Multi-function electronic horn warning system

• US 6,788,188 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fabbrica Italiana Accumulatori Motocarri Montecchio Fiamm SPA (Dofin SPA)
• Original Assignee: Fabbrica Italiana Accumulatori Motocarri
• Inventors: Sague, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/333,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 340/384.72, 340/384.1, 340/384.4, 340/384.5, 340/384.6, 340/384.7
• US Class Current: 340/384.72
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0207 Driving circuits specially adapted for particular applications, see the relevant subclass, e.g. G01; circuits for steering transducer arrays G10K11/34; basic circuits H03
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices

Abstract

A multi-function electronic warning horn system comprises a couple of horns (1, 2) and a microprocessor (6), integrated in an electronic module (16) comprising a voltage adjuster (13), an oscillator (17), power stages (3, 4) and a control circuit (7). Horns (1, 2) are controlled by either the push-button (5) of the steering wheel for the traditional function of acoustic signaling or by a coded signal transmitted to microprocessor (6) by the “intelligent” electronic unit or onboard computer of the vehicle for the function of buzzer.

Claims

1. A multi-function electronic horn warning system for a motor-vehicle having an onboard computer and a push-button (5) in communication with the onboard computer, said system having an acoustic warning function and a signalling buzzer function wherein the signalling buzzer function provides notification of a state of the motor-vehicle by generating sound cycles, said horn warning system comprising:

a horn (1;

2) activated by the push-button (5) and the onboard computer,

an electronic module having a control circuit (7) connectable to the push-button (5) and to the onboard computer, a voltage adjuster (13), a ceramic resonator (17) and a power stage (3;

4) connected to the horn,

said electronic module having a programmable microprocessor (6) controlled by said control circuit (7) and connected to the power stage (3;

4) for activating the horn in said acoustic warning and signalling buzzer functions, said programmable microprocessor having software that allows a user to program and modify the sequence, duration, frequency and sound level of said sound cycles.

2. The multi-function electronic horn warning system according to claim 1, wherein said horn of the acoustic warning function, is activated when voltage passes on a lead (15) coming from a battery (12) upon pressing the push-button (5).

3. The multi-function electronic horn warning system according to claim 1, wherein the signalling buzzer function is activated when a codified electric signal passing on a lead (15′

) is transmitted to the programmable microprocessor from the onboard computer of the motor-vehicle.

4. The multi-function electronic horn warning system according to claim 1, wherein during the signalling buzzer function said system is operative to generate a plurality of distinct sound cycles relating to safety belts, switched on lights, on-alarm, obstacle in backing, opening/closing of doors and/or motor hood and/or trunk.

5. The multi-function electronic horn warning system according to claim 4, wherein during the execution of any sounds cycles, a pressing of the push-button (5) activates the acoustic warning function.

6. The multi-function electronic horn warning system according to claim 1, wherein the programmable microprocessor (6) is in communication with the ceramic resonator (17) that generates an operating and control frequency for the coded signals.

7. The multi-function electronic horn warning system according to claim 6, wherein the power stage (3;

4) is disconnected and connected to the horn (1;

2) with a function of opening and closing of the voltage passage at said operating and control frequency of said ceramic resonator.

8. The multi-function electronic horn warning system according to claim 1, further having a first lead (11) connected to a positive pole (+) of battery (12) through the voltage adjuster (13);

a second lead (14) connected directly to a negative pole (−

) of said battery (12);

a third lead (15, 15′

) connected to the onboard computer and the push-button (5) connected to the positive pole of the battery (12).

9. The multi-function electronic horn warning system according to claim 1, further having a horn (2;

1) connected to a second power stage (4;

3) being connected to the programmable microprocessor.

10. The multi-function electronic horn warning system according to claim 1, wherein the modification of the sound cycle is made through the onboard computer.