illumination system of this invention automatically illuminates headlights, taillights, side markers and other lights of a vehicle normally activated with the headlight switch. The automatic defensive driving illumination system first determines if the engine of the vehicle is running, determines when the starter for said engine is off and the ignition for said engine is on. If these conditions are present a delayed signal is generated. The delayed signal is combined with a signal from a timer which determines if the time of the day is during the hours of darkness. If the ignition switch is on, the engine is running and the time is during the hours of darkness the automatic defensive driving illumination system will automatically illuminate the headlights, taillights, side markers and other lights of a vehicle normally activated with the headlight switch after the delayed signal is generated. The automatic defensive driving illumination system of this invention can be used in conjunction with the manual light switch of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An automatic defensive driving illumination system which automatically illuminates headlights, taillights, side markers and other lights of a vehicle normally activated with the headlight switch when the ignition switch is turned on and the engine is running which comprises:

an enable logic means receiving inputs from means to determine if said engine is running and means to determine whether a starter for said engine is engaged or not, said enable means generating a logic high or low output based upon said inputs;

a delay logic means receiving said logical high or low output from said enable logic means, said delay logic means generating a logical low or high output based upon said inputs after a predetermined time interval;

a timing means for determining the time of the day, said timing means having an alarm, said alarm being set to correspond to the beginning of dusk, said timing means generating a logical high or low output based upon time of day;

a time hold logic means receiving said logical high or low output from said timing means, said time hold logic means generating a logical high output signal for a predetermined time interval after receiving a logical high output from said timing means, said logical high output from said timing means being triggered by said alarm in said timing means;

a silicon controlled rectifier decoder means having a plurality of inputs for receiving said outputs from said enable logic means, said delay logic means, and said time hold logic means, said silicon controlled rectifier decoder generating a logical high output when all of said inputs are logical high;

a silicon controlled rectifier means activated by said output generated by said silicon controlled rectifier decoder means; and

a relay, said relay being activated by said silicon controlled rectifier means to illuminate the headlights, taillights, side markers and other lights normally activated with the headlight switch on said vehicle.

2. The automatic defensive driving illumination system as set forth in claim 1 in which said engine running determining means monitored by said enable logic means comprises a logic low or high electrical connection from an oil pressure indicating means on said engine.

3. The automatic defensive driving illumination system as set forth in claim 1 in which said enable logic means and silicon controlled rectifier decoder means comprises digital integrated circuit chips having a plurality of NAND gates.

4. The automatic defensive driving illumination system as set forth in claim 1 in which said delayed logic means comprises a digital integrated circuit time delayed logic chip.

5. The automatic defensive driving illumination system as set forth in claim 1 in which said timing means comprises a digital clock chip.

6. A fail safe circuit which automatically illuminates headlights, taillights, side markers and other lights of a vehicle normally activated with the headlight switch which comprises:

an enable logic means receiving logical high or low inputs from an engine running sensing means, an ignition switch for said vehicle, and a starter engaged sensing means, said enable logic means generating a logical high or low output based upon said inputs;

a delay logic means activated by a logical high output from said enable logical means, said delay logical means generating a logical high after a predetermined time;

a decoder means having inputs to receive said outputs from said enable logic means and said delay logic means, said decoder means generating a logical high output when said inputs from both said enable logic means and said delay logic means are logical high; and

an illumination means to illuminate said lights on said vehicle when said illumination means is activated by said logic high output from said decoder means.

7. The circuit as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a timing means for determining the time of the day, said timing means having an output corresponding to a set time, said output of said timing means being a third input received by said decoder means, a logical high output from said timing means also required at said decoder means for said decoded means to have a logical high output.

8. The circuit as set forth in claim 7 in which said timing means comprises:

a clock means comprising a digital integrated circuit clock chip for determining the time of the day, said clock means having an output; and

a time hold logic means receiving said output from said clock means, said time hold logic generating an output corresponding to a set time, said output being received by an input to said decoder means.

9. The circuit as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a reset logic means, said reset logic means resetting said output of said timing means.

10. The circuit as set forth in claim 6 in which said enable logic means and decoder means comprises digital integrated circuit chip having a plurality of NAND gates generating outputs based upon inputs.

11. The circuit as set forth in claim 6 in which said delay logic means comprises a digital integrated circuit dual timing chip.

12. The circuit as set forth in claim 6 in which said illumination means comprises a relay, said relay being activated by said output from said decoder means, and said relay closing a current circuit to illuminate said lights.

13. The circuit as set forth in claim 6 in which said engine running sensing means comprises an electrical logic high or low signal generated by an oil pressure indicating means on said engine.

15. The method of automatically illuminating headlights, taillights, side markers and other lights of a vehicle normally activated with the headlight switch as set forth in claim 6 in which the steps further comprise:

determining the time of the day with a timing means, said timing means having an output corresponding to a set time; and

combining said output of said timing means with said outputs of the delayed signal generator means and said engine running determining means at said output combining means.

16. The method of automatically illuminating headlights, taillights, side markers and other lights of a vehicle normally activated with the headlight switch as set forth in claim 6 in which the steps of determining if said engine is running, determining if said starter is engaged, generating a delayed signal and combining said outputs of said delayed signal generator means and engine running determining means comprises using digital integrated circuit chips.

14. A fail safe method of automatically illuminating headlights, taillights, side markers and other lights of a vehicle normally activated with the headlight switch in which the steps comprise:

determining if an engine in a vehicle is running using an engine running determining means, said engine running determining means having an output;

determining when a starter for said engine is not engaged with a starter engaged determining means, said starter engaged determining means having an output;

determining when the ignition for said engine is on with an ignition on determining means, said ignition on determining means having an output;

generating a delayed signal with a delayed signal generator means when activated by outputs of said engine running determining means, said starter engaged determining means and ignition on determining means;

means for combining outputs with a combining output means of said delayed signal generator means, and said engine running determining means to provide an output signal when all inputs are present; and

activating an illumination means by said output of said combining output means to illuminate said lights on said vehicle.