Modulated intensity flasher for vehicle brake light with lockout

• US 6,943,677 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2004
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Williams & Lake LLC
• Original Assignee: TransAlert,Inc
• Inventors: Boyer, Clyde H., Morris, Robert C. Jr., Stropkay, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/821,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/464, 340/467, 340/469, 340/473, 340/479, 340/468
• US Class Current: 340/479
• 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 method and apparatus for brightening and dimming a brake light of automotive vehicle for enhanced display indication of braking includes a pulse width modulation unit to be electrically connected to a brake lamp for sequentially modulating the supply energy to the lamp to generate a brightening and dimming of the lamp. A time extent of the modulation is detected so that the modulation can be stopped after a preselected time period and the light will be continually on as in a conventional braking operation. After the brake is released by the operator, a second preselected time period for locking out the sequential interrupting is timed down, for avoiding repetitive flashing during stop-and-go traffic.

Claims

1. A brake light comprising:

at least two lamps operative as conventional brake lights, wherein a light signal intensity of said lamps is held constant concurrent with braking;

a lamp operative as a signal enhancing brake light wherein a light signal intensity of said lamp is modulated for a predetermined first time interval concurrent with braking, and wherein said light signal intensity is held constant following said first time interval; and

a brake light controller operative to modulate light signal intensity of said signal enhancing brake light, comprising;

a voltage sensor operative to sense a voltage between a brake actuator switch line and electric ground wherein said voltage signals the state of the brakes as either applied or unapplied;

a modulation interval timer operative to signal a first predetermined time interval wherein said light signal intensity is modulated for said first predetermined time interval;

a lockout timer operative to signal a second predetermined time interval wherein modulation of said light signal intensity is prohibited for said second predetermined time interval for avoiding repetitive light signal modulation in stop and go traffic;

a pulse width modulator operative to drive a control element, whereby said pulse width modulator sends a control signal to said control element; and

a control element operative to control an amount of current flow through a light source, said amount of current flow controlling the intensity of the light source.

2. The brake light of said claim 1 wherein said lamp with modulated light signal intensity is located in easily recognizable location in rear and central vehicle area.

3. The brake light of claim 1 wherein said lamps operative as conventional brake lights are located on rear tail fenders of vehicle.

4. The brake light controller of claim 1 wherein said voltage sensor sends a signal to said modulation interval timer and said lockout timer indicating the state of the brakes, either in an applied position or in an unapplied position.

5. The brake light controller of claim 1 wherein said lockout timer begins to run if the state of the brake actuator switch line changes from said brakes applied state to said brakes unapplied state and sends a lockout timer signal to said pulse width modulator, said lockout timer signal having one of two states either a lockout state or an enable state.

6. The brake light controller of claim 1 wherein said modulation interval timer begins to run if the state of the brake actuator switch line changes from said brakes unapplied state to said brakes applied state and sends a modulation interval timer signal to said pulse width modulator, said modulation interval timer signal having one of two states either a modulate state or a constant intensity state.

7. The brake light controller of claim 1 wherein said lockout timer signal is in said lockout state while lockout timer is running that is the lockout time has not expired and said lockout timer signal changes to and is maintained in said enable state while lockout timer is not running that is the lockout time has expired;

and

said modulation interval timer signal is in said modulate state while said modulation interval timer is running that is the modulation interval time has not expired and said modulation interval timer signal changes to and is maintained in said constant intensity state while the modulation interval timer is not running that is the modulation interval time has expired.

8. The brake light controller of claim 1 wherein said pulse width modulator sends a control signal to said control element, such that when the lockout timer signal is in said enable state and the modulation interval timer signal is in said modulate state the pulse width modulator sends a modulated control signal to drive said control element and otherwise sends said constant intensity control signal to said control element;

and

said control signal controls the average amount of current flowing through said control element thereby either modulating said light signal intensity or holding said light signal intensity constant.

9. A method for modulating a brake light signal intensity for improved indication of vehicle braking, comprising:

detecting voltage between a brake actuator switch line and electrical ground thereby detecting the state of braking of a vehicle;

modulating light signal intensity of a signal enhancing brake lamp for a first predetermined time interval;

holding said light signal intensity constant for remainder of braking;

prohibiting said light signal intensity modulation for a second predetermined time interval following an initial braking event for avoiding repetitive light signal modulation in stop and go traffic.

10. The method for modulating a brake light signal intensity of claim 9 wherein said braking detection includes detecting voltage changes between said brake actuator signal line and electric ground indicating a state of braking as either in an applied state or an unapplied state and sending a signal to a modulation interval timer and a lockout timer.

11. The method for modulating a brake light signal intensity of claim 10 wherein said modulation of light signal intensity includes said modulation interval timer and lockout timer sending control signals to a pulse width modulator;

said modulation interval timer signal being in one of two states, either in a modulate state or in a constant intensity state and lockout timer signal being in one of two states, either in a lockout state or in an enable state; and

said pulse width modulator sending a control signal to said control element, said control element configured in series connection with said brake lamp, said control signal controlling the current flow through said control element and thereby through said brake lamp and either modulating or holding constant the light intensity of said brake lamp.

12. The method for modulating a brake light signal intensity of claim 11 wherein said modulation interval timer is utilized for timing of said first predetermined time interval and said modulation interval timer signal is in said modulate state while said modulation interval timer is running and in said constant intensity state while said modulation interval timer is not running.

13. The method for modulating a brake light signal intensity of claim 11 wherein said lockout timer is utilized for timing of said second predetermined time interval and said lockout timer signal is in said lockout state while said lockout timer is running and in said enable state while said lockout timer is not running.