GB2358297A - Reducing brightness of dipped headlight on activation of turn indicator - Google Patents

Reducing brightness of dipped headlight on activation of turn indicator Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2358297A
GB2358297A GB0017020A GB0017020A GB2358297A GB 2358297 A GB2358297 A GB 2358297A GB 0017020 A GB0017020 A GB 0017020A GB 0017020 A GB0017020 A GB 0017020A GB 2358297 A GB2358297 A GB 2358297A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vehicle
circuit diagram
directional indicators
headlamp
dipped
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
Application number
GB0017020A
Other versions
GB2358297B (en
GB0017020D0 (en
Inventor
Maurice Llewellyn Lewis
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB0017020D0 publication Critical patent/GB0017020D0/en
Publication of GB2358297A publication Critical patent/GB2358297A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2358297B publication Critical patent/GB2358297B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60QARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/14Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights having dimming means
    • B60Q1/1415Dimming circuits
    • B60Q1/1423Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
    • B60Q1/143Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60QARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/05Special features for controlling or switching of the light beam
    • B60Q2300/054Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60QARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/10Indexing codes relating to particular vehicle conditions
    • B60Q2300/14Other vehicle conditions
    • B60Q2300/142Turn signal actuation

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Abstract

The vehicle directional indicator circuit is designed to allow reduced brightness of a vehicle's dipped headlamp (left or right) when signalling a turn to the left or right. The unaffected headlamp will remain bright and the circuit energised only when a vehicle's indicators are used in conjunction with the headlights being switched on. The main beam headlamps are not affected. The circuit provides improved visibility of indicator light to oncoming vehicles at night.

Description

2358297 VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL INDICATORS [Technical field] This invention
relates to an improved circuit diagram for directional indicators which are a basic requirement for all 'road- using' vehicles.
[Background] In 'The Casualty Report' (Road Accidents Great Britain 1998), it is shown that more than 63,000 vehicles were involved in accidents, either in the process of turning right or turning left. Furthermore, there were more than 387,000 accidents in all known manoeuvres. The report, unfortunately, does not indicate how many accidents occurred in normal daylight hours or during night time driving but nevertheless exposes a weakness in general driving care and perhaps a need for improvement to vehicle lighting design. This invention considers the latter point.
Modem vehicle indicator wiring systems comprise a flasher unit and directional indicator switch. The flasher unit is designed to meet international standards and has to provide audible and visual means to signal lamp failure. The most common type of flasher unit today is electronically operated and when an indicator lamp fails it flashes at approximately twice its normal rate. The indicator switch is a two-way switch with a central off position. Its purpose is to energise the indicator lamps at the front, side and rear of the vehicle in order to signal a turning or overtaking decision by the vehicle driver. Some vehicle drivers use the hazard facility associated with this switch to warn others of possible danger. For example, if they are badly parked and 'off-loading' or sometimes to warn other drivers to reduce their speed if the road ahead suddenly becomes blocked with stationary traffic.
- ------------ 2 The trend today in vehicle headlight design, particularly motorcars, is to incorporate the front directional indicator and headlamp in one module and also to design flie headlamps to a much higher degree of brightness. In the latter case, during night, driving, the new higher luminous intensity headlamp bulbs are giving rise to concern by making it even more difficult to observe the brightness of the indicata. lights when a vehicle is signalling to turn left or right or signalling to overtake another vehicle. This problem is aggravated in wet driving conditions and when flie signalling vehicle is leading a line of other traffic. The inventor feels that vehicle manufacturers have overlooked the danger caus by headlamp 'glare'- the phenomenon of seeing a bright object against a da ' background. This condition results in the difficulty to see contrast and detail wi if prolonged, as in night driving, leads to tiredness, lack of concentration and tb possibility of a road accident.
[Essential Technical Features] The modified vehicle directional indicator circul is shown in Figure 1.0. It shows two independent relay circuits fed from Mic directional indicator switch, i.e.one for each indicator system. It is only when die indicator switch is activated that the left or right relay coil becomes energise 1 1 When this occurs, the normally- open contact closes and inserts a 'drop' resistor i series with the dipped headlamp bulb which reduces its brightness. With eati relay working independently, one headlamp will always be operating at fl brightness which will provide sufficient lighting for a driver to see when in Ox process of turning or overtaking. As soon as the indicator switch is turned off dx affected dipped headlight reverts to flill brightness. It will be seen from Figure 1.0 that when the directional indicators are not activate the dipped beam circuit operates through a normally closed contact in the relay. 1 fected by the modified circuit should be noted that the main bean circuit is not af [Conclusion] During night driving and when any of the manoeuvres describl, .c above are initiated, the modified indicator circuit shown in Figure 1. 0 will proviffi greater opportunity for an 'oncoming' driver to clearly see the intention of. 1 approaching vehicle. The inventor feels that the circuit needs to be implemented l all vehicle manufacturers, preferably through government legislation.

Claims (4)

Claims
1 A modified circuit diagram for directional indicators designed to decrease the brightness of dipped headlamps of all vehicles during night time driving.
2 A modified circuit diagram for directional indicators claimed in Claim 1 designed to avoid 'disability glare' and allow all vehicle indicator fights to be clearly seen by oncoming drivers'.
3 A modified circuit diagram for directional indicators claimed in Claim 1 designed to be functional only when a road vehicle is in the process of turning left or right or during the process of overtaking.
4 A modified circuit diagram for vehicle directional indicators claimed in Claim 1, 2 and 3 as shown in Fig 1.0 in which the wiring to each dipped headlamp bulb operates through an independent relay. When a particular relay coil is energised a normally open contact closes, inserting a 'drop resistor' in series with the dipped headlamp bulb; this reduces the bulb's rated voltage and its luminous output decreases. A normally closed contact in the relay serves the purpose of allowing the unaffected headlamp to continue giving fifil brightness.
GB0017020A 2000-01-14 2000-07-10 Vehicle directional indicators Expired - Fee Related GB2358297B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0000723A GB0000723D0 (en) 2000-01-14 2000-01-14 Vehicle directional indicators

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0017020D0 GB0017020D0 (en) 2000-08-30
GB2358297A true GB2358297A (en) 2001-07-18
GB2358297B GB2358297B (en) 2004-09-15

Family

ID=9883609

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0000723A Ceased GB0000723D0 (en) 2000-01-14 2000-01-14 Vehicle directional indicators
GB0002692A Ceased GB0002692D0 (en) 2000-01-14 2000-01-28 Vehicle directional indicators
GB0017020A Expired - Fee Related GB2358297B (en) 2000-01-14 2000-07-10 Vehicle directional indicators

Family Applications Before (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0000723A Ceased GB0000723D0 (en) 2000-01-14 2000-01-14 Vehicle directional indicators
GB0002692A Ceased GB0002692D0 (en) 2000-01-14 2000-01-28 Vehicle directional indicators

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (3) GB0000723D0 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2103484A3 (en) * 2008-03-18 2010-03-10 Hiroshi Noguchi Left/right turn indicator for vehicle
CN103507698A (en) * 2013-10-07 2014-01-15 周锦标 Method and control circuit for controlling headlight through turn lights
EP4088969A1 (en) * 2021-05-12 2022-11-16 Volvo Truck Corporation A system and method for controlling the light intensity of a vehicle lamp

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH1029462A (en) * 1996-07-15 1998-02-03 Honda Access Corp Headlight controller for vehicle

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6293234A (en) * 1985-10-21 1987-04-28 Terumo Corp Purified fish oil and its production

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH1029462A (en) * 1996-07-15 1998-02-03 Honda Access Corp Headlight controller for vehicle

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2103484A3 (en) * 2008-03-18 2010-03-10 Hiroshi Noguchi Left/right turn indicator for vehicle
CN103507698A (en) * 2013-10-07 2014-01-15 周锦标 Method and control circuit for controlling headlight through turn lights
EP4088969A1 (en) * 2021-05-12 2022-11-16 Volvo Truck Corporation A system and method for controlling the light intensity of a vehicle lamp

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0002692D0 (en) 2000-03-29
GB2358297B (en) 2004-09-15
GB0000723D0 (en) 2000-03-08
GB0017020D0 (en) 2000-08-30

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20070710