GB2499515A - Retrofittable controller with relay for using vehicle turn signal lights as daytime running lights - Google Patents

Retrofittable controller with relay for using vehicle turn signal lights as daytime running lights Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2499515A
GB2499515A GB1302276.9A GB201302276A GB2499515A GB 2499515 A GB2499515 A GB 2499515A GB 201302276 A GB201302276 A GB 201302276A GB 2499515 A GB2499515 A GB 2499515A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
turn signal
relay
lights
controller
vehicle
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
GB1302276.9A
Other versions
GB2499515B (en
GB201302276D0 (en
Inventor
Neil Armstrong
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 GB201302276D0 publication Critical patent/GB201302276D0/en
Publication of GB2499515A publication Critical patent/GB2499515A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2499515B publication Critical patent/GB2499515B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

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
    • B60Q1/28—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 front of vehicle
    • 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
    • B60Q1/385—Electronic temporisation with relay amplification
    • 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
    • B60Q2400/00—Special features or arrangements of exterior signal lamps for vehicles
    • B60Q2400/30—Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
    • 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
    • B60Q2900/00—Features of lamps not covered by other groups in B60Q
    • B60Q2900/10—Retrofit arrangements

Landscapes

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

Abstract

A controller for vehicle turn signal lights 7, 8 comprises a double-pole, double-throw relay 30 and is configured so that lights 7, 8 are continuously on when turn signal switch 4 is unset and, whenever switch 4 is set to position 9 or 10 to select a turn signal, the respective light 7 or 8 flashes intermittently. Lights 7 and 8 may be continuously on when relay 30 is energised, and there may be an electrical connection between relay 30 and a power supply 1 bypassing a flasher unit 3. Preferably, lights 7 and 8 are continuously on precisely when switch 4 is unset. A comparator 28, 29 may be provided to detect when switch 4 is unset. The device is particularly suitable for forward-facing amber lights on motorcycles not originally fitted with position lamps or running lamps.

Description

1
LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES
Technical Field
5 The present invention relates generally to automotive lighting arrangements, and relates in particular, although not exclusively, to an arrangement for allowing front facing, amber coloured turn lamps to be used selectively as position lamps.
Background
10
Research has proved that road vehicles, particularly motorcycles, are more visible to other road users and pedestrians if they are equipped with forward facing, amber coloured lights for daytime as well as night-time use. These lights are often known as Position Lamps or Daytime Running Lights.
15
Such is their safety benefit that in some countries it is mandatory that vehicles are fitted with amber position lamps, whilst in other countries their use has not been allowed. As such, vehicle manufacturers have been required to produce versions of their vehicles with and without amber position lamps for different countries.
20
As most road vehicles are fitted with amber coloured turn signal lamps, then the fitment of amber position lamps by vehicle manufacturers is normally facilitated by the use of dual filament bulbs within the front indicators, where one filament has a low intensity light output and remains lit at all times to provide the amber position 25 lamp function, while the high intensity filament is used to perform the flashing, turn signal function.
We have appreciated that it would be desirable for a device that can be fitted with minimum effort or alteration to vehicles which were not originally fitted with amber 30 position lamps that can convert the standard, front, single filament or LED turn signal indicators into amber position lamps whilst retaining their original turn signal functionalities.
2
Summary
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle light control apparatus comprising a controller and a double-pole, double throw relay, the 5 controller arranged to control the relay so as to selectively determine a power supply signal to turn signal indicator lights, and the controller further comprising an input arranged to be connected to an output of a turn signal switch so as to allow the controller to determine when a turn signal is selected, the controller arranged to cause the relay to adopt a first mode in which turn signal indicator lights are connected to a 10 first power supply signal to cause the lights to be substantially consistently ON when both turn signals are unselected and to a second mode in which, when a turn signal is detected, to connect a respective turn signal light to a second power supply signal which causes said light to be intermittently activated.
15 Preferably the relay arranged to bring about the first mode when said relay is energised.
Preferably the apparatus comprises an electrical connection connectable between the relay and a power supply, and at one end connectable to the relay and at the other to a 20 position prior to and bypassing a flasher unit.
Preferably the apparatus arranged to be retrofittable to a vehicle lighting circuit.
The controller is preferably configured to determine that the turn signal switch is in an 25 OFF position.
The controller may comprise a dual comparator.
Preferably the sole principal condition to determine the first mode is that both turn 30 signals are unselected.
The apparatus is preferably arranged to control forward facing external lights of a vehicle.
3
The apparatus is preferably arranged to control amber-coloured external lights of the vehicle.
Most preferably, the apparatus is arranged to connect to a lighting circuit of a 5 motorcycle.
Preferably the apparatus is a device arranged to be installed into existing lighting circuitry of vehicles not originally fitted with amber position lights, but fitted with amber coloured front turn signal indicator lights, wherein the device is arranged to 10 convert the front turn signal indicator lights to position lights.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle light system comprising the apparatus of the previous aspect.
15 Brief Description of the Drawings
Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:
20 Figure 1 is a schematic diagram for showing an amber position lamp system,
Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the system of Figure 1, and
Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of an existing signal indicator light system.
25
Detailed Description
Broadly , in the description which follows, there is described a lighting system of a vehicle having two front turn signal lamps, a source of electrical power, a turn signal 30 switch in series with a flasher unit connected to said source, an (amber) position lighting control system comprising a double pole, double throw relay (DPDT) connected to said front signal lamps, said turn signal switch and said source of electrical power and controller to control said relay such that when said controller detects that the turn signal switch is NOT positioned to select right-hand turn signal 35 lamp indication and NOT positioned to select left-hand turn signal lamp indication,
4
often referred to as the OFF position, then the relay shall be operated to connect both right-hand and left-hand front turn signal lamps to said source of electrical power causing said front turn signal lamps to be fully illuminated.
5 When the controller detects the turn signal switch is positioned to select, for example, right-hand turn signal indication then the relay shall be automatically operated to disconnect both right-hand and left-hand front turn signal lamps from said source of electrical power and shall connect both right-hand and left-hand front turn signal lamps to the turn signal switch causing the right-hand turn signal lamp to flash, 10 thereby providing normal right-hand turn signal indication whilst the left-hand turn signal lamp shall extinguish. Said controller continues to hold the relay in this position whilst said flasher unit operates the right-hand turn signal lamp via the turn signal switch in ON and OFF flashing states until the turn signal switch is returned to the OFF position. It will be appreciated that the same process applies if the left-hand 15 turn signal indication is selected.
In Figure 2, a front left-hand turn signal lamp 7 and a front right-hand turn signal lamp 8 are grounded at 18 and 19 respectively, and each lamp has a second terminal connected to wires 21 and 24 respectively. The wires 21 and 24 are connected to the 20 two armatures of a DPDT relay 30. Relay 30 contacts 22 and 25 are joined together and connected to the positive pole of the vehicle battery 1 via the ignition switch 2 whilst relay contacts 23 and 26 are connected to terminals 9 and 10 respectively of the turn signal switch 4. The two armatures of the DPDT relay 30 move together in tandem and are operated by an integral (common) solenoid coil 27. When the 25 solenoid coil 27 is energised, the relay armatures connect wires 21 and 24 to relay contacts 22 and 25 respectively, connecting wires 21 and 24 to the positive pole of the vehicle battery 1 via the ignition switch 2.
When the solenoid coil 27 is energised, and the ignition switch is ON, the front right-30 hand turn signal lamp and the front left-hand turn signal lamp are both fully illuminated. When the solenoid coil 27 is de-energised, the relay armatures connect wires 21 and 24 to contacts 23 and 26 respectively, connecting wires 21 and 24 to terminal 9 and 10 respectively of the turn signal switch. When the solenoid coil 27 is de-energised, and the ignition switch is ON, and the turn signal switch is positioned to 35 select right-hand turn indication then the front right-hand turn signal lamp shall flash
5
to perform normal right-hand turn signal indication whilst the left-hand turn signal lamp extinguishes. When the solenoid coil 27 is de-energised, and the ignition switch is ON, and the turn signal switch is positioned to select left-hand turn indication then the front left-hand turn signal lamp shall flash to perform normal left-hand turn signal 5 indication whilst the right-hand turn signal lamp extinguishes.
Advantageously, should any part of the control circuit fail, the relay will be de-energised allowing the turn indicator mode to be adopted. This is advantageous for safety reasons.
10
The controller incorporates a dual comparator IC. When the non-inverting input (+) of a comparator is at a higher voltage than the inverting input (-), the output will become open-circuit. When the non-inverting input (+) drops below the inverting input (-), the comparator output becomes grounded.
15
Resistors R3 and R6 are connected together and between Vcc and GND thereby providing a static reference voltage Vref, typically midway between Vcc and GND, at the junction of R3 and R6. This reference voltage Vref is connected to comparator 28 (+) input terminal 12 and comparator 29 (-) input terminal 14.
20
One end of each of the resistors R8 and R9 is connected to turn signal switch wires 9 and 10 respectively, while the other ends of resistors R8 and R9 are connected together and connected to comparator 28 (-) input terminal 11. Resistors R8 and R9 are both of high resistance value so as to limit any current from the left turn signal 25 lighting circuit to the right turn signal lighting circuit, and vice versa, to a sufficiently low amount so as to not effect the illumination of either the left or right turn signal lamps.
When the turn signal switch 4 is in the OFF position there shall be no voltage applied 30 to resistors R8 or R9 so resistor R7 pulls comparator 28 (-) terminal 11 to a voltage lower than Vref and lower than comparator 28 (+) input terminal 12, so causing comparator 28 output terminal 13 to become open-circuit, so current flows through resistor R1 to charge capacitor CI. Once capacitor CI is charged, resistor R1 pulls comparator 29 (+) input terminal 15 to a voltage higher than Vref and higher than 35 comparator 29 (-) input terminal 14, so causing comparator 29 output terminal 16 to
6
go open-circuit, so allowing resistor R4 to turn transistor TR1 ON, so energising the solenoid coil of relay 30 so causing both right-hand and left-hand front turn signal lamps to be connected to the vehicle battery via relay 30 and so causing both right-hand and left-hand front turn signal lamps to be illuminated.
5
Use of capacitor CI advantageously provides a short delay to prevent the circuits from switching to first mode (i.e. front facing, amber lights ON) during the flasher OFF state when in 'indicator flashing' mode. Advantageously, because CI is connected to a high impedance input of a comparator, CI can be of relatively small value which 10 lowers the cost of manufacture and helps reduce the overall size of the unit.
When the turn signal switch 4 is positioned to the right-hand turn signal indication, a voltage higher than Vref, and higher than comparator 28 (+) input terminal 12, is applied to comparator 28 (-) terminal 11 via resistor R9 so causing comparator 28 15 output terminal 13 to become grounded, so causing capacitor CI to discharge via resistor R2. Once capacitor CI is discharged, resistor R2 will pull comparator 29 (+) input terminal 15 to a voltage lower than Vref and lower than comparator 29 (-) input terminal 14, so causing comparator 29 output terminal 16 to be grounded, so turning OFF transistor TR1, so de-energising the solenoid coil of relay 30 so causing right-20 hand front turn signal lamp 8 to be connected to turn signal switch 4 terminal 10, so causing right-hand turn signal lamp 8 to flash thereby providing normal right turn signal indication whilst the left-hand turn signal lamp shall extinguish.
When the turn signal switch 4 is positioned to the left-hand turn signal indication, a 25 voltage higher than Vref, and higher than comparator 28 (+) input terminal 12, is applied to comparator 28 (-) terminal 11 via resistor R8 so causing comparator 28 output terminal 13 to become grounded, so causing capacitor CI to discharge via resistor R2. Once capacitor CI is discharged, resistor R2 pulls comparator 29 (+) input terminal 15 to a voltage lower than Vref and lower than comparator 29 (-) input 30 terminal 14, so causing comparator 29 output terminal 16 to be grounded, so turning OFF transistor TR1, so de-energising the solenoid coil of relay 30 so causing left-handed front turn signal lamp 7 to be connected to turn signal switch 4 terminal 10, so causing left-hand turn signal lamp 7 to flash thereby providing normal left turn signal indication whilst the right-hand turn signal lamp is extinguished.
35
7
Advantageously, the above described lighting control apparatus may be implemented into a vehicle's lighting system at the time of manufacture of the vehicle, or be implemented as a retrofit apparatus. In the latter case, the control apparatus is connectable to the existing in situ signal indicator system shown in Figure 3. To 5 achieve this, the lighting control apparatus is easily connected to the existing circuit by making connections at 50, 51 and 52.
8

Claims (1)

1. Vehicle light control apparatus comprising a controller and a double-pole, double throw relay, the controller arranged to control the relay so as to selectively
5 determine a power supply signal to turn signal indicator lights, and the controller further comprising an input arranged to be connected to an output of a turn signal switch so as to allow the controller to determine when a turn signal is selected, the controller arranged to cause the relay to adopt a first mode in which turn signal indicator lights are connected to a first power supply signal to cause the lights to be 10 substantially consistently ON when both turn signals are unselected and to a second mode in which, when a turn signal is detected, to connect a respective turn signal light to a second power supply signal which causes said light to be intermittently activated.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the relay is arranged to bring about the 15 first mode when said relay is energised.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 which comprises an electrical connection connectable between the relay and a power supply, and at one end connectable to the relay and at the other to a position prior to and bypassing a flasher
20 unit.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim arranged to be retrofittable to a vehicle lighting circuit.
25 5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the controller configured to determine that the turn signal switch is in an OFF position.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the controller comprises a dual comparator.
30
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sole principal condition to determine the first mode is that both turn signals are unselected.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim arranged to control forwardly 35 positioned external lights of a vehicle.
9
9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim arranged to control amber-coloured external lights of the vehicle.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim arranged to connect to a lighting 5 circuit of a motorcycle.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is a device arranged to be installed into existing lighting circuitry of vehicles not originally fitted with amber position lights, but fitted with amber coloured front turn signal indicator lights,
10 wherein the device arranged to convert the front turn signal indicator lights to position lights.
12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is suitable for use with a motorcycle signal indicator circuit.
15
13. Vehicle light system comprising the apparatus of any of claims 1 to 12.
14. A vehicle light control apparatus substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 2. 20 15. A vehicle light control apparatus substantially as described herein.
GB1302276.9A 2012-02-08 2013-02-08 Lighting System for Vehicles Active GB2499515B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201202194A GB201202194D0 (en) 2012-02-08 2012-02-08 Lighting system for vehicles

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201302276D0 GB201302276D0 (en) 2013-03-27
GB2499515A true GB2499515A (en) 2013-08-21
GB2499515B GB2499515B (en) 2018-07-04

Family

ID=45896818

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB201202194A Ceased GB201202194D0 (en) 2012-02-08 2012-02-08 Lighting system for vehicles
GB1302276.9A Active GB2499515B (en) 2012-02-08 2013-02-08 Lighting System for Vehicles

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB201202194A Ceased GB201202194D0 (en) 2012-02-08 2012-02-08 Lighting system for vehicles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB201202194D0 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2297884A1 (en) * 1999-06-17 2000-12-17 Paccar Inc. Daytime running light circuit
US20020047531A1 (en) * 2000-07-04 2002-04-25 Shigekazu Sugimoto Direction-indication-lamp control apparatus for vehicle
US20050219851A1 (en) * 2004-04-06 2005-10-06 Hitoshi Takeda Vehicular lamp

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2297884A1 (en) * 1999-06-17 2000-12-17 Paccar Inc. Daytime running light circuit
US20020047531A1 (en) * 2000-07-04 2002-04-25 Shigekazu Sugimoto Direction-indication-lamp control apparatus for vehicle
US20050219851A1 (en) * 2004-04-06 2005-10-06 Hitoshi Takeda Vehicular lamp

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2499515B (en) 2018-07-04
GB201302276D0 (en) 2013-03-27
GB201202194D0 (en) 2012-03-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6927683B2 (en) Vehicular turn signal indicator system and flasher circuit for the same
CN107734802B (en) Lamps apparatus for vehicle
US8310357B2 (en) After market sequential turn signal
US20100225465A1 (en) Retrofit circuitry for enhanced vehicle hazard warning lights
KR102213684B1 (en) Turn signal lamp and the method of variable sequential lighting
US10368405B2 (en) Two stage indicator dimming circuit controlled by PWM backlighting back feed and backlight control
CN108749709A (en) A kind of steering lamp control system that can match different light sources and method
DE102011006423A1 (en) Light control device for motor vehicle, has control unit that performs control-activation of lighting elements of lamps, based on request of emission of signal light and daytime running light
CN106658836A (en) Single chip microcomputer control-based flowing steering lamp system
GB2499515A (en) Retrofittable controller with relay for using vehicle turn signal lights as daytime running lights
CN207678034U (en) Based on TLD2314EL dynamic steering circuits
CN205365391U (en) Vehicle headlamps does not open reminding device
GB2500973A (en) Retrofittable controller for using vehicle turn signal lights in series as daytime running lights
GB937610A (en) Warning lamp systems for motor vehicles
GB936274A (en) Current pulsing circuit which is sensitive to current changes
US3473083A (en) Automatic vehicle lamp indicating system
CN204354913U (en) LED signal lamp failure automatic detection device
CN205632269U (en) Car danger alarm lamp switch indicating circuit
KR20000001081U (en) Battery discharge protection and tail and fog light controls
CN200947691Y (en) Auto illuminator for large vehicle right angle dextroversion
JP7263419B2 (en) Vehicle lights and vehicles
US9145085B2 (en) Reverse activated signaling circuit
CN207045227U (en) Automobile prompts lamp control system
CN207670289U (en) A kind of automobile turn signal lamp
RU2528507C1 (en) Device to control braking lamp signalling system of vehicle