GB2114826A - Safety indicator system for motor vehicles - Google Patents
Safety indicator system for motor vehicles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2114826A GB2114826A GB08201271A GB8201271A GB2114826A GB 2114826 A GB2114826 A GB 2114826A GB 08201271 A GB08201271 A GB 08201271A GB 8201271 A GB8201271 A GB 8201271A GB 2114826 A GB2114826 A GB 2114826A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- switch means
- lamp circuit
- lamps
- speed
- 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.)
- Granted
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
- B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
- B60Q1/44—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
- B60Q1/444—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
- B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
- B60Q1/50—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
- B60Q1/54—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking for indicating speed outside of the vehicle
Abstract
A safety indicator system for motor vehicles, which in addition to the direction indicators and brake warning light, utilises a steady green light to indicate that the vehicle is at constant speed or accelerating, a blinking green light to indicate that the accelerator pedal is released and the brakes may be applied and a blinking red light to indicate the vehicle is stopped or is travelling below a speed set by a photo-interrupter device (6) on the speedometer dial. Additionally the headlamps may be switched on when the set speed is exceeded. The photo-interrupter operates relay 4 to close contact 16 to supply power to acceleration and deceleration sensitive switches 17 and 20. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Safety indicator systems for motor vehicles
This invention relates to a safety indicator system for motor vehicles, and particularly to such a system which is capable of indicating the actual operating status of the vehicle for the drivers of other vehicles.
The density of motor vehicles on the road is increasing continuously as a result of economic development and vehicle accidents have thus increased correspondingly. According to available statistical information, most of the accidents are due to the fact that drivers cannot respond rapidly when the road conditions are suddenly changed. Such accidents are generally caused by the vehicles moving at high speed (as on motorways) and nearly always result in a collision between vehicles.
Since the vehicle density is increased, it is diffcult to maintain a suitable distance between travelling vehicles and thus the view of a driver may be obstructed by the vehicle in front. Therefore, under many circumstances, the driver only has an understanding of the action of the preceding vehicle by means of the indicator lights provided on the rear of the preceding vehicle.
For example, operation of one of the direction indicator lamps shows that the vehicle is to be turned in a particular direction, such as for moving to another lane and the stop lamps show that the driver has actuated the brake pedal. Although this type of indicator system has been used for may years and a certain effect is obtained under somewhat lower speed, it is not satisfactory and cannot provide a complete indication of all operational aspects of the movable vehicle.
The traditional indicator system cannot clearly indicate, in addition to the turning and braking actions, whether or not the vehicle is accelerating, sliding, preparing to apply a brake or stopped as a result of a breakdown. Therefore, when the driver of the preceding vehicle finds that the road conditions are inadequate, and he releases the accelerator pedal and prepares to actuate the brake pedal, the following vehicle will not recognize this condition and may not take any action until the brake pedal of the preceding vehicle is actuated and the stop lamps are illuminated. The often results in a chain collision.
When known vehicles stop as a result of a breakdown or for any other reason, the vehicles have not means of indicating such a condition. Although red side lamps provided at the rear of the vehicle may be lit up at night, these cannot indicate whether or not the vehicle is moving. In addition, the increase in the intensity of the red lamps when the brake pedal is actuated at night is also hard to distinguish.
The head lamp of a vehicle can be selected for use as a long-range light on full beam or a shortrange light on dipped beam. No matter whether the head lamp is used as a long-range light or shortrange light, when the vehicle is temporarily stopped for example at a set of traffic lights, the light thereof often dazzles other drivers and may have to be turned off causing inconvenience to the driver.
Moreover, in the traditional indicator system, the driver cannot determine whether or not the various indicator lamps work well without leaving the car. Especially in the case of the stop lamp which will not be lit up until the brake pedal is actuated, a single person has difficulty in simultaneously actuating the pedal and checking the stop lamps provided at the rear of the vehicle. At least two persons are preferably needed in such a checking procedure.
In view of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the conventional systems, an object of the present invention is to provide a safety indicator system which can clearly indicate the operating status of a motor vehicle.
According to the present invention there is provided a safety indicator system for motor vehicles including a speed dependent switch means arranged, when a predetermined vehicle speed has been exceeded, to trigger switch means to supply current to a plurality of lamps through the intermediary of further switch means, which lamps are indicative of predetermined functions of the vehicle, said further switch means being operated in dependence upon acceleration or retardation of the vehicle.
In one preferred embodiment of a safety indicator system according to the invention, there may be provided a first lamp circuit having an intermittently operable device, which is coupled with a current source, when the switch means is not triggered and the speed dependence switch means remains inoperative while the predetermined vehicle speed has not been exceeded, for eliminating the lamps of the first lamp circuit intermittently.
A second lamp circuit may be provided which is operable when the speed dependence switch means triggers the switch means and the vehicle brake operates the further switch means to provide constant illumination of the lamps of the second lamp circuit which is thus indicative of the vehicle brakes being applied. The first and second lamp circuits may emit red light.
A third lamp circuit can be provided having a further intermittently operable device, which third lamp circuit is operable when the vehicle accelerator has not being operated beyond a predetermined level to provide intermittent illumination of the lamps of the third lamp circuit which is indicative of movement of the vehicle below a known speed, or, that the accelerator pedal has been released and the brake can be applied.
A fourth lamp circuit can be operable when the accelerator pedal of the vehicle is moved beyond a predetermined level to operate said further switch means and disconnect the third lamp circuit from the current source, to provide constant illumination of the lamps of the fourth lamp circuit which is indicative of the vehicle operating normally above said known speed. The third and fourth circuits preferably emit green light.
Preferably, a head lamp circuit may be provided which is selectively connectible between manual and automatically operable modes. In the automatic mode, the head lamp circuit is operable to provide a constant head lamp light beam when the speed dependence switch means triggers the switch means.
One preferred safety indicator system is provided with two sets of indicator lamps fqr each of the first to the fourth lamp circuits, one set being located at the rear of the vehicle and the other set being located at the front of the vehicle.
In another preferred embodiment, a photo interrupter is mounted on a speedometer which has a needle with a projection at its free end, the projection being located in the light path of the photo interrupter when the needle indicates below said predetermined speed. Preferably, the photo interrupter comprises spaced light emitting and photo-sensitive diodes and the projection is movable between the diodes to control the passage of light therebetween. The switch means may be a relay.
Preferably, the further switch means includes pressure responsive switches connected with the foot brake and accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, each indicator lamp may be provided with a respective monitor lamp connected in series therewith and arranged to be located within the vehicle for monitoring operation of the indicator lamps.
Accordingly, there is provided a safety indicator system which utilizes, in addition to the conventional yellow direction lights and red stop light, a green light to indicate that the vehicle is travelling with a constant speed or accelerating, a green blinking light to indicate that the vehicle has ceased to accelerate and there is a possibility of applying a brake, a red blinking light to indicate that the vehicle has stopped or merely travels below a predetermined speed of 2 km/hr. for example.
This invention mainly utilizes speed dependent switch means and switches mounted respectively or: the brake and accelerator pedals to control the variation of light signals. The switching on and off of the head lamp may be operated manually or automatically. Lamps corresponding to the indicator lamps and head lamps are provided on the instrument panel so that the driver may determine whether or not the lights are operating properly.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a circuit diagram for a preferred embodiment of this invention; and
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a manner of mounting the speed sensitive means on the speedometer.
The safety indicator according to this invention utilizes a battery 1 of the vehicle as the power source. The left hand side in Figure 1 surrounded by a dotted line is a speed sensitive circuit 2 which may be mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown).
The speed sensitive circuit 2 includes a relay 3. A coil 4 of relay 3 is connected at one end to a positive terminal of battery 1 and at other end to a negative terminal of battery 1 via the collectoremitter path of a transistor 5.
The base of transistor 5 is connected to the positive battery terminal via a photo sensitive diode 7 of a photo interrupter 6 and resistor 8. A light emitting diode (LED) 9 is connected via its anode to the positive battery terminal via resistor 10 and via its cathode to the negative terminal of battery 1.
The normally closed contact 11 of relay 3 is connected to a red intermittent light circuit A.
The red intermittent light circuit A includes an intermittent device 12 such as a flasher bulb, a parallel circuit formed by two sets of monitor red lamps 1 3a, 1 3b and indicator red lamps 1 4a, 1 4b connected in series, respectively. A fuse 1 5 is connected between circuit A and ground. The other end of the red intermittent light circuit A is connected to ground that is the negative battery terminal.
A normally open contact 16 of relay 3 is connected on one hand to a brake switch 17 and on the other hand to a headlight switch 1 8 via a manual/auto switch 41. The brake switch 1 7 is a single pole double throw (SPDT) microswitch which is mounted on the brake pedal and is actuated by the pressure applied to the brake pedal. The switch 41 is used to select the manual or automatic control of the headlights and the headlight switch 18 is the manual ON/OFF selection switch for the headlights.
A normally closed contact 1 9 of brake switch 1 7 is connected to an accelerator switch 20. Switch 20 is a pressure sensitive switch which will not be actuated until the pressure applied thereon has reached a predetermined level. Switch 20 is mounted on the accelerator pedal of the vehicle so as to be actuated by the pressure applied to the pedal.
It will be noted that the predetermined pressure of switch 20 can be adjusted to adapt the system to various vehicles and drivers as will be further described.
A normally closed contact 21 of switch 20 is connected to a green intermittent light circuit B.
The green blinking light circuit B which includes an intermittent device 22, similar to that of circuit
A a parallel network formed by two sets of monitor green lamps 23a, 23b and indicator green lamps 24a, 24b connected in series, respectively and a fuse 25. The other end of green intermittent light circuit B is grounded.
A normally open contact 26 of switch 20 is connected to a green light circuit C including a parallel network formed by two sets of monitor green lamps 27a, 27b and indicator green lamps 28a, 28b connected in series respectively. The green light circuit C also includes a fuse 29.
The headlight switch 1 8 is connected to a selector switch 30 of headlamp circuit D for selecting the full beam or dipped beam conditions of the headlamps. The selector switch 30 is connected on one side to a serial network of monitor lamps 31 and full beam lamps 32a on the other side to a serial network of monitor lamps 31 b and dipped beam lamps 32b. A fuse 33 is also provided in the head lamp circuit D.
A normally open contact 34 of brake switch 1 7 is connected to a red brake light circuit E. The circuit E includes a parallel circuit formed by two serial networks of monitor red lamps 35a, 35b and indicator red lamps 36a, 36b, respectively, and a fuse 37 which is connected to ground.
The photo interrupter 6 of the speed sensitive circuit 2 is mounted on the speedometer 38 in a manner shown in Fig. 2. A needle 39 of the speedometer 38 is provided with a projection or strip 40 at its free end as shown in Figure 2, in which,the strip 40 is located in the path of light between the photosensitive diode 7 and light emitting diode 9 of the photo interrupter 6 when the speedometer indicates a speed below a predetermined speed.
It will be noted that the photo interrupter 6 may be mounted in other relationships with the speedometer 38.
The lamps 14a, 24a, 28a and 36a are mounted at the rear of the vehicle and the lamps 14b, 24b, 28b and 36b are mounted at the front of the vehicle. The only requirement for the mounting of these lamps is that they should be provided at positions at which they are readily visible at positions external of the vehicle.
The monitor lamps 1 3a. 1 3b, 35a, 35b, 23a, 23b, 27a, 27b, 31 a and 31 b are mounted on the instrument panel of the vehicle. The full and dipped beam head lamps are mounted at the front of the vehicle in a conventional manner.
When the driver inserts a key into the ignition switch (not shown) to connect this circuitry to the battery, the safety indicator system of this invention is in a static condition. While the needle 39 of speedometer 38 (Figure 2) is indicating the position of 0 km/hr., the strip 40 remains within the photo interrupter 6. Therefore the light emitted from the light emitting diode 9 cannot reach the photo sensitive diode 7. The high resistance of photo-sensitive diode 7 keeps transistor 5 in its non conductive state.
The coil 4 of relay 3 is not energised with the transistor 5 in this non-conductive state. Therefore, current flows from the positive terminal of battery 1 to the red intermittent light circuit A via the normally closed contact 11 of the relay 3. The serially connected networks of monitor lamps 1 3a and 13b and indicator lamps 14a and 14b are switched by means of the intermittent device 12. In other words, the indicator red lamps provided on the front and rear of the vehicle and the monitor lamps on the instrument panel flash on and off. Under such a condition, neither the pressing of the accelerator pedal not that of the brake pedal will affect the flashing red lamps. This intermittent red light may show that the vehicle is at a stop.
When the vehicle is put into first gear, the accelerator pedal is pressed to accelerate the vehicle, however, the red intermittent light will not change until the needle 39 of the speedometer 38 is rotated through a predetermined angle by the travelling speed of the vehicle so as to move the strip 40 out of the light path of the photo interrupter 6.
When the vehicle speed has reached a certain speed (for example, 2 km/hr.), the rotation of needle 39 will move strip 40 out of photo interrupter 6. It is to be noted that a speed of 2 km/hr. is very slow and may be readily obtained by slightly accelerating the vehicle. The movement of strip 40 out of the light path of the photo interrupter 6 causes the light of light emitting diode 9 to be incident on the photo-sensitive diode 7. The photo-sensitive diode 7 thus presents a low resistance and transistor 5 conducts under the bias current flowing therethrough.
The coil 4 of relay 3 is thus energized and the normally open contact 1 6 is connected to the positive terminal of battery 1. The operation of red intermittent light circuit A ceases. The power is fed to the green intermittent light circuit B through the contact 19 of the brake switch 17 and the normally closed contact 21 of the acclerator switch 20. The monitor lamps 23a and 23b mounted on the vehicle instrument panel and the indicator green lamps 24a and 24b mounted at the front and rear of the vehicle then flash under control of the intermittent device 22. As is mentioned above, the accelerator switch 20 will not be actuated until the pressure applied thereto has reached a predetermined level.In a preferred embodiment, the actuating pressure level is adjusted to three-tenths of the pressure applied when the accelerator pedal is pressed down completely (full-speed). In other words, the green intermittent circuit B keeps flashing until the accelerator pedal is pressed down by more than threetenths of its full travel distance. This indicates that although the vehicle is moving, it has not reached a corresponding speed and is not operating at its normal operating speed or that the accelerator pedal has been released and there is the possibility that the brake will be applied.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed beyond this "three tenths" level, the vehicle is travelling in a normal operating range of speeds up to full-speed and the accelerator switch 20 is actuated. The green intermittent light ceases and the circuit C via contact 26 and the monitor lamps 27a and 27b and indicator green lamps 28a and 28b are lit up. This indicates that the vehicle is travelling normally.
If the driver has found that the road condition is inadequate and tries to slow down releasing the accelerator pedal under the predetermined pressure, the switch 20 is returned to its non actuated mode.
The current is again fed to the green intermittent light circuit B and disconnected from the constant green circuit C resulting in the steady green light returning to the green flashing signal, which indicates that the vehicle has ceased to accelerate and there is a possibility of applying the brake.
When the driver presses the brake pedal, the actuated brake switch 1 7 feeds the current to the red light circuit E through contact 34. The red indicator lamps mounted at the front and rear of the vehicle and the red monitor lamps on the instrument panel are lit up and indicate that the brake has been applied. Both the green light circuits B and C are deactuated since the current is not longer fed to the switch 20.
When the vehicle is slowed down by the brake until the needle 39 has fallen below the predetermined speed, the strip 40 returns into the photo interrupter 6 and the relay 3 is deenergized since the bias for transistor 5 is removed. Current is again fed to the red intermittent circuit A through contact 11 and therefore the red intermittent lamps are lit up.
Whenever the vehicle is stopped normally or by breakdowns or other reasons, the intermittent red signal will show this condition for the drivers of other vehicles.
In addition, when connected via switch 18 and the autocontact of switch 41, the headlight circuit
B will not be connected to the power supply until the predetermined speed of the vehicle has been exceeded. When the vehicle is used at night, the headlight switch 18 is closed and the switch 30 may be used to select the full beam lamp 32a or dipped beam lamp 32b. When the contact 1 6 of relay 3 is actuated by the photo-interrupter circuit, the current is fed to the selected head lamp and the current will cease when the relay 3 is deenergized when the vehicle speed drops below the predetermined speed. In other words, the head lamps 32a and 32b are turned off when the vehicle stops and are turned on again when the vehicle moves again.
The switch 41 is provided for the selection of manual control or automatic control of the head lamps.
The functions of the safety indicator system for a motor vehicle are listed in Table 1 for a better reference.
TABLE I
VEHICLE STATUS INDICATING SIGNAL MEANING 1. The vehicle has been Red Flashing Light Please not the status of stopped normally or this vehicle and be for other reasons. careful.
2. The vehicle has just been started and a predetermined speed has not been reached.
The speed has exceeded Green Flashing Light 1. The vehicle is moving the predetermined speed but has not reached but the vehicle is not yet a steady speed.
travelling at normal operating speeds or at 2. The road condition may full-speed. ' be inadequate, the vehicle is not accelerat ing and there is a possibility of applying the brake.
The vehicle is travelling Green Steady Light. The vehicle is travelling at a steady speed or steadily at normal operating accelerating (the accelera- speeds or accelerating.
tor pedal has been pressed over a predetermined degree).
A brake is being applied Red Steady Light The brake of the vehicle on the vehicle. has been applied and the vehicle is slowing down.
The safety indicator system of this invention allows all conditions of the vehicle to be clearly shown to other drivers. Therefore, the drivers of other vehicles may have more time and thus a better opportunity to take the proper procedure to avoid accidents whereby the rate of accidents can be lowered. This invention is especially effective and useful for those vehicles travelling on motor-ways.
Since all the lamps such as the red and green indicator lamps or the headlights have respective serially connecting monitor lamps mounted on the instument panel of the vehicle, the driver may check them without leaving the vehicle.
When the vehicle stops such as at a set of traffic lights, the head lamps may be automatically switched off and will not disturb drivers of other vehicles. The headlamps will be lit up when the vehicle moves again.
Claims (14)
1. A safety indicator system for motor vehicles including speed dependent switch means arranged, when a predetermined vehicle speed has been exceeded, to trigger switch means to supply current to a plurality of lamps through the intermediary of further switch means, which lamps are indicati ie of predetermined functions of the vehicle, said further switch means being operated in dependence upon acceleration or retardation of the vehicle.
2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, including a first lamp circuit having an intermittently operable device which circuit is coupled with a current source, when the switch means is not triggered and the speed dependent switch means remains inoperative while the predetermined vehicle speed has not been exceeded, for illumination of the lamps of the first lamp circuit intermittently.
3. A system as claimed in Claim 2, including a second lamp circuit operable when the speed dependent switch means triggers the switch means and the vehicle brake operates the further switch means to provide constant illumination of the lamps of the second lamp circuit which is thus indicative of the vehicle brakes being applied.
4. A system as claimed in Claim 3, including a third lamp circuit having a further intermittently operable device, which third lamp circuit is operable when the vehicle accelerator has not been operated beyond a predetermined level to provide intermittent illumination of the lamps of the third lamp circuit which is indicative of movement of the vehicle below a known speed, or, that the accelerator pedal has been released and the brake can be applied.
5. A system as claimed in Claim 4, including a fourth lamp circuit operable when the accelerator pedal of the vehicle is moved beyond the predetermined level to operate said further switch means and disconnect the third lamp circuit from the current source, to provide a constant illumination of the lamps of the fourth lamp circuit which is indicative of the vehicle operating normally above said known speed.
6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a headlamp circuit which is selectively connectible between manual and automatically operable modes.
7. A system as claimed in Claim 6, wherein in said automatic mode the headlamp circuit is operable to provide a constant headlamp light beam when the speed dependent switch means triggers the switch means.
8. A system as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7, wherein each of the first to fourth lamp circuits has two sets of indicator lamps, one set for location at the rear of the vehicle and the other set for location at the front of the vehicle.
9. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a speedometer on which the photo interrupter is mounted.
10. A system as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the speedometer has a needle with a projection at its free end, the projection being located in the light path of the photo interrupter when the needle indicates below said predetermined speed.
11. A system as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the photo interrupter comprises a spaced light emitting and photo-sensitive diodes and the projection is movable between the diodes to control the passage of light therebetween.
12. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said switch means is a relay.
13. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the further switch means includes pressure responsive switches connected with the foot brake and accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle.
14. A system as claimedin any one of the preceding claims wherein, light emitted from the fourth
lamp circuit is green.
1 5. A safety indicator system substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as
illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
14. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each indicator lamp is provided with a respective monitor lamp connected in series therewith and arranged to be located within the vehicle for monitoring operation of the indicator lamps.
1 5. A system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein light emitted from the first lamp circuit is red.
1 6. A system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein light emitted from the second lamp circuit is red.
17. A system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein light emitted from the third lamp circuit is green.
18. A system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein light emitted from the fourth lamp circuit is green.
1 9. A safety indicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
New claims filed on 7/4/83
Superseded claims 1 to 1 9 New claims:
1. A safety indicator system for motor vehicles including speed dependent switch means arranged, when a predetermined vehicle speed has been exceeded, to trigger switch means to supply current to a plurality of lamps through the intermediary of further switch means, which lamps are indicative of predetermined functions of the vehicle, said further switch means being operable in dependence upon acceleration or retardation of the vehicle; a first lamp circuit having an intermittently operable device and being coupled with a current source, when the switch means is not triggered and the speed dependent switch means remains inoperative while the predetermined vehicle speed has not been exceeded, for intermittent illumination of the lamps of the first lamp circuit; a second lamp circuit operable when the speed dependent switch means triggers the switch means and the vehicle brake is arranged to operate the further switch means to provide constant illumination of the lamps of the second lamp circuit which is thus indicative of the vehicle brakes being applied; a third lamp circuit having a further intermittently operable device, which third lamp circuit is operable when the vehicle accelerator has not been operated beyond a predetermined level to provide intermittent illumination of the lamps of the third lamp circuit which is indicative of movement of the vehicle below a known speed, or, that the accelerator pedal has been released and the brake can be applied; and a fourth lamp circuit operable when the accelerator pedal of the vehicle is moved beyond the predetermined level to operate said further switch means and disconnect the third lamp circuit from the current source, to provide a constant illumination of the lamps of the fourth lamp circuit which is indicative of the vehicle operating normally above said known speed.
2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, including a headlamp circuit which is selectively connectible between manual and automatically operable modes.
3. A system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein in said automatic mode the headlamp circuit is operable to provide a constant headlamp light beam when the speed dependent switch means triggers the switch means.
4. A system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the first to fourth lamp circuits has two sets of indicator lamps, one set for location at the rear of the vehicle and the other set for location at the front of the vehicle.
5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a speedometer on which the photo interrupter is mounted.
6. A system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the speedometer has a needle with a projection at its free end, the projection being located in the light path of the photo interrupter when the needle indicates below said predetermined speed.
7. A system as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the photo interrupter comprises spaced light emitting and photosensitive diodes and the projection is movable between the diodes to control the passage of light therebetween.
8. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said switch means is a relay.
9. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the further switch means includes pressure responsive switches connected with the foot brake and accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle.
10. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each indicator lamp is provided with a respective monitor lamp connected in series therewith and arranged to be located within the vehicle for monitoring operation of the indicator lamps.
11. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein light emitted from the first lamp circuit is red.
12. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein light emitted from the second lamp circuit is red.
13. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein light emitted from the third lamp circuit is green.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08201271A GB2114826B (en) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-01-18 | Safety indicator systems for motor vehicles |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08201271A GB2114826B (en) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-01-18 | Safety indicator systems for motor vehicles |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2114826A true GB2114826A (en) | 1983-08-24 |
| GB2114826B GB2114826B (en) | 1985-09-11 |
Family
ID=10527682
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08201271A Expired GB2114826B (en) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-01-18 | Safety indicator systems for motor vehicles |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2114826B (en) |
Cited By (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2602726A1 (en) * | 1986-08-05 | 1988-02-19 | Dumas Jean | Safety device improving visual road signalling of vehicles |
| WO1993015931A2 (en) * | 1992-02-05 | 1993-08-19 | Int Automotive Design Uk Ltd | Motor vehicle display system and ranging device |
| GB2280553A (en) * | 1993-07-26 | 1995-02-01 | Nicos Nissis | Deceleration/petrol off warning light for vehicles |
| GB2298534A (en) * | 1995-02-28 | 1996-09-04 | Geoffrey David Cops | Hazard warning systems for vehicles |
| US5838259A (en) * | 1992-02-05 | 1998-11-17 | Design Technology & Innovation Ltd. | Motor vehicle display system and ranging device |
| EP0927661A1 (en) * | 1996-12-03 | 1999-07-07 | Shih-Hsiung Chou | Braking precautionary system for vehicles |
| ES2133073A1 (en) * | 1996-09-04 | 1999-08-16 | Dor Hispania S A | System for signalling the movement of motor vehicles |
| DE19849686A1 (en) * | 1998-10-28 | 2000-05-04 | Valeo Beleuchtung Deutschland | Driving auxiliary brake light at rear of vehicle involves activating flasher generator that causes normally permanently illuminated auxiliary light to flash to indicate that vehicle has stopped |
| US6133852A (en) * | 1994-08-05 | 2000-10-17 | Design Technology | Motor vehicle system and ranging device |
| GB2377562A (en) * | 2001-07-14 | 2003-01-15 | Eric Arthur Grainger | Vehicle accelerating and coasting indicator |
| FR2853066A1 (en) * | 2003-03-27 | 2004-10-01 | Marie Claire Etienne Gentaz | Display device for displaying movement parameters of vehicle, has display unit associated to speed sensor, electronic processing circuits and power supply to indicate instantaneous speed amplitude and variation of speed |
| FR2857089A1 (en) * | 2003-03-27 | 2005-01-07 | Marie Claire Etienne Gentaz | Vehicle displacement parameters displaying device, has display units that are situated behind vehicle for indicating vehicle instantaneous speed and vehicle stopping distance |
| GB2415043A (en) * | 2004-06-04 | 2005-12-14 | Seamus Waite | Improvements in vehicle progress indication |
| WO2009044217A1 (en) * | 2007-10-05 | 2009-04-09 | Budapesti Müszaki Es Gazdasagtudomanyi Egyetem | Device to display moving conditions of a vehicle |
-
1982
- 1982-01-18 GB GB08201271A patent/GB2114826B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (18)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2602726A1 (en) * | 1986-08-05 | 1988-02-19 | Dumas Jean | Safety device improving visual road signalling of vehicles |
| EP0939002A2 (en) * | 1992-02-05 | 1999-09-01 | Design Technology & Innovation Limited | Motor vehicle display system and ranging device |
| WO1993015931A2 (en) * | 1992-02-05 | 1993-08-19 | Int Automotive Design Uk Ltd | Motor vehicle display system and ranging device |
| WO1993015931A3 (en) * | 1992-02-05 | 1993-11-11 | Int Automotive Design Uk Ltd | Motor vehicle display system and ranging device |
| US5838259A (en) * | 1992-02-05 | 1998-11-17 | Design Technology & Innovation Ltd. | Motor vehicle display system and ranging device |
| US5856793A (en) * | 1992-02-05 | 1999-01-05 | Tonkin; Mark Christopher | Motor vehicle display system and ranging device |
| EP0939002A3 (en) * | 1992-02-05 | 1999-10-13 | Design Technology & Innovation Limited | Motor vehicle display system and ranging device |
| GB2280553A (en) * | 1993-07-26 | 1995-02-01 | Nicos Nissis | Deceleration/petrol off warning light for vehicles |
| US6133852A (en) * | 1994-08-05 | 2000-10-17 | Design Technology | Motor vehicle system and ranging device |
| GB2298534A (en) * | 1995-02-28 | 1996-09-04 | Geoffrey David Cops | Hazard warning systems for vehicles |
| ES2133073A1 (en) * | 1996-09-04 | 1999-08-16 | Dor Hispania S A | System for signalling the movement of motor vehicles |
| EP0927661A1 (en) * | 1996-12-03 | 1999-07-07 | Shih-Hsiung Chou | Braking precautionary system for vehicles |
| DE19849686A1 (en) * | 1998-10-28 | 2000-05-04 | Valeo Beleuchtung Deutschland | Driving auxiliary brake light at rear of vehicle involves activating flasher generator that causes normally permanently illuminated auxiliary light to flash to indicate that vehicle has stopped |
| GB2377562A (en) * | 2001-07-14 | 2003-01-15 | Eric Arthur Grainger | Vehicle accelerating and coasting indicator |
| FR2853066A1 (en) * | 2003-03-27 | 2004-10-01 | Marie Claire Etienne Gentaz | Display device for displaying movement parameters of vehicle, has display unit associated to speed sensor, electronic processing circuits and power supply to indicate instantaneous speed amplitude and variation of speed |
| FR2857089A1 (en) * | 2003-03-27 | 2005-01-07 | Marie Claire Etienne Gentaz | Vehicle displacement parameters displaying device, has display units that are situated behind vehicle for indicating vehicle instantaneous speed and vehicle stopping distance |
| GB2415043A (en) * | 2004-06-04 | 2005-12-14 | Seamus Waite | Improvements in vehicle progress indication |
| WO2009044217A1 (en) * | 2007-10-05 | 2009-04-09 | Budapesti Müszaki Es Gazdasagtudomanyi Egyetem | Device to display moving conditions of a vehicle |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2114826B (en) | 1985-09-11 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |