GB2500973A

GB2500973A - Retrofittable controller for using vehicle turn signal lights in series as daytime running lights

Info

Publication number: GB2500973A
Application number: GB1302273.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Armstrong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-04-05
Filing date: 2013-02-08
Publication date: 2013-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2033-02-08
Also published as: GB201302273D0; GB2500973A8; GB201206112D0; GB2500973B

Abstract

A controller for vehicle turn signal lights 7, 8 in electrical series is configured so that lights 7, 8 are continuously on when a turn signal switch 4 is unset and, when switch 4 is in position 9 or 10, the respective light 7 or 8 flashes intermittently. There may be a triple-pole, double-throw relay 30 that, when energised, causes lights 7, 8 to be continuously on; alternatively lights 7, 8 may be held continuously on by a transistor arrangement (122, 123, 126, 132, 133, Figure 2); in either case, there may be an electrical connection from a power supply 1 bypassing a flasher unit 3. A comparator 28, 29 may be provided to detect when switch 4 is unset. The controller is particularly suitable for forward-facing amber-coloured lights on motorcycles not originally fitted with position or running lights.

Description

LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES

Technical Field

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 as position lamps.

Background

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.

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.

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 fiont indicators, where one filament has a low intensity light output and remains lit at all times to provide the amber position 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 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 flinctionalities.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle light control apparatus comprising a controller and a control switch arranged to connect turn signal indicator lights in electrical series to a power supply signal, the controller arranged to control the control switch so as to selectively determine the power supply signal to the turn signal indicator lights, and the controller thrther comprising an input arranged to be connected to an output of a turn signal switch so as to allow the controller to detcnninc when a turn signal is selected, the controller arranged to cause the control switch 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 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.

A general aim of an aspect of this invention is to provide an amber position lamp system for a vehicle utilising front turn signal lamps.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, in which: Figure I is a circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of an amber position lamp system, Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a second embodiment of an amber position lamp system, and, Figure 3 is a circuit diagram ofan existing signal indicator light system.

Detailed Description

Broadly, in the description which follows, there are described two embodiments of a lighting system of a vehicle having two front turn signal lamps, a source of electrical power, a turn signal switch iii series with a flasher unit connected to said source, an (amber) position lighting control system comprising a control switch connected to said front signal lanips, said turn signal switch and said source of electrical power and controller to control said control switch such that when said controller detects that the turn signal switch is NOT positioned to select right-hand turn signal lamp indication and NOT positioned to select left-hand turn signal lamp indication, often referred to as the OFF position, then the control switch 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 continuously illuminated.

When the controller detects the turn signal switch is positioned to select right-hand turn signal indication then the control switch 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, thereby providing normal right turn signal indication whilst the left-hand turn signal lamp shall extinguish. And, said controller continues to hold the control switch 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. A similar process is followed in respect of the left-hand turn signal.

Referring initially to Figure 1, a front right-hand turn signal lamp 8 is grounded at 19 and has a second terminal connected to wire 24. A front left-hand turn signal lamp 7 is not grounded but has each terminal connected to wii-es 21 and 31 rcspcctively. The wires 21, 31 and 24 are connected to the three armatures of a 3PDT relay 30. The relay 30 contact 22 is connected to the positive pole of the vehicle battery I via the ignition switch 2. Relay contacts 23 and 26 are connected to terminals 9 and 10 respectively of the turn signal switch 4. Relay 30 contact 32 is connected to contact 25 of same relay. Relay 30 contact 33 is grounded. The three arniatures of the 3PDT relay 30 move together in unison and are operated by an integral common solenoid coil 27. V/hen the solenoid coil 27 is energized, the relay armatures connect wires 21, 31 and 24 to relay contacts 22, 32 and 25 respectively, thereby connecting lamps 7 and 8 in electrical series with each other with the positive terminal of lamp 7 connected to the positive pole of the vehicle battery 1 via the ignition switch 2 while the negative terminal of lamp S is grounded.

When the solenoid coil 27 is energized, and the ignition switch is ON, the fiont right-hand turn signal lamp and the left-hand turn signal lamp shall both be illuminated at half battery voltage.

When the solenoid coil 27 is dc-energized, the relay armatures connect wires 21, 31 and 24 to contacts 23, 33 and 26 respectively, connecting wires 21 and 24 to terminals 9 and 10 respectively of the turn signal switch and wire 31 to ground via contact 33. A7hen the solenoid coil 27 is de-energized, and the ignition switch is ON, and the turn signal switch is positioned to select right-hand turn indication then the front right-hand turn signal lamp shall flash to perform normal right-hand turn signal indication whilst the left-hand turn signal lamp shall extinguish.

When the solenoid coil 27 is dc-energized, 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 lanw shall flash to perform normal lefi-hand turn signal indication whilst the right-hand turn signal lamp shall extinguish.

This circuit implementation incorporates a dual comparator integrated circuit (IC). When the non-inverting input (+) of the 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 will become grounded.

Resistors R3 and R6 are connected together and between V+ and GND thereby providing a static reference voltage Vref typically midway between V+ 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.

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 2 (-)input terminal 11. Resistors R and R9 arc both of high resistance value so as to limit any current from the lefi turn signal lighting circuit to the right turn signal lighting circuit, and visa versa, to a sufficiently low amount so as to not effect the illumination of either the lcft or right turn signal lamps.

When the turn signal switch 4 is in the OFF position there shall be no voltage applied to resistors R or R9 so resistor R7 pulis the comparator 2 (-) terminal 11 to a voltage lower than Vref and lower than comparator 28 (+)input terminal 12, so causing the comparator 28 output terminal 13 to become open-circuit, so current will flow through resistor RI to charge capacitor Cl. Oncc capacitor Cl is charged, resistor Ri will pull comparator 29 (+)input terminal 15 to a voltage higher than Vrcf and higher than the comparator 29 (-)input terminal 14, so causing the comparator 29 output teniinal 16 to go open-circuit, so allowing resistor R4 to turn transistor TR1 ON, so energizing the solenoid coil of relay 30 so causing both right-hand and left-hand fl-on! turn signal lamps to be connected in series with each other and across the vehicle battery via relay 30 and so causing both right-hand and left-hand front turn signal lamps to be each illuminated at half battery voltage.

When the turn signal switch 4 is positioned to right-hand turn signal indication, a voltage higher than Vref, and higher than the comparator 28 (+)input tenninal 12, will be applied to the comparator 28 (-)tenriinal 11 via resistor R9 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 will pull the comparator 29 (-}-)input terminal 15 to a voltage lower than Vref and lower than the comparator 29 (-)input terminal 14, so causing the comparator 29 output terminal 16 to be grounded, so turning OFF transistor TRI, so dc-energizing the solenoid coil of relay 30 so causing right-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 left-hand turn signal indication, a voltage higher than Vref, and higher than the eoniparator 28 (+)input terminal 12, will be applied to the comparator 28 (-)terminal 11 via resistor R8 so causing the comparator 28 output terminal 13 to become grounded, so causing capacitor Cl to discharge via resistor R2. Once capacitor Cl is discharged, resistor R2 will pull the comparator 29 (+)input terminal 15 to a voltage lower than Vref and lower than the comparator 29 (-)input terminal 14, so causing the comparator 29 output terminal 16 to be grounded, so turning OFF transistor TRI, so dc-energizing the solenoid coil of relay 30 so causing left-hand flont turn signal lamp 7 to be connected to turn signal switch 4 terniinal 9, so causing left-hand turn signal lamp 7 to flash thereby providing nonnal left turn signal indication whilst the right-hand turn signal lamp shall extinguish.

Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown a second embodiment in which the fiont right-hand turn signal lamp 8 is grounded at 119 and has a second terminal connected to the drain terminals of P-channel MOSFET transistors TR14 and TRI7 via wire 124. The fl-out left-hand turn signal lamp 7 is not grounded but has one terminal connected to the drain tenninals of P-channel MOSFET transistors TRI2 and TRI5 via wire 121 and a second terminal connected to the source terminals of P-channel MOSFET transistors TRI3 and TRI6 via wire 131. The source terminal of transistor TR15 is connected to the positive pole of the vehicle battery I via the ignition switch 2. Source terminals 123 and 126 of transistors TRI2 and TR14 respectively are connected to the terminals 9 and 10 respectively of the turn signal switch 4. Drain terminal of transistor TRI6 is connected to source terminal of transistor TRI7 via wire 132. The gale terminal of transistors TR12, TR13 and TR14 are eornieeted together such that the three said transistors shall all turn ON and OFF in unison with each other. The gate terminal of transistors IRIS, TRI6 and TRI7 are connected together such that the three said transistors shall all turn ON and OFF in unison with each other. The circuitry is also configured such that when TRI 5, 1R16 and TR1 7 are turned ON transistor TRI2, TRI 3 and TR14 are turned OFF and visa-versa.

When transistors IRiS, TRI6 and TR17 are turned ON, IRiS shall allow current to flow from the positive terminal of the battery I via the ignition switch 2 to one terminal of the lamp 7 and transistors TRI6 and TR17 shall allow current to flow from the second terminal of lamp 7 to one terminal of the lamp 8 while the second terminal of the lamp 8 is grounded thereby connecting the lamps 7 and 8 in electrical series with each other with the positive terminal of the lamp 7 connected to the positive pole of the vehicle battery 1 via the ignition switch 2 while the negative terminal of lamp 8 is grounded. When transistors IRiS, TRI6 and TRI7 are turned ON, and the ignition switch is ON, the front right-hand turn signal lamp and the left-hand turn signal lamp shall both be illuminated at half battery voltage.

When transistors 1R12, TR13 and TR14 are turned ON, TRI3 shall ground lanip 7 while transistors TR12 and TR14 shall allow current to flow from turn signal switch terminals 9 and 10 respectively to lamps 7 and S respectively while lamp S is permanently grounded. When transistors TR12, TR13 and TR14 are turned ON, and the ignition switch is ON, and the turn IS signal switch is positioned to select right-hand turn indication then the front right-hand turn signal lamp shall flash to perform normal right-hand turn signal indication whilst the left-hand turn signal lamp shall extinguish. When transistors TR12, TRI3 and TR14 are turned ON, 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 indication whilst the right-hand turn signal lamp shall extinguish.

The circuit implementation of Figure 2 incorporates a dual coniparator integrated circuit 128 and 129. 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 will become grounded.

Resistors R13 and R16 are connected together and between V+ and GND thereby providing a static reference voltage Vref, typically midway between V+ and GND, at the junction of R13 and R16. This reference voltage Vref is connected to comparator 128 (+)input terminal 112 and comparator 129 (+)input terminal 114.

One end of resistors RI 8 and Ri 9 are connected to turn signal switch wires 9 and 10 respectively, while the other ends of resistors RIS and R19 are connected together and connected to the comparator 128 (-)input terminal 111. Resistors RI 8 and RI 9 are both of high resistance value so as to limit any current from the left turn signal lighting circuit to the right turn signal lighting circuit, and visa 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 to resistors R18 or R19 so resistor R17 shall pull comparator 128 (-) terminal 111 to a voltage lower than Vref and lower than comparator 128 (+)input terminal 112, so causing comparator 128 output terminal 113 to become open-circuit, so current will flow through resistor Ru to charge capacitor CII. Once capacitor Cli is charged, resistor Rh will pull comparator 129 (-)input terminal 115 to a voltage higher than Yref and higher than comparator 129 (+)input terminal 114, so causing comparator 129 output terminal 116 to become grounded, so allowing resistor RhO to turn P-channel MOSFETs TRI5, TRI6 and TRI7 ON, so causing right-hand and left-hand front turn signal lamps to be connected in series with each other and across the vehicle battery so causing both right-hand and left-hand front turn signal lamps to be each illuminated at half voltage.

When the turn signal switch 4 is positioned to right-hand turn signal indication, a voltage higher than Vret and higher than comparator 128 (+)input terminal 112, will be applied to comparator 128 (-)terminal ill via resistor RI 9 so causing comparator 128 output terminal 113 to become grounded, so causing capacitor Cli to discharge via resistor R12. Once capacitor Cli is discharged, resistor R12 will pull comparator 129 (-)input terminal 115 to a voltage lower than Vref and lowcr than comparator 129 (+)input terminal 114, so causing comparator 129 output terminal 116 to become open-circuit, so turning OFF transistor TRI I, SO turning ON transistors TR12, TRI3 and TRI4 via resistor RI 12 so causing right-hand front turn signal lamp 8 to be connected to turn signal switch 4 tenninal 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 left-hand turn signal indication, a voltage higher than Vref, and higher than comparator 128 (+)input terminal 112, will be applied to the comparator 128 (-)terrninal ill via resistor R18 so causing comparator 128 output terminal 113 to become grounded, so causing capacitor Cli to discharge via resistor R12. Once capacitor Cli is discharged, resistor R12 will pull comparator 129 (-)input tenninal 115 to a voltage lower than Yref and lower than comparator 129 (-}-)input terminal 114, so causing comparator 129 output terminal 116 to become open-circuit, so turning OFF transistor TR1 1, so turning ON transistors TR12, TRI3 and TRI4 via resistor P112 so causing left-hand front turn

S

signal lamp 7 to be connected to turn signal switch 4 terminal 9, so causing left-hand turn signal lamp 7 to flash thereby providing normal left turn signal indication whilst the right-hand turn signal lamp shall extinguish.

Advantageously, by connecting the front two indicators in series, each lamp will only receive half batteiy voltage and the power dissipated by each bulb is reduced by 75%.

It will also be appreciated that by connecting the lamps in series, when in position lamp mode should one bulb fail then the other lamp will also cease to illuminate in this mode. This will prevent other road users from misinterpreting the bulb-out fault as a turn signal indication due to the opposite lamp remaining lit. However, a bulb failure of one lamp will still allow the other lamp to ifinction normally in turn signal indication mode.

Advantageously, both of the above embodiments are particularly suited to use with filament lamps.

Further advantageously, either of 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 known signal indicator system shown in Figure 3. To achieve this, the lighting control apparatus is easily connected to the existing circuit at 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Vehicle light control apparatus comprising a controller and a control switch arranged to connect turn signal indicator lights in electrical series to a power supply signal, the controller arranged to control the control switch so as to selectively determine the power supply signal to the turn signal indicator lights, and thc 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 control switch to adopt a first mode in which turn signal indicator lights are connected to a fffst powcr supply signal to causc 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.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the control switch comprises a relay arranged to bring about the first condition when said relay is energised.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the relay is a till-ce pole double throw relay comprising three armatures, arranged in series to each other.
4. Apparatus as claimcd in claim 3 in which an intcrmcdiate armature provides a conncction between the turn signal indicators.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 in which the armatures are driven by a common solenoid coil.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the control switch comprises a transistor arrangement controlled by an output of the controller.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which comprises an electrical connection connectable between the control switch and a power supply, and at one end connectable to the control switch and at the other to a position prior to and bypassing a flasher unit.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim arranged to be retrofittable to a vehicle external light circuit.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the controller configured to determine that the turn signal switch is in an OFF position.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the controller comprises a dual comparator.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sole condition to determine the first mode is that both turn signals are unselected.
12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim arranged to control forward facing external lights of a vehicle.
13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim arranged to be control amber-coloured external lights of the vehicle.
14. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is a device arranged to be installed into existing circuitiy of vehicles not originally fitted with amber position lights, but fitted with amber coloured front turn signal indicator lights, the device arranged to convert the front light from signal indicator lights.
15. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is suitable for use with a motorcycle signal indicator circuit.
16. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is suitable for use with turn signal indicators which are filament lamps.
17. Vehicle light system comprising the apparatus of any of claims 1 to 11.
18. Vehicle light system substantially as herein described, with reference to the drawings.