Multiplex light harness

• US 6,265,829 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2000
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meyer Products LLC
• Original Assignee: The Louis Berkman Company
• Inventors: Perdec, Roman
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US09/563,985
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/82, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 362/487, 362/498, 362/507, 362/543
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses

Abstract

An auxiliary multiplex vehicle light harness which includes a headlight connector to connect to a headlight, a power connector to connect to a headlight plug, an auxiliary light connector to connect to an auxiliary light, and a microprocessor to control the auxiliary lights. The auxiliary lights may also include a microprocessor to control one or more operations within the auxiliary lights.

Claims

1. A light circuit for connecting an auxiliary light to a vehicle headlight system wherein said vehicle headlight system includes at least one headlight and at least one headlight plug which supplies power to said headlight, said light circuit comprising:

a) a headlight connector to connect to said headlight;

b) a first power connector to connect to said headlight plug;

c) an auxiliary light connector to connect to an auxiliary light; and

d) a processing module to control the amount of power to said headlight and said auxiliary light, said processing module including a microprocessor, said microprocessor, upon receipt of a control signal, at least partially causing said processing module to control at least one function of said headlight and said auxiliary light, said function including an operation selected from the group consisting of an on mode, an off mode, an intensity mode, and combinations thereof.

2. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor at least partially causes said processing module to control the amount of power to at least one of said lights upon receiving at least one control signal from a switch.

3. The light circuit as defined in claim 2, wherein said processing module includes a receiver and said switch generates a radio frequency signal to be received by said receiver.

4. The light circuit as defined in claim 2, wherein said processing module including a signal converter to convert nonserial data into serial data.

5. The light circuit as defined in claim 4, wherein one end of said auxiliary light connector is connected to said processing module, said one end easily attachable and detachable from said processing module.

6. The light circuit as defined in claim 5, wherein said processing module at least periodically monitors at least one electrical signal from the electrical system of the vehicle.

7. The light circuit as defined in claim 6, wherein an auxiliary light connection includes a sealing arrangement.

8. The light circuit as defined in claim 7, wherein said microprocessor at least partially causes said processing module to generate a power reducing signal upon receiving at least one control signal from a daylight detector.

9. The light circuit as defined in claim 8, wherein said microprocessor includes preprogramed control sequences.

10. The light circuit as defined in claim 9, wherein said microprocessor executes a preprogramed test sequence upon receiving a test initiation signal.

11. The light circuit as defined in claim 8, wherein said microprocessor includes programmable software control sequences.

12. The light circuit as defined in claim 8, wherein said microprocessor at least partially causes said processing module to send data signals to at least one auxiliary light to control said auxiliary light.

13. The light circuit as defined in claim 12, wherein said data signals from said processing module control at least one function of at least one light in said auxiliary light, said function including an operation selected from the group consisting of on mode, off mode, intensity mode, and combinations thereof.

14. The light circuit as defined in claim 12, wherein said data signals include signals selected from the group consisting of analog electrical signals, digital electrical signals, and combinations thereof.

15. The light circuit as defined in claim 14, including a cable connected between said processing module and at least one of said auxiliary lights, said cable including a shielded data transmission wire.

16. The light circuit as defined in claim 15, wherein said cable includes three wires, two of said wires transmitting current between said processing module and at least one of said auxiliary lights, one of said wires transmitting data between said processing module and at least one of said auxiliary lights.

17. The light circuit as defined in claim 8, wherein said processing module includes signal verification circuitry, said signal verification circuitry designed to filter noise, verify data signals and combinations thereof.

18. The light circuit as defined in claim 17, wherein said processing module includes a signal modifier to convert between serial and parallel data signals.

19. The light circuit as defined in claim 17, wherein said processing module continuously monitors the status of said headlights.

20. The light circuit as defined in claim 8, including a turn signal connector to connect to a turn signal light of said vehicle, said turn signal connector connected to said control module.

21. The light circuit as defined in claim 8, wherein said power reducing signal causes power to be diverted away from said auxiliary light.

22. The light circuit as defined in claim 21, wherein said processing module includes a pulse width modulator to vary the amount of power to said auxiliary light.

23. The light circuit as defined in claim 8, wherein said processing module causes said power source to be disconnected from said auxiliary light when said daylight signal receiver does not send said control signal to said microprocessor.

24. The light circuit as defined in claim 8, wherein said processing module includes a variable resistor to control the amount of power to said auxiliary light.

25. The light circuit as defined in claim 2, wherein at least one of said auxiliary lights includes a process controller, said process controller controlling at least one light in said auxiliary light upon receiving a data signal from processing module.

26. The light circuit as defined in claim 25, wherein said process controller includes signal verification circuitry, said signal verification circuitry designed to filter noise, verify data signals and combinations thereof.

27. The light circuit as defined in claim 26, wherein said process controller sends at least one data signal to said processing module.

28. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said processing module including a signal converter to convert nonserial data into serial data.

29. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein one end of said auxiliary light connector is connected to said processing module, said one end easily attachable and detachable from said processing module.

30. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said processing module at least periodically monitors at least one electrical signal from the electrical system of the vehicle.

31. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein an auxiliary light connector includes a sealing arrangement.

32. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor at least partially causes said processing module to generate a power reducing signal upon receiving at least one control signal from a daylight detector.

33. The light circuit as defined in claim 32, wherein said processing module causes power to be directed from said power source to said auxiliary light.

34. The light circuit as defined in claim 32, wherein said processing module causes said power source from said auxiliary light when said daylight signal receiver does not send said control signal to said microprocessor.

35. The light circuit as defined in claim 8, wherein said microprocessor includes programmed control sequences.

36. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor includes preprogrammable software control sequences.

37. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor executes a preprogramed test sequence upon receiving a test initiation signal.

38. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor at least partially causes said processing module to send data signals to at least one auxiliary light to control said auxiliary light.

39. The light circuit as defined in claim 38, wherein said data signals include signals selected from the group consisting of analog electrical signals, digital electrical signals, and combinations thereof.

40. The light circuit as defined in claim 38, including a cable connected between said processing module and at least one of said auxiliary lights, said cable including a shielded data transmission wire.

41. The light circuit as defined in claim 40, wherein said cable includes three wires, two of said wires transmitting current between said processing module and at least one of said auxiliary lights, one of said wires transmitting data between said processing module and at least one of said auxiliary lights.

42. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said processing module includes signal verification circuitry, said signal verification circuitry designed to filter noise, verify data signals and combinations thereof.

43. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said processing module includes a signal modifier to convert between serial and parallel data signals.

44. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said processing module continuously monitors the status of said headlights.

45. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said auxiliary lights includes a process controller, said process controller controlling at least one light in said auxiliary light upon receiving a data signal from processing module.

46. The light circuit as defined in claim 45, wherein said process controller includes signal verification circuitry, said signal verification circuitry designed to filter noise, verify data signals and combinations thereof.

47. The light circuit as defined in claim 45, wherein said process controller sends at least one data signal to said processing module.

48. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said processing module includes a sealing arrangement, said sealing arrangement adapted to inhibit interference with electrical signals to said processing module, from said processing module, and combinations thereof.

49. The light circuit as defined in claim 48, wherein said sealing arrangement comprising a male connector, a female connector and a flexible seal, said flexible seal positioned at least partially between said male and female connector when said male connector is inserted into said female connector.

50. The light circuit as defined in claim 49, wherein said female connector includes a housing to at least partially telescopically receive a portion of said male connector.

51. The light circuit as defined in claim 49, wherein said flexible seal is positioned on said male connector, said flexible seal substantially surrounding an outer surface of said male connector.

52. The light circuit as defined in claim 51, wherein said flexible seal includes at least one corrugation.

53. The light circuit as defined in claim 48, wherein said male and female connectors include a locking arrangement to secure together said male and female connectors.

54. The light circuit as defined in claim 53, wherein said locking arrangement includes a locking tab on said female connector and a substantially flexible release tab on said male connector.

55. The light circuit as defined in claim 1, including a power modifier to reduce the power from said power source to said auxiliary light.