Daytime running light module and system

• US 7,019,463 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2003
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raymond Kesterson
• Original Assignee: Raymond Kesterson
• Inventors: Kesterson, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US10/690,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20050083706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/82, 315/83, 340/468, 340/469, 340/457.2, 340/457.3, 340/471, 340/475, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 307/112, 307/113, 307/157
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/20 Fog lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/486 for indicating that vehicle is in a parked state
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/007 the lighting devices indicating change of drive direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor

Abstract

A daytime running light module for controlling the illumination of dual filament bulbs that act as vehicle parking lights and turn lights. The daytime running light module includes a pair of switches that are interconnected between the front vehicular lights and a power source to control the light emitted from the vehicular lights of the vehicle. The module operates to control when each filament of the two filament bulb or system is illuminated, such that the brighter filament of the bulb will be illuminated when the operator wishes to draw attention to the vehicle for safety purposes. The module may either automatically or manually control the light output as desired by the operator.

Claims

1. A vehicular light control module connected between first and second light bulbs and a parking light switch and a turn signal switch, wherein the parking light switch and the turn signal switch are additionally connected to a power source, wherein the first and second light bulbs each include a dim filament connected to the parking light switch and a bright filament connected to the turn signal switch, wherein said vehicular light control module comprises:

a first light intensity switch connected between the dim filament of the first light bulb and the parking light switch, and further connected between the bright filament of the first light bulb and the turn signal switch;

a second light intensity switch connected between the dim filament of the second light bulb and the parking light switch, and further connected between the bright filament of the second light bulb and the turn signal switch;

said first light intensity switch connecting said bright filament of the first light bulb with the power source; and

said second light intensity switch connecting said bright filament of the second light bulb with the power source.

2. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 1, wherein said first light intensity switch comprises a relay and said second light intensity switch comprises a relay.

3. The vehicle light control module as described in claim 2, wherein said relay includes:

an energized state, wherein the bright filament is connected with the power source; and

a non-energized state, wherein the bright filament is connected with the turn signal switch.

4. The vehicle light control module as described in claim 1 further comprising:

a first turn signal interrupt switch connected to the turn signal switch, the power source, and the bright filament of the first bulb through said first intensity light switch, wherein said first turn signal interrupt switch operates in an alternating opening and closing switched energized state to force the bright filament of the first bulb into a flashing operational state.

5. The vehicle light control module as described in claim 1 further comprising:

a second turn signal interrupt switch connected to the turn signal switch, the power source, and the bright filament of the second bulb through said second intensity light switch, wherein said second turn signal interrupt switch operates in an alternating opening and closing switched energized state to force the bright filament of the second bulb into a flashing operational energized state.

6. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 1 further comprising:

an automatic override switch connected to the parking light switch, the power supply, said first light intensity switch and said second light intensity switch, said automatic override switch controlling operation of said first light intensity switch and said second light intensity switch.

7. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 6 further comprising:

a main module power switch connected with said automatic override switch, said first light intensity switch, said second light intensity switch, and said power supply;

said main module power switch controlling operation of said first light intensity switch and said second light intensity switch.

8. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 6 further comprising

a manual night override switch connected to said automatic override switch, said manual night override switch controlling operation of said automatic override switch in said control module.

9. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 1 further comprising:

an operational indicator connected to said first light intensity switch and said second light intensity switch, said operational indicator providing feedback corresponding to the operational state of said control module.

10. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 1 further comprising:

an expansion switch connected between an auxiliary vehicle device and the power source, said expansion switch controlling the operation of said auxiliary vehicle device.

11. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 1 further comprising:

a first secondary light switch connected to said first intensity light switch and to a first parking light bulb, said first secondary light switch controlling operation of the first parking light bulb; and

a second secondary light switch connected to said second intensity light switch and to a second parking light bulb, said second secondary light switch controlling operation of the second parking light bulb.

12. The vehicular light control module as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

means for providing signaling compensation to the dim filament of the first light bulb should the bright filament of the first light bulb fail; and

means for providing signaling compensation to the dim filament of the second light bulb should the bright filament of the second light bulb fail.

13. A vehicle light control module in a vehicular light assembly having at least one vehicular bulb having a first filament and a second filament, wherein the first filament is connected to the power source through a turn signal switch connected to a thermal flasher further connected to an ignition key switch, and the second filament is connected to a power source through a headlight switch, wherein the first filament provides a first light intensity when connected to the power source and the second filament provides a second light intensity when connected to the power source, said vehicle light control module comprising:

a light intensity switch connected to the first filament, the second filament, the headlight switch, and the turn signal switch;

said light intensity switch operating in an energized state and a non-energized state;

said light intensity switch connecting the first filament with the power source and optionally said second filament with said turn signal switch in said energized state; and

said light intensity switch connecting the first filament with the turn signal switch and the second filament with the headlight switch in said non-energized state.

14. The vehicle light control module as described in claim 13 wherein said light intensity switch comprises a relay.

15. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 13 further comprising:

a turn signal interrupt switch connected to the turn signal switch, the power source, and the bright filament of the light bulb through said light intensity switch, wherein said turn signal interrupt switch operates in an alternating opening and closing switched energized state to force the bright filament of the first bulb into a flashing operational energized state.

16. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 13 further comprising:

an automatic override switch connected to the headlight switch, the power supply, said light intensity switch, said automatic override switch controlling operation of said light intensity switch.

17. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 16 further comprising:

a main module power switch connected with said automatic override switch, said light intensity switch, and said power supply;

said main module power switch controlling operation of said light intensity switch.

18. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 16 further comprising

a manual night override switch connected to said automatic override switch, said manual night override switch disconnecting said automatic override switch from said control module.

19. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 13 further comprising:

means for preventing simultaneous operation of the first filament and the second filament when the first filament is continuously energized and the headlight switch is activated, said prevention means providing signaling compensation to the second filament should the first filament fail.

20. The vehicular light control module as described in claim 13 further comprising:

a secondary light switch connected to said intensity light switch and to a parking light bulb, said secondary light switch controlling operation of the parking light bulb.

21. The vehicle light control module as described in claim 14, wherein said relay comprises:

an energized state, wherein the first filament is connected with the power source; and

a non-energized state, wherein the first filament is connected with the turn signal switch.

22. A vehicle light control module in a vehicular light assembly having at least one vehicular bulb having a first filament and a second filament, wherein the first filament is connected to a power source through a turn signal switch connected to a thermal flasher further connected to an ignition key switch, and the second filament is connected to a power source through a headlight switch, wherein the first filament provides a first light intensity when connected to the power source and the second filament provides a second light intensity when connected to the power source, said vehicle light control module comprising:

means for controlling the light intensity of the first filament and the second filament, said light controlling means being connected to the first filament, the second filament, the headlight switch, and the turn signal switch;

said controlling means operating between an energized state, wherein said controlling means connects the first filament with the power source and optionally the second filament with said turn signal switch, and a non-energized state, wherein said controlling means connects the first filament with the turn signal switch and the second filament with the headlight switch.