CA2297884A1 - Daytime running light circuit - Google Patents

Daytime running light circuit Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2297884A1
CA2297884A1 CA 2297884 CA2297884A CA2297884A1 CA 2297884 A1 CA2297884 A1 CA 2297884A1 CA 2297884 CA2297884 CA 2297884 CA 2297884 A CA2297884 A CA 2297884A CA 2297884 A1 CA2297884 A1 CA 2297884A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
circuit
turn signal
light
relay
solenoid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2297884
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Wayne M. Winch
Brian K. Owens
James W. Whitt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Paccar Inc
Original Assignee
Paccar Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Paccar Inc filed Critical Paccar Inc
Publication of CA2297884A1 publication Critical patent/CA2297884A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

A daytime running light circuit (10) is disclosed which utilizes the turn signals (14, 16) of a vehicle (12). Power is provided during daytime to light the lamps in the turn signals (14, 16) until either the left or right hand turn signal is activated in a conventional turn signal circuit. When a turn signal is activated, a switching relay (28, 46) switches the selected turn signal from continuous operation to operation through the conventional turn signal circuit. A holding relay (70, 96) using a capacitor (66, 92) holds the holding relay in a position for turn signal operation.

Description

~22o4iollol DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT CIRCUIT
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to daytime running lights for a vehicle, particularly a truck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A recent safety trend for vehicles, such as automobiles and trucks, has been to provide daytime running lights. Many automobiles provide reduced power to light headlights during the day, for example. Such daylight running lights makes it much easier for on-coming traffic to see a vehicle, particularly in hazy conditions.
While daylight running lights are desirable, they have added additional circuitry to the vehicle, increasing cost and complexity. A need exist for an inexpensive, yet reliable system for providing daytime running lights.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a device is provided for operating a light on a vehicle during daylight. The device includes a first circuit to provide power to the light during daylight and a second circuit to provide power to the light at predetermined intervals. A switching device is provided to disconnect the first circuit from the light and connect the second circuit to the light.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the light is a turn signal lamp. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the switching device includes a relay having contacts moving between a first position to connect the first circuit to the light and a second position to connect the second circuit to the light. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the second circuit is a turn signal circuit in the vehicle. A hold device can be used to maintain the switching device connecting the second circuit to the lamp.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for utilizing the turn signal on a vehicle for use as a daytime running light.
The method includes the step of providing power to the turn signal continuously during daylight by maintaining a switching device in a first position and providing power to a solenoid in the switching device when the turn signal is activated to move the switching device to a second position connecting the turn signal to the turn signal circuit in the vehicle. The method further includes the step of holding the switching device in the second position during operation of the turn signal circuit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a circuit board in a vehicle, including a daytime running light circuit, comprising part of a circuit forming a first embodiment of the present invention; and FIGURE 2 is a schematic of the first embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference now to the figures, there will be described a daytime running light circuit 10 which forms a first embodiment of the present invention. The circuit is mounted within a vehicle 12, preferably a truck, and utilizes the left turn signal S 14 and right turn signal 16 of the vehicle to provide both daytime running lights and conventional turn signal operation. With reference to FIG. 2, the operation of the circuit will be described. The left turn signal 14 has a lamp 18 and the right turn signal 16 has a lamp 20. The lamp 18 is mounted in a socket 22 which grounds one end of the lamp filament or contact to a ground line 24 and connects the other end 10 of the filament or second contact to a line 26. Line 26 extends to a contact in a switching relay 28. The contact on relay 28 shifts between a first position connecting the line 26 to a line 30 and a second position, connecting the line 26 to a line 32, depending upon whether current is flowing through the solenoid 34 in the relay with sufficient energy to close the relay. When power is not provided to solenoid 34, the contact will connect lines 26 and 30. Only when sufficient current flows through the solenoid 34 will the contact disconnect the line 30 from line 26 and connect line 26 to line 32.
Line 30 extends to a disable relay 36. Disable relay 36 has a contact which, in a first position, connects power line 38 to the line 30 and, in a second position, disconnects power line 38 from line 30 and connects power line 38 to a non-connected terminal 40. The normal position of disable relay 36 will be the first position connecting power line 38 to line 30 unless sufficient current is flowing through the solenoid 42 of the disable relay 36 to move the contact to the second position. Power line 38 is connected through a fuse 44 to a vehicle ignition controlled battery voltage point. In a typical vehicle, this will be + 12 volts DC.
As can be understood, with the switching relay 28 and disable relay 36 unactuated, a positive voltage is provided through line 38 to line 30 to line 26 to light the lamp 18 in the left turn signal 14. This would be normal operation during daylight hours to provide daylight running lights. The right turn signal 16 has similar circuit connections to line 30 through a switching relay 46 having a solenoid 48 to light the lamp 20 during daylight hours as well.
Daytime running lights will be only used during daylight. Therefore, a circuit is provided to disable the daytime running lights during darkness, when the headlights of the vehicle will typically be turned on. This is achieved by connecting the solenoid 42 of the disable relay 36 to power line 38 and through the headlight switch 50 to ground. When the headlight switch is turned on, typically at dusk or during the night, a circuit path will be closed to provide current flow through the solenoid 42 to actuate the disable relay 36 and remove power to the left and right turn signals through line 30. Diode 52 provides isolation from the park brake switch 54 for other circuits connected to the headlight switch 50 and prevents noise from other electrical circuits affecting the disable relay 36.
Similarly, it is common to deactivate the daytime running lights when the parking brake is set. The parking brake is usually set only when the vehicle is stopped. A switch 54 forming part of a parking brake will also provide a mechanism for current flow through the solenoid 42 to activate the disable relay 36 to disconnect the daytime running lights. Diode 56 provides isolation from the headlight switch 50 for other external circuits connected to the park brake switch 54 and also protection from noise in the same manner as diode 52.
During vehicle operation, whether during daylight or at night, the left and right turn signals 14 and 16 can be operated in the conventional manner, as will be described. A conventional turn signal switch (not shown) is provided which includes a cab mounted turn signal switch for operator selection of left or right turn signal operation, and a flasher unit which alternately provides power to the selected turn signal and removes the power from the turn signal at a predetermined frequency to provide the necessary turn signal flashing sequence.
When the vehicle operator selects the left turn signal, the output from the flasher is provided to points 32 and 60. The initial power provided from the output of the turn signal flasher when the turn signal is initially activated flows through diode 62 into line 64. It immediately begins to charge a capacitor 66 while providing current flow through a solenoid 68 in a holding relay 70. After the capacitor 66 has been charged slightly, current flow through the solenoid 68 will be adequate to move the contact 72 in the relay 70 from the position shown in FIG. 2 which disconnects line 74, to a second position, connecting line 74 to line 76. Line 74 can be seen to be connected to the vehicle battery through a circuit protection device, such as a polymeric positive temperature co-ei~cient circuit protection device 78 of the type sold by Raychem Corporation of Menlo Park, California as the Models RGE and RLJE PolySwitch.
When line 74 is connected to line 76 by the contact 72, battery voltage is provided to solenoid 34 of switching relay 28. The other side of the solenoid 34 is connected to ground through line 80. This current flow will cause the contact 82 of the switching relay 28 to move to the second position, connecting line 26 to point 32, representing the output of the turn signal flasher unit. The flasher unit provides power in intermittent fashion, determined by the cycle rate of the flasher unit, to flash the left turn signal 14. In the intervals during the flashing sequence in which power is not provided to the turn signal 14, charge stored in the capacitor 66 will be sufficient to maintain current flow through the solenoid 68 to hold the contact 72 connecting lines 74 and 76. Only when the operator switches off the left turn signal switch in the cab will there no longer be intermittent power provided at points 32 and 60, and the capacitor 66. While capacitor 66 maintains sufficient energy to activate the solenoid 68 for a short interval, it will soon lose significant charge, causing the solenoid 68 to release the contact 72 to the position shown in FIG. 2.
Diode 62 prevents capacitor 66 from discharging through the flasher circuit and turn signal lamps. It will be noted that the turn signal action occurs whether the daytime running light circuits are on or not.
The right turn signal 16 is similarly actuated by providing output from the flasher unit to points 84 and 86. Point 86 connects to diode 88, line 90, capacitor 92 and solenoid 94 of a holding relay 96. Relay 96 provides power to the switching relay 46 through line 98 when the right turn signal is activated in the same manner as described previously with the left turn signal. Diode 88 prevents capacitor from discharging through the flasher circuit and turn signal lamps.
It can be seen from the description above that a running light circuit has been provided which utilizes the turn signals already on the vehicle. The daytime running light circuit does not interfere with the normal operation of the turn signals.
This is achieved by the addition of very few additional and inexpensive elements, such as relays, diodes and capacitors. Of course, during daylight operation, selection of one turn signal for normal turn signal operation does not elect the non-selected turn signal and the non-selected turn signal lamp continues to be lit by the daytime running circuit independent of the turn signal operation of the selected turn signal. A key to making the circuit practical is selecting the holding relays 70 and 96 to have a low current draw and drop-out voltage.
Although a single embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. A device for operating a light on a vehicle during daylight, comprising:
a first circuit to provide power to the light during daylight;
a second circuit to provide power to the light at predetermined intervals; and a switching device to disconnect the first circuit from the light and connect the second circuit to the light.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the light is a turn signal.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the switching device includes a relay having a contact moving between a first position to connect the first circuit to the light and a second position to connect the second circuit to the light.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the second circuit is the turn signal circuit in a vehicle.
5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a hold device to maintain the switching device in the position disconnecting the first circuit from the light and connecting the second circuit to the light.
6. The device of claim 1 further including a disable device to interrupt the current flow through the first circuit to prevent power from flowing through the first circuit to the light.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the disable device is a relay actuated by a headlight switch in the vehicle.
8. The device of claim 6 wherein the disable device is a relay operated by a parking brake in the vehicle.
9 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the switching device is a relay having a contact movable between a first position connecting the first circuit to the light and a second position connecting the second circuit to the light, the relay having a solenoid, current flow through the solenoid moving the contact from the first position to the second position.
10. The device of claim 9 further comprising a holding circuit to maintain current flow through the solenoid of the switching device during operation of a turn signal in the vehicle.
11. A device for operating a light on a vehicle during daylight, the light forming a turn signal on the vehicle, comprising:
a first circuit to provide power to the light during daylight;
a second circuit to provide power to the light from a turn signal circuit in the vehicle;
a switching relay having a contact movable between a first position connecting the first circuit to the light and a second position connecting the turn signal circuit to the light, the relay having a solenoid; and a holding circuit providing power to the solenoid of the switching relay during operation of the turn signal circuit to hold the contact of the switching relay in the second position.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein the holding circuit includes a holding relay having a contact movable between a first position and a second position, the contact in a second position providing power to the solenoid in the switching relay, the holding relay having a solenoid, the solenoid being connected between ground and the turn signal circuit, a capacitor being provided in parallel with the solenoid, the capacitor charging sufficiently during operation of the turn signal circuit to maintain the contact of the holding relay in the second position.
13. A method for utilizing the turn signal on a vehicle for use as a daytime running light and as a turn signal, the vehicle having a turn signal circuit, comprising the steps of:
providing power to the turn signal continuously during daylight by maintaining a switching device in a first position connecting power to the turn signal when the turn signal circuit is not activated;
providing power to a solenoid in the switching device when the turn signal is activated to move the switching device to a second position connecting the turn signal to the turn signal circuit; and holding the switching device in the second position during operation of the turn signal circuit.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of maintaining the switching device in the second position includes the step of discharging a capacitor during intervals where the turn signal circuit does not provide power to the turn signal to maintain the switching device in the second position.
CA 2297884 1999-06-17 2000-02-03 Daytime running light circuit Abandoned CA2297884A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US33525499A 1999-06-17 1999-06-17
US09/335,254 1999-06-17

Publications (1)

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CA2297884A1 true CA2297884A1 (en) 2000-12-17

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2297884 Abandoned CA2297884A1 (en) 1999-06-17 2000-02-03 Daytime running light circuit

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CA (1) CA2297884A1 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011006423A1 (en) * 2011-03-30 2012-06-06 Continental Automotive Gmbh Light control device for motor vehicle, has control unit that performs control-activation of lighting elements of lamps, based on request of emission of signal light and daytime running light
GB2499515A (en) * 2012-02-08 2013-08-21 Neil Armstrong Retrofittable controller with relay for using vehicle turn signal lights as daytime running lights
CN103342109A (en) * 2013-07-28 2013-10-09 庄景阳 Daytime running light variable-voltage control device
CN103342107A (en) * 2013-07-28 2013-10-09 庄景阳 Installation and operation method of daytime running lamp control device
GB2500973A (en) * 2012-04-05 2013-10-09 Neil Armstrong Retrofittable controller for using vehicle turn signal lights in series as daytime running lights

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011006423A1 (en) * 2011-03-30 2012-06-06 Continental Automotive Gmbh Light control device for motor vehicle, has control unit that performs control-activation of lighting elements of lamps, based on request of emission of signal light and daytime running light
GB2499515A (en) * 2012-02-08 2013-08-21 Neil Armstrong Retrofittable controller with relay for using vehicle turn signal lights as daytime running lights
GB2499515B (en) * 2012-02-08 2018-07-04 Armstrong Neil Lighting System for Vehicles
GB2500973A (en) * 2012-04-05 2013-10-09 Neil Armstrong Retrofittable controller for using vehicle turn signal lights in series as daytime running lights
GB2500973B (en) * 2012-04-05 2018-07-04 Armstrong Neil Lighting System for Vehicles
CN103342109A (en) * 2013-07-28 2013-10-09 庄景阳 Daytime running light variable-voltage control device
CN103342107A (en) * 2013-07-28 2013-10-09 庄景阳 Installation and operation method of daytime running lamp control device
CN103342107B (en) * 2013-07-28 2015-07-15 庄景阳 Installation and operation method of daytime running lamp control device
CN104786918A (en) * 2013-07-28 2015-07-22 庄景阳 Alternating current-direct current daytime running lamp variable-voltage control device
CN104786917A (en) * 2013-07-28 2015-07-22 庄景阳 Daytime running light variable-voltage control device
CN104786917B (en) * 2013-07-28 2016-09-21 南安市天鸿电子科技有限公司 One day portable lighter voltage control device

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