Light activated back-up alarm

• US 6,028,511 A
• Filed: 09/15/1998
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allison Corporation
• Original Assignee: Preco New Products Corporation
• Inventors: Stewart, James E., Peterson, Edwin R., Wheeler, Edwin Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/153,351
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 340/460, 340/461, 340/438, 340/463, 340/468, 340/472, 340/458, 340/459, 340/474, 362/540, 362/542, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 340/463
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/20 Fog lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices

Abstract

A light activated back-up alarm is provided for use with a vehicle having at least one white back-up light. It includes an optical sensor for attachment to the outside lens of the vehicle back-up light and an alarm circuit and battery encased within an alarm housing. The optical sensor is adhesively attached to the light and the alarm housing adhesively attached to some other portion of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A light activated backup alarm, for use with a vehicle having at least one backup light having an outer lens, which comprises:

optical sensing means for sensing when said vehicle backup light is illuminated;

an electrical power source;

means for emitting an audible signal when said optical sensing means senses that said vehicle backup light is illuminated, electrically connected to both said power source and said optical sensing means; and

an alarm housing for encasing said electrical power source and said means for emitting an audible signal, said alarm housing attached to said vehicle adjacent to said backup light.

2. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said optical sensing means further comprises a photo transistor.

3. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said optical sensing means is adapted for attachment to said backup light.

4. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said optical sensing means is adapted for attachment to said outer lens of said backup light.

5. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said alarm housing is adapted for adhesive attachment to said vehicle.

6. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said alarm housing also houses said optical sensing means.

7. The light activated backup alarm of claim 6 wherein said alarm housing is adapted for adhesive attachment to said outer lens of said backup light.

8. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said electrical power source further comprises at least one battery.

9. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said electrical power source further comprises means for interconnecting said means for emitting an audible signal and said optical sensing means to the electrical system of said vehicle.

10. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said optical sensing means further comprises a photo-resistor.

11. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said optical sensing means further comprises a photocell.

12. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said means for emitting an audible signal further comprises:

an oscillator, electrically connected to said optical sensing means, for producing an oscillating output signal when said optical sensing means senses that said vehicle backup light is illuminated; and

a transducer electrically connected to said oscillator for producing an audible signal responsive to said oscillator output signal.

13. The light activated backup alarm of claim 12 wherein said transducer further comprises a piezoelectric transducer.

14. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said audible signal is a periodic beeping sound.

15. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said audible signal is a periodic chirping sound.

16. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said audible signal is a periodic chiming sound.

17. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said audible signal is a melodic tune.

18. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said audible signal is a spoken message.

19. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 which further comprises:

means for sensing the volume of ambient noise surrounding said vehicle; and

means for adjusting the volume of said audible signal relative and responsive to said volume of ambient noise.

20. The light activated backup alarm of claim 1 wherein said means for emitting an audible signal is a voltage regulator operatively connected to an oscillator which is operatively connected to a transducer capable of emitting an audible signal responsive to the output of said oscillator, and said power source is a battery, and said optical sensing means electrically interconnects said battery and said voltage regulator and is operable to apply power from said battery to said voltage regulator when said optical sensor senses the illumination of said backup light.

21. A light activated backup alarm, for use with a vehicle having at least one operable backup light:

first optical sensing means for sensing both direct illumination from said operable backup light and reflected light;

second optical sensing means for sensing only reflected light;

an electrical power source;

means for emitting an audible signal when said first optical sensing means senses direct illumination from said backup light and for precluding the emission of said audible signal when both said first and second optical sensing means sense the presence of reflected light, operatively connected to said first and second optical sensing means.

22. A light activated backup alarm, for use with a vehicle having at least one backup light having an outer lens, which comprises:

optical sensing means for sensing when said vehicle backup light is illuminated;

an electrical power source; and

means for emitting an audible signal external to said vehicle when said optical sensing means senses that said vehicle backup light is illuminated, electrically connected to both said power source and said optical sensing means, said means located adjacent to said backup light, and attached to said vehicle.

23. A light activated backup alarm, for use with a vehicle having at least one backup light having an outer lens, which comprises:

optical sensing means for sensing when said vehicle backup light is illuminated;

an electrical power source;

means for emitting an audible signal when said optical sensing means senses that said vehicle backup light is illuminated, electrically connected to both said power source and said optical sensing means; and

an alarm housing for encasing said electrical power source, said means for emitting an audible signal, and said optical sensing means, said alarm housing is adapted for adhesive attachment to said outer lens of said backup light.