Apparatus, method and article for vehicle turn signals
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A turn signal system for a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one controller; and
at least one communications line coupled to the at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller is configured to;
receive, via the at least one communications line, information indicative of a turn signal of the vehicle having been turned on and information regarding a direction associated with the turn signal;
receive, via the at least one communications line, compass information indicative of which direction the vehicle was heading at a time associated with when the turn signal was turned on;
receive, via the at least one communications line, compass information indicative of the vehicle having changed direction from the direction the vehicle was heading at the time associated with when the turn signal was turned on;
make a determination of whether to send a signal to turn off the turn signal based on the received compass information indicative of the vehicle having changed direction from the direction the vehicle was heading at the time associated with when the turn signal was turned on wherein the at least one controller is configured to make the determination of whether to send the signal to turn off the turn signal by being at least configured to;
determine whether the current direction in which the vehicle is heading is toward the direction associated with the turn signal;
determine a difference between the current direction in which the vehicle is heading and the direction the vehicle was heading at the time associated with when the turn signal was turned on;
determine whether the difference is greater than a threshold difference value; and
if the difference is greater than the threshold difference value and the current direction in which the vehicle is heading is toward the direction associated with the turn signal, make a determination to send the signal to turn off the turn signal based at least on the difference being greater than the threshold difference value; and
send the signal to turn off the turn signal if a determination was made to send the signal to turn off the turn signal.
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Abstract
A vehicle turn signal system causes a turn signal to turn off when a turn is completed or nearly completed based on the orientation of the vehicle changing to turn to a certain degree in a direction indicated by the turn signal. Current heading, position, location and/or or other such information is electronically received from a compass or other device by a turn signal switch controller. When the vehicle has changed direction from the direction the vehicle was traveling at the time associated with when the turn signal was turned on, a signal is sent to turn off the turn signal and reset the manual turn signal button or lever.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A turn signal system for a vehicle, comprising:
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at least one controller; and at least one communications line coupled to the at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller is configured to; receive, via the at least one communications line, information indicative of a turn signal of the vehicle having been turned on and information regarding a direction associated with the turn signal; receive, via the at least one communications line, compass information indicative of which direction the vehicle was heading at a time associated with when the turn signal was turned on; receive, via the at least one communications line, compass information indicative of the vehicle having changed direction from the direction the vehicle was heading at the time associated with when the turn signal was turned on; make a determination of whether to send a signal to turn off the turn signal based on the received compass information indicative of the vehicle having changed direction from the direction the vehicle was heading at the time associated with when the turn signal was turned on wherein the at least one controller is configured to make the determination of whether to send the signal to turn off the turn signal by being at least configured to; determine whether the current direction in which the vehicle is heading is toward the direction associated with the turn signal; determine a difference between the current direction in which the vehicle is heading and the direction the vehicle was heading at the time associated with when the turn signal was turned on; determine whether the difference is greater than a threshold difference value; and if the difference is greater than the threshold difference value and the current direction in which the vehicle is heading is toward the direction associated with the turn signal, make a determination to send the signal to turn off the turn signal based at least on the difference being greater than the threshold difference value; and send the signal to turn off the turn signal if a determination was made to send the signal to turn off the turn signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method in an automated turn signal system for a vehicle, comprising:
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receiving, by the automated turn signal system, an electrical signal indicative of a turn signal of a vehicle being on; and sending, by the automated turn signal system, an electrical signal causing the turn signal to turn off automatically based on an orientation of the vehicle changing to turn in a direction indicated by the turn signal at a time associated with when the turn signal was turned on. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computer processor, cause the at least one computer processor to perform:
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determining whether a current direction in which a vehicle is heading is toward a direction that was associated with a turn signal when it was turned on; determining a difference between the current direction in which the vehicle is heading and a direction the vehicle was heading at a time associated with when the turn signal was turned on; determining whether the difference is greater than a threshold difference value; if the difference is greater than the threshold difference value and the current direction in which the vehicle is heading is in the direction associated with the turn signal, making a determination to send a signal to turn off the turn signal based at least on the difference being greater than the threshold difference value; and sending the signal to turn off the turn signal in response to the determination made to send the signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification