Automobile indicator

• US 20050134447A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Inventors: Su, Wen-Wei
• Application Number:
  US10/740,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134447A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/463
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/797 at the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/20 Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/40 Several lamps activated in sequence, e.g. sweep effect, progressive activation

Abstract

An automobile indicator is mounted to an automobile to automatically indicate a turning angle and direction of the automobile. The indicator includes a sensor that detects a rotation angle of a steering wheel of the automobile add a control device received a signal from the sensor and issuing a control signal to a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in a desired configuration for lighting the light-emitting elements in dynamic and variable patterns. The indicator can be implemented by and incorporated in an existing automobile part, such as indicator light, brake light, head-up display, rearview mirror module and auxiliary brake light module. Alternatively, the indicator can be independently mounted to the automobile.

Claims

1. An automobile indicator comprising:

sensing means for detecting an automobile status parameter and issuing a detection signal corresponding to detection result;

control means receiving the signal from the sensing means and issuing a control signal based on instructions preloaded therein; and

a plurality of light-emitting elements adapted to be mounted to an automobile, the light-emitting elements being controlled by the control signal to be selectively lighted in accordance with a first scheme corresponding to the control signal by changing a lighting parameter.

2. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first scheme comprises at least a first lighting pattern.

3. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automobile status parameter comprises turning angle of the automobile.

4. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automobile status parameter comprises turning direction of the automobile.

5. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automobile status parameter comprises speed of the automobile.

6. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lighting parameter comprises number of the light-emitting elements that are lighted.

7. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lighting parameter comprises locations of the light-emitting elements that are lighted.

8. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lighting parameter comprises luminance of the light-emitting elements that are lighted.

9. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lighting parameter comprises color of light emitted from the light-emitting elements that are lighted.

10. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light-emitting elements are divided into first and second groups and wherein the first lighting pattern comprises lighting the first and second groups in sequence.

11. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 10, wherein first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern that is cyclically repeated.

12. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is a reversal of the first lighting pattern.

13. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

14. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is different from the first lighting pattern.

15. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

16. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second groups share at least one common light-emitting element.

17. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second groups are comprised of different ones of the light-emitting elements.

18. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light-emitting elements are divided into first and second groups and wherein the first lighting pattern comprises lighting the first group initially and then lighting the second group additionally.

19. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 18, wherein first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern that is cyclically repeated.

20. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is a reversal of the first lighting pattern.

21. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns

22. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is different from the first lighting pattern.

23. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

24. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first and second groups share at least one common light-emitting element.

25. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first and second groups are comprised of different ones of the light-emitting elements.

26. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light-emitting elements are arranged in a linear array.

27. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 26, wherein the light-emitting elements of the linear array are divided into first and second groups and wherein the first lighting pattern comprises lighting the first and second groups in sequence.

28. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 27, wherein first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern that is cyclically repeated.

29. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is a reversal of the first lighting pattern.

30. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns

31. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is different from the first lighting pattern.

32. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 31, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

33. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first and second groups share at least one common light-emitting element.

34. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first and second groups are comprised of different ones of the light-emitting elements.

35. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 26, wherein the light-emitting elements are divided into first and second groups and wherein the first lighting pattern comprises lighting the first group initially and then lighting the second group additionally.

36. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 35, wherein first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern that is cyclically repeated.

37. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 35, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is a reversal of the first lighting pattern.

38. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 37, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns

39. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 35, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is different from the first lighting pattern.

40. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 39, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

41. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 35, wherein the first and second groups share at least one common light-emitting element.

42. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 35, wherein the first and second groups are comprised of different ones of the light-emitting elements.

43. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 27, wherein the linear array comprises a right half and a left half respectively located on right and left portions of the automobile.

44. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 43, wherein the light-emitting elements of each half of the linear array are divided into first and second groups and wherein the first lighting pattern comprises lighting the first and second groups of each half in sequence in a direction away from the other half.

45. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 43, wherein the light-emitting elements of each half of the linear array are divided into first and second groups and wherein the first lighting pattern comprises lighting the first and second groups of each half in sequence in a direction toward the other half.

46. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 44, wherein first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern that is cyclically repeated.

47. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 44, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is a reversal of the first lighting pattern.

48. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 47, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns

49. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 44, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is different from the first lighting pattern.

50. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 49, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

51. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 44, wherein the first and second groups share at least one common light-emitting element.

52. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 44, wherein the first and second groups are comprised of different ones of the light-emitting elements.

53. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 44, wherein the light-emitting elements are divided into first and second groups and wherein the first lighting pattern comprises lighting the first group initially and then lighting the second group additionally.

54. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 53, wherein first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern that is cyclically repeated.

55. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 53, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is a reversal of the first lighting pattern.

56. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 55, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns

57. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 53, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is different from the first lighting pattern.

58. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 57, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

59. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 53, wherein the first and second groups share at least one common light-emitting element.

60. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 53, wherein the first and second groups are comprised of different ones of the light-emitting elements.

61. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 45, wherein first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern that is cyclically repeated.

62. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 45, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is a reversal of the first lighting pattern.

63. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 62, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns

64. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 45, wherein the first scheme comprises the first-lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is different from the first lighting pattern.

65. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 64, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

66. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 45, wherein the first and second groups share at least one common light-emitting element.

67. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 45, wherein the first and second groups are comprised of different ones of the light-emitting elements.

68. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 45, wherein the light-emitting elements are divided into first and second groups and wherein the first lighting pattern comprises lighting the first group initially and then lighting the second group additionally.

69. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 68, wherein first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern that is cyclically repeated.

70. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 68, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is a reversal of the first lighting pattern.

71. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 70, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns

72. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 68, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is different from the first lighting pattern.

73. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 72, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

74. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 68, wherein the first and second groups share at least one common light-emitting element.

75. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 68, wherein the first and second groups are comprised of different ones of the light-emitting elements.

76. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light-emitting elements are arranged in a number of concentric circles.

77. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 76, wherein the circles of the light-emitting elements are divided into first and second groups and wherein the first lighting pattern comprises lighting the first and second groups in sequence.

78. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 77, wherein first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern that is cyclically repeated.

79. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 77, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is a reversal of the first lighting pattern.

80. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 79, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns

81. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 77, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is different from the first lighting pattern.

82. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 81, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

83. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 77, wherein the first and second groups share at least one common circle of the light-emitting elements.

84. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 77, wherein the first and second groups are comprised of different circles of the light-emitting elements.

85. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 76, wherein the circles of the light-emitting elements are divided into first and second groups and wherein the first lighting pattern comprises lighting the first group initially and then lighting the second group additionally.

86. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 85, wherein first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern that is cyclically repeated.

87. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 85, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is a reversal of the first lighting pattern.

88. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 87, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns

89. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 85, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is different from the first lighting pattern.

90. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 89, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

91. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 85, wherein the first and second groups share at least one common circle of the light-emitting elements.

92. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 85, wherein the first and second groups are comprised of different circles of the light-emitting elements.

93. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light-emitting elements are arranged in a swirl configuration.

94. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 93, wherein the light-emitting elements of the linear array are divided into first and second groups and wherein the first lighting pattern comprises lighting the first and second groups in sequence.

95. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 94, wherein first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern that is cyclically repeated.

96. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 94, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is a reversal of the first lighting pattern.

97. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 96, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns

98. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 94, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is different from the first lighting pattern.

99. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 98, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

100. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 94, wherein the first and second groups share at least one common light-emitting element.

101. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 94, wherein the first and second groups are comprised of different ones of the light-emitting elements.

102. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 93, wherein the light-emitting elements are divided into first and second groups and wherein the first lighting pattern comprises lighting the first group initially and then lighting the second group additionally.

103. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 102, wherein first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern that is cyclically repeated.

104. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 102, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is a reversal of the first lighting pattern.

105. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 104, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns

106. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 102, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern and a second lighting pattern that is different from the first lighting pattern.

107. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 106, wherein the first scheme comprises the first lighting pattern followed by the second pattern and a repeat of both the first and second patterns.

108. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 102, wherein the first and second groups share at least one common light-emitting element.

109. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 102, wherein the first and second groups are comprised of different ones of the light-emitting elements.

110. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-emitting elements continuously give off light when lighted.

111. The automobile indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-emitting elements twinkle when lighted.