FR2846610A1 - Automatic brake light switch for motor vehicle contact with continuous to intermittent current converter to operate light - Google Patents

Abstract

The automatic brake light switch for a motor vehicle has a contact (1) actuated by engagement of the accelerator pedal against its stop during its complete release. The contact transmits a control current (3) to a coil (4) with a converter for continuous to intermittent current (9). The control box is positioned downstream of the stop light and operates if the accelerator pedal is released for more than three seconds.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for operating

  intermittently the STOP lights of a motor vehicle decelerating or momentarily stationary, without any intervention on the part of the driver.

  Currently, the STOP lights of a vehicle come on only by the intervention of the driver on the brake pedal. Conversely, they do not light up when the vehicle decelerates following the release of the accelerator pedal.

  The STOP lights ignition device currently in force is a source of danger. Indeed: - the attention of motorists following a vehicle is not drawn to the deceleration of the latter, when the driver does not apply the brake pedal. 10 - similarly, this attention is not drawn to the momentary immobilization of a vehicle on the

  road, if the driver does not apply the brake pedal (example: vehicle waiting at a red light, a STOP sign, etc.).

  This results in a delay in their reaction time, causing rear-end collisions or even chain collisions.

  The concept of automatic activation of the rear brake lights is the subject of a literature prior to this project (patents WO 85/04626, WO 97/44213, WO 98/04435, WO 99/38724, EP 0 890 477 A2, FR2 667 553). However, all of the aforementioned documents envisage a fixed operation of the STOP lights, not making it possible to differentiate a simple deceleration from a braking action. In addition, in the event of a temporary stop of the vehicle, there is a risk of confusion between the 20 STOP lights and other rear signaling devices (position lights, fog lights).

  The device according to the invention makes it possible to remedy this drawback by triggering, without any intervention from the driver, when the accelerator pedal is fully released, the flashing of the STOP lights, at a frequency which does not furthermore cause confusion with the lights direction or distress indicators.

  Indeed, the automatic and intermittent operation of STOP lights has two major advantages:

  - it draws the attention of any driver to the deceleration or momentary immobilization of the vehicle in front, without however creating confusion with the permanent lighting of the STOP lights generated by an action on the brake pedal. It should also be noted that many motorists practice an intermittent action on the brake pedal in the event of a slowdown in circulation, in order to obtain a similar result.

  - it naturally encourages motorists to respect safety distances when traffic is slowing down.

  In order to avoid the flashing of the STOP lights when the accelerator pedal 35 is released for a very short time (change of gearbox ratio), the system includes an activation delay.

-2 It consists of:

  - an electronic unit supplied upstream with direct current and connected downstream to the existing STOP light circuit.

  - a contactor whose function is to initiate the process of activating the electronic unit mentioned above when the accelerator pedal is fully released. This contactor is installed at this level so that its operation cannot be disturbed by the various automatic acceleration systems (air conditioning, starters, cold start acceleration, power steering) located at the carburetor flap, injection shutter or injection pump control, fitted to many vehicles. However, this contactor can be installed at the level of the carburetor flap, the injection flap or the injection pump control for vehicles not equipped with such an acceleration system. The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

  Figure 1 shows the entire device of the invention Figure 2 shows the detail of the operating principle of the contactor at the accelerator pedal 15.

  FIG. 3 shows the detail of the electronic timed control unit for the intermittent operation of the STOP lights.

  Referring to Figure 1, the device comprises a contactor (1) for actuating the system, located at the accelerator pedal (2). 20 This contactor, supplied with direct current (5) supplied by the battery (6) passing through the general contact

  (7) and protected by fuse (8), is activated when the pedal is completely released. It then transmits the control current (3) to the electronic unit (4). In addition, the electronic unit is permanently supplied by direct current (5).

  After a time delay of 3 seconds, the electronic control unit (4) transforms the direct current (5) into intermittent current; it is connected (9) to the existing circuit between the terminal (10) of the STOP switch output (1 1) and the rear lights of the vehicle (12). Therefore, it controls the flashing of these.

  This connection does not affect the normal operation of the STOP lights by pressing the brake pedal.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the mechanism for activating the system breaks down as follows:

  - the accelerator pedal (2) is equipped, at its fixing pin (13) with a return spring (14) having the function of bringing it back and of holding it against a stop (15) when it is not requested by the driver. It should be noted that this system presents no technical installation difficulties; it was also commonly used before being replaced by a return spring placed at the level of the carburetor or the injection pump.

-3

  - the push-button switch (1), adjustable at the level of its fixing by two nuts (16), transmits (3) the current to the electronic unit when it is activated by the upper part of the pedal (2) brought into abutment ( 15) by the return spring (14).

  With reference to FIG. 3, the electronic unit consists of: - a resistance of 100 kiloohms (17), - a capacitor of 47 microfarads (18) ensuring the activation delay (3 seconds), - a logic component ( 14 pins numbered in small characters in the figure) type CD 4011 (19) to which are connected a resistor of 220 klioohms (20), a resistor of 100 kiloohms (21) and a capacitor of 10 microfarads (22) ensuring the intermittence of the output electrical current 10 (frequency: 1 second), - a resistance of 10 kiloohms (23), - an RFP 50 N 06 type transistor (24), - a 12-volt relay, 30/40 amps (25) ,

  - a 25 F 120 type protection diode (26).

  The activation delay as well as the intermittent current frequency

  are adjustable according to the value of the capacitors (18) and (22).

- 4

Claims (4)

  1) Device for automatically and intermittently actuating the STOP rear lights of a motor vehicle in deceleration or momentarily stationary, characterized in that it comprises a contactor (1) transmitting a control current (3) to an electronic unit ( 4) supplied with permanent current (5), housing which after time delay 5 transforms this current into intermittent current (9) and which is connected downstream to the existing circuit between the output contact terminal (10) of the STOP contactor (l 1) and the vehicle rear lights (12).   2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the contactor (1) located at the accelerator pedal (2) is put into action when the stop (15) returns to the latter under the action of the spring of reminder (14).   3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the electronic unit (4) comprises a capacitor (18) ensuring the activation delay and a capacitor   (22) ensuring the intermittence of the output current.   4) Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the capacitor (18) has a value of 47 microfarads and that the capacitor (22) has a value of 10 microfarads.