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Two-wire interface to automobile horn relay circuit

  • US 5,789,827 A
  • Filed: 10/09/1996
  • Issued: 08/04/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A system for operating a horn in a vehicle, said system comprising:

  • a horn mechanically associated with a vehicle, said horn being configured to generate an audible signal;

    power supply means associated with said vehicle for providing electrical energy at a first power level and at a second power level lower, said second power level being less in magnitude than said first power level;

    first switching means connected to said power supply means to receive said electrical energy at said first power level and at said second power level, said first switching means being configured to supply said electrical energy at said first power level to said horn to cause said horn to generate said audible signal, said first switching means being operable between an inactive condition in which said electrical energy at said first power level is not supplied to said horn and an active condition in which said electrical energy at said first power level is supplied to said horn, said first switching means being configured to receive a first operation signal and a second operation signal, said first switching means being urged to said active condition by said first operation signal and to said inactive condition by said second operation signal, and said first switching means being configured to supply said electrical energy at said first power level in said active condition and at second power level in said inactive condition;

    second switching means connected to said first switching means to receive therefrom, said electrical energy at said first power level and at said second power level, said second switching means being operable between a first state in which said first operation signal is supplied to said first switch means to urge said first switch means to said active condition and in which said electrical energy at said first power level is received by said second switching means, and a second state in which said second operation signal is supplied to said first switching means to urge said first switching means to said inactive condition, said first operation signal being said electrical energy at said first power level and said second operation signal being said electrical energy at said second power level;

    activation means for operation by a user between a first position to generate an activate signal and a second position to generate a deactivate signal, said activation means being associated with the steering mechanism of said vehicle;

    activation conductor means connected to said activation means for supplying said activate signal and said deactivate signal;

    processing conductor means connected to said second switching means to receive electrical energy therefrom; and

    processing means electrically connected by said activation conductor means to said activation means to receive said activate signals and said deactivate signals and by said processing conductor means to said second switching means to receive said electrical energy at said second power level and to supply a first processing signal and a second processing signal thereto, said processing means being configured to generate and supply to said processing conductor means said first processing signal for urging said second switching means into said first state upon detection of said activate signal and to generate and supply to said processing conductor means said second processing signal for urging said second switching means into said second state upon the detection of said deactivate signal.

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