Vehicle brake lighting system

• US 7,768,385 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John M. Juranovich, Katherine A. Juranovich
• Original Assignee: John M. Juranovich, Katherine A. Juranovich
• Inventors: Juranovich, Katherine A., Juranovich, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US11/818,746
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/479
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights

Abstract

A system includes lights coupled to a vehicle power supply source. One light is located at the vehicle'"'"'s rear window. Remaining lights are independently and simultaneously operable with the one light. A mechanism is included for determining whether the vehicle is parked. Another mechanism determines whether a vehicle brake pedal has been engaged beyond a threshold level while the vehicle is not parked. A further mechanism flashes the one light and is mated to the park determining mechanism for activating the one light when the vehicle is parked and the brake pedal is engaged. The flashing mechanism is coupled to the brake pedal pressure level determining mechanism for activating the one light when the vehicle is not parked and the brake pedal is engaged beyond the threshold level. The flashing mechanism is automatically reset to a non-operating mode when the brake pedal is disengaged during parked and non-parked conditions.

Claims

1. A vehicle brake lighting system for informing a trailing vehicle of a sudden braking action initiated by a leading vehicle, said vehicle brake lighting system comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting sources electrically coupled to an existing power supply source of the leading vehicle;

means for determining whether the leading vehicle is parked;

means for determining whether a brake pedal of the leading vehicle has been engaged beyond a predetermined threshold pressure level while the leading vehicle is not parked; and

means for selectively flashing one said light-emitting sources when the vehicle is not parked, said flashing means being electrically mated to said park determining means for indefinitely activating said one light-emitting source when the leading vehicle is parked and the brake pedal is engaged, said flashing means being electrically coupled to said brake pedal pressure level determining means for selectively activating said one light-emitting source for a predetermined time interval when the leading vehicle is not parked and when the brake pedal has been engaged beyond the predetermined threshold pressure level, wherein said flashing means is automatically reset to a non-operating mode when the brake pedal is disengaged during parked and non-parked operating conditions;

wherein said park determining means comprises

a magnetic motion sensor mounted to a drive axle of the leading vehicle, said motion sensor generating and transmitting a parking input signal to said flashing means when the leading vehicle is toggled to a parked position;

wherein said brake pedal pressure level determining means comprises

a mercury switch directly coupled to the brake pedal of the leading vehicle, said mercury switch monitoring the brake pedal pressure level during non-parked operating modes, said mercury switch comprising a mercury filled tube including electrodes at opposed ends thereof, said mercury flowing between said opposed ends of said tube when the brake pedal is tilted between engaged and non-engaged position wherein a braking input signal is generated as said mercury slides to said opposed end portions of said tube;

wherein said flashing means comprises

an auxiliary exciter wire electrically coupled to the brake pedal;

a pulsating flasher circuit;

a first switch electrically coupled to said motion sensor and a power supply source and said auxiliary exciter wire respectively, said first switch having first and second isolated conductive ports, said second port being electrically coupled directly to said pulsating flasher circuit;

a second switch having first and second isolated conductive ports, said first port being electrically coupled directly to said one light emitting source, said second port being electrically coupled to said pulsating flasher circuit, wherein said first port of said first switch is electrically coupled directly to said second switch; and

a time counting circuit electrically mated to said pulsating flasher circuit and said one light emitting source and said second switch respectively;

wherein said pulsating flasher circuit comprises

a processor; and

a memory including software instructions for causing said system to flash said one light-emitting source, said software instructions performing the steps of;

sequentially interrupting the power supply for an indefinite time interval after said parking input signal has been received from said motion sensor, and

sequentially interrupting the power supply for a predetermined time interval after said parking input signal has been received from said motion sensor and said braking input signal has been received from said brake pedal pressure level determining means.

2. A vehicle brake lighting system for informing a trailing vehicle of a sudden braking action initiated by a leading vehicle, said vehicle brake lighting system comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting sources electrically coupled to an existing power supply source of the leading vehicle, said one light-emitting source being locating at a rear window of the leading vehicle;

means for determining whether the leading vehicle is parked;

means for determining whether a brake pedal of the leading vehicle has been engaged beyond a predetermined threshold pressure level while the leading vehicle is not parked; and

means for selectively flashing one said light-emitting sources when the vehicle is not parked, said flashing means being electrically mated to said park determining means for indefinitely activating said one light-emitting source when the leading vehicle is parked and the brake pedal is engaged, said flashing means being electrically coupled to said brake pedal pressure level determining means for selectively activating said one light-emitting source for a predetermined time interval when the leading vehicle is not parked and when the brake pedal has been engaged beyond the predetermined threshold pressure level, wherein said flashing means is automatically reset to a non-operating mode when the brake pedal is disengaged during parked and non-parked operating conditions;

said park determining means comprises;

a magnetic motion sensor mounted to a drive axle of the leading vehicle, said motion sensor generating and transmitting a parking input signal to said flashing means when the leading vehicle is toggled to a parked position;

said flashing means comprises;

an auxiliary exciter wire electrically coupled to the brake pedal;

a pulsating flasher circuit;

a first switch electrically coupled to said motion sensor and a power supply source and said auxiliary exciter wire respectively,

said first switch having first and second isolated conductive ports, said second port being electrically coupled directly to said pulsating flasher circuit;

a second switch having first and second isolated conductive ports, said first port being electrically coupled directly to said one light emitting source, said second port being electrically coupled to said pulsating flasher circuit, wherein said first port of said first switch is electrically coupled directly to said second switch; and

a time counting circuit electrically mated to said pulsating flasher circuit and said one light emitting source and said second switch respectively.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said brake pedal pressure level determining means comprises:

a mercury switch directly coupled to the brake pedal of the leading vehicle, said mercury switch monitoring the brake pedal pressure level during non-parked operating modes, said mercury switch comprising a mercury filled tube including electrodes at opposed ends thereof, said mercury flowing between said opposed ends of said tube when the brake pedal is tilted between engaged and non-engaged position wherein a braking input signal is generated as said mercury slides to said opposed end portions of said tube.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said pulsating flasher circuit comprises:

a processor; and

a memory including software instructions for causing said system to flash said one light-emitting source, said software instructions performing the steps of;

sequentially interrupting the power supply for an indefinite time interval after said parking input signal has been received from said motion sensor, and

sequentially interrupting the power supply for a predetermined time interval after said parking input signal has been received from said motion sensor and said braking input signal has been received from said brake pedal pressure level determining means.

5. A vehicle brake lighting system for informing a trailing vehicle of a sudden braking action initiated by a leading vehicle, said vehicle brake lighting system comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting sources electrically coupled to an existing power supply source of the leading vehicle, said one light-emitting source being locating at a rear window of the leading vehicle, remaining ones of said light-emitting sources being independently and simultaneously operable with said one light-emitting source;

means for determining whether the leading vehicle is parked;

means for determining whether a brake pedal of the leading vehicle has been engaged beyond a predetermined threshold pressure level while the leading vehicle is not parked; and

means for selectively flashing one said light-emitting sources when the vehicle is not parked, said flashing means being electrically mated to said park determining means for indefinitely activating said one light-emitting source when the leading vehicle is parked and the brake pedal is engaged, said flashing means being electrically coupled to said brake pedal pressure level determining means for selectively activating said one light-emitting source for a predetermined time interval when the leading vehicle is not parked and when the brake pedal has been engaged beyond the predetermined threshold pressure level, wherein said flashing means is automatically reset to a non-operating mode when the brake pedal is disengaged during parked and non-parked operating conditions;

wherein said park determining means comprises;

a magnetic motion sensor mounted to a drive axle of the leading vehicle,

said motion sensor generating and transmitting a parking input signal to said flashing means when the leading vehicle is toggled to a parked position;

wherein said flashing means comprises;

an auxiliary exciter wire electrically coupled to the brake pedal;

a pulsating flasher circuit;

a first switch electrically coupled to said motion sensor and a power supply source and said auxiliary exciter wire respectively, said first switch having first and second isolated conductive ports, said second port being electrically coupled directly to said pulsating flasher circuit;

a second switch having first and second isolated conductive ports, said first port being electrically coupled directly to said one light emitting source,

said second port being electrically coupled to said pulsating flasher circuit, wherein said first port of said first switch is electrically coupled directly to said second switch; and

a time counting circuit electrically mated to said pulsating flasher circuit and said one light emitting source and said second switch respectively.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said brake pedal pressure level determining means comprises:

a mercury switch directly coupled to the brake pedal of the leading vehicle, said mercury switch monitoring the brake pedal pressure level during non-parked operating modes, said mercury switch comprising a mercury filled tube including electrodes at opposed ends thereof, said mercury flowing between said opposed ends of said tube when the brake pedal is tilted between engaged and non-engaged position wherein a braking input signal is generated as said mercury slides to said opposed end portions of said tube.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said pulsating flasher circuit comprises:

a processor; and

a memory including software instructions for causing said system to flash said one light-emitting source, said software instructions performing the steps of;

sequentially interrupting the power supply for an indefinite time interval after said vehicle is in stationary input signal has been received from said motion sensor, and sequentially interrupting the power supply for a predetermined time interval after said vehicle is in stationary input signal has been received from said motion sensor and said braking input signal has been received from said brake pedal pressure level determining means.