Automating turn indication systems

• US 8,941,482 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benjoaquin Tomas Gouverneur
• Original Assignee: Benjoaquin Tomas Gouverneur
• Inventors: Gouverneur, BenJoaquin Tomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/531,354
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 340/465, 340/475, 340988-990, 340/468, 340/995.1, 340/995.19, 340/995.2, 340/905, 340/435, 340/476, 340/539.1, 340/425.5
• US Class Current: 340/465
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/40 having mechanical, electric or electronic automatic return to inoperative position

Abstract

A turn indicator system determines when a moving vehicle has completed a turn and automatically turns off a turn indicator light. The system includes turn indicator lights, an accelerometer, and a processor. The accelerometer can sense acceleration in two-axis or three-axis. The processor is configured to receive the sensed accelerometer data and to determine when a vehicle has completed a turn based on the received accelerometer data. In response to determining that a turn is completed, the processor signals the appropriate turn indicator light to turn off. The turn indicator system can be implemented in a single-track vehicle, such as a bicycle or a motorcycle, or in a multi-track vehicle, such as an automobile.

Claims

1. A method of controlling lights on a vehicle, the method comprising:

a. turning on a turn indicator light;

b. sensing acceleration changes of the vehicle;

c. determining if a vehicle turn is initiated, if the vehicle tilts away from the upright position beyond a first threshold angle;

d. determining if a vehicle turn is completed, if the vehicle tilts back toward the upright position within a second threshold angle following the initiation of a turn; and

e. turning off the turn indicator light in response to the sensed acceleration changes when it is determined, by sensing the vehicle tilting from an upright position, that the vehicle turn is completed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein acceleration changes comprise lateral acceleration changes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises a single-track vehicle that utilizes tilt-steering, further wherein sensing acceleration changes comprises sensing the vehicle tilting from an upright position.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first threshold angle is equal to the second threshold angle.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first threshold angle is different than the second threshold angle.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising determining if a vehicle speed is greater than zero using the sensed acceleration changes, and only determining that the vehicle turn is initiated if the vehicle speed is greater than zero.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises a multi-track vehicle, further wherein determining if the vehicle turn is initiated and completed comprises determining a lateral acceleration change corresponding to the vehicle turning.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining if the sensed acceleration changes corresponds to a deceleration of the vehicle and turning on a brake light in response to determining that the vehicle is decelerating.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising adjusting the deceleration determination by compensating for deceleration corresponding to the vehicle traveling uphill.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising sensing an orientation of the vehicle and filtering the sensed accelerating changes according to the sensed orientation.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising sensing an ambient light proximate the vehicle and turning on a vehicle headlight if the sensed ambient light is below a threshold value.

12. An apparatus to control lights on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a. an accelerometer configured to sense acceleration changes of the vehicle;

b. a processor coupled to the accelerometer to receive the sensed acceleration changes, wherein the processor is configured to determine if a vehicle turn is initiated, if the vehicle tilts away from the upright position beyond a first threshold angle, and completed, if the vehicle tilts back toward the upright position within a second threshold angle following the initiation of a turn, determined by the sensed tilt of the vehicle; and

c. to send a turn off signal to a turn indicator light in response to the sensed acceleration changes when it is determined that the turn is completed, by sensing the vehicle tilting from an upright position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the vehicle comprises a single-track vehicle that utilizes tilt-steering, further wherein the sensed acceleration changes include acceleration changes corresponding to the vehicle tilting from an upright position.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the vehicle comprises a multi-track vehicle, further wherein the sensed acceleration changes include acceleration changes corresponding to lateral acceleration changes of the vehicle while turning.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to determine deceleration along a forward direction and to turn on a brake light in response to determining that the vehicle is decelerating.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the deceleration determination by compensating for deceleration corresponding to the vehicle traveling uphill.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a gyroscope to sense an orientation of the vehicle, wherein the processor is further configured to filter the sensed accelerating changes according to the sensed orientation.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an ambient light sensor coupled to the processor and configured to sense ambient light, wherein the processor is further configured to send a turn on signal to a vehicle headlight if the sensed ambient light is below a threshold value.

19. A single-track vehicle having tilt-steering comprising:

a. a left turn indicator light;

b. a first switch coupled to the left turn indicator light;

c. a right turn indicator light;

d. a second switch coupled to the right turn indicator light;

e. an accelerometer configured to sense acceleration changes of the vehicle;

f. a gyroscope configured to sense an orientation of the vehicle; and

g. a processor coupled to the accelerometer to receive the sensed acceleration changes and to the gyroscope to receive the sensed vehicle orientation, wherein the processor is configured to determine if a vehicle left turn or vehicle right turn is initiated, if the vehicle tilts away from the upright position beyond a first threshold angle, and completed, if the vehicle tilts back toward the upright position within a second threshold angle following the initiation of a turn, and to send a turn off signal in response to the sensed acceleration changes to either the first switch or to the second switch when it is determined, by sensing the vehicle tilting from an upright position, that the turn is completed.