Apparatus and method for automatic application/deapplication of brake lights
First Claim
1. A brake light control system comprising:
- a control module configured to electrically connect to a vehicle communications port, the control module being physically supported by the vehicle communications port, when electrically connected, the control module including;
a microprocessor configured to receive a plurality of series of vehicle speed signals transmitted to the vehicle communications port, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to select one of the received plurality of series of vehicle speed signals, the selected one being used by the deceleration calculator for calculating the deceleration;
a deceleration calculator configured to calculate deceleration based on the selected one of the received plurality of series of vehicle speed signals; and
a threshold comparator configured to compare the calculated deceleration with a predetermined threshold,wherein the microprocessor is further configured to generate a brake light activation signal based on the comparison of the calculated deceleration and the predetermined threshold,wherein the generated brake light activation signal is configured to cause an illumination of a standard brake light of a vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and associated methods include automatically activating and/or deactivating a vehicle'"'"'s standard brake lights in response to signals indicative of the vehicle'"'"'s speed. The signals indicative of a vehicle'"'"'s speed are received from a vehicle communications bus. In some embodiments, a deceleration value is calculated based on a series of signals indicative of a vehicle'"'"'s speed received from the vehicle communications bus. The calculated deceleration value is compared with a first predetermined deceleration threshold. If the calculated deceleration value is greater than the first predetermined deceleration threshold, a brake light activation signal is generated. When the vehicle no longer is decelerating or the computed deceleration value falls below a second predetermined deceleration threshold, a brake light deactivation signal is generated. The automatic activation/deactivation of a vehicle'"'"'s standard brake light may advantageously provide improved safety to following vehicles and drivers.
42 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A brake light control system comprising:
a control module configured to electrically connect to a vehicle communications port, the control module being physically supported by the vehicle communications port, when electrically connected, the control module including; a microprocessor configured to receive a plurality of series of vehicle speed signals transmitted to the vehicle communications port, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to select one of the received plurality of series of vehicle speed signals, the selected one being used by the deceleration calculator for calculating the deceleration; a deceleration calculator configured to calculate deceleration based on the selected one of the received plurality of series of vehicle speed signals; and a threshold comparator configured to compare the calculated deceleration with a predetermined threshold, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to generate a brake light activation signal based on the comparison of the calculated deceleration and the predetermined threshold, wherein the generated brake light activation signal is configured to cause an illumination of a standard brake light of a vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for activating a vehicle'"'"'s brake lights comprising:
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connecting a control module to a vehicle communications bus; receiving a plurality of series of vehicle speed signals transmitted to the vehicle communications bus; selecting one of the received plurality of series of vehicle speed signals, the selected one being used by the deceleration calculator for calculating the deceleration; calculating a vehicle deceleration based on the selected one of the received plurality of series of vehicle speed signals; generating a brake light activation signal based on a comparison between the calculated deceleration[and a predetermined threshold; and outputting the generated brake light activation signal to the vehicle communications bus. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vehicle brake light control system comprising:
a control module having a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for activating a vehicle'"'"'s brake lights, the method comprising; receiving a plurality of series of vehicle speed signals; selecting one of the received plurality of series of vehicle speed signals, the selected one being used by the deceleration calculator for calculating the deceleration; calculating a vehicle deceleration based on the selected one of the received plurality of series of vehicle speed signals; comparing the calculated vehicle deceleration with a predetermined threshold; generating a brake light activation signal based on the comparison of the deceleration and the predetermined threshold; and outputting the generated brake light activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification