Vehicular deceleration-responsive center high-mounted stoplight

• US H2,001 H1
• Filed: 06/10/1998
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alan R. Pinkus
• Original Assignee: Alan R. Pinkus
• Inventors: Pinkus, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tudor, Harold J.
• Application Number:
  US91/007,86
• Publication Number:
  US H2,001 H1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 340463, 340467, 340469, 340471, 340472, 340479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/448 specially adapted for vehicles with ABS

Abstract

An improved center high-mounted stoplight apparatus for a motor vehicle or other transportation apparatus. The apparatus includes a pulsating or flashing mode of operation used to indicate rapid deceleration of the vehicle. This pulsating or flashing mode is in addition to the regular continuous mode of operation used for normal braking and deceleration and is arranged to be of a maximal human visibility and attention-capturing operating cycle. A plurality of different signaling arrangements to a following vehicle including an incandescent lamp, a gas tube lamp, light-emitting diode devices and non light-based signaling are also contemplated. Additionally included is a maximal distance spanning attention-capturing operating mode entered into in response to, for example, a collision-related deceleration event and maintained over a prolonged operating time or until manually disabled.

Claims

1. Brake responsive vehicular center high-mounted stoplight apparatus comprising the combination of:

visible light generating electrical energy to optical energy transducer apparatus disposed in rearward facing orientation on a rearward portion of a first vehicle in a center high-mounted and eye-level elevation location with respect to an operator of a trailing second vehicle;

a first vehicle-received source of electrical energy capable of energizing said visible light generating electrical energy to optical energy transducer apparatus;

electrical circuit apparatus connected in electrical energy flow-controlling relationship between said visible light generating electrical energy to optical energy transducer apparatus and said first vehicle-received source of electrical energy;

said electrical circuit apparatus including a first continuously closeable electrical switch element responsive to vehicle braking action in said first vehicle and generating a continuous electrical energy flow in, and a continuous visible signal from, said first vehicle visible light generating electrical energy to optical energy transducer apparatus;

said electrical circuit apparatus including a second periodically opening and closing electrical switch element responsive to selected abnormal intense vehicle braking action in said first vehicle and generating a pulsating electrical energy flow in, and a pulsating visible signal from, said first vehicle visible light generating electrical energy to optical energy transducer apparatus.

2. The brake responsive vehicular center high-mounted stoplight apparatus of claim 1 wherein said periodically opening and closing electrical switch element responsive to selected abnormal intense vehicle braking action is responsive to one of the braking indicia of:

a g-force related rate of deceleration of said first vehicle;

a force per square unit of measure pressure in a pressurized fluid-energized first vehicle braking system element;

a sensed decrease in rate of revolution of a rotating element of said first vehicle;

a rate of force onset transition in a braking system element of said first vehicle;

activation of an anti-lock operating mode in an automatic braking system of said first vehicle.

3. The brake responsive vehicular center high-mounted stoplight apparatus of claim 1 wherein said visible light generating electrical energy to optical energy transducer apparatus includes an incandescent filament lamp.

4. The brake responsive vehicular center high-mounted stoplight apparatus of claim 1 wherein said visible light generating electrical energy to optical energy transducer apparatus includes a plurality of transducer elements disposed in selected physical array on rear portions of said first vehicle.

5. The brake responsive vehicular center high-mounted stoplight apparatus of claim 4 wherein said plurality of transducer elements disposed in selected physical array comprise light-emitting diode elements.

6. The brake responsive vehicular center high-mounted stoplight apparatus of claim 1 wherein said visible light generating electrical energy to optical energy transducer apparatus comprises a captive ionized gas.

7. The brake responsive vehicular center high-mounted stoplight apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first vehicle is one of an automobile, a bus and a truck.

8. The brake responsive vehicular center high-mounted stoplight apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical switch elements each comprise one of a mechanically actuated switch element, a semiconductor device and an electrically operated relay switching element.

9. The brake responsive vehicular center high-mounted stoplight apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first continuously closeable electrical switch element comprises a brake element actuated mechanical switch element and said second periodically opening and closing electrical switch element comprises a periodic cycle driven switching element connected in electrical series with said first continuously collapsible electrical switch element.

10. The brake responsive vehicular center high-mounted stoplight apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second periodically opening and closing electrical switch element comprises a periodic cycle driven semiconductor device.

11. The brake responsive vehicular center high-mounted stoplight apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second periodically opening and closing electrical switch element comprises a periodic cycle driven electromagnetic switching device.

12. The method of operating a center high-mounted brake light signal in a motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

energizing said center high-mounted brake light signal with a continuous flow of electrical energy during normal vehicle braking events, events involving braking below a selected threshold of braking intensity;

energizing said center high-mounted brake light signal with a pulsating intermittent flow of electrical energy during abnormal vehicle braking events, events involving braking above said selected threshold of braking intensity;

deenergizing said center high-mounted brake light signal upon termination of each said normal vehicle braking event and said abnormal vehicle braking event.

13. The method of operating a center high-mounted brake light signal of claim 12 further including the step of:

energizing said center high-mounted brake light signal with a pulsating intermittent flow of electrical energy of extended overall time duration in response to a second selected collision-related vehicle deceleration in excess of braking-achievable deceleration.

14. The method of operating a center high-mounted brake light signal of claim 13 further including the step of:

continuing said extended overall time duration pulsating intermittent flow energizing until interrupted by a manually initiated terminating event.

15. The method of operating a center high-mounted brake light signal of claim 13 further including the step of sensing said abnormal vehicle braking event through measurement of one of the parameters of:

a g-force related rate of deceleration of said motor vehicle;

force per squared unit of measure pressure in a pressurized fluid-energized motor vehicle braking system element;

a sensed decrease in rate of revolution of a rotating drive train element of said motor vehicle;

a rate of force onset transition in a braking system element of said motor vehicle.

16. The method of operating a center high-mounted brake light signal of claim 15 wherein said step of sensing said abnormal vehicle braking event includes energizing said brake light signal in response to attained measurements of two of said parameters.

17. Motor vehicle high-mounted visual signaling apparatus comprising the combination of:

a first vehicle-received high-mounted electrically responsive visual signaling device disposed at substantially eye level with respect to an operator'"'"'s position of a second trailing vehicle;

means for continuously energizing said first vehicle high-mounted electrically responsive visual signaling device from a first vehicle energy source in response to normal deceleration g-force braking of said first vehicle;

means for intermittently energizing said first vehicle high-mounted electrically responsive signaling device from said first vehicle energy source in response to abnormal higher deceleration g-force braking of said first vehicle.

18. The motor vehicle high-mounted visual signaling apparatus of claim 17 wherein:

said first vehicle-received high-mounted electrically responsive visual signaling device includes one of the electrical energy to optical energy transducer elements of an incandescent filament lamp, a captive ionized gas lamp and a light-emitting diode light source;

said means for continuously energizing said first vehicle high-mounted electrically responsive visual signaling device from a first vehicle energy source includes a vehicle brake-responsive electromechanical switch element-incorporated electrical circuit connected intermediate an electrical battery and rectified alternator-energized electrical system of said vehicle and said electrical energy to optical energy transducer element;

said means for intermittently energizing said first vehicle high-mounted electrically responsive signaling device includes one of a periodic cycle driven semiconductor device and a periodic cycle driven electromagnetic switching device; and

said periodic cycle driven switching device includes a periodic cycle selected for substantial human visibility and attention capturing with respect to a second vehicle operator.