Method and apparatus for vehicle brake light control
First Claim
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1. Method for controlling brake lights of a vehicle, comprising:
- determining vehicle deceleration potential comprisingmonitoring indicators comprising at least two of brake pedal position, change in brake pedal depression, vehicle rate of deceleration, vehicle velocity, and data from a vehicle stability system, andcalculating said vehicle deceleration potential comprisingestimating a braking urgency factor for each of said indicators,estimating an overall braking urgency factor based on said indicators, andtracking a greatest one of said braking urgency factors and said overall braking urgency factor; and
,modulating brake light activation based upon said determining, said modulating comprising changing at least one of brake light intensity and flashing of said brake lights.
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Abstract
A method for controlling the brake lights of a vehicle includes determining vehicle deceleration potential and modulating brake light activation based upon the vehicle deceleration potential, the modulating comprising changing at least one of brake light intensity and flashing of the brake lights.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Method for controlling brake lights of a vehicle, comprising:
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determining vehicle deceleration potential comprising monitoring indicators comprising at least two of brake pedal position, change in brake pedal depression, vehicle rate of deceleration, vehicle velocity, and data from a vehicle stability system, and calculating said vehicle deceleration potential comprising estimating a braking urgency factor for each of said indicators, estimating an overall braking urgency factor based on said indicators, and tracking a greatest one of said braking urgency factors and said overall braking urgency factor; and
,modulating brake light activation based upon said determining, said modulating comprising changing at least one of brake light intensity and flashing of said brake lights. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Method for controlling brake lights of a vehicle, comprising:
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determining vehicle deceleration potential; and modulating brake light activation based upon said determining, said modulating comprising changing at least one of brake light intensity and flashing of said brake lights said changing of said flashing of said brake lights is based upon a vehicle rate of deceleration; wherein said changing of said flashing of said brake lights further comprises utilizing a maximum flashing frequency when said vehicle rate of deceleration is greater than a high level deceleration limit, and utilizing a variable flashing frequency when said vehicle rate of deceleration is less than said high level deceleration limit, wherein said variable flashing frequency coincides with said maximum flashing frequency when said rate of deceleration equals said high level deceleration limit and decreases as said vehicle rate of deceleration decreases. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. Method for controlling brake lights of a vehicle, comprising:
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determining vehicle deceleration potential; and modulating brake light activation based upon said determining, said modulating comprising changing at least one of brake light intensity and flashing of said brake lights, wherein said changing of said flashing of said brake lights is based upon a vehicle rate of deceleration, wherein changing of said flashing of said brake lights comprises utilizing a maximum flashing frequency when said vehicle rate of deceleration is greater than a high level deceleration limit, and wherein said utilizing said maximum flashing frequency comprises fixing said modulating brake light activation to said maximum flashing frequency until an end to a slowing event occurs. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. Method for controlling brake lights of a vehicle, comprising:
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determining vehicle deceleration potential; and
,modulating brake light activation based upon said determining, said modulating comprising changing at least one of brake light intensity and flashing of said brake lights wherein said modulating brake light activation comprises said changing of brake light intensity based upon vehicle velocity, wherein said changing brake light intensity comprises utilizing increased brake light intensity for higher vehicle velocities. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. Method for controlling brake lights of a vehicle, comprising:
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determining vehicle deceleration potential; and modulating brake light activation based upon said determining, said modulating comprising changing at least one of brake light intensity and flashing of said brake lights, wherein said modulating brake light activation comprises; said changing of said flashing of said brake lights based upon a rate of deceleration, wherein said changing of said flashing of said brake lights comprises utilizing a maximum flashing frequency when said rate of deceleration exceeds a high level deceleration limit; and said changing of brake light intensity based upon vehicle velocity, wherein said changing of brake light intensity comprises utilizing increased brake light intensity for higher vehicle velocities.
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14. Method for rear end collision avoidance by modulation of brake light activation, comprising:
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monitoring a vehicle rate of deceleration; monitoring a vehicle velocity; modulating brake light activation by changing brake light intensity based upon vehicle velocity, wherein said changing brake light intensity comprises utilizing increased brake light intensity as said vehicle velocity increases; and modulating brake light activation by flashing of brake lights based upon said vehicle rate of deceleration, wherein said flashing of said brake lights comprises utilizing a maximum flashing frequency when said rate of deceleration is greater than a high level deceleration limit. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. Apparatus for controlling brake light activation, comprising:
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brake lights mounted on a vehicle; and a brake light controller monitoring a vehicle velocity and a vehicle rate of deceleration and controlling activation of said brake lights based upon said vehicle velocity and said vehicle rate of deceleration; wherein said brake light activation comprises flashing said brake lights based upon said vehicle deceleration and changing brake light intensity based upon said vehicle velocity. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification