Driving-safety ancillary white-flash alerting-system

• US 6,025,775 A
• Filed: 06/26/1997
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Glenn E. Erlandson
• Original Assignee: Glenn E. Erlandson
• Inventors: Erlandson, Glenn E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US08/882,932
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/479, 340/475, 340/471, 340/478, 340/465, 340/469, 340/456, 340/467
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies

Abstract

The notion of an easily retrofitable passive lighting-safety device designed to be generally installed into the existing rear lighting wiring-circuit of any motor-vehicle from motorcycles to cars and trucks, --so as to significantly boost a following driver'"'"'s visualacuity cognition threshold of awareness regarding the state of a leading vehicle'"'"'s sudden breaking procedure. The invention provides an intense quasi-precognitive white-light "flashback" alerting effect, preferably appearing (particularly under nighttime conditions) as a nearly subliminal approximate 100-200/millisecond flashback of visually non-deacclimating "white-light", emanating from a vehicle'"'"'s existing back-up lights (or integrated with the DOT high-center brake-light). The effect being to essentially arouse a following motorist'"'"'s attention to the simultaneous light-up of the preceding vehicle'"'"'s stoplights. Regardless as to how long braking action continues, the so called STOPWHITES™ only illuminate in flashback once for a brief instant per actuation of the brakes; --having served their sole purpose in attracting a following driver'"'"'s attention to need for braking. A following driver being thus able to react substantially sooner than viewing conventional stoplights only; --thereby significantly shortening the braking response-time. Additionally, exemplary circuits teach wiring the preferably solid-state electrical-module with directional-signal lights, as well as the 4-Way/Emergency-flasher system.

Claims

1. A rear-collision avoidance lighting flashback system for a motor-vehicle, generating a whitelight flashback early-warning visual phenomenon, psychophysiologically arousing an earlier threshold of awareness passively alerting following drivers as to an initial braking condition;

said system comprising a motor-vehicle equipped with;

a commercially available electrically stimulated transducer means capable of radiating energy of a frequency-range facilitated by the human-eye as substantially within the narrow spectrum of so called whitelight;

a conventional driver actuated nighttime road-lighting operating switch;

a pair of conventional right and left/spotlights (R&

L/spotlights normally circuited to operate in response to application of the vehicle'"'"'s brake-pedal;

a pair of conventional rear R&

L/turnlights normally circuited to operate directionally exclusive in response to selective actuation of vehicle'"'"'s turn-signal switch;

an electrical-circuit adaptation means by which to place said transducer means in electrical communication with said motor-vehicle'"'"'s electrical-circuitry;

an ECU means programed and circuited with vehicle'"'"'s existing electrical system as to be triggered upon initial application of said stoplights, whereby a timed electrical signal is sent to said transducer means, thereby propagating an intense fractional-second flash of light aftwardly to attract attention of following drivers;

a reactivation-suppression delay-phase of operation, whereby said ECU means is programmed to defeat reactivation of the timed fractional-second signal until brake-pedal action has ceased and subsequently reapplied, said delay-phase thus negating excessive occurrence of said flash events as to thereby maintain spontaneous visual effectiveness of said white-light visual phenomenon.

2. The flashback system according to claim 1, wherein said transducer means comprises a pair of conventional R&

L/backup-lights, normally circuited to operate in response to vehicle'"'"'s transmission being shifted into reverse.

3. The flashback system according to claim 1, wherein said transducer means comprises a pair of lights having relatively high intensity not employed as backup-lights, which are arranged proximal said stoplights.

4. The flashback system according to claim 1, wherein under nighttime conditions the ECU timed fractional-second flash is limited to 1/4-second duration, via actuation of said nighttime road-lighting operating switch.

5. The flashback system according to claim 1, wherein under daytime conditions the timed fractional-second flash is limited to 1/2-second duration.

6. The flashback system according to claim 1, wherein said R&

L/stoplights are conventionally circuited to normally activate a DOT-mandated central stoplight.

7. The flashback system according to claim 1, wherein said R&

L/turnlights are each provided with a proximally discrete said transducer means operating in a fractional-second manner, whereby only a single said flash event is generated upon initial left or right biasing of said turn-signal switch.

8. The flashback system according to claim 1, wherein said transducer means comprises a pair of lights having relatively high intensity not employed as backup-lights, one of which is arranged discretely proximal both said L&

R turnlights.

9. The flashback system according to claim 1, wherein said ECU means includes a further reactivation delay timer means preventing reactivation of said transducer even after said brake action is released and reapplied, thereby not to trigger another said timed electrical signal to said transducer means upon application of said brake pedal until a preprogrammed length of time has occurred;

thus still further suppressing excessive occurrence of said flash events.

10. A rear-collision avoidance lighting flashback apparatus for a motor-vehicle, generating a whitelight flashback early-warning visual phenomenon, psychophysiologically arousing an earlier threshold of awareness passively alerting following drivers as to an initial braking condition;

said apparatus comprising a motor-vehicle equipped with;

a commercially available electrically stimulated transducer means capable of radiating energy of a frequency-range facilitated by the human-eye as within the narrow spectrum of so called whitelight;

a conventional driver actuated nighttime road-lighting operating switch;

a pair of conventional R&

L/stoplights normally circuited to operate in response to application of vehicle'"'"'s brake-pedal;

a pair of conventional rear R&

L/turnlights normally circuited to operate directionally exclusive in response to selective actuation of vehicle'"'"'s turn-signal switch;

an electrical-circuit adaptation means by which to place said transducer means in electrical communication with said motor-vehicle'"'"'s electrical-circuitry;

an ECU means programed and circuited with vehicle'"'"'s existing electrical system as to be triggered upon initial application of said stoplights, whereby a timed electrical signal is sent to said transducer means, thereby propagating an intense fractional-second flash of light aftwardly to attract attention of following drivers;

a reactivation-suppression delay-phase of operation, whereby said ECU means is programmed to defeat activation of the timed fractional-second signal until brake-pedal action has ceased and subsequently reapplied, said delay-phase thus negating excessive occurrence of flash events as to thereby maintain visual spontaneous effectiveness of said white-light visual phenomenon.

11. The flashback apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said transducer means comprises a pair of conventional R&

L/backup-lights, normally circuited to operate in response to vehicle'"'"'s transmission being shifted into reverse.

12. The flashback apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said transducer means comprises a pair of lights having relatively high intensity not employed as backup-lights, said transducer means arranged proximal said stoplights and are activated for a fractional-second manner upon initial actuation of said stoplights.

13. The flashback apparatus according to claim 10, wherein under nighttime conditions the ECU timed fractional-second flash is limited to 1/4-second duration, via actuation of said nighttime road-lighting operating switch.

14. The flashback apparatus according to claim 10, wherein under daytime conditions the timed fractional-second flash is limited to 1/2-second duration.

15. The flashback apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said R&

L/stoplights are conventionally circuited to normally activate a DOT-mandated central stoplight.

16. The flashback apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said R&

L/turnlights are each provided with a proximal discrete said transducer means operating in a fractional-second manner, whereby only a single said flash event is generated upon initial left or right biasing of said turn-signal switch.

17. The flashback apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said ECU means includes a further reactivation delay timer means preventing reactivation of said transducer means even after said brake action is released and reapplied, thereby not to trigger another said timed electrical signal to said transducer means upon application of said brake-pedal until a preprogrammed length of time has occurred;

thus still further suppressing excessive occurrence of said flash events.

18. The flashback system according to claim 10, wherein said transducer means comprises a pair of lights having relatively high intensity not employed as backup-lights, one of which is arranged discretely proximal both said L&

R turnlights.

19. A rear-collision avoidance lighting flashback apparatus for a motor-vehicle, generating a whitelight flashback early-warning visual phenomenon, psychophysiologically arousing an earlier threshold of awareness passively alerting following motorists as to an initial braking condition;

the apparatus comprising;

a commercially available electrically stimulated transducer means capable of radiating energy of a frequency-range facilitated by the human-eye as substantially within the narrow spectrum of so called whitelight;

a conventional DOT-mandated or other type centered stoplight and associated circuit thereof arranged upon the motor-vehicle in cooperation with at least one said transducer means arranged proximal thereto, so as to effectively propagate said whitelight aftwardly toward following motorists;

an electrical-circuit adaptation means by which to place said transducer means in electrical communication with said motor-vehicle'"'"'s electrical-circuitry;

an ECU means programed and circuited with vehicle'"'"'s existing electrical system as to be triggered upon initial application of said stoplight, whereby a timed electrical signal is sent to said transducer means, thereby propagating an intense fractional-second flash of light aftwardly to attract attention of following drivers;

a reactivation-suppression delay-phase of operation, whereby said ECU means is programmed to defeat reactivation of the timed fractional-second signal until brake-pedal action has ceased and subsequently reapplied, said delay-phase thus negating excessive occurrence of flash events as to thereby maintain spontaneous visual effectiveness of said white-light visual phenomenon.

20. The flashback apparatus system according to claim 19, wherein said motor-vehicle is a motorcycle including a conventional directionally exclusive turn-signal control apparatus arranged upon said motorcycle in cooperation with a separate said transducer means arranged proximal both a right and a left turnlight and as to propagate said white-light both laterally and aftwardly.

21. A rear-collision avoidance lighting apparatus for a motor-vehicle, generating a whitelight flashback early-warning visual phenomenon, psychophysiologically arousing an earlier threshold of awareness passively alerting adjacent motorists as to an initial lateral change of vehicle position condition;

the apparatus comprising;

a commercially available electrically stimulated transducer means capable of radiating energy of a frequency-range facilitated by the human-eye as within the narrow spectrum of so called whitelight, and arranged as to be most apparently visible substantially aftward of said motor-vehicle;

a conventional directionally exclusive turn-signal control apparatus arranged upon the motor-vehicle in cooperation with a separate said transducer means proximal a right and a left turnlight, as to propagate said white-light both laterally and aftwardly;

an electrical-circuit adaptation means by which to place said transducer means in electrical communication with said motor-vehicle'"'"'s turnlight circuitry;

an ECU included within said electrical-circuit means providing timing means upon initial activation of said control apparatus, limiting duration of a flashback action to a single fractional-second flash upon initial activation of said turnlight, thereby maintaining spontaneous visual effectiveness.

22. A collision avoidance apparatus for a motor-vehicle, employing a white-light flashback early-warning impulse psychophysiologically arousing an earlier threshold of awareness passively alerting rear approaching motorists as to a road-emergency situation;

the apparatus comprising;

a commercially available electrically stimulated transducer means capable of radiating energy of a frequency-range facilitated by the human-eye as within the narrow spectrum of so called whitelight, and arranged as to be most apparently visible in horizontal azimuth directions;

a pair of conventional rear R&

L turnlights, including electrical-circuit means adaptation to motor-vehicle'"'"'s existing 4-way/emergency-flasher circuitry, facilitating simultaneous communication with said transducer means;

an ECU included within said electrical-circuit adaption providing timing means upon initial activation of rear pair of 4-way lights, thereby limiting duration of a flashback action to a single fractional-second flash event upon each normal full-blink activation of said rear lights.