Windshield wiper system activated lighting

• US 5,120,981 A
• Filed: 11/28/1989
• Issued: 06/09/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Cope
• Original Assignee: Robert Cope
• Inventors: Cope, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US07/442,841
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 315/82, 315/83, 315/200 R, 340/425.5
• US Class Current: 307/10.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/08 electrically driven conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and liquid supply of windscreen washer B60S1/482; conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and means for cleaning parts o parts other than windscreens or front windows B60S1/56, B60S1/58, B60S1/606

Abstract

A switching system is provided that automatically turns on automobile headlights when the windshield wiper is turned on. Two embodiments are provided: one using relays to perform the switching function, and one using digital logic. A third embodiment allows for the addition of multi-speed windshield wipers and fog lights. When the windshield wipers are set to low speed, the headlights are automatically turned on. When they are set to high speed, the headlights and fog lights are automatically turned on.

Claims

1. A circuit for automatically activating headlights and fog lights of a vehicle during operation of a dual-speed vehicle windshield wiper comprising;

a headlight switch and a fog light switch for connecting respective operating circuits of the headlights and fog lights, respectively, to a vehicle power source, and a two position wiper switch for connecting respective low and high speed operating circuits of a dual-speed wiper motor of the vehicle to the vehicle power source, and control circuit means connecting the headlight operating circuit and fog light operation circuit to respective low and high speed positions of the wiper switch circuit whereby, in a first, low speed position of the wiper switch the control circuit means actuates the headlight operating circuit and, in a second, high speed position of the wiper switch, the control circuit means activates both the headlight operating circuit and the fog light operating circuit thereby to operate both headlights and fog lights simultaneously,

wherein said control circuit means comprises;

a 3-input OR gate whose inputs are said headlight switch and contacts of the low and high speed positions of said wiper switch, a headlight driver whose input is the output of said 3-input OR gate and whose output operates said headlights;

a wiper motor driver whose input is the contact of the low speed position of said wiper switch and whose output is connected to a contact of a low speed circuit of said dual-speed wiper motor;

a wiper motor drive whose input is the contact of the high speed position of said wiper switch whose output is connected to a contact of high speed circuit of said dual-speed wiper motor; and

,

a 2-input OR gate having inputs connected to said fog light switch and the contact of the high speed position of said wiper switch, and fog light driver whose input is the output of said 2-input OR gate and whose operates said fog lights.