Vehicle lamp inspection system

• US 6,674,288 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Gumbel, Matthew J., Bell, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Teresinski, John
• Application Number:
  US09/960,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20030057955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 324/503, 324/504, 324/508, 324/505, 324/66, 324/539, 324/500, 324/537
• US Class Current: 324/504
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/005 for lighting devices, e.g. indicating if lamps are burning or not
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/44 Testing lamps

Abstract

A vehicle provides the automatic activation and deactivation of vehicle lights in a predetermined sequence upon user request to assist the user in making a sight inspection of operation of the lights without further human help.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a controller area network;

an electrical system controller electrically coupled to the controller area network and including a plurality of energization output ports which may be selectively energized;

a gauge controller connected to the controller area network for providing data to the electrical system controller over the controller area network;

an ignition switch position sensing element providing an input to the gauge controller;

cruise control input switches connected to the electrical system controller;

a horn input switch connected to the electrical system controller;

a plurality of exterior lights connected to the energization output ports of the electrical system controller;

the electrical system controller further including a programmable microcomputer for switching on and off each of the plurality of energization output ports;

a test program executable on the programmable microcomputer resulting in the sequential activation and deactivation of subsets of the energization output ports connected to lights; and

a predetermined combination of ignition switch position and sequence of cruise control input switches and horn input switches for triggering execution of the test program.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising;

a light switch connected to the gauge controller;

a park brake position switch connected to the electrical system controller;

a brake position switch connected to the electrical system controller;

program means for detecting a change in state of one of the brake position switch, the park brake position switch, and the light switch for terminating execution of the test program.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the test program further comprises a loop for causing the sequential activation and deactivation of the energization output ports to repeat.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a timer for terminating repetition of the test program.