Kit for installing daytime running lights on a vehicle

• US 5,909,084 A
• Filed: 09/22/1997
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Calvin S. Wang, Sam Fu
• Original Assignee: Calvin S. Wang, Sam Fu
• Inventors: Wang, Calvin S., Fu, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Shingleton, Michael B
• Application Number:
  US08/934,579
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 315/209 R, 315/225, 315/307, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 315/82
• 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 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source

Abstract

A daytime running lights adapter kit (10) which is designed to be installed in a vehicle to allow the vehicle to be equipped with daytime running lights. The kit (10) is enclosed within a single enclosure (12) that encloses an electronic unit (14). From the unit (14) extends a set of cable assemblies (40-46) that have attached a set of connectors (30-36). Each connector is keyed to fit into an existing vehicle receptacle (56, 58, 62, 64) that are each connected to the particular vehicle light that is to function as a daytime running light. The daytime running lights adapter kit (120) is enabled and turns on the particular lights only when the vehicle engine (50) is operating and the manual frontlight switch (54) is off. When the vehicle engine (50) is turned off or the frontlight switch (54) is placed in the on position, the kit (10) is disabled.

Claims

1. A daytime running lights adapter kit which operates in combination with a vehicle which includes:

an engine;

a battery/alternator;

a manual frontlight switch having a low-beam terminal and a high-beam terminal;

a right switch receptacle having a pin A connected to circuit ground, a pin B connected to the low-beam terminal of the frontlight switch and a pin C connected to the high-beam terminal of the frontlight switch;

a right headlight receptacle having a pin A, a pin B and a pin C;

a right bulb or sealed beam light having a high beam filament connected to pin A of the right headlight receptacle, a low beam filament connected to pin B of the right headlight receptacle and a common filament lead connected to pin C of the right headlight receptacle;

a left switch receptacle having a pin A connected to circuit ground, a pin B connected to the low-beam terminal of the frontlight switch and a pin C connected to the high-beam terminal of the frontlight switch;

a left headlight receptacle having a pin A, a pin B and a pin C;

a left bulb or sealed beam light having a high beam filament connected to pin A of the left headlight receptacle, a low beam filament connected to pin B of the left headlight receptacle and a common filament lead connected to pin C of the left headlight receptacle, wherein said daytime running lights adapter kit comprises;

a) a circuit protective device having a first side connected to said vehicle battery/alternator and a second side from where is produced a first signal corresponding to the battery/alternator voltage,

b) a threshold circuit comprising a zener diode D1 having an anode and a cathode, and a resistor R1 having a first side and a second side, wherein the cathode of D1 is applied the first signal and the anode of D1 is connected to the first side of resistor R1, wherein from the junction of diode D1 and resistor R1 is produced a second signal and from the second side of resistor R1 is produced a third signal that is connected to circuit ground,

c) a master switching circuit comprising an NPN transistor Q1 having a base, a collector and an emitter, a resistor R3 having a first side connected to the collector of transistor Q1 and a second side connected in series to a first side of a resistor R2 having a second side connected to the first signal, wherein the second signal is applied to the base of transistor Q1 and the emitter of Q1 is connected to circuit ground via the third signal, and wherein from the junction of resistors R2 and R3 is produced a fourth signal,

d) a DRL override circuit comprising a resistor R4 having a first side and a second side, and a pair of diodes D2 and D3 each having an anode and a cathode, wherein the cathode of diodes D2 and D3 are connected together to form a junction which is connected to the first side of resistor R4, wherein from the second side of resistor R4 is produced a fifth signal, to the anode of diode D2 is applied a seventh signal and to the anode of diode D3 is applied an eighth signal,

e) a light switching circuit comprising a pair of p-channel power MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 each having a gate, a source and a drain, wherein the gate of Q2 is connected to the gate of Q3 and both gates are connected to a junction consisting of the fourth and fifth signals wherefrom is produced a sixth signal;

wherein the source of Q2 is connected to the source of Q3 and both sources are connected to the first signal; and

wherein from the drain of Q2 is produced a ninth signal and from the drain of Q3 is produced a tenth signal,

f) a right isolation steering circuit comprising a pair of diodes D4 and D5, wherein to the anode of D4 is applied the ninth signal, and wherein the cathodes of diodes D4 and D5 are connected together to form a junction from where is produced an eleventh signal and wherein the anode of diode D5 is applied the seventh signal,

g) a left isolation steering circuit comprising a pair of diodes D6 and D7, wherein to the anode of D6 is applied the tenth signal, and wherein the cathodes of diodes D6 and D7 are connected together to form a junction from where is produced a twelfth signal and to the anode of diode D7 is applied a thirteenth signal,

h) a right switch connector having a pin A connected to the grounded third signal, a pin B from where the seventh signal is produced and a pin C wherefrom is produced an eighth signal, wherein said right switch connector is connected to the right switch receptacle via a first cable assembly,

i) a right headlight connector having a pin A that receives the eighth signal, a pin B that receives the eleventh signal and a pin C that is connected to the grounded third signal, wherein said right headlight connector is connected to the right headlight receptacle via a second cable assembly,

j) a left switch connector having a pin A wherefrom is produced a grounded fifteenth signal, a pin B from where the thirteenth signal is produced and a pin C from where a fourteenth signal is produced, wherein said left switch connector is connected to the left switch receptacle via a third cable assembly, and

k) a left headlight connector having a pin A connected to the fourteenth signal from pin C of said left switch connector, a pin B that receives the twelfth signal and a pin C that is grounded via the fifteenth signal that is connected to pin A of said switch connector, wherein said left headlight connector is connected to the left headlight receptacle via a fourth cable assembly wherein;

(1) when the vehicle engine is off and the frontlight switch is off, the first signal, which is the nominal battery voltage, is applied to said threshold circuit from where the second and third signals are produced,

(2) the second signal, which is applied to the base of transistor Q1, is below the "turn on" level of Q1 thus Q1 remains off and no current flows through resistor R2, resistor R3 and transistor Q1, there is also no voltage drop across resistor R2 which causes the fourth signal and the voltage at the collector of Q1 to remain at the nominal battery voltage, wherein the fourth signal is applied to the gate leads of MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 located in said light switching circuit, preventing said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 from conducting which keeps the bulb of sealed beam lights off,

(3) wherein when the vehicle engine is started with the manual light switch still in the off position, the vehicle alternator produces a voltage level higher than the nominal battery voltage, wherein when this higher voltage is applied to the threshold circuit, the second signal is produced and applied to the base of transistor Q1, wherein the application of the second signal allows the threshold level of Q1 to be exceeded causing Q1 to conduct which produces a voltage drop across resistor R2 causing the fourth signal to decrease to the lower voltage level,

(4) wherein the fourth signal from said master switching circuit is applied to the gates of said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 causing them to conduct allowing the ninth signal from Q2 to pass through said diode D4 and to produce the eleventh signal which is applied to said right headlight connector and the right headlight receptacle, wherein the application of the eleventh signal closes the circuit for the night low beam filament which then allows the "low beam" of the right bulb or sealed beam light to turn on, likewise, the conducting said MOSFET Q3 allows the tenth signal to pass through said diode D6 and allow the twelfth signal, to be produced which is applied to said left headlight connector and the left headlight receptacle, wherein the application of the twelfth signal closes the circuit for the left low-beam filament which then allows the "low beam" of the left bulb or sealed beam light to turn on,

(5) wherein said diodes D2 and D3 located in said DRL override circuit, diodes D4 and D5 located on said right isolation steering circuit and diodes D6 and D7 located in said left isolation steering circuit operate as follows;

(a) when said vehicle engine is operating and the manual headlight switch is off, said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 are conducting and said daytime running lights adapter kit is operational, in the operational condition, the battery/alternator voltage passes through said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 through said diodes D4 and D6 to the "low beam" bulb filaments causing the lights to illuminate, wherein said diodes D5 and D7 prevent current from flowing to the low-beam terminal of the frontlight switch and wherein said diodes D2 and D3 are not functional at this time,

(b) wherein when the low-beam terminal of the frontlight switch is on, current passes through said diode D5 and D7 to the "low beam" bulb filaments causing the lights to illuminate, wherein said diodes D4 and D6 block this current from said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 even though Q2 and Q3 are currently conducting, wherein when the low-beam terminal of the frontlight switch is closed, current also flows through said diode D2, passes through said resistor R4 wherefrom the fifth signal is produced, wherein the fifth signal overrides the fourth signal and causes the gate voltage of MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 to rise to their shut off level which disables said daytime running lights adapter kit, and

(c) wherein when the high-beam terminal of the frontlight switch is ON, current passes through said diode D3 and then through resistor R4 wherefrom the fifth signal is produced, the fifth signal overrides the fourth signal and causes MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 to turn OFF.

2. The kit as specified in claim 1 wherein said bulb is comprised of an H4 bulb.

3. The kit as specified in claim 1 wherein said threshold circuit further comprises a variable resistor R5 that is connected to the anode of diode D1 and resistor R1, wherein said resistor R5 further controls the accuracy of the initial voltage to produce the second signal which is derived from the junction of R1 and R5 and is applied to the base of transistor Q1.

4. A daytime running lights adapter kit which operates in combination with a vehicle which includes:

an engine;

a battery/alternator;

a manual frontlight switch having a low-beam terminal;

a right switch receptacle having a pin A connected to circuit ground, and a pin B connected to the low-beam terminal of the frontlight switch;

a right headlight receptacle having a pin A and a pin B connected across the filament of a right low-beam bulb;

a left switch receptacle having a pin A connected to circuit ground, and a pin B connected to the low-beam terminal of the frontlight switch;

a left headlight receptacle having a pin A and a pin B connected across the filament of a left low-beam bulb, wherein said daytime running lights adapter kit comprises;

a) a circuit protective device having a first side connected to said vehicle battery/alternator and a second side from where is produced a first signal corresponding to the battery/alternator voltage,

b) a threshold circuit comprising a zener diode D1 having an anode and a cathode, and a resistor R1 having a first side and a second side, wherein the cathode of D1 is applied the first signal and the anode of D1 is connected to the first side of resistor R1, wherein from the junction of diode D1 and resistor R1 is produced a second signal and from the second side of resistor R1 is produced a third signal that is connected to circuit ground,

c) a master switching circuit comprising an NPN transistor Q1 having a base, a collector and an emitter, a resistor R3 having a first side connected to the collector of transistor Q1 and a second side connected in series to a first side of a resistor R2 having a second side connected to the first signal, wherein the second signal is applied to the base of transistor Q1 and the emitter of Q1 is connected to circuit ground via the third signal, and wherein from the junction of resistors R2 and R3 is produced a fourth signal,

d) a DRL override circuit comprising a resistor R4 having a first side and a second side, and a diode D2 having an anode and a cathode, wherein the cathode of diode D2 is connected to the first side of resistor R4, the anode of diode D2 is applied a seventh signal and from the second side of resistor R4 is produced a fifth signal,

e) a light switching circuit comprising a pair of p-channel power MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 each having a gate, a source and a drain, wherein the gate of Q2 is connected to the gate of Q3 and both gates are connected to a junction consisting of the fourth and fifth signals wherefrom is produced a sixth signal;

wherein the source of Q2 is connected to the source of Q3 and both sources are connected to the first signal; and

wherein from the drain of Q2 is produced a ninth signal and from the drain of Q3 is produced a tenth signal,

f) a right isolation steering circuit comprising a pair of diodes D4 and D5, wherein to the anode of D4 is applied the ninth signal, and wherein the cathodes of diodes D4 and D5 are connected together to form a junction from where is produced an eleventh signal and wherein the anode of diode D5 is applied the seventh signal,

g) a left isolation steering circuit comprising a pair of diodes D6 and D7, wherein to the anode of D6 is applied the tenth signal, and wherein the cathodes of diodes D6 and D7 are connected together to form a junction from where is produced a twelfth signal and to the anode of diode D7 is applied a thirteenth signal,

h) a right switch connector having a pin A connected to the grounded third signal, and a pin B from where the seventh signal is produced, wherein said right switch connector is connected to said right switch receptacle,

i) a right headlight connector having a pin A that receives the eleventh signal and a pin B that is connected to the grounded third signal, wherein said right headlight connector is connected to said right headlight receptacle,

j) a left switch connector having a pin A connected to the grounded fourteenth signal and a pin B from where the thirteenth signal is produced, wherein said left switch connector is connected to said left switch receptacle, and

k) a left headlight connector having a pin A connected to the grounded fourteenth signal and a pin B that receives the twelfth signal, wherein said left headlight connector is connected to said left headlight receptacle, wherein;

(1) when the vehicle engine is off and the frontlight switch is off, the first signal, which is the nominal battery voltage, is applied to said threshold circuit from where the second and third signals are produced,

(2) the second signal, which is applied to the base of transistor Q1, is below the "turn on" level of Q1 thus Q1 remains off and no current flows through resistor R2, resistor R3 and transistor Q1, there is also no voltage drop across resistor R2 which causes the fourth signal and the voltage at the collector of Q1 to remain at the nominal battery voltage, wherein the fourth signal is applied to the gate leads of MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 located in said light switching circuit, preventing said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 from conducting which keeps the lights off,

(3) wherein when the vehicle engine is started with the manual light switch still in the off position, the vehicle alternator produces a voltage level higher than the nominal battery voltage wherein when this higher voltage is applied to the threshold circuit, the second signal is produced and applied to the base of transistor Q1, wherein the application of the second signal allows the threshold level of Q1 to be exceeded causing Q1 to conduct which produces a voltage drop across resistor R2 causing the fourth signal to decrease to the lower voltage level,

(4) wherein the fourth signal from said master switching circuit is applied to the gates of said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 causing them to conduct allowing the ninth signal from Q2 to pass through said diode D4 and to produce the eleventh signal which is applied to said right headlight connector and the right headlight receptacle, wherein the application of the eleventh signal closes the circuit for the right low-beam filament which then allows the right light to illuminate, likewise, the conducting said MOSFET Q3 allows the tenth signal to pass through said diode D6 and allow the twelfth signal, to be produced which is applied to said left headlight connector and the left headlight receptacle, wherein the application of the twelfth signal closes the circuit for the left low-beam filament which then allows the left light to illuminate,

(5) wherein said diode D2 located in said DRL override circuit, diodes D4 and D5 located on said right isolation steering circuit and diodes D6 and D7 located in said left isolation steering circuit operate as follows;

(a) when said vehicle engine is operating and the manual headlight switch is off, said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 are conducting and said daytime running lights adapter kit is operational, in the operational condition, the battery/alternator voltage passes through said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 through said diodes D4 and D6 to the bulb filaments causing the lights to illuminate, wherein said diodes D5 and D7 prevent current from flowing to the low-beam terminal of the frontlight switch and wherein said diode D2 is not functional at this time, and

(b) wherein when the low-beam terminal of the frontlight switch is closed, current passes through said diodes D5 and D7 to the bulb filaments causing the lights to illuminate, wherein said diodes D4 and D6 block this current from said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 even though Q2 and Q3 are currently conducting, wherein when the low-beam terminal of the frontlight switch is closed, current also flows through said diode D2, passes through said resistor R4 and causes the gate voltage of MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 to rise to their shut off level which disables said daytime running lights adapter kit.

5. The kit as specified in claim 4 wherein said low-beam bulb is further comprised of a 9005 bulb.

6. The kit as specified in claim 5 wherein said threshold circuit further comprises a variable resistor R5 that is connected to the anode of diode D1 and resistor R1, wherein said resistor R5 further controls the accuracy of the initial voltage to produce the second signal which is from the junction of R1 and R5 and is applied to the base of transistor Q1.

7. A daytime running lights adapter kit which operates in combination with a vehicle which includes:

an engine;

a battery/alternator;

a manual frontlight switch having a fog light or auxiliary light terminal;

a right switch receptacle having a pin A connected to circuit ground, a pin B connected to the frontlight switch and a pin C connected to a terminal of the desired light switch via a single wire;

a right light receptacle having a pin A and a pin B connected across the filament of right fog light or auxiliary light;

a left switch receptacle having a pin A connected to circuit ground and a pin B connected to the frontlight switch;

a left light receptacle having a pin A and a pin B connected across the filament of a left fog light and auxiliary light;

wherein said daytime running lights adapter kit comprises;

a) a circuit protective device having a first side connected to said vehicle battery/alternator and a second side from where is produced a first signal corresponding to the battery/alternator voltage,

b) a threshold circuit comprising a zener diode D1 having an anode and a cathode, and a resistor R1 having a first side and a second side, wherein the cathode of D1 is applied the first signal and the anode of D1 is connected to the first side of resistor R1, wherein from the junction of diode D1 and resistor R1 is produced a second signal and from the second side of resistor R1 is produced a third signal that is connected to circuit ground,

c) a master switching circuit comprising an NPN transistor Q1 having a base, a collector and an emitter, a resistor R3 having a first side connected to the collector of transistor Q1 and a second side connected in series to a first side of a resistor R2 having a second side connected to the first signal, wherein the second signal is applied to the base of transistor Q1 and the emitter of Q1 is connected to circuit ground via the third signal, and wherein from the junction of resistors R2 and R3 is produced a fourth signal,

d) a DRL override circuit comprising a resistor R4 having a first side and a second side, and a pair of diodes D2 and D3 each having an anode and a cathode, wherein the cathode of diodes D2 and D3 are connected together to form a junction which is connected to the first side of resistor R4, wherein from the second side of resistor R4 is produced a fifth signal, to the anode of diode D2 is applied a seventh signal and to the anode of diode D3 is applied an eighth signal,

e) a light switching circuit comprising a pair of p-channel power MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 each having a gate, a source and a drain, wherein the gate of Q2 is connected to the gate of Q3 and both gates are connected to a junction consisting of the fourth and fifth signals wherefrom is produced a sixth signal;

wherein the source of Q2 is connected to the source of Q3 and both sources are connected to the first signal; and

wherein from the drain of Q2 is produced a ninth signal and from the drain of Q3 is produced a tenth signal,

f) a right isolation steering circuit comprising a pair of diodes D4 and D5, wherein to the anode of D4 is applied the ninth signal, and wherein the cathodes of diodes D4 and D5 are connected together to form a junction from where is produced an eleventh signal and wherein the anode of diode D5 is applied the seventh signal,

g) a left isolation steering circuit comprising a pair of diodes D6 and D7, wherein to the anode of D6 is applied the tenth signal, and wherein the cathodes of diodes D6 and D7 are connected together to form a junction from where is produced a twelfth signal and to the anode of diode D7 is applied a thirteenth signal,

h) a right switch connector having a pin A connected to the grounded third signal, a pin B from where the seventh signal is produced and a pin C wherefrom is produced an eighth signal, wherein said right switch connector is connected to the right switch receptacle via a first cable assembly,

i) a right headlight connector having a pin A that receives the eleventh signal, and a pin B that receives the grounded third signal, wherein said right headlight connector is connected to the right headlight receptacle via a second cable assembly,

j) a left switch connector having a pin A wherefrom is produced a grounded fourteenth signal, and a pin B from where the thirteenth signal is produced, wherein said left switch connector is connected to the left switch receptacle via a third cable assembly, and

k) a left headlight connector having a pin A connected to the fourteenth signal derived from pin A of said left switch connector, and a pin B that receives the twelfth signal, wherein said left headlight connector is connected to the left headlight receptacle via a fourth cable assembly wherein;

(1) when the vehicle engine is off and the frontlight switch is off, the first signal, which is the nominal battery voltage, is applied to said threshold circuit from where the second and third signals are produced,

(2) the second signal, which is applied to the base of transistor Q1, is below the "turn on" level of Q1 thus Q1 remains off and no current flows through resistor R2, resistor R3 and transistor Q1, there is also no voltage drop across resistor R2 which causes the fourth signal and the voltage at the collector of Q1 to remain at the nominal battery voltage, wherein the fourth signal is applied to the gate leads of MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 located in said light switching circuit, preventing said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 from conducting which keeps the fog light or auxiliary lights off,

(3) wherein when the vehicle engine is started with the manual light switch still in the off position, the vehicle alternator produces a voltage level higher than the nominal battery voltage, wherein when this higher voltage is applied to the threshold circuit, the second signal is produced and applied to the base of transistor Q1, wherein the application of the second signal allows the threshold level of Q1 to be exceeded causing Q1 to conduct which produces a voltage drop across resistor R2 causing the fourth signal to decrease to the lower voltage level,

(4) wherein the fourth signal from said master switching circuit is applied to the gates of said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 causing them to conduct allowing the ninth signal from Q2 to pass through said diode D4 and to produce the eleventh signal which is applied to said right headlight connector and the right headlight receptacle, wherein the application of the eleventh signal closes the circuit for the filament of the right light which then allows the right fog light or auxiliary light to turn on, likewise, the conducting said MOSFET Q3 allows the tenth signal to pass through said diode D6 and allow the twelfth signal, to be produced which is applied to said left headlight connector and the left headlight receptacle, wherein the application of the twelfth signal closes the circuit for the filament of the left light which then allows the left fog light or auxiliary light to turn on,

(5) wherein said diodes D2 and D3 located in said DRL override circuit, diodes D4 and D5 located on said right isolation steering circuit and diodes D6 and D7 located in said left isolation steering circuit operate as follows;

(a) when said vehicle engine is operating and the manual headlight switch is off, said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 are conducting and said daytime running lights adapter kit is operational, in the operational condition, the battery/alternator voltage passes through said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 through said diodes D4 and D6 to the fog light or auxiliary light filaments causing the lights to illuminate, wherein said diodes D5 and D7 prevent current from flowing to the low-beam terminal of the frontlight switch and wherein said diodes D2 and D3 are not functional at this time,

(b) wherein when the frontlight switch is closed, current passes through said diodes D5 and D7 to the fog light or auxiliary light filaments causing the lights to illuminate, wherein said diodes D4 and D6 block this current from said MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 even though Q2 and Q3 are currently conducting, wherein when the frontlight switch is closed, current also flows through said diode D2, passes through said resistor R4 and causes the gate voltage of MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 to rise to their shut off level which disables said daytime running lights adapter kit, and

(c) wherein when the desired vehicle light switch is on, the eighth signal is produced, current passes through said diode D2 via terminal C, and then through resistor R4 wherefrom the fifth signal is produced, the fifth signal overrides the fourth signal and causes MOSFET'"'"'s Q2 and Q3 to turn OFF.

8. The kit as specified in claim 7 wherein said threshold circuit further comprises a variable resistor R5 that is connected to the anode of diode D1 and the resistor R1, wherein said resistor R5 further controls the accuracy of the initial voltage to produce the second signal which is from the junction of R1 and R5 and is applied to the base of said transistor Q1.