Daytime running lights convenience feature

• US 5,245,251 A
• Filed: 12/16/1991
• Issued: 09/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Navistar International Transportation Corp. (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Irick, W. Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, SON T
• Application Number:
  US07/807,692
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/82, 315/83, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 307/112, 307/139
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means

Abstract

A convienience feature is added to a DRL circuit to enable the driver to temporarily override the DRL system in situations where it is appropriate, such as when the vehicle is approaching weigh scales or entering a tunnel. The convenience feature is embodied in a convenience circuit that is interposed in the current feed path to the DRL circuit. The convenience circuit comprises a momentary switch that is actuated by the driver and a timing relay module that is responsive to the actuation of the momentary switch.

Claims

1. In a daytime running lights (DRL) system which comprises an electric circuit that automatically illuminates exterior running lamps on an automotive vehicle in response to indicia of the daytime operation of the automotive vehicle and that comprises a current path, including normally open DRL switch means that is operated closed in response to indicia of daytime operation of the vehicle, through which electric current for the daytime illumination of such lamps is conducted, a convenience circuit for enabling a driver of the vehicle to temporarily override such automatic illumination of such lamps while said DRL switch means remains closed, said convenience circuit comprising a convenience switch means having an actuator operable by the driver from a non-actuated position to an actuated position and switch-responsive means which is interposed in said current path and which is responsive to said actuator of said convenience switch means being operated to actuated position to temporarily interrupt said current path.

2. In a daytime running lights (DRL) system, a convenience circuit as set forth in claim 1 in which said switch-responsive means comprises timing means which is effective to impose a certain limited time interruption on the operation of said DRL system upon said actuator of said convenience switch means returning from actuated position to non-actuated position.

3. In a daytime running lights (DRL) system which comprises an electric circuit that automatically illuminates exterior running lamps on an automotive vehicle in response to indicia of the daytime operation of the automotive vehicle and that comprises a current path, including normally open DRL switch means that is operated closed in response to indicia of daytime operation of the vehicle, through which electric current for the daytime illumination of such lamps is conducted, a convenience circuit for enabling a driver of the vehicle to temporarily override such automatic illumination of such lamps while said DRL switch means remains closed, said convenience circuit comprising a momentary switch that is interposed in said current path, said momentary switch comprising a set of normally closed contacts interposed in said current path so as to allow DRL operation when closed and disallow DRL operation when open, an actuator that is accessible to and operable by the driver from non-actuated position to actuated position for causing said set of normally closed contacts to operate from closed to open, and resilient bias means for resiliently biasing said actuator toward its non-actuated position so that after the driver has ceased to operate said actuator, said actuator returns to its non-actuated condition and allows said set of contacts to return to closed.

4. In a daytime running lights (DRL) system which comprises an elecric circuit that automatically illuminates exterior running lamps on an automotive vehicle in response to indicia of the daytime operation of the automotive vehicle and that comprises a current path, including normally open DRL switch means that is operated closed in response to indicia of daytime operation of the vehicle, through which electric current for the daytime illumination of such lamps is conducted, a convenience circuit for enabling a driver of the vehicle to temporarily override such automatic illumination of such lamps while said DRL switch means remains closed, said convenience circuit comprising a momentary switch, said momentary switch comprising a set of normally closed contacts interposed in said current path so as to allow DRL operation when closed and disallow DRL operation when open, an actuator that is accessible to and operable by the driver from non-actuated position to actuated position for causing said set of normally closed contacts to operate from closed to open, and resilient bias means for resiliently biasing said actuator toward its non-actuated position so that after the driver has ceased to operate said actuator, said actuator returns to its non-actuated condition and allows said set of contacts to return to closed, and said convenience circuit further including sealing means for temporarily sealing said current path open for a limited amount of time after said contacts have returned from open to closed.

5. In a daytime running lights (DRL) system, a convenience circuit as set forth in claim 4 in which said sealing means comprises a second set of normally closed contacts disposed in said current path in series with said first-mentioned set of normally closed contacts and timing means which is responsive to the operation of said actuator from non-actuated position to actuated position for causing said second set of normally closed contacts to open and is also responsive to return of said actuator from actuated position to non-actuated position for causing said second set of normally closed contacts to remain open for said limited amount of time after said first-mentioned set of normally closed contacts has returned from open to closed.

6. In a daytime running lights (DRL) system, a convenience circuit as set forth in claim 5 in which said momentary switch further includes a set of normally open contacts which operate from open to closed in response to operation of said actuator from non-actuated position to actuated position and from closed to open in response to return of said actuator from actuated position to non-actuated position, and said timing means further comprises means responsive to the operation of said set of normally open contacts from open to closed to operate said second set of normally closed contacts from closed to open and also responsive to the return of said set of normally open contacts from closed to open to return said second set of normally closed contacts from open to closed upon elapse of said limited amount of time after said first-mentioned set of normally closed contacts have returned from open to closed.

7. In a daytime running lights (DRL) system, a convenience circuit as set forth in claim 6 in which said timing means comprises a relay which contains said second set of normally closed contacts and which contains a coil that controls the operation of said second set of normally closed contacts.

8. In a daytime running lights (DRL) system, a convenience circuit as set forth in claim 7 in which said timing means further includes a timing device that is operatively connected with said coil of said relay to cause said coil to be energized during said limited amount of time and to be de-energized upon elapse of said limited amount of time.

9. In a daytime running lights (DRL) system which comprises an electric circuit that automatically illuminates exterior running lamps on an automotive vehicle in response to indicia of the daytime operation of the automotive vehicle and that comprises a current path, including normally open DRL switch means that is operated closed in response to indicia of daytime operation of the vehicle, through which electric current for the daytime illumination of such lamps is conducted, a convenience circuit for enabling a driver of the vehicle to temporarily override such automatic illumination of such lamps while said DRL switch means remains closed, said convenience circuit comprising a momentary switch that has two sets of contacts, one of said sets being a set of normally closed contacts interposed in said current path so as to allow DRL operation when closed and disallow DRL operation when open, the other of said sets being a set of normally open contacts, said switch comprising an actuator that is accessible to and operable by the driver from non-actuated position to actuated position for causing said set of normally closed contacts to operate from closed to open and said set of normally open contacts to operate from open to closed, and resilient bias means for resiliently biasing said actuator toward its non-actuated position so that after the driver has ceased to operate said actuator, said actuator returns to its non-actuated condition and allows said set of normally closed contacts to return from open to closed and said set of normally open contacts to return from closed to open, and said convenience circuit further comprising a second set of normally closed contacts interposed in said current path in series with said first-mentioned set of normally closed contacts, and timing circuit means operated by said normally open set of contacts to control said second-mentioned set of normally closed contacts such that when said set of normally open contacts operates from open to closed, said second set of normally closed contacts operates from closed to open, and when said set of normally open contacts returns from closed to open, said second set of normally closed contacts operate from open to closed only after a limited amount of time has elapsed after said set of normally open set of contacts has returned to open.