Enhanced communication system for vehicle hazard lights
First Claim
1. A system for implementing emergency strobing of existing vehicle lights comprising:
- an interface to a vehicle wiring harness configured to receive input to an existing vehicle flasher module;
a strobing circuit that responds to an activation signal from the vehicle wiring harness that is indicative of a hazard flasher deployment event by producing an electrical output having a strobing pattern that is perceptibly faster than a cycle of existing vehicle signal lights; and
an OR circuit having two inputs, one of which accepts the electrical output from the strobing circuit and another of which intercepts output to an existing auxiliary vehicle lamp that is not otherwise activated with existing vehicle flashers or signal lights;
wherein the OR circuit has a multifunction output for connection to the existing auxiliary vehicle lamp in place of the intercepted output, the multifunction output providing for lighting of the existing vehicle lamp when either the output from the strobing circuit is active or the output from the intercepted output is active;
wherein the strobing circuit accepts the activation signal from the vehicle wiring harness that would otherwise control existing non-strobing hazard flasher deployment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for implementing strobing of existing vehicle hazard lights including an interface to a vehicle wiring harness configured to receive input to an existing vehicle flasher module, a strobing circuit that responds to an activation signal from the vehicle wiring harness that is indicative of a hazard flasher deployment event by producing an electrical output having a strobing pattern that is perceptibly faster than a cycle of existing vehicle signal lights, and an OR circuit having two inputs, one of which accepts the electrical output from the strobing circuit and another of which intercepts output to an existing auxiliary vehicle lamp that is not otherwise activated with existing vehicle flashers or signal lights.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for implementing emergency strobing of existing vehicle lights comprising:
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an interface to a vehicle wiring harness configured to receive input to an existing vehicle flasher module; a strobing circuit that responds to an activation signal from the vehicle wiring harness that is indicative of a hazard flasher deployment event by producing an electrical output having a strobing pattern that is perceptibly faster than a cycle of existing vehicle signal lights; and an OR circuit having two inputs, one of which accepts the electrical output from the strobing circuit and another of which intercepts output to an existing auxiliary vehicle lamp that is not otherwise activated with existing vehicle flashers or signal lights; wherein the OR circuit has a multifunction output for connection to the existing auxiliary vehicle lamp in place of the intercepted output, the multifunction output providing for lighting of the existing vehicle lamp when either the output from the strobing circuit is active or the output from the intercepted output is active; wherein the strobing circuit accepts the activation signal from the vehicle wiring harness that would otherwise control existing non-strobing hazard flasher deployment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A vehicle lighting safety device comprising:
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at least one hazard input communicatively coupled to a driver accessible hazard light switch inside the vehicle; a microcontroller communicatively coupled to the at least one hazard input; and an output communicatively coupled to the microcontroller and capable of driving a multi-purpose light installed on the vehicle in a strobing manner in response to receiving a signal on the at least one hazard input; wherein the multi-purpose light is not a part of an existing vehicle signal light system; wherein the microcontroller accepts the signal on the at least one hazard input that would otherwise control existing, non-strobing hazard lights; and wherein the output communicatively coupled to the microcontroller supplements non-strobing output available from the multi-purpose light. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An emergency strobe light system for installation into a motor vehicle comprising:
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at least one hazard input communicatively coupled to a driver accessible hazard light switch inside the vehicle; at least one signal input communicatively coupled to a signal light control stalk inside the vehicle; a microcontroller receiving input states of the at least one hazard input and the at least one signal input such that the microcontroller is informed whether a left or right turn signal or a hazard flasher deployment is indicated by a user; and an OR circuit allowing activation of a multi-purpose light by the microcontroller or another vehicle system; wherein the microcontroller operates a plurality of vehicle installed signal lights in a non-strobing manner in response to an indication of a left or right turn signal; wherein the microcontroller operates the plurality of plurality of vehicle installed signal lights in a strobing manner in response to the indication of hazard flasher deployment; and wherein the microcontroller activates the multi-purpose light in a strobing manner via the OR circuit in response to the indication of hazard flasher deployment such that an original function of the multi-purpose light is also retained; wherein the microcontroller accepts input from the driver accessible hazard light switch that would otherwise control the existing vehicle installed signal lights or hazard lights in a non-strobing manner; and wherein the output from the OR circuit replaces output to the existing vehicle installed signal or hazard lights that would have been correspondent to existing non-strobing activation.
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21. A vehicle lighting safety device comprising:
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at least one hazard input communicatively coupled to a driver accessible hazard light switch inside the vehicle; a microcontroller communicatively coupled to the at least one hazard input; and an output communicatively coupled to the microcontroller and capable of driving a plurality of vehicle mounted light emitting diodes, at least some of which are selectively operative as turn signal lights based upon manipulation of a signal light stalk mounted to a vehicle steering column; wherein the microcontroller operates the plurality of light emitting diodes in a strobing manner in response to receiving a signal on the at least one hazard input; wherein the microcontroller accepts input from the driver accessible hazard light switch that would otherwise control the existing, non-strobing hazard lights; and wherein the output from the microcontroller replaces output to the plurality of vehicle mounted light emitting diodes that would have been correspondent to existing non-strobing hazard light activation.
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Specification