Apparatus, method and system for checking rear lamp

• US 9,846,997 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2014
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Sah, Sung Jin, Na, Jin Ho, Park, Sung Min, Oh, Kwang Myung, Lee, Hui Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): HOQUE, FARHANA AKHTER
• Application Number:
  US14/509,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20150108987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/005 for lighting devices, e.g. indicating if lamps are burning or not
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

An apparatus for checking a rear lamp includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is disposed in at least one rear lamp and configured to obtain a first signal generated from the outside. The controller is configured to turn on the at least one rear lamp according to the first signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for checking a rear lamp, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor disposed in at least one rear lamp and configured to obtain a first sound wave signal corresponding to a tap operation on the at least one rear lamp; and

a controller configured to;

turn on the at least one rear lamp according to the first sound wave signal;

determine whether the second sound wave signal is stored before comparing the first sound wave signal with the pre-stored second sound wave signal;

enter into a signal storing mode if it is determined that the second sound wave signal is not stored; and

store the first sound wave signal received from the sensor as the second sound wave signal,

wherein the controller is configured to perform a user authentication with authentication information received from the outside, complete the user authentication upon determination that user authentication information received from an electronic device and pre-stored authentication information are identical, and activate the sensor by activating a rear lamp checking mode upon completion of the user authentication.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to turn on the rear lamp upon determination that the first sound wave signal and a pre-stored second sound wave signal are identical.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to store in a storage, upon determination that no sound wave signal is pre-stored in the storage, the first sound save signal as the second sound wave signal by entering into a signal storing mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of rear lamps,

wherein the controller is configured to change a type of lamps to be turned on, among the plurality of rear lamps, according to a type of the first sound wave signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to sequentially turn on the plurality of lamps.

6. A method for checking a rear lamp, comprising:

obtaining, from a sensor disposed in at least one rear lamp, a first sound wave signal corresponding to a tap operation on the at least one rear lamp;

turning on the at least one rear lamp according to the first sound wave signal, wherein the turning on of the at least one rear lamp comprises;

comparing the first sound wave signal with a pre-stored second sound wave signal; and

turning on the rear lamp when the first sound wave signal and the second sound wave signal are identical;

completing a user authentication when user authentication information received from the outside and pre-stored authentication information are identical before obtaining the first sound wave signal from the sensor;

activating the sensor by activating a rear lamp checking mode after completing the user authentication;

determining whether the second sound wave signal is stored before comparing the first sound wave signal with the pre-stored second sound wave signal;

entering into a signal storing mode if it is determined that the second sound wave signal is not stored; and

storing the first sound wave signal received from the sensor as the second sound wave signal.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

changing a type of lamps to be turned on, among a plurality of rear lamps, according to a type of the first sound wave signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of lamps are sequentially turned on.

9. A system for checking a rear lamp, the system comprising:

an electronic device storing user authentication information;

at least one rear lamp including at least one sensor configured to obtain a first sound wave signal corresponding to a tap operation on the at least one rear lamp; and

a checking device configured to perform a user authentication by user authentication information received from the electronic device, and control turning on/off of the rear lamp upon determination that the first sound wave signal obtained from the sensor and a pre-stored second sound wave signal are identical,

wherein the electronic device comprises a controller configured to;

determine whether the second sound wave signal is stored before comparing the first sound wave signal with the pre-stored second sound wave signal;

enter into a signal storing mode if it is determined that the second sound wave signal is not stored; and

store the first sound wave signal received from the sensor as the second sound wave signal, and

wherein the checking device is configured to perform a user authentication with authentication information received from the outside, complete the user authentication upon determination that user authentication information received from an electronic device and pre-stored authentication information are identical, and activate the sensor by activating a rear lamp checking mode upon completion of the user authentication.

10. A system for checking a rear lamp, the system comprising:

a plurality of rear lamps including at least one sensor configured to obtain a first sound wave signal corresponding to a tap operation on one of the plurality of rear lamps which includes the at least one rear lamp; and

a checking device configured to perform a user authentication by user authentication information inputted through an input, and control turning on/off of at least the one of plurality of the rear lamps upon determination that the first sound wave signal received from the sensor and a pre-stored second sound wave signal are identical; and

a controller configured to;

determine whether the second sound wave signal is stored before comparing the first sound wave signal with the pre-stored second sound wave signal;

enter into a signal storing mode when it is determined that the second sound wave signal is not stored; and

store the first sound wave signal received from the sensor as the second sound wave signal,

wherein the checking device is configured to perform a user authentication with authentication information received from the outside, complete the user authentication upon determination that user authentication information received from an electronic device and pre-stored authentication information are identical, and activate the sensor by activating a rear lamp checking mode upon completion of the user authentication.