Combined back-up and battery low-level alarm for vehicle

• US 20050231338A1
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Controls Company (Truck-Lite Holdings 2 Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Preco Electronics Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Inventors: Anderson, Dennis N., Stewart, James E. Jr., Pelot, Alfred, Paul, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,123,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for use in motorized vehicles to provide a vehicle back-up alarm system, intended for mounting on a vehicle, that also incorporates an apparatus for detecting and alarming low battery conditions. Preferably incorporated into a main housing are the electronic components that perform power regulation, system control, voltage sensing, timing, alarm tone generation, sound emitting and, optionally, light emitting. The housing serves to securely fix and retain these components and to protect them from moisture and dirt. The circuitry is connected to the vehicle upon which it is installed by preferably three connection terminals situated on the housing. Distinctive tones and/or lamp sequences alert the operator and those by-standers within proximity to the vehicle to different alarm conditions.

Claims

1. A vehicle combined back-up and battery low-level alarm comprising:

a back-up alarm circuit;

a voltage sensing and comparing circuit;

a timing circuit; and

a gating circuit;

wherein the gating circuit performs tone generation output in response to inputs from the back-up alarm circuit, voltage sensing and comparing circuit, and the timing circuit.

2. The combined alarm of claim 1, wherein the gating circuit comprises a microcontroller.

3. The combined alarm of claim 2, wherein the microcontroller incorporates an analog to digital converter.

4. The combined alarm of claim 1, which also comprises a signaling lamp.

5. The combined alarm of claim 4, which also comprises an ambient light sensor.

6. The combined alarm of claim 1, which is incorporated within a single housing.

7. The combined alarm of claim 1, wherein the voltage sensing and comparing circuit is responsive to two different voltage thresholds.

8. The combined alarm of claim 7, wherein there is different alarm mode timing for each respective voltage threshold.

9. The combined alarm of claim 1, wherein the back-up alarm circuit has alarm mode precedence over the voltage sensing and comparing circuit.