GB2416201A

GB2416201A - Brake lights controller

Info

Publication number: GB2416201A
Application number: GB0415843A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Robert Boyd
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-15
Filing date: 2004-07-15
Publication date: 2006-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-15
Also published as: GB2416201B; GB0415843D0; WO2006005966A1

Abstract

A car C is fitted with a brake lights controller in accordance with the present invention. The controller comprises a sensor S to detect each fresh application of the brakes. The controller further comprises a unit U coupled to the brake light circuit. The foot brake sensor S provides a signal to the unit U to indicate to the unit U each time the vehicle brakes are applied. The unit U is arranged to switch off the brake lights L after a time delay following application of the brakes. The controller is arranged to reduce the time delay with increasing frequency of successive applications of the brakes ie to reduce dazzle to the following car(s) when in slow moving traffic or jams. The controller is preferably a microprocessor and can have sonar sensor to detect proximity of following vehicle and also be connected to the gearbox to detect its operation.

Description

241 6201

BRAKE LIGHTS CONTROLLER

The present invention relates to a controller for the brake lights of a road vehicle.

Often the brake lights of vehicles cause glare to the drivers of following vehicles, particularly where the brake lights are kept on for extended periods of time, for example when the vehicles are stationary at traffic lights or are creeping along in a queue.

In normal driving, the brakes are only applied for a short period of time, generally less than a second, for example to set the vehicle up for a corner. The brakes are applied for a longer period of time when slowing down from high speed, for example when leaving a motorway, but generally this does not cause significant glare to following vehicles.

When vehicles are stationary in a queue, for example at traffic lights, drivers tend to keep the brakes applied until the vehicles are able to move again. The vehicles are close together and the drivers are subjected to continuous glare from the brake lights of the vehicle in front.

When vehicles are in a slow-moving queue, the brakes of each vehicle are applied and released quite frequently and, whilst applied to hold the vehicle stationary, subject the driver of the following vehicle to glare.

I have now devised a controller for the brake lights of a vehicle, which alleviates the problems outlined above, particularly in the case of vehicles moving slowly in a queue.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a controller for the brake lights of a vehicle, the controller comprising means for detecting each application of the vehicle brakes and means for switching the vehicle brake lights off after a time delay following application of the brakes, the length of said time delay reducing with increasing frequency of successive applications of the brakes.

Thus, whilst successive applications of the vehicle brakes are infrequent, the brake lights will be switched off only after a relatively long time following application of the brakes. This nevertheless reduces glare when vehicles are stationary at traffic lights. When vehicles are moving slowly in a queue, in repetitive stop-start manner, the controller of the present invention switches the brake lights off quite quickly after each application of the brakes, in response to the relatively frequent successive application of the brakes.

The controller preferably includes a microprocessor, the software of which determines the length of the time delay between each application of the brakes and the switching off of the brake lights.

The means for sensing each application of the vehicle brakes may comprise a sensor coupled to the foot brake itself: for example this sensor may comprise a mechanical or optical sensor.

Preferably the controller is arranged to reset the switching means each time the brakes are released, so that the brake lights will become energised immediately the brakes are next applied.

It is envisaged that the controller is provided as a self-contained device that can be plugged into the wiring loom of a brake light circuit. To allow this, the controller is provided with connectors that can enable the controller to be incorporated into the circuit wherever desired for ease of manufacture or for example, ease of access. Further, the controller can be included in particular parts of the wiring loom depending on which part of the circuit is to be controlled, for example, if one wanted to put it into the wiring loom so that it only operated on the "high visibility light" in the centre at the back of the vehicle it could be put into that spur of the wiring loom. If on the other hand it is desired that the controller is to operate on all three brake lights it would be put in the wiring loom between the brake pedal switch and the wiring loom that is connected to the brake lights.

Further it is envisaged that the controller may be in communication with a main control system of a vehicle for example. In such a situation the controller can be incorporated in the vehicle during manufacture. It can also be provided as a retrofit part if required for certain vehicle models.

Preferably, the controller may be in communication with the gearbox of a vehicle. In such an arrangement, the controller may only operate when certain parameters are met or do not fall within certain defined parameters for the gearbox operation. An example of when the controller is able to operate when certain parameters are met is when it is detected that the vehicle is stationary and this can be detected by the fact that a vehicle is out of gear or the brake (either hand or foot) is in operation. Also, the controller can be limited to operation only when it is detected that a vehicle is close to the rear of the vehicle that incorporates the controller. In order to detect a following vehicle, it is envisaged that the controller will be associated with a sonar device which can be used to detect vehicles in the proximity to the vehicle including the controller. The sonar device can be provided as an integral part of the controller or it can be provided as a separate entity, positioned in or on the vehicle and which can communicate with the controller.

Preferably, the controller can, upon detection that a vehicle is within a certain distance from the vehicle carrying the device, cause the fog lights of the lead vehicle to be switched off, so reducing glare for following drivers and hence increasing road safety.

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 shows two cars stationary in a queue; FIGURE 2 shows a line of cars stationary at traffic lights; FIGURE 3 shows a car fitted with a brake lights controller in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 4 shows two cars stationary at traffic lights, one of the cars being fitted with a controller in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 5 shows the same two cars moving at speed; and FIGURE 6 shows the same cars in a slow-moving, stop- start line of traffic.

Referring to Figure 1, two cars C1, C2 are shown one- behind-the-other, stationary in a queue: the driver of the car C1 is holding it stationary via the vehicle brakes, such that the brake lights L at the rear of the vehicle are kept on, subjecting the driver of the following vehicle C2 to glare G. Figure 2 shows a line of cars C1, C2, C3 stationary at traffic lights, the driver of each vehicle being subjected to glare from the brake lights of the vehicle in front.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, there is shown a car C fitted with a brake lights controller in accordance with the present invention. The controller comprises a sensor S coupled to the foot brake B to detect each fresh application of the brakes. The controller further comprises a unit U coupled to the brake light circuit. The foot brake sensor S provides a signal to the unit U to indicate to the unit U each time the vehicle brakes are applied. The unit U is arranged to switch off the brake lights L after a time delay following application of the brakes.

In the case of a line of cars C, C1 stationary in a queue e.g. at traffic lights, as shown in Figure 4, the controller of car C serves to switch off the brake lights at the end of this time delay.

Referring to Figure 5, in the case of car C moving at speed, as indicated by the dial, and the driver applying the brakes only infrequently and for a short period, the brake lights L will remain on throughout the duration of brake application.

Figure 6 shows a line of cars C, C1, C2 moving slowly, in stop-start manner, in a queue. The unit U of the controller fitted into the car C responds to the successive applications of the brakes, to determine the length of the delay, following each application of the brakes, before the brakes lights L are switched off. The brake lights will of course go off if the driver releases the brakes before expiry of the time delay. In particular, the more frequent the successive applications of the brakes, the shorter is the time delay, following each application of the brakes, before the brake lights are switched off. Thus, in the case of a stopstart queue of vehicles, with the brakes being applied frequently, then the brake lights of car C are switched off after only a short time delay, minimising the glare to the following vehicle.

Figure 7 shows a high visibility light V in the rear window of a vehicle. A controller W can be positioned in the spur of the wiring loom leading to the high visibility light. Alternatively, the controller U can be connected to both the high visibility light and the two rear tail lights.

As shown in the Figure there may be a main controller U which is connected to the main wiring loom for the lights and there is a sub- controller V which communicates with the main controller. By having a main and sub-controller, this allows for an added safety feature in that if there is a fault in one controller or one part of the wiring loom, the other controller/wiring loom can continue to operate.

Figure 8 shows a sonar device S1 which is used as a sensor to detect the presence of vehicles behind the vehicle C. The sensor can be in communication with a controller U. which can be included into the wiring loom that is associated with fog lights. The sensor can either dim or even turn off the fog lights when a vehicle is detected as being within a certain range of the vehicle at which it is assumed that the vehicle lights will be visible to a following driver.

Although it is mentioned that the lights can be switched off, it is also envisaged that the lights could be dimmed to a lesser or greater degree in order to save energy and/or reduce glare for other drivers.

Claims

Claims 1. A controller for the brake lights of a vehicle, the controller

comprising means for detecting each application of the vehicle brakes and means for switching the vehicle brake lights off after a time delay following application of the brakes, the length of said time delay reducing with increasing frequency of successive applications of the brakes.
2. A controller according to claim 1, including a microprocessor, the software of which determines the length of the time delay between each application of the brakes and the switching off of the brake lights.
3. A controller according to claim 1 or claim 2 including means for sensing each application of the vehicle brakes.
4. A controller according to claim 3, wherein the means for sensing comprises a sensor coupled to the foot brake itself.
5. A controller according to claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises a mechanical or optical sensor.
6. A controller according to any preceding claim is arranged to reset the switching means each time the brakes are released, so that the brake lights will become energised immediately the brakes are next applied.
7. A controller according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller is provided as a self-contained device that can be plugged into the wiring loom of a brake light circuit.
8. A controller according to claim 7 provided with connectors that can enable the controller to be incorporated into the circuit wherever desired for ease of manufacture or for example, ease of access.
9. A controller according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller is adapted to be included in the wiring loom of the vehicle controlling a "high visibility light" to the centre of the rear of a vehicle.
10. A controller according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller is adapted for inclusion into a wiring loom between the brake pedal switch and the wiring loom that is connected to the brake lights.
11. A controller according to any preceding claim arranged to be in communication with a main control system of a vehicle.
12. A controller according to any preceding claim arranged to be in communication with the gearbox of a vehicle.
13. A controller according to claim 12 including means by which the controller is arranged to operate either when defined parameters for the gearbox operation are met or when defined parameters for the gearbox operation are not met.
14. A controller according to claim 13, wherein the parameters detected are the vehicle is stationary.
15. A controller according to claim 13, wherein the defined parameter detected is that a vehicle is close to the rear of the vehicle that incorporates the controller.
16. A controller according to any preceding claim associated with a sonar device to detect vehicles in proximity to the vehicle including the controller.
17. A controller according to claim 16, wherein the sonar is provided as an integral part of the controller or as a separate entity which can communicate with the controller.
18. A controller according to any preceding claim adapted such that upon detection that a vehicle is within a certain distance from the vehicle carrying the device, cause the fog lights of the lead vehicle to be switched off, so reducing glare for following drivers.
19. A controller as substantially described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures.
20. A vehicle incorporating a controller as substantially described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures.