GB2457913A - Warning indicator for long vehicles - Google Patents

Warning indicator for long vehicles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2457913A
GB2457913A GB0803653A GB0803653A GB2457913A GB 2457913 A GB2457913 A GB 2457913A GB 0803653 A GB0803653 A GB 0803653A GB 0803653 A GB0803653 A GB 0803653A GB 2457913 A GB2457913 A GB 2457913A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
indicator
vehicle
warning indicator
warning
indicator light
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0803653A
Other versions
GB0803653D0 (en
Inventor
Andrew Hunter
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
Priority to GB0803653A priority Critical patent/GB2457913A/en
Publication of GB0803653D0 publication Critical patent/GB0803653D0/en
Publication of GB2457913A publication Critical patent/GB2457913A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • 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
    • B60Q1/34—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 change of drive direction
    • B60Q1/38—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 change of drive direction using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps
    • 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
    • B60Q1/32—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 vehicle sides, e.g. clearance lights
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/10—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source
    • F21S43/13—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S43/14—Light emitting diodes [LED]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
    • F21S45/50—Waterproofing
    • F21S8/10—
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
    • F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
    • F21V23/0407—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches for flashing
    • F21W2101/02—
    • F21W2101/12—
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2103/00—Exterior vehicle lighting devices for signalling purposes
    • F21W2103/10—Position lights
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2103/00—Exterior vehicle lighting devices for signalling purposes
    • F21W2103/15—Side marker lights
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2103/00—Exterior vehicle lighting devices for signalling purposes
    • F21W2103/20—Direction indicator lights
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2107/00—Use or application of lighting devices on or in particular types of vehicles
    • F21W2107/10—Use or application of lighting devices on or in particular types of vehicles for land vehicles
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2101/00—Point-like light sources
    • F21Y2101/02—

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Abstract

A warning indicator system for a long vehicle comprising a string of marker lights 2a, 2b and a controller configured to communicate with the indicator light switch on a vehicle dashboard whereby on operation of the indicator light switch, the marker lights 2a, 2b are caused to flash in a pattern which simulates the pattern displayed by a vehicle indicator light 1a, 1b.

Description

WARNING INDICATOR FOR LONG VEHICLES
This invention relates to warning indicators used on long road vehicles such as transporters, coaches, trailers and the like.
Particularly in poor light conditions, it can be difficult for other road users to recognise a long vehicle which may be entering, crossing or manoeuvring between lanes of a road. Like all vehicles, these long vehicles have flashing indicator lights at the front and rear which can be activated from within the vehicle to warn other road users that the vehicle is about to make a manoeuvre. However, in poor light and from distances, the shape and size of the vehicle is not always completely visible to other road users.
It can also be difficult for a road user travelling alongside a long vehicle to see flashing indicator lights which are positioned only to the front and rear of a large vehicle body. If such a road user were in a comparatively smaller vehicle and positioned in the black spot of the long vehicle driver's range of view, then there is considerable scope for a collision, neither driver being aware of the others intended actions.
It is known to provide marker lights along the length of a long vehicle or at its upper or outer extremities so that its length, height and width are *..: more visible to other road users in poor light. These marker lights are switched on after dark to give a permanent indication of the size of the vehicle. Whilst useful in better defining for other road users the size of the vehicle body, such lights do not assist in making the existing flashing indicator lights more visible. In fact, their presence may serve to make a flashing indicator light less visible among a mass of other lights.
A further problem with existing indicator systems which rely on a few small indicator lights at extremities of large vehicles is that it may not be visible to a driver sitting some distance away at the front of the vehicle, when a rear indicator light ceases to function properly.
The present invention seeks to make warning indicators on long and large vehicles more visible to other road users after dark.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a warning indicator system for a long vehicle comprising a string of marker lights and a controller configured to communicate with the indicator light switch on a vehicle dash board whereby on operation of the indicator light switch, the marker lights are caused to flash in a pattern which simulates the pattern displayed by a vehicle indicator light.
Thus, when an indicator light switch is activated, the normally continuously illuminated (or non illuminated in daylight hours) marker lights can be caused to flash in tandem with the vehicle indicator lights thus giving a much clearer indication to other road users of the presence and intended movements of a long vehicle. When the indicator light switch is deactivated, the marker lights revert to continuous illumination so that the dimensions of the vehicle remain visible when the warning indicator function is not operational. During daylight hours, the marker lights may revert to a non illuminated state. Conveniently, the marker lights may be connected in parallel with the indicator lights to permit that both the indicator lights and the marker lights provide a warning indicator when the indicator light switch is activated.
The marker lights desirably comprise a string of LEDs, though they could comprise light bulbs. Conveniently the controller is embodied in a printed circuit board with which the marker lights and indicator light switch are connected.
It will be appreciated that the controller may be configured to interface with any part of the indicator light circuit. For example but without limitation, the controller may include a sensor which detects a change in the status of an indicator light bulb; the sensor might be configured to detect a power surge to the bulb or emission of light from the bulb and the controller configured to translate this to a coincident flashing signal in the marker lights.
The controller is desirably in the form of a printed circuit board embodied in a sealed, weather and waterproof casing with external connectors for connecting with the marker lights and/or indicator lights. In one embodiment it includes a load device which, when the warning indicator function is in effect, simulates the load that a normal indicator load would use to operate the regular indicator light bulb. This ensures that the dashboard light which relays to the driver the status of the indicator light operates as it would with a conventional, fully operational indicator light. * ** * S S * S.
By way of example, an embodiment of the invention will now be described 55..
in more detail with reference to the accompanying Figures in which; Figure 1 shows a long vehicle fitted with a vehicle warning indicator system in accordance with the invention I... S. S
: Figure 2 shows schematically a circuit for operating a warning indicator system in accordance with the invention.
Figure 3 shows schematically a controller for use in an embodiment of a vehicle warning indicator system in accordance with the invention As can be seen from Figure 1 a long vehicle is provided with a plurality of indicator lights la at the front and rear of the vehicle. Along the side of the vehicle is a string of marker lights 2a. The Figure on the right shows the same vehicle when the indicator switch is activated. As can be seen the indicator lights lb and marker lights 2b flash in unison illuminating the full length of the vehicle.
Figure 2 shows one embodiment of a circuit which might be used to control the warning indicator system of the invention. As can be seen from the Figure a controller 1 is connected in parallel with both a warning iight indicator switch 2 and a string of indicator lights 3. When the indicator switch 2 is activated, the controller 1 controls the marker lights causing them to flash simultaneously with the indicator lights of the vehicle. The controller also signals back to the indicator switch that the indicator and marker lights are flashing. This produces a normal response on the dashboard indicator light which signals to the driver the pattern of indicator lights being displayed to other road users. If there is any fault in the marker or warning indicator lights, this would be signalled to the driver by the dashboard light. * S. * . .
As can be seen from Figure 3 a controller is embodied in a waterproof box from which various electrical connections emerge. The connections are wired up with the marker lights and existing indicator system as indicated.
* Within the box is a printed circuit board which performs the control operations and a load device which simulates load of indicator bulbs to the **** dashboard light when the marker lights are made up of LEDs. The power ** supply is desirably of variable voltage, most desirably between 3 and 33 V.

Claims (8)

  1. CLAIMS1. A warning indicator system for a long vehicle comprising a string of marker lights and a controller configured to communicate with the indicator light switch on a vehicle dash board whereby on operation of the indicator light switch, the marker lights are caused to flash in a pattern which sirnu!ates the pattern displayed by a vehicle indicator light.
  2. 2. A warning indicator system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the marker lights comprise a string of LEDs.
  3. 3. A warning indicator system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the controller includes a load device which, when the warning indicator system is in flashing mode, simulates the load taken by a normal indicator bulb.
  4. 4. A warning indicator system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the controller is in the form of a printed circuit board (PCB) embodied in a sealed, weather and waterproof casing with external connectors for connecting with the marker lights and indicator light switch.
  5. 5. A warning indicator system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the controller includes a sensor which senses a change in status of the indicator light bulb.
  6. 6. A warning indicator system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sensor is configured to detect a power surge to or emission of light from the indicator bulb.
  7. 7. A warning indicator light system substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying Figures. * ** * * * * ** **** * * **** ** I. * * * * I * * **** * * SIll
  8. S. SS S S S 55
GB0803653A 2008-02-28 2008-02-28 Warning indicator for long vehicles Withdrawn GB2457913A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0803653A GB2457913A (en) 2008-02-28 2008-02-28 Warning indicator for long vehicles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0803653A GB2457913A (en) 2008-02-28 2008-02-28 Warning indicator for long vehicles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0803653D0 GB0803653D0 (en) 2008-04-02
GB2457913A true GB2457913A (en) 2009-09-02

Family

ID=39284710

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0803653A Withdrawn GB2457913A (en) 2008-02-28 2008-02-28 Warning indicator for long vehicles

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2457913A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2014201298A (en) * 2013-04-10 2014-10-27 株式会社国広商事 Attention calling device for large-size vehicle
EP3061650A1 (en) * 2015-02-25 2016-08-31 Fleet Sentinel Ltd Direction indicator for long vehicles
GB2536786A (en) * 2015-02-20 2016-09-28 Caterpillar Sarl Machine roof integrated lighting system

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2200736A (en) * 1987-02-04 1988-08-10 Robert Anthony Brown Vehicle recognition side lights
US5497304A (en) * 1995-03-29 1996-03-05 Caine; Harold A. Side warning lights
DE29804694U1 (en) * 1998-03-16 1998-05-28 Yang, Chang-Ta, Yen Chao Hsiang, Kaoshiung Decorative strips for vehicles
US20030179584A1 (en) * 2002-03-19 2003-09-25 Greg Pond Side turn / marker lamp
JP2003291719A (en) * 2002-04-01 2003-10-15 Isamu Hashizume Flashing device for width indicator of automobile or the like

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2200736A (en) * 1987-02-04 1988-08-10 Robert Anthony Brown Vehicle recognition side lights
US5497304A (en) * 1995-03-29 1996-03-05 Caine; Harold A. Side warning lights
DE29804694U1 (en) * 1998-03-16 1998-05-28 Yang, Chang-Ta, Yen Chao Hsiang, Kaoshiung Decorative strips for vehicles
US20030179584A1 (en) * 2002-03-19 2003-09-25 Greg Pond Side turn / marker lamp
JP2003291719A (en) * 2002-04-01 2003-10-15 Isamu Hashizume Flashing device for width indicator of automobile or the like

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2014201298A (en) * 2013-04-10 2014-10-27 株式会社国広商事 Attention calling device for large-size vehicle
GB2536786A (en) * 2015-02-20 2016-09-28 Caterpillar Sarl Machine roof integrated lighting system
US9802533B2 (en) 2015-02-20 2017-10-31 Caterpillar Sarl Machine roof integrated lighting system
GB2536786B (en) * 2015-02-20 2020-09-16 Caterpillar Sarl Machine roof integrated lighting system
EP3061650A1 (en) * 2015-02-25 2016-08-31 Fleet Sentinel Ltd Direction indicator for long vehicles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0803653D0 (en) 2008-04-02

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)