Electronic flasher system

• US 5,872,508 A
• Filed: 04/25/1997
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Niles Parts Co., Ltd. (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Niles Parts Co., Ltd. (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Taoka, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US08/845,460
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 340/692, 340/460, 340/466, 340/474, 340/903, 340/331, 340/461, 340/436
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

An electronic flasher system adapted to change an operating sound in dependence on situations surrounding a vehicle when the vehicle changes its direction or lane, so that the driver can grasp the situations surrounding the vehicle by merely listening to such operating sound. The flasher system includes a flasher circuit 21A connected with a sound generator 3 for generating operating sound, and a situation detecting sensor 6 for outputting an output signal in dependence on a running state of the vehicle. The flasher circuit 21A causes a change of the turn-signal operating sound generated by the sound generator 3 in accordance with an obstacle detection signal from an obstacle sensor 61 and a vehicle speed detection signal from a vehicle-speed sensor 62.

Claims

1. An electronic flasher system, comprising:

a flasher circuit for transmitting an intermittent signal;

direction indicator lamps arranged to provide a turn-signal flashing based on the intermittent signal from the flasher circuit;

a sound generator for generating a variable turn-signal operating sound based on the intermittent signal from the flasher circuit and corresponding to the turn-signal flashing of the direction indicator lamps; and

a sensor coupled with the flasher circuit for outputting an output signal depending on an operating state of a vehicle, wherein the turn-signal operating sound changes in accordance with the output signal from said sensor.

2. An electronic flasher system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is provided with an obstacle sensor (61) for detecting an obstacle existing near the vehicle, and the turn-signal operating sound generated by said sound generator is changed in accordance with an obstacle detection signal from said obstacle sensor.

3. An electronic flasher system according to claim 2, wherein the turn-signal operating sound generated by said sound generator is changed in accordance with both an obstacle detection signal from said obstacle sensor and a vehicle-speed detection signal from a vehicle-speed sensor.

4. An electronic flasher system according to claim 3, wherein said direction indicator lamps are connected to a semiconductor switch device, and said semiconductor switch device causes said direction indicator lamps to provide a turn-signal flashing.

5. An electronic flasher system according to claim 2, wherein said direction indicator lamps are connected to a semiconductor switch device, and said semiconductor switch device causes said direction indicator lamps to provide a turn-signal flashing.

6. An electronic flasher system according to claim 1, wherein the turn-signal operating sound generated by said sound generator is changed in accordance with a vehicle-speed detection signal from a vehicle-speed sensor.

7. An electronic flasher system according to claim 6, wherein said direction indicator lamps are connected to a semiconductor switch device, and said semiconductor switch device causes said direction indicator lamps to provide a turn-signal flashing.

8. An electronic flasher system according to claim 1, wherein said direction indicator lamps are connected to a semiconductor switch device, and said semiconductor switch device causes said direction indicator lamps to provide a turn-signal flashing.

9. The electronic flasher system of claim 1, wherein the flasher circuit is located in a module unit, and wherein the module unit further comprises:

a semiconductor switch device coupled with the direction indicator lamps;

a temperature sensing device for protecting the semiconductor switch device from heat damage; and

an electric-current detecting resistance for detecting a voltage drop below a predetermined level for changing a period of the intermittent signal from the flasher circuit to indicate a circuit breakage.

10. An electronic flasher system for a vehicle, comprising:

a flasher circuit means for transmitting an intermittent signal;

a semiconductor switch means for causing direction indicator lamps to flash based on the intermittent signal from the flasher circuit means;

a sound generator means for generating a variable turn-signal operating sound based on the intermittent signal from the flasher circuit means and corresponding to a turn-signal flashing of the direction indicator lamps when said semiconductor switch means causes the direction indicator lamps to flash;

a sensor means coupled with the flasher circuit means for outputting an output signal based on a detected operating state of the vehicle; and

means for changing the turn-signal operating sound generated by said sound generator means in accordance with the output signal from said sensor means.

11. An electronic flasher system according to claim 10, wherein said sensor means includes an obstacle sensor means for detecting an obstacle existing around the vehicle, and said changing means changes the turn-signal operating sound generated by said sound generator means in accordance with an obstacle detection signal from said obstacle sensor means.

12. An electronic flasher system according to claim 11, wherein said changing means changes the turn-signal operating sound generated by said sound generator means in accordance with both an obstacle detection signal from said obstacle sensor means and a vehicle-speed detection signal from a vehicle-speed sensor.

13. An electronic flasher system according to claim 12, wherein said changing means changes the turn-signal operating sound generated by said sound generator means by changing a length and frequency of intermittent signals output from the flasher circuit means based on the output signal from said sensor means.

14. The electronic flasher system of claim 10, wherein the flasher circuit means and the semiconductor switch means are located in a module unit, and wherein the module unit further comprises:

a temperature sensing device for protecting the semiconductor switch means from heat damage; and

an electric-current detecting resistance for detecting a voltage drop below a predetermined level for changing a period of the intermittent signal from the flasher circuit means to indicate a circuit breakage.