Wiper and headlight control circuit

• US 5,523,630 A
• Filed: 08/04/1994
• Issued: 06/04/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rodney Mcwhorter, Thelma Smelley
• Original Assignee: Rodney Mcwhorter, Thelma Smelley
• Inventors: Smelley, Thelma, McWhorter, Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/283,188
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 361/170, 361/173-177, 315/83, 315/77, 315/82, 340/457.2, 318/DIG. 2
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/08 electrically driven conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and liquid supply of windscreen washer B60S1/482; conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and means for cleaning parts o parts other than windscreens or front windows B60S1/56, B60S1/58, B60S1/606

Abstract

A control circuit automatically provides power to the headlights of a vehicle once the windshield wipers have been turned on if the ignition switch is also turned on. Should the headlights already be turned on once the windshield wipers are turned on, the control circuit of the present invention has no effect on the operation of the headlights. However, should the headlight switch remain on after the ignition switch is turned off, an audible alarm is produced to alert the user of the vehicle that the headlights are still on.

Claims

1. A wiper and headlight control circuit connectable to a vehicle comprising:

a first relay coil having a first end and a second end;

a second relay coil having a first end and a second end;

a first hard wire connection connected to said second end of said first relay coil, whereby said first hard wire connection is made to a wiper switch of the vehicle upon installation of the control circuit;

a second hard wire connection connected to said first end of said first relay coil and said first end of said second relay coil, whereby said second hard wire connection is made to an ignition switch of the vehicle upon installation of the control circuit;

a normally open first relay switch closed upon the actuation of said first relay coil, said first relay switch including a first end and a second end;

a normally open second relay switch closed upon the actuation of said second relay coil, said second relay switch including a first and second end;

a third hard wire connection connected to said first end of said second relay switch, whereby said third hard wire connection is made to both headlights of the vehicle upon installation of the control circuit;

a fourth hard wire connection connected to said second end of said second relay switch, whereby said fourth hard wire connection is made to a battery of the vehicle upon installation of the control circuit;

a fifth hard wire connection made to a ground of the vehicle upon installation of the control circuit; and

,

means for providing a ground connection from said fifth hard wire connection to said second end of said second relay coil upon the closing of said first relay switch,

whereby, after the installation of the control circuit within the vehicle, and upon the activation of the ignition switch of the vehicle so as to provide power to the second hard wire connection, the engagement of the wiper switch of the vehicle causes a ground connection to the first hard wire connection to be made thereby energizing the first relay coil and closing said first relay switch, which in turn causes the means for providing a ground connection to provide the ground connection to the second end of said second relay coil, thereby energizing the second relay coil so as to close the second relay switch, thereby providing power to the headlights of the vehicle should the headlights be off prior to the engagement of the windshield wipers of the vehicle.

2. A wiper and headlight control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for providing a ground connection comprises a silicon controlled rectifier having a first end connected to said second end of said second relay coil, a second end connected to said fifth hard wire connection, and a gate connection for activating said silicon controlled rectifier once power is provided to said gate connection so as to provide a ground connection to said second end of said second relay coil,

wherein said first end of said first relay switch is connected to said second end of said second relay coil and said second end of said second relay switch is connected to a biasing circuit, said biasing circuit being connected to said gate connection for activating silicon controlled rectifier once said second relay switch is closed.

3. A wiper and headlight control circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said biasing circuit includes a pair of resistors, a first resistor thereof connected between said second end of said first relay switch and said gate connection, and a second resistor thereof connected between said gate connection and said fifth hard wire connection.

4. A wiper and headlight control circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a diode having a first end for allowing current to pass therethrough to a second end while prevent current from passing from said second end to said first end, said first end thereof being connected to said third hard wire connection; and

a buzzer circuit having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end thereof is connected to said second hard wire connection and said second end thereof is connected to said second end of said diode,

whereby said buzzer is activated by power supplied to said third hard wire connection leading to the headlights once the ignition switch is turned off so as to provide a ground connection to said second hard wire connection.

5. A wiper and headlight control circuit as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a diode having a first end for allowing current to pass therethrough to a second end while prevent current from passing from said second end to said first end, said first end thereof being connected to said third hard wire connection; and

a buzzer circuit having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end thereof is connected to said second hard wire connection and said second end thereof is connected to said second end of said diode,

whereby said buzzer is activated by power supplied to said third hard wire connection leading to the headlights once the ignition switch is turned off so as to provide a ground connection to said second hard wire connection.

6. A wiper and headlight control circuit as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a diode having a first end for allowing current to pass therethrough to a second end while prevent current from passing from said second end to said first end, said first end thereof being connected to said third hard wire connection; and

a buzzer circuit having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end thereof is connected to said second hard wire connection and said second end thereof is connected to said second end of said diode,

whereby said buzzer is activated by power supplied to said third hard wire connection leading to the headlights once the ignition switch is turned off so as to provide a ground connection to said second hard wire connection.

7. A wiper and headlight control circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a normally open third relay switch having a first end and a second, said third relay switch being closed upon the activation of said second relay coil, said first end of said third relay switch connected to said third hard wire connection; and

a sixth hard wire connection made to any parking lights of the vehicle, said sixth hard wire connection being connected to said second end of said third relay switch.

8. A wiper and headlight control circuit as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a normally open third relay switch having a first end and a second, said third relay switch being closed upon the activation of said second relay coil, said first end of said third relay switch connected to said third hard wire connection; and

a sixth hard wire connection made to any parking lights of the vehicle, said sixth hard wire connection being connected to said second end of said third relay switch.

9. A wiper and headlight control circuit as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a normally open third relay switch having a first end and a second, said third relay switch being closed upon the activation of said second relay coil, said first end of said third relay switch connected to said third hard wire connection; and

a sixth hard wire connection made to any parking lights of the vehicle, said sixth hard wire connection being connected to said second end of said third relay switch.

10. A wiper and headlight control circuit as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a normally open third relay switch having a first end and a second, said third relay switch being closed upon the activation of said second relay coil, said first end of said third relay switch connected to said third hard wire connection; and

a sixth hard wire connection made to any parking lights of the vehicle, said sixth hard wire connection being connected to said second end of said third relay switch.

11. A wiper and headlight control circuit as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a normally open third relay switch having a first end and a second, said third relay switch being closed upon the activation of said second relay coil, said first end of said third relay switch connected to said third hard wire connection; and

a sixth hard wire connection made to any parking lights of the vehicle, said sixth hard wire connection being connected to said second end of said third relay switch.

12. A wiper and headlight control circuit as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a normally open third relay switch having a first end and a second, said third relay switch being closed upon the activation of said second relay coil, said first end of said third relay switch connected to said third hard wire connection; and

a sixth hard wire connection made to any parking lights of the vehicle, said sixth hard wire connection being connected to said second end of said third relay switch.