Control system for vehicle lighting
First Claim
1. A lighting system for a towed vehicle which is adapted to be connected to a towing vehicle, said lighting system comprising:
- a first conductor for receiving a right hazard signal from the towing vehicle;
a right hazard lamp connected to the first conductor for energizing by the right hazard signal;
a second conductor for receiving a left hazard signal from the towing vehicle;
a left hazard lamp connected to the second conductor for energizing by the left hazard signal;
a right turn indicator lamp;
a first switch selectively connecting the right turn indicator lamp to the first conductor;
a left turn indicator lamp;
a second switch selectively connecting the left turn indicator lamp to the second conductor;
a control circuit having inputs coupled to the first conductor and the second conductor, and having outputs connected to the first switch and the second switch, the control circuit responding to the first and left hazard signals changing states substantially in synchronism by rendering the first switch and the second switch nonconductive, and responding to the first and left hazard signals changing states asynchronously by rendering the first switch and the second switch conductive.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lighting system for a towed off-highway vehicle has a left and right hazard warning lamps that flash in unison when the vehicle is not turning. When the vehicle is turning, the hazard warning lamp on the side of the turn flashes, while the other hazard warning lamp is illuminated steadily. Left and right turn indicator lamps are operated by a control circuit that receives signals which operate the hazard warning lamps. The control circuit responds to those signals by rendering the turn indicator lamps inactive when the vehicle is not turning, and operates the left and right turn indicator lamps in the same manner as the left and right hazard warning lamps, respectively, when the vehicle is turning.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A lighting system for a towed vehicle which is adapted to be connected to a towing vehicle, said lighting system comprising:
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a first conductor for receiving a right hazard signal from the towing vehicle; a right hazard lamp connected to the first conductor for energizing by the right hazard signal; a second conductor for receiving a left hazard signal from the towing vehicle; a left hazard lamp connected to the second conductor for energizing by the left hazard signal; a right turn indicator lamp; a first switch selectively connecting the right turn indicator lamp to the first conductor; a left turn indicator lamp; a second switch selectively connecting the left turn indicator lamp to the second conductor; a control circuit having inputs coupled to the first conductor and the second conductor, and having outputs connected to the first switch and the second switch, the control circuit responding to the first and left hazard signals changing states substantially in synchronism by rendering the first switch and the second switch nonconductive, and responding to the first and left hazard signals changing states asynchronously by rendering the first switch and the second switch conductive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling lamps on a towed vehicle which receives a right hazard signal and a left hazard signal from a towing vehicle, said method comprising:
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applying the right hazard signal to a right hazard lamp; applying the left hazard signal to a left hazard lamp; sensing whether the first and left hazard signals change states substantially in synchronism; connecting a right turn indicator lamp in common with the right hazard lamp in response to the first and left hazard signals changing states asynchronously; disconnecting a right turn indicator lamp from the right hazard lamp in response to the first and left hazard signals changing states substantially in synchronism; connecting a left turn indicator lamp in common with the left hazard lamp in response to the first and left hazard signals changing states asynchronously; and disconnecting a left turn indicator lamp from the left hazard lamp in response to the first and left hazard signals changing states substantially in synchronism. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification