Vehicle warning light system

• US 7,077,549 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph J. Corliss
• Original Assignee: Joseph J. Corliss
• Inventors: Corliss, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/770,560
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 362/499, 362/542, 362/541, 362/540, 362/385, 340/466, 340/467, 340/479, 340/463, 340/464, 340/431, 340/902
• US Class Current: 362/499
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions

Abstract

A vehicle warning light system employs sensors associated with the brake and accelerator pedals to generate warning light signals at the front and rear of the vehicle to indicate whether the vehicle is in a coasting state, or is undergoing mild or severe deceleration. An electronic equivalent of the light signals is also generated and transmitted to a following vehicle which converts the electronic signals to corresponding light signals at the rear of the following vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle warning light system interactive with a front vehicle'"'"'s accelerator and brake pedals to indicate by way of front and rear light signals the status of said pedals with respect to:

a) non-depression of the accelerator pedal, thereby indicating a coasting state of the vehicle,

b) depression of both accelerator and brake pedals, thereby indicating an indeterminate state of the vehicle,

c) moderate depression of the brake pedal, thereby indicating intended deceleration,

d) hard depression of the brake pedal, thereby indicating immediate stopping of said vehicle,

e) acceleration, wherein the brake pedal is non-depressed, and the accelerator pedal is depressed, and

f) engagement of an automatic speed control device, said warning light system further comprising;

g) radio transmitting means for conveying electronic signals corresponding to the status of said pedals and automatic speed control device to an immediately following vehicle, and

h) activating means interactive with said conveyed electronic signals to reproduce at the rear of said following vehicle other light signals corresponding to the light signals of said front vehicle.

2. The warning light system of claim 1 further comprising a warning light that indicates that a cell phone is in use in said front vehicle.

3. The warning light system of claim 1 wherein said radio transmitting means is a citizen'"'"'s band transmitter.

4. The warning light system of claim 1 wherein said moderate depression of the brake pedal produces a light signal whose intensity is proportional to the force on said brake pedal.