System and apparatus for controlling rear indicator lights on a vehicle

• US 5,900,679 A
• Filed: 06/11/1998
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maximum Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Maximum Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Sheehan, William E., Lake, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US09/096,043
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.8, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 315/77, 340/463, 340/465, 340/468, 340/469, 340/475, 340/479
• US Class Current: 307/10.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1407 General lighting circuits comprising dimming circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps
• 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

Abstract

According to the present invention, a lighting control circuit is provided in which various logic gates, transistors and other smaller-scale circuit elements are combined. The circuit receives as inputs the control signals from the vehicle, including the left and right indicator signals, the brake signal and the tail light signal. Each of these signals is fed into a first bank of logic gates whose outputs are supplied to a second bank of logic gates, whose output is in turn supplied to two transistors, each connected to a separate single filament bulb, one for the left side of the vehicle and the other for the right side.

Claims

1. A lighting control apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

an turn signal input responsive to a turn indicator signal from said vehicle;

a tail light signal input responsive to a tail light signal from said vehicle;

an output signal, for providing electric current to a vehicle indicator lamp;

wherein a tail light signal alone produces a reduced current output signal;

a turn indicator signal without a tail light signal produces an alternating substantially full current/no current output signal; and

a turn indicator signal with a tail light signal produces an alternating substantially full current/reduced current output signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:

a braking signal input responsive to a braking signal from said vehicle;

wherein a braking signal without a turn indicator signal produces a substantially full current output signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including:

a second turn signal input accepting a second turn indicator signal; and

a second output signal, for providing electric current to a second vehicle indicator lamp;

wherein said second output signal is responsive to said braking signal, said tail light signal, and said second turn indicator signal similar to the response of said output signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reduced current output signal is approximately half of said substantially full current output signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reduced current output signal is approximately one-third of said substantially full current output signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reduced current output signal is produced by alternating substantially full current and no current.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said alternating of substantially full current and no current is performed at a frequency of greater than 80 hertz.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said alternating of substantially full current and no current is performed at a frequency of less than 100 hertz.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said turn signal input provides a resistive load to said turn indicator signal from said vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is a motorcycle.

11. A rear light signaling system for a vehicle, said vehicle including a braking signal, tail light signal, and a left and right turn indicator signals;

said rear light signaling system comprising;

a left indicator lamp;

a right indicator lamp;

wherein said left indicator lamp is responsive to said braking signal, tail light signal and left turn signal as follows;

said left indicator lamp is driven to a partial brightness by a tail light signal;

said left indicator lamp is driven to a full brightness by a brake light signal without a left turn indicator signal;

said left indicator lamp is driven in alternating full brightness and off by a left turn indicator signal without a tail light signal; and

said left indicator lamp is driven to alternating full brightness and partial brightness by a left turn indicator signal with a tail light signal; and

wherein said right indicator lamp is responsive to said braking signal, tail light signal and right turn signal in an equivalent fashion to said left indicator lamp.

12. The rear light signaling system of claim 11 wherein said system provides a resistive load to said left and right turn indicator signals from said vehicle.

13. The rear light signaling system of claim 11 wherein said vehicle is a motorcycle.

14. A vehicle including:

two rear indicator lamps, a left and a right;

a left-right turn indicator switch for producing separate left and right turn signals each comprising alternating ON/OFF current;

a braking signal, produced when brakes on said vehicle are activated;

a tail light signal, produced when running lights on said vehicle are activated;

wherein said left rear indicator lamp is responsive to said left turn signal, braking signal, and tail light signal as follows;

said left rear indicator lamp is driven to a partial brightness by a tail light signal;

said left rear indicator lamp is driven to a full brightness by a brake light signal without a left turn signal;

said left rear indicator lamp is driven in alternating full brightness and off by a left turn signal without a tail light signal; and

said left rear indicator lamp is driven to alternating full brightness and partial brightness by a left turn signal with a tail light signal; and

wherein said right rear indicator lamp is responsive to said right turn signal, braking signal, and tail light signal in an equivalent fashion to said left rear indicator lamp.

15. The vehicle as claimed in claim 14 wherein said vehicle is a motorcycle.