Double relay light switching system for providing daytime running lights for vehicles

• US 5,912,534 A
• Filed: 03/17/1997
• Issued: 06/15/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles E. Benedict
• Original Assignee: Autosmart Light Switches, Inc.
• Inventors: Benedict, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, DAVID HUNG
• Time in patent office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.6, 307/10.7, 307/10.8, 315/76, 315/77, 315/82, 315/83
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• 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 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor

Abstract

A double relay control circuit for connection between the ignition switch and starter switch of a vehicle and the vehicle power supply and exterior lights for providing automatic daytime running lights whenever the vehicle ignition switch is ON and the starter switch is OFF and subject to being overridden by the conventional light switches and ambient condition and vehicle condition sensors.

Claims

1. A relay switching system for providing daytime running lights for vehicles having an exterior lighting system including headlights, tail or parking lights, a power supply, an ignition switch and a starter motor switch, the switching system comprising:

at least one primary relay connected between the vehicle power supply and at least the headlights of the exterior lighting system, said at least one primary relay having an input connected to the ignition switch so as to receive power from the ignition switch to close a normally open contact of said at least one primary relay in response to the ignition switch being in an ON condition, said at least one primary relay having a ground connection through a secondary relay having an input connected to the starter switch whereby when the starter switch is closed, the secondary relay is open to ground thereby extinguishing power through said at least one primary relay to the exterior lighting system whereby said at least one primary relay provides power from the power supply to at least the headlights of the exterior lighting system when the ignition switch is ON and the starter switch is OFF.

2. The relay switching system of claim 1 including a time delay means mounted between the power supply and said at least one primary relay.

3. The relay switching system of claim 1 including a time delay means mounted between the ignition switch and the input to said at least one primary relay.

4. The relay switching system of claim 1 including first and second primary relays, each being connected between the power supply and the exterior lighting system with said first primary relay being connected to the headlights and the second primary relay being connected to the tail or parking lights, each of said first and second primary relays having inputs connected to the ignition switch and having ground connections connected to said secondary relay whereby when said secondary relay receives power from the starter switch, said first and second primary relays become open to ground thereby extinguishing power to the vehicle headlights and tail or parking lights.

5. The relay switching system of claim 4 including a time delay circuit mounted between the ignition switch and said first and second primary relays.

6. The relay switching system of claim 1 in which said at least one primary relay includes a pair of moveable contact elements, one of said contact elements being connected with an output to the vehicle headlights and the other being connected to the vehicle tail or parking lights, each of said moveable contacts being operable to supply power to their respective outputs when the ignition switch is in an ON condition and the starter switch is in an OFF condition.

7. The relay switching system of claim 6 including a time delay switch mounted between said ignition switch and the input to said at least one primary relay.

8. The relay switching system of claim 1 including a manual light switch, circuit means for connecting said manual light switch to the input of said secondary relay whereby said manual light switch is open to ground when the starter switch is in a closed position, said output from said at least one primary relay being connected through a vehicle dimmer switch to at least the vehicle headlights of the exterior lighting system and said manual light switch being connected to at least the vehicle headlights through the vehicle dimmer switch whereby when the manual switch is in a closed position and the vehicle starter switch is open and the vehicle ignition switch is ON, power will be extinguished through an output from said at least one primary relay to the exterior vehicle lights with power being provided through the vehicle dimmer switch from the power supply.

9. The relay switching system of claim 8 including first and second primary relays, each being connected between the power supply and the exterior lighting system with said first primary relay being connected to the headlights and the second primary relay being connected to the tail or parking lights, each of said first and second primary relays having inputs connected to the ignition switch and having ground connections connected to said secondary relay whereby when said secondary relay receives power from the starter switch, said first and second primary relays become open to ground thereby extinguishing power to the vehicle headlights and tail or parking lights.

10. The relay switching system of claim 8 in which said at least one primary relay includes a pair of moveable contact elements, one of said contact elements being connected with an output to the vehicle headlights and the other being connected to the vehicle tail or parking lights, each of said moveable contacts being operable to supply power to their respective outputs when the ignition switch is in an ON condition and the starter switch is in an OFF condition.

11. The relay switching system of claim 8 including at least one ambient condition sensor mounted between the power supply and the vehicle dimmer switch, a third relay connected between said at least one ambient condition sensor and the vehicle dimmer switch, said third relay being operable when receiving an input from said at least one ambient condition sensor to supply power from the power supply through said third relay to the vehicle dimmer switch to thereby extinguish power through said at least one primary relay to the vehicle exterior lights.

12. The relay switching system of claim 11 including first and second primary relays, each being connected between the power supply and the exterior lighting system with said first primary relay being connected to the headlights and the second primary relay being connected to the tail or parking lights, each of said first and second primary relays having inputs connected to the ignition switch, and having ground connections connected to said secondary relay whereby when said secondary relay receives power from the starter switch, said first and second primary relays become open to ground thereby extinguishing power to the vehicle headlights and tail or parking lights.

13. The relay switching system of claim 11 in which said at least one primary relay includes a pair of moveable contact elements, one of said contact elements being connected with an output to the vehicle headlights and the other being connected to the vehicle tail or parking lights, each of said moveable contacts being operable to supply power to their respective outputs when the ignition switch is in an ON condition and the starter switch is in an OFF condition.

14. The relay switching system of claim 11 including a plurality of ambient condition sensors having outputs connected to said third relay.

15. The relay switching system of claim 11 including at least one vehicle condition sensor mounted between the power supply and said third relay, said third relay being operable when receiving an input from said at least one vehicle condition sensor to supply power through said third relay to the vehicle dimmer switch to thereby extinguish power through said at least one primary relay to the vehicle exterior lights.

16. The relay switching system of claim 15 including a plurality of vehicle condition sensors and a plurality of ambient condition sensors having outputs connected to said third relay.

17. The relay switching system of claim 16 operable in accordance with the following Truth Table:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">__________________________________________________________________________Truth Table;

8 INPUTS 3 OUTPUTS__________________________________________________________________________IGN (12)1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1ST (13)1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1LS (14)0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0ALS 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0VCS 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1DRL 0 1* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0HL 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0PL 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0__________________________________________________________________________

and wherein DRL 0 when an auxiliary manual cutoff switch is open between said ignition switch and a relay control circuit.

18. The relay switching system of claim 1 including at least one vehicle condition sensor mounted between the power supply and the vehicle dimmer switch, a third relay mounted between said at least one vehicle sensor and the vehicle dimmer switch, said third relay being operable when receiving an input from said at least one vehicle condition sensor to supply power through said third relay to the vehicle dimmer switch to thereby extinguish power through said at least one primary relay to the vehicle exterior lights.

19. The relay switching system of claim 18 including first and second primary relays, each being connected between the power supply and the exterior lighting system with said first primary relay being connected to the headlights and the second primary relay being connected to the tail or parking lights, each of said first and second primary relays having inputs connected to the ignition switch and having ground connections connected to said secondary relay whereby when said secondary relay receives power from the starter switch, said first and second primary relays become open to ground thereby extinguishing power to the vehicle headlights and tail or parking lights.

20. The relay switching system of claim 18 in which said at least one primary relay includes a pair of moveable contact elements, one of said contact elements being connected with an output to the vehicle headlights and the other being connected to the vehicle tail or parking lights, each of said moveable contacts being operable to supply power to their respective outputs when the ignition switch is in an ON condition and the starter switch is in an OFF condition.