Remotely activated high-candle power illumination

• US 6,443,604 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murray Rudenberg
• Original Assignee: Murray Rudenberg
• Inventors: Rudenberg, Murray
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/489,552
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 362/512, 362/514, 362/517, 362/276, 362/546, 362/802, 362/488, 362/233, 362/490, 362/277, 362/280, 362/282, 362/319, 362/322, 362/323, 362/324, 362/346, 362/297, 362/396, 362/240, 362/241, 340/468, 340/471, 340/473, 340/426
• US Class Current: 362/488
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A method of illuminating a region outside a vehicle, and a system for accomplishing the method, the method consisting of the steps of: receiving a signal from outside of the vehicle; activating, in response to the receiving the signal, at least one lamp within the vehicle; and illuminating, in response to the activating of the at least one lamp, the region outside the vehicle. The illumination is at least 180 degrees around the vehicle and includes projecting light from the at least one lamp within the vehicle to the region outside the vehicle. In variations of this embodiment, the illuminating includes intermittently illuminating the at least one lamp by projecting light in a flashing manner from the at least one lamp within the vehicle to the region outside the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of illuminating a region outside a vehicle comprising:

receiving a signal from outside of the vehicle;

activating, in response to the receiving the signal, at least one lamp within the vehicle, the at least one lamp oriented to provide light substantially horizontally; and

illuminating, in response to the activating of the at least one lamp, the region outside the vehicle, and at least 180 degrees around the vehicle, wherein the illuminating includes projecting light from the at least one lamp within the vehicle to the region outside the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said illuminating comprises illuminating intermittently, in response to the activating of the at least one lamp, the region outside the vehicle, and at least 180 degrees around the vehicle, wherein the illuminating intermittently includes projecting light in a flashing manner from the at least one lamp within the vehicle to the region outside the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said illuminating intermittently includes projecting light in a flashing manner at a predetermined flash rate between flashes of illumination.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said illuminating intermittently further includes using a flash circuit coupled to the at least one lamp.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving comprises receiving a motion signal from outside of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving comprises receiving a visual signal from outside of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving comprises receiving a radio frequency signal from outside of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

activating a transmitter; and

transmitting the radio frequency signal to a receiver, wherein said receiving includes receiving the radio frequency signal in the receiver.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving comprises receiving an audio signal from outside of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating, in response to receiving an alarm signal from within the vehicle, said at least one lamp.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said activating, in response to said alarm signal, comprises activating, in response to an alarm signal received from a vehicle alarm system, said at least one lamp.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating, in response to said activating of said at least one lamp, a siren.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the illuminating includes projecting light to said region at at least an average maintained illuminance of 0.2 foot candles around said vehicle.

14. A remotely-controlled illumination system comprising:

at least one lamp for providing illumination at least 180 degrees around an automobile, the at least one lamp oriented to provide light substantially horizontally;

a remotely controlled switch coupled to the at least one lamp;

a power source selectively coupleable through the remotely controlled switch to the at least one lamp;

a housing coupled to the at least one lamp; and

means, coupled to the housing, for positioning the housing within the automobile.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a flash circuit coupled in between said remotely controlled switch and said at least one lamp, wherein the flash circuit causes said at least one lamp to provide illumination intermittently.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising a reflector coupled to said housing for reflecting light from said at least one lamp.

17. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a transmitter for sending an “

on”

signal and an “

off”

signal to said remotely controlled switch.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein said remotely controlled switch comprises a radio frequency controlled switch.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein said remotely controlled switch comprises a motion controlled switch.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein said remotely controlled switch comprises an audio controlled switch.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein said remotely controlled switch comprises a visual controlled switch.

22. The system of claim 14 wherein said remotely controlled switch comprises a voltage controlled switch.

23. The system of claim 14 further comprising an alarm input coupled to said at least one lamp, wherein said at least one lamp is activated by an alarm signal received at the alarm input.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said alarm input receives said alarm signal from an automobile alarm system within said automobile.

25. The system of claim 14 further comprising a siren coupled to said remotely controlled switch, wherein said power supply is selectively coupleable through said remotely controlled switch to said siren.

26. The system of claim 14 further comprising a second switch coupled to said at least one lamp, wherein said power source is selectively coupleable through the second switch to said at least one lamp.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said second switch is selected from a group consisting of:

a motion controlled switch, a visual controlled switch, an audio controlled switch, and a voltage controlled switch.

28. The system of claim 26 further comprising a flash circuit coupled in between said second switch and said at least one lamp, wherein the flash circuit causes said at least one lamp to provide illumination intermittently.

29. The system of claim 26 further comprising a siren coupled to said second switch, wherein said power supply is selectively coupleable through said second switch to said siren.

30. The system of claim 14 wherein the at least one lamp for providing illumination at at least an average maintained illuminance of 0.2 foot candles around said automobile.

31. A method of illuminating a region outside a vehicle comprising:

receiving an audio signal;

activating, in response to the receiving the audio signal, at least one lamp within the vehicle, the at least one lamp oriented to provide light substantially horizontally; and

illuminating, in response to the activating of the at least one lamp, the region outside the vehicle, and at least 180 degrees around the vehicle, wherein the illuminating includes projecting light from the at least one lamp within the vehicle to the region outside the vehicle.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said receiving comprises receiving said audio signal from within the vehicle.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the illuminating includes projecting light to said region at at least an average maintained illuminance of 0.2 foot candles around said vehicle.