Electroluminescent dashboard control circuit

• US 6,825,772 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Li-Hong Chien, Wen-Chien Lu
• Original Assignee: Li-Hong Chien, Wen-Chien Lu
• Inventors: Chien, Li-Hong, Lu, Wen-Chien
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/407,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.46, 340/815.47, 340/815.79, 340/815.8, 340/815.81, 340/815.69, 340/321, 340/901, 340/902, 446/7, 446/397, 379/31, 379/247
• US Class Current: 340/815.46
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/21 Voice
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 44/00 Circuit arrangements for operating electroluminescent light sources for operating light emitting diodes H05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An electroluminescent dashboard control circuit for automobile in which a voltage comparator is used to control the operation of different colors of electroluminescent lamps subject to the voltage level of inputted voice signal received from a microphone, and a switch is used to select full-light or auto operation mode.

Claims

1. An electroluminescent dashboard control circuit comprising a microphone adapted to receive external voice signal, a signal amplifier electrically connected to said microphone and adapted to amplify input voice signal from said microphone, a first variable resistor electrically connected between said microphone and said signal amplifier and adapted regulate the signal receiving sensitivity of said microphone, a voltage comparator electrically connected to said signal amplifier and adapted to detect the voltage level of inputted voice signal, a plurality of electroluminescent lamps respectively electrically connected to said voltage comparator and controlled by said voltage comparator to emit light subject to the voltage level of inputted voice signal, a switch electrically connected to the voltage comparator for full-light/auto selection control for enabling said voltage comparator to control the operation of said electroluminescent lamps subject to the voltage level of inputted voice signal when said switch switched to an auto mode position and for enabling said electroluminescent lamps to be turned on at the same time when said switch switched to a full-light mode position upon the presence of a voice input signal at said microphone, a booster circuit electrically connected to said electroluminescent lamps, a Schmitt trigger circuit, and a second variable resistor electrically connected to said booster circuit through said Schmitt trigger circuit and adapted to regulate the voltage frequency output of said booster circuit and to further regulate the brightness of said electroluminescent lamps.