Vehicular variable brake light intensity system

• US 5,610,578 A
• Filed: 05/13/1996
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Florent J. Gilmore
• Original Assignee: Florent J. Gilmore
• Inventors: Gilmore, Florent J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rushing, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US08/645,295
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 340/479, 340/467, 340/469, 340/463, 340/468, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/441 Electric switches operable by the driver's pedals
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicular variable brake light intensity system including at least one light situated on a vehicle. Also included is a brake pedal potentiometer with a pair of contacts. The resistivity between the contacts is adapted to change as function of the motion of the brake arm during braking. Control circuitry is adapted to allow the brake lights to emit light with an intensity which is a function of the amount of deceleration in a first mode of operation. Also, in a second mode of operation, the control circuitry is adapted to actuate the light intermittently upon the deceleration surpassing a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A vehicular variable brake light intensity system comprising, in combination:

a brake pedal potentiometer comprising a brake pedal with a brake arm hingably coupled at an inboard end to a vehicle, a pad fixed to an outboard end thereof, and a frame integrally formed at an intermediate extent of the brake arm, the frame including a top face coupled to the brake arm, a bottom face coupled to the brake arm beneath the top face, and a pair of closed side faces coupled between the top face and bottom face thus defining an interior space with access afforded thereto via a pair of opposite open side faces situated perpendicularly with respect to the direction of motion of the brake arm, the brake pedal potentiometer further including an arcuate rod with a predetermined resistivity coupled at a first end to the vehicle and further situated within the interior space of the frame in axial alignment with the direction of motion of the brake arm, a spring biased contact positioned on an interior surface of one of the closed side faces with the spring biased contact abutting the potentiometer, a guide roller situated on a closed side face opposite the spring biased contact, and another contact connected to the inboard end of the rod, whereby the resistivity between the contacts changes with the motion of the brake arm during braking, wherein a housing is included for protection of the brake pedal potentiometer with an elongated cut out formed on a lower surface thereof for allowing movement of the brake arm therein;

variable voltage regulator means connected to the contacts of the brake pedal potentiometer for producing a ramp voltage at an output thereof which is a function of the resistivity between the contacts;

power amplifier means having a pair of outputs connected to a set of conventional brake lights and an input connected to the output of the variable voltage regulator means for providing power to the brake lights, wherein the power is a function of the ramp voltage of the variable voltage regulator means and the power amplifier means is adapted t6 control the current which is delivered to the brake lights;

peak detecting means including an input coupled to the output of the variable voltage regulator means and an output connected to the power amplifier means for disabling the power amplifier means upon the detection of a predetermined voltage at the input thereof;

oscillator means having an input connected to the output of the peak detecting means for producing a square wave triggering signal at an output thereof upon the detection of the predetermined voltage by the peak detecting means;

monostable multivibrator means having an input connected to the output of the oscillator means, the multivibrator means adapted to produce a smooth pulse at the output thereof as a function of the triggering signal of the oscillator means;

high speed amplifier means having a pair of outputs connected to the brake lights and an input connected to the output of the multivibrator means for intermittently providing power to brake lights, wherein the power is a function of the pulse of the variable voltage regulator means and the high speed amplifier means includes fast switching field effect transistors to ensure that the brake lights have a definite on and off state; and

a plurality of parking lights situated on the vehicle, second power amplifier means having a pair of outputs connected to the parking lights and an input connected to the output of the variable voltage regulator means for providing power to parking lights, wherein the power is a function of the ramp voltage of the variable voltage regulator means, and second high speed amplifier means having a pair of outputs connected to the parking lights and an input connected to the output of the multivibrator means for intermittently providing power to parking lights, wherein the power is a function of the pulse of the multivibrator means;

whereby the brake lights and parking lights emit light with an intensity which is a function of the amount of deceleration in a first mode of operation and further intermittently emit light upon the deceleration surpassing a predetermined amount in a second mode of operation.