Vehicle safety signaling system

• US 6,870,474 B1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brothers BUDD
• Original Assignee: Brothers BUDD
• Inventors: Brothers, Budd
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/302,700
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 340/468, 340/467, 340/479, 340/441, 340/466, 340/472, 340/66, 340/72
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence

Abstract

A signaling system for vehicle'"'"'s to indicate changes in vehicle'"'"'s speed during acceleration and deceleration as well as relative constant speed conditions to following motorists. A light signaling display is mounted on the rear of the vehicle and is illuminated by multiple light assemblies, some of which have lamps of the three primary colors. A controller determines illumination sequence and intensity depending on input from sensors on the vehicle'"'"'s speed controls and a pre-programmed set of illumination patterns.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle safety signaling light system comprising,

a plurality of lighting assemblies arranged in aligned orientation to one another,

said assemblies comprises, multiple distinguishable color electric lamps,

said lamps arranged for overlapping illumination pattern to one another to define a new non-lamp distinguishable color,

a diffuser lens in spaced overlapping aligned relation to said respective lamps,

a router/controller in communication with said respective lamps in each lighting assembly,

pressure responsive electrical switches in connection with said router controller for energizing at least one lamp in each assembly,

said pressure responsive electrical switches adapted for linear progressive input in relation to vehicle control pedals position and input,

selective simultaneous illumination of multiple lamps within each of said lighting assemblies simultaneously, means for powering said router controller and respective lighting assemblies, and means for selective illumination of some of said lighting assemblies responsive to nonlinear input from said respective pressure responsive switches and wherein some of said lamps illuminate at less than that of said remaining lamps within each said light assembly.

2. The automotive vehicle safety signaling light system set forth in claim 1 wherein said lighting assemblies combine to define multiple rows of distinguishable illumination.

3. The automotive vehicle safety signaling system set forth in claim 1 wherein said selective sequential illumination of multiple lamps in some of said lighting assemblies are responsive to said pressure responsive switches linear progressive output.

4. The automotive vehicle safety signaling system set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for powering said router/controller and respective lighting assemblies comprises, a vehicle'"'"'s electrical system.

5. An automotive vehicle safety signaling light system set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for selective illumination of some of said lighting assemblies responsive to non-linear switching input comprises, a plurality of single source illumination lighting assemblies.

6. A vehicle safety signaling light system comprising the method steps of,

a. forming a visually distinctive lighting display from a plurality of individual lighting assemblies,

b. positioning distinctive lamps in groups of three within each of said individual lighting assemblies wherein effective lamps projection paths overlap each other,

c. positioning a single diffusion lens over each of said distinctive lamp groups within said individual lighting assemblies,

d. selectively controlling a single visually distinguishable lamp in some of said lighting assemblies,

e. repeatedly illuminating said lamp of step “

d”

in a pre-determined sequence of varying colors and intensity to indicate a change in vehicle status as related to control input of speed,

f. selecting distinguishable distinctive lamps within each of said lighting assemblies to illuminate simultaneously to define colors not preset in said distinguished distinctive lamps,

g. positioning pressure responsive electrical switching devices on a vehicle'"'"'s speed control input assemblies,

h. illuminating selective tamps in each of said lighting assemblies in response to input from said pressure responsive electrical switches,

i. it aligning multiple lighting assemblies into responsive groups corresponding to pre-determined positions on the safety signal lighting system,

j. positing said electrical light displays on a rear portion of said vehicle,

k. providing a router/controller in communication with said respective lamps in said respective lighting assemblies to illuminate groups of lamps to define visual distinctive color lamp output other than that the lamp'"'"'s primary distinctive color.