Warning device status circuit including a status output device

• US 6,720,883 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Controls Company (Truck-Lite Holdings 2 Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Controls Company (Truck-Lite Holdings 2 Corp.)
• Inventors: Tewell, Tony J., Kuhr, Hans J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US10/139,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20020163438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 340/458, 340/642, 340/641, 315/241.S, 315/241.R, 315/200.A, 315/200.R, 315/129, 315/88, 315/119
• US Class Current: 340/642
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A warning device including a status and function indicator circuit for indicating the status and function of the warning device. In a visual warning device such as a strobe light, the status and function indicator circuit includes a status output device such as an LED. The LED and associated circuitry are configured to indicate both proper operation of the visual warning device and, in the event of a device failure, will indicate whether the fault lies with circuitry for the visual warning device or simply with a warning output device.

Claims

1. A visually perceptible warning device comprising:

a power source;

a charging power supply connected to the power source, the charging power supply including a linear adjustable micropower adjustable voltage regulator;

a control circuit conductively connected to the power source;

a strobe flash tube conductively connected to the power source and a trigger circuit; and

a status and function indicator circuit conductively connected to the control circuit, the status and function indicator circuit including a status output device.

2. The visually perceptible warning device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit further comprises a voltage regulator conductively connected to the power source.

3. The visually perceptible warning device of claim 1 further comprising a pulse width modulation circuit conductively connected to the power source.

4. The visually perceptible warning device of claim 3 wherein the pulse width modulation circuit further comprises a current mode controller.

5. The visually perceptible warning device of claim 3 wherein the pulse width modulation circuit further comprises a current mode controller.

6. The visually perceptible warning device of claim 1 further comprising the trigger circuit conductively connected to the power source.

7. The visually perceptible warning device of claim 1 wherein the control circuit further comprises a processor.

8. The visually perceptible warning device of claim 1 wherein the charging power supply further comprises a voltage regulator.

9. The visually perceptible warning device of claim 1 wherein the output device further comprises an LED.

10. The visually perceptible warning device of claim 1 wherein the status and function indicator circuit further comprises a transistor.