Customizable modulator for vehicular braking indication
DCFirst Claim
1. An electrical apparatus, comprising:
- a control circuit;
a switching circuit coupled to the control circuit and coupleable to a vehicular braking indicator, the switching circuit configured to modulate an incoming electrical signal to the vehicular braking indicator to provide a modulated vehicular braking indicator output;
wherein the control circuit is configured to control the switching circuit to provide the modulated vehicular braking indicator output including;
upon receiving the incoming electrical signal indicative of an initial brake application, modulating one or more of an output current or voltage provided to the modulated vehicular braking indicator output to vary the apparent intensity of the vehicular braking indicator according to a specified pattern;
monitoring a duration of the initial brake application; and
in response, when the duration of the initial brake application exceeds an initial modulation duration, continuing to modulate one or more of the output current or voltage in a manner suppressing apparent variation in intensity but maintaining the vehicular braking indicator output in a manner causing illumination of the vehicular braking indicator.
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Abstract
An electrical apparatus can be used to modulate an apparent intensity of a vehicular braking indicator according to a specified pattern. When a duration of an initial brake application exceeds a specified initial modulation duration, the apparent intensity can continue to be modulated, but in a manner suppressing apparent variation in intensity until at least one of a release of brake application or until a specified timeout duration lapses. In an example, upon lapse of the timeout duration, modulation can be re-established to vary the apparent intensity of the vehicular braking indicator according to the specified pattern for another modulation duration corresponding to the initial modulation duration. The pattern can be customizable, such as provided to the electrical apparatus digitally, before installation. The customizability of the specified pattern can be inhibited, such as after installation by an installer or seller.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrical apparatus, comprising:
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a control circuit; a switching circuit coupled to the control circuit and coupleable to a vehicular braking indicator, the switching circuit configured to modulate an incoming electrical signal to the vehicular braking indicator to provide a modulated vehicular braking indicator output; wherein the control circuit is configured to control the switching circuit to provide the modulated vehicular braking indicator output including; upon receiving the incoming electrical signal indicative of an initial brake application, modulating one or more of an output current or voltage provided to the modulated vehicular braking indicator output to vary the apparent intensity of the vehicular braking indicator according to a specified pattern; monitoring a duration of the initial brake application; and in response, when the duration of the initial brake application exceeds an initial modulation duration, continuing to modulate one or more of the output current or voltage in a manner suppressing apparent variation in intensity but maintaining the vehicular braking indicator output in a manner causing illumination of the vehicular braking indicator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20)
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10. A method for modulating apparent intensity of a vehicular braking indicator using an electrical apparatus, the method comprising:
modulating an incoming electrical signal to the vehicular braking indicator to provide a modulated vehicular braking indicator output, the modulating including; upon receiving the incoming electrical signal indicative of an initial brake application, modulating one or more of an output current or voltage provided to the modulated vehicular braking indicator output to vary the apparent intensity of the vehicular braking indicator according to a specified pattern; monitoring a duration of the initial brake application; and in response, when the duration of the initial brake application exceeds an initial modulation duration, continuing to modulate one or more of the output current or voltage in a manner suppressing apparent variation in intensity but maintaining the vehicular braking indicator output in a manner causing illumination of the vehicular braking indicator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification