Vehicle hazard flasher control system

• US 7,956,732 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Gumbel, Matthew J., Bell, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees; Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/872,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20090096601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 340/471, 340/472, 340/475, 340/468, 340/477, 340/478, 362/227, 362/236, 362/543
• US Class Current: 340/471
• 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 vehicle flasher hazard function is implemented on an electrical controller having control over vehicle exterior lights. The flasher hazard function features an optimized duty cycle and operational frequency, consistent with legal requirements for the flasher rate. The point in time that individual bulbs are turned on is staggered in time to avoid all bulbs being simultaneously activated. This distributes the current surges associated with bulb activation being distributed in time. When a vehicle battery can no longer sustain the legally mandated flasher rate an optional path for flasher operation at a reduced rate is provided.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a first hazard warning light, a second hazard warning light, a third hazard warning light, and a fourth hazard warning light, each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights being mounted to be visible on a different exterior corner of the vehicle;

a vehicle battery for supplying electrical power to the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights;

a first hazard warning light switch connected to the first hazard warning light, a second hazard warning light switch connected to the second hazard warning light, a third hazard warning light switch connected to the third hazard warning light, and a fourth hazard warning light switch connected to the fourth hazard warning light; and

a controller for the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light switches, each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light switches being independently controlled by the controller, the controller enabling operation of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights in a hazard flashing mode where the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights appear to flash on and off in synchronization, the controller providing for optimizing the operating frequency, duty cycle, and timing of the warning lights;

the controller further providing for extending the life of the vehicle battery by sequentially turning on each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light switches during each flash of the hazard flashing mode, the sequential turning on of each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights occurring within a period not readily perceived visually;

the sequential turning on of each of the first, second third and forth hazard warning lights further occurring over a period calculated to minimize the cumulative inrush current.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

an engine and generator combination for recharging the vehicle battery; and

the controller being responsive to the engine being on by optimizing the duty cycle and operating frequency of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights in the hazard flashing mode in a manner calculated to extend expected first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light service life.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the controller optimizes the duty cycle and operating frequency of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light to extend the expected first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light service life by lengthening the time when each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights are on, and shortening the length of time when each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard lights are off, consistent with producing a visually perceptible period during which the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights appear extinguished.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

the controller providing for sequentially turning on each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light switches during each flash of the hazard flashing mode responsive to an unavailability of vehicle generated power.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

the controller being further responsive to charge on the vehicle battery declining below at least a first critical threshold by reducing the operating frequency of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights in the hazard flashing mode as required to maintain visible flashing.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising:

the controller being further responsive to a charge on the vehicle battery declining below a lower threshold than the first critical threshold by shedding at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights from the hazard flashing mode.

7. A hazard warning system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a first hazard warning light, a second hazard warning light, a third hazard warning light, and a fourth hazard warning light, each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights being adapted to be mounted on a different exterior corner of the motor vehicle;

a vehicle battery for supplying electrical power to the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light;

a first hazard warning light switch connected to the first hazard warning light, a second hazard warning light switch connected to the second hazard warning light, a third hazard warning light switch connected to the third hazard warning light, and a fourth hazard warning light switch connected to the fourth hazard warning light;

a controller for each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light switches, each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light switches being independently controlled by the controller;

the controller providing operation of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights in a hazard flasher mode wherein the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights appear to an observer to flash on and off concurrently;

the controller in hazard flasher mode providing periods when each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights is on and off, the duty cycle, the operating frequency, and timing of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights being adjusted to conserve battery charge without interrupting hazard flasher mode operation; and

an engine and generator combination for recharging the vehicle battery;

the controller providing for sequentially turning on each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light switches during each flash of the hazard flashing mode responsive to an unavailability of vehicle generated power;

the sequential turning on of each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights further occurring over a period calculated to minimize the cumulative inrush current.

8. A hazard warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 7, the hazard warning system further comprising:

the controller being further responsive to a charge on the vehicle battery declining below at least a first critical threshold by reducing the operating frequency of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights in the hazard flashing mode as required to maintain visible flashing.

9. A hazard warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 8, the hazard warning system further comprising:

the controller being further responsive to a charge on the vehicle battery declining below a lower threshold than the first critical threshold by shedding at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights from the hazard flashing mode.