GB2408567A

GB2408567A - Monitoring system for vehicle rear lights

Info

Publication number: GB2408567A
Application number: GB0327686A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Dunwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-28
Filing date: 2003-11-28
Publication date: 2005-06-01
Also published as: GB0327686D0

Abstract

A vehicle C is fitted with a system for monitoring the lights at the rear of a vehicle. The system comprises a display unit 10 mounted on the underside of the roof of the vehicle, a plurality of optical fibres running from respective lights at the rear of the vehicle to the display unit 10, the display unit 10 including indicator lights positioned so as to lie in the field of view provided by the rear view mirror M. The indicator lights may remain de-energised unless one of the vehicle lights fails to light up, in which case the corresponding indicator light is energised.

Description

Monitoring system for vehicle rear lights The present invention relates to

a system for monitoring the lights at the rear of a road vehicle.

It is generally not an easy matter to check the lights at the rear of a vehicle, to make sure that these are operating correctly and to notice promptly that any light is no longer operational.

I have now devised a system for monitoring the lights at the rear of a vehicle, this system being such that it can be retro-fitted to a vehicle and will provide effective warning to the driver should any light fail.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a monitoring system for lights at the rear of a vehicle, the system comprising a display unit for mounting on the underside of the vehicle roof, and a plurality of optical fibre waveguides for running from respective lights at the rear of the vehicle to the display unit, the display unit including indicator lights positioned at the front thereof so as to lie in the rear view provided to the driver by the vehicle rear view mirror, the display unit being arranged to respond to light signals transmitted to it by the optical fibre waveguides and control said indicator lights to indicate the failure of any respective vehicle light.

Preferably the display unit comprises a generally flat housing for mounting flat against the underside of the vehicle roof. The unit is accordingly unobtrusive and does not obstruct the driver's view, via the rear view mirror, through the rear window of the vehicle. Preferably the indicator lights are positioned on a front edge of the display unit housing.

Preferably the indicator lights are arranged in two groups, adjacent opposite ends of the front of the display unit, the two groups of indicator lights corresponding to the near-side and off-side sets of lights at the rear of the vehicle.

The monitoring system may monitor one or more of the following: the vehicle rear lights, brake lights, indicator lights and reversing lights. Preferably the system is arranged so that the indicator lights remain deenergised unless one of the vehicle lights fails to light up (typically because of a bulb failure), in which case the corresponding indicator light is energized. In the case of the brake lights, however, the system may be arranged to energise the respective indicator lights each time the brake lights are energised, so that failure of one or other of these indicator lights to light up, upon application of the brakes, then indicates a failure of the respective brake light.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a car fitted with a monitoring system, for the lights at the rear of the vehicle, in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is a similar view of the vehicle, partly cut away to show a display unit of the monitoring system in position within the vehicle; FIGURE 3 is a front view of the display unit; and FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the display unit.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a car C fitted with a system for monitoring the lights at the rear of the vehicle. The system comprises a display unit 10 which is mounted within the vehicle, on the underside of its roof, towards the rear window of the vehicle. The system further comprises a number of optical fibre cables leading from the individual lights at the rear of the vehicle (including brake lights, rear lights and indicator lights) to the display unit 10.

The display unit 10 comprises a flat, generally rectangular housing which is mounted flat against the underside of the roof of the vehicle and does not obstruct the driver's view, via the rear view mirror M, through the rear window. In its front edge, the display unit 10 is provided with a number of indicator lights 12, which indicate the status of the respective lights at the rear of vehicle. The display unit 10 is mounted so that the indicator lights 12 are in the field of view, provided to the driver of the vehicle by the rear view mirror M. It will be noted that the indicator lights are arranged as two groups of three, adjacent the opposite ends of the front edge of the display unit housing, and correspond with the vehicle lights on the near-side and off-side of the vehicle, respectively.

The system may be arranged so that the indicator lights are normally deenergised, but light up should the respective vehicle light fail. In the case of the brake lights, however, the corresponding indicator lights may be arranged to light up in response to illumination of the brake lights; failure of one or other of these indicator lights to light up, upon application of the brakes, then indicates a failure of the respective brake lights.

The display unit 10 indicates an electronic circuit to respond to the light signals received from the respective vehicle lights, via their optical fibre cables, and control the individual indicator lights 12 accordingly. This electronic circuit may be powered by batteries installed in the display unit itself.

Claims

Claims 1) A monitoring system for lights at the rear of a vehicle, the

system comprising a display unit for mounting on the underside of the vehicle roof, and a plurality of optical fibre waveguides for running from respective lights at the rear of the vehicle to the display unit, the display unit including indicator lights positioned at the front thereof so as to lie in the rear view provided to the driver by the vehicle rear view mirror, the display unit being arranged to respond to light signals transmitted to it by the optical fibre waveguides and control said indicator lights to indicate the failure of any respective vehicle light.
2) A monitoring system according to Claim 2, wherein the display unit comprises a generally flat housing for mounting flat against the underside of the vehicle roof.
3) A monitoring system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the indicator lights are positioned on a front edge of the display unit housing.
4) A monitoring system according to any preceding Claim, wherein, the indicator lights are arranged in two groups.
5) A monitoring system according to Claim 4, wherein the two groups are adjacent opposite ends of the front of the display unit.
6) A monitoring system according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the two groups of indicator lights corresponding to the ! near-side and off-side sets of lights at the rear of the vehicle.
7) A monitoring system according to any preceding Claim for monitoring one or more of the following of: the vehicle rear lights, brake lights, indicator lights or reversing lights.
8) A monitoring system according to any preceding Claim arranged so that the indicator lights remain de-energised unless one of the vehicle lights fails to light up (typically because of a bulb failure), in which case the corresponding indicator light is energized.
9) A monitoring system according to Claim 7 wherein when the system is arranged to energise the respective indicator lights each time the brake lights are energised, so that failure of one or other of these indicator lights to light up, upon application of the brakes, then indicates a failure of the respective brake light.
10) A monitoring system according to any preceding Claim powered from the vehicle battery.
11) A monitoring system according to any of Claims 2 to 9 wherein the monitoring system is powered by its own power supply.
12) A monitoring system according to Claim 10, wherein the monitoring system includes an independent power supply to enable operation of the system should the vehicle battery become inoperative.
13) A monitoring system as subsequently described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures.