Intelligent brake and reverse light control

• US 7,002,460 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2004
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kropinski, Michael A., Roberts, Alexander J., Bolander, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/772,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20050174227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 340/479, 340/463, 340/464, 340/468
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling brake-lights and reverse-lights on a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a vehicle speed sensor and a PRNDL selector capable of selecting at least PARK and REVERSE modes of operation. A control unit is coupled to the brake-light, to the reverse-light, to the vehicle speed sensor, and to the PRNDL selector, for illuminating the brake-light when the headlight is on and the vehicle is not moving, when the vehicle is not in PARK and is not moving, and when the vehicle'"'"'s deceleration reaches a predetermined threshold, and for illuminating the reverse-light when the vehicle is not in REVERSE and is moving backwards.

Claims

1. A light control system for use on a vehicle having a brake for slowing the vehicle, a brake-light, and a headlight, the system comprising:

a vehicle speed sensor; and

a control unit coupled to said brake-light, to said headlight, and to said vehicle speed sensor, said control unit for illuminating said brake-light when said headlight is on, said vehicle is not moving, and the brake is not activated.

2. A light control system according to claim 1 further comprising a PRNDL selector coupled to said control unit, said PRNDL selector capable of selecting at least PARK and REVERSE modes of operation and wherein said control unit illuminates said brake-light when said vehicle is not in PARK and is not moving.

3. A light control system according to claim 1 wherein said control unit illuminates said brake-light when said vehicle'"'"'s deceleration reaches a predetermined threshold.

4. A light control system according to claim 2 wherein said vehicle has a reverse-light coupled to said control unit and wherein said control unit illuminates said reverse-light when said vehicle is not in REVERSE and is moving backwards.

5. A light control system according to claim 4 wherein said control unit comprises:

a transmission control module coupled to said PRNDL selector for generating a PRNDL position signal;

a brake system coupled to said transmission control module and to said vehicle speed sensor for generating a vehicle speed signal;

a body control module coupled to said transmission control module, said brake system and said headlight for generating a headlight signal indicative of whether said headlight is on or off; and

an engine control module coupled to said transmission control module, said brake system, and said body control module, and responsive to said PRNDL position signal, said vehicle speed signal, and said headlight signal for selectively generating brake-light and reverse-light control signals.

6. A light control system for use on a vehicle having a brake for slowing the vehicle and a brake-light, the system comprising:

a PRNDL selector capable of selecting at least PARK and REVERSE modes of operation;

a vehicle speed sensor; and

a control unit coupled to said brake-light, to said PRNDL selector and to said vehicle speed sensor, for illuminating said brake-light when said vehicle is not in PARK, said vehicle is not moving, and the brake is not activated.

7. A light control system according to claim 6 wherein said control unit illuminates said brake-light when said vehicles deceleration reaches a predetermined threshold.

8. A light control system according to claim 6 wherein said vehicle has a reverse-light coupled to said control unit and wherein said control unit illuminates said reverse-light when said vehicle is not in REVERSE and is moving backwards.

9. A light control system for use on a vehicle having a reverse-light, the system comprising:

a vehicle speed sensor;

a PRNDL selector coupled to said control unit, said PRNDL selector capable of selecting at least PARK and REVERSE modes of operation; and

a control unit coupled to said reverse-light, to said vehicle speed sensor, and to said PRNDL selector, for illuminating said reverse-light when said vehicle is not in reverse and is moving backwards.

10. A light control system according to claim 9 wherein said vehicle is provided with a brake-light and wherein said control unit illuminates said brake-light when said vehicle is not in PARK and is not moving.

11. A light control system according to claim 9 wherein said vehicle has a headlight and wherein said control unit is coupled to said headlight for illuminating said brake-light when said headlight is on and said vehicle is not moving.

12. A light control system according to claim 9 wherein said control unit illuminates said brake-light when said vehicles'"'"' deceleration reaches a predetermined threshold.

13. A light control system for use in a vehicle having a brake for slowing the vehicle, a brake-light, a reverse-light and a headlight, the system comprising:

a vehicle speed sensor;

a PRNDL selector capable of selecting at least PARK and REVERSE modes of operation; and

a control unit coupled to said brake-light, to said reverse-light, to said vehicle speed sensor, and to said PRNDL selector, said control unit for illuminating said reverse-light when said vehicle is not in REVERSE and is moving backwards, and for illuminating said brake-light when the brake is not activated and when (i) said headlight is on and said vehicle is not moving, (ii) said vehicle is not in PARK and is not moving and (iii) said vehicle'"'"'s deceleration reaches a predetermined threshold.

14. A method for controlling the lights on a vehicle having a brake for slowing the vehicle, a brake-light, and a headlight, the method comprising:

monitoring the speed of the vehicle;

determining if said headlight is on or off; and

illuminating said brake-light when said headlight is on and said vehicle is not moving irrespective of whether the brake is activated.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said vehicle comprises a PRNDL selector capable of selecting at least PARK and REVERSE modes of operation, said method further comprising:

monitoring said PRNDL selector; and

illuminating said brake-light when said vehicle is not in PARK and is not moving.

16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising:

monitoring the vehicle'"'"'s deceleration; and

illuminating said brake-light when said vehicle'"'"'s deceleration reaches a predetermined threshold.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein said vehicle further comprises a reverse-light and wherein said method further comprises illuminating said reverse-light when said vehicle is not in REVERSE and is moving backwards.

18. A method of controlling lights on a vehicle having a brake for slowing the vehicle, a brake-light, and a PRNDL selector of the type which is capable of selecting at least PARK and REVERSE modes of operation, the method comprising:

sensing the speed of said vehicle;

monitoring said PRNDL selector; and

illuminating said brake-light when said vehicle is not in PARK and is not moving irrespective of whether the brake is activated.

19. A method of controlling lights on a vehicle having a reverse-light and having a PRNDL selector capable of selecting at least PARK and REVERSE modes of operation, the method comprising:

sensing the speed of said vehicle;

monitoring the state of said PRNDL selector; and

illuminating said reverse-light when said vehicle is not in REVERSE and is moving backwards.