IL101781A - Electrical indicator device for vehicle systems - Google Patents

Description

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR DEVICE FOR VEHICLE SYSTEMS ELECTRICAL INDICATOR DEVICE FOR VEHICLE SYSTEMS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device, system and method for providing indications of different states of multiple state systems in vehicles, by a single multi-colour light lamp, wherein each colour light indicates a different state of the system, and in particular to such device which is adapted to be plugged into readily available sockets which provide electric signals reflecting the state of the system in vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Multiple state systems in vehicles, and in particular a battery charging system which will serve hereinafter as an example of such systems, may fluctuate under operating conditions among different states, such as "normal charge", "over-charge", "under-charge" , "no charge", "discharge", etc. When the charging system operates in any state but the "normal charge" state, the battery may sustain irreversible damage or its life may be shortened considerably compared to its normal life expectancy. Thus, it is imperative that the state of the charging system be indicated when operative, so that the operator may take the necessary corrective steps in the event of a mulfunction of the system.

Most land vehicles or water, air or space craft (hereinafter: "vehicles") utilize a battery or batteries as a source of electric current, which needs charging during the operation of the vehicle by a charging system.

- - There are known in the art a variety of devices and methods for providing indication of the state of the charging system in vehicles. One such device is a single colour light lamp, normally red, mounted by the manufacturer of the vehicles, which is turned off when the charging system is operating and is turned on when it is not. Thus, this device indicates "charge" or "no charge" states only.

Another known device for providing indication of the state of the charging system in vehicles is a needle meter, mounted by the manufacturer on the dashboard of the vehicle and scaled to indicate continuously states of the charging system. Needle meters are known to be susceptible to vibrations and quite frequently become uncalibrated when operating in vehicles. Furthermore, the charging system requires a fixed indication of the different states rather than continuous indication thereof, which may divert the vehicle operator's attention from vital system indications. Another drawback of this device is the problem of mounting it in a vehicle which was not equipped therewith by the manufacturer, a procedure which requires drilling a sizable bore in the dashboard and wiring to the charging system. This drawback is a further reason why most owners of vehicles not originally equipped with a device for charging system indication do not use the needle meter device and remain without means of indication of the performance of the charging system.

Yet another device and method for indicating states of the charging system is disclosed in the January 1978 issue of the electronics magazine "Electronics For All", published in Hebrew in Israel. This device and method comprise three single colour light emitting diodes (LED), emitting red, yellow and green lights, which are driven and controlled by electronic means designed to indicate three states of the charging system: "under-charge" (red light), "over-charge" (yellow light) and "normal charge" (green light). This device and method have several disadvantages and drawbacks. Firstly, due to the use of three single colour light LED lamps, overlappings of indications occur, wherein two lamps are lit at the same time when the charging system passes from one state to another. These occurrences may cause confusion and render the device unreliable. Secondly, the device is designed to be built in a plain box, the mounting of which on the dashboard of vehicles is virtually impossible. Since each state of the charging system is indicated in this device by a separate lamp, the vehicle operator needs to divert his attention to different places to observe the lamps which indicate a different state. This drawback may be particularly appreciated in an environment where the vehicle operator requires indication of the state of the system "in the blink of an eye". Thus, the goal of providing a reliable, easy to observe and simple to mount device and method for indicating the different states of the battery charging system in vehicles is not being met by the presently available devices and methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to provide a device, system and method for indicating different states .of multiple state systems in vehicles which overcome the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art discussed above.

There is thus provided in accordance with the present invention, a device for indicating electric signal variations in an electronic circuitry, comprising: a housing, having mounted therein a single multi-colour light lamp capable of emitting lights of at least two different colours and two electric contacts, said housing configured to be snugly plugged into a socket fitted with two matching electric < contacts wired to receive electric signals from a multiple state system in vehicles, said socket mounted by the manufacturer in vehicles at a location readily available to its operator, said housing containing electronic circuitry comprising: a drive unit, which provides electric signals necessary for turning on the said lamp in different colour lights or turning same off; a control unit which provides the said drive unit with electric control signals corresponding to the state of said system; a comparator unit which compares electric signals reflecting the state of said system with an electric reference signal and provides the result of this comparison to said control unit as electric information corresponding to the present state of said system; a reference unit which provides an accurate predetermined electric reference signal to said comparator unit; and an adjusting unit which receives electric signals from said system and supplies said comparator unit with desired electric signals.

There is further provided in accordance with the present invention a system for indicating different states of non-electric multiple state systems in vehicles comprising: a device for indicating electric signal variations in an electronic circuitry, as described hereinabove; and a transducing unit which is adapted to receive non-electric parameters of said systems, convert same into electric signals and supply them to said socket.

Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided said device comprising said lamp and said electronic circuitry which is arranged wholly or partly within a single solid state chip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: .

Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of the single multi-colour light lamp indicator device for multiple state systems in vehicles of the present invention; - - Figure 2 is a plan view of an LED multi-colour light lamp of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a block diagram of the electronic circuitry of the single multi-colour light lamp indicator device for multiple state systems in vehicles of the present invention.

With specific reference to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that what is depicted therein is shown by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only and presented for the purpose of providing the most useful "and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 1 , there is thus shown a single multi-colour light lamp indicator device 20 for indicating electric signal variations in an electronic circuitry, comprising a tube-like housing 1 on one end 2 of which there is mounted an LED lamp 3 and at the other end 4 of which there are fitted two electric contacts 5 and 6. The end 4 of said tube-like housing is configured to be snugly plugged into the cigarette lighter socket 7 of vehicles which is fitted with electric contacts 8 and 9 wired to receive electric signals from the battery charging system. Electronic circuitry 10 is contained within said tube-like housing and is described in Figure 3 hereinbelow.

Figure 2 shows a multi-colour light LED lamp 3 with three electric contacts 11, 11a and 11b to be connected in accordance with the present invention to the said electronic circuitry 10. The multi-colour light LED lamp 3 is mounted on end 2 of the tube-like housing.

Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the electronic circuitry which provides the multi-colour light LED lamp 3 with electric signals corresponding to the different states of the charging system.

Block 12 represents a single multi-colour light LED lamp capable of emitting lights of two or more colours. Such lamps are currently available as Hewlett Packard's HLMP-4000 or HLMP-0800 Bicolour Solid State (LED) and Siemens' LU H370 Bicolour Solid State LED. LED lamps are known for their reliability and durability.

Drive Unit 13 comprises electronic circuitry adapted to supply the electric signals needed to light the LED lamp 3 in colour lights corresponding to the different states of the charging system.

Control Unit 14 comprises electronic circuitry adapted to control the drive unit 13 in accordance with the different states of the charging system.

Comparator Unit 15 comprises electronic circuitry adapted to compare electric signals provided by the charging system with an accurate predetermined electric reference signal and provide an electric signal corresponding to a particular state of the charging system to the control unit 14.

Reference Unit 16 comprises electronic circuitry adapted to supply the comparator unit 15 with an accurate predetermined electric reference signal for comparing the electric signals supplied by the charging system.

Adjusting Unit 17 comprises electronic circuitry adapted to adjust the electric signals corresponding to the different states of the charging system, provided thereto through electric contacts 8 and 9 in socket 7 and matching electric contacts 5 and 6 in tube-like housing 1 , into desired electric signals, and supply them to the comparator unit 15.

It is further pointed out that the block diagram shown in Figure 3 is so depicted for the purpose of providing a clear description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the electronic circuitry in the present invention and it will be readily appreciated that all the functions performed by said electronic circuitry or parts thereof may be integrated into a single unit such as an integrated circuit chip, SMD etc.

While the present invention has a variety of applications, it has been described herein by way of example for which it is particularly suited in respect of a charging system in vehicles. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this application, but rather can be utilized in any application where it is desired to obtain indication of the different states of a multiple state system in vehicles wherein a plug-in electric signal source socket indicative of the present state of the system is readily available.

For extending the applications of the present invention to non-electric multiple state systems in vehicles, there can further be provided a transducing unit 18 comprising electronic circuitry adapted to convert non-electric parameters such as temperature, pressure, etc. into electric signals, and supply same to the adjusting unit 17 through electric contacts 8 and 9 in socket 7 and matching electric contacts 5 and 6 in tube-like housing 1. In such applications, said transducing unit 18 is placed in close proximity to the non-electric multiple state system.

Operation of the device and method of the present invention, with reference to Figures 1 and 3, is as follows : The end 4 of single multi-colour light lamp indicator device 20 for indicating electric signal variations in an electronic circuitry is plugged into a cigarette lighter socket 7 in vehicles and the electric contacts 5 and 6 receive electric signals from the vehicle battery via matching electric contacts 8 and 9 in said socket 7. The said electric signals are transferred to the adjusting unit 17 and adjusted thereby into desired electric signals. From there the electric signals go to the comparator unit 15, where they are compared with the electric reference signal supplied by reference unit 16. The electric signals resulting from the comparison are supplied to the control unit 14, which in turn controls the corresponding electronic circuitry in the drive unit 13 to supply the electric signals needed to light the LED lamp 3 in colour lights corresponding to the different states of the changing system.

The colour of the light in the lamp will reflect the state of the battery charging system in accordance with the following table: Colour Battery electric signal State Green 13-14.5 volts Normal charge Orange 12-13 volts Under-charge Red 6-12 volts No charge White 0-6 volts Depleted battery Flickering red and green 14.5 (and over) volts Over-charge Operation of the system and method of the present invention in applications thereof to non-electric multiple state systems in vehicles, with reference to Figures 1 and 3, is as follows: The single multi-colour light lamp indicator device 20 for indicating variations in an electronic circuitry is plugged into readily available socket 7 in vehicles and the electric contacts 5 and 6 receive electric signals from the transducing unit 18 which is placed in close proximity to the non-electric multiple state system, converts the non-electric parameters into electric signals and transfers same to electric contacts 8 and 9 in said socket 7.

Claims (7)

C L A I M S

1. . A device for indicating electric signal variations in an electronic circuitry, comprising: a housing having mounted thereon a single multi-colour light lamp capable of emitting lights of at least two different colours and two electric contacts, said housing configured to be snugly plugged into a socket fitted with two matching electric contacts wired to receive electric signals from a multiple state system in vehicles, said socket mounted by the manufacturer in vehicles at a location readily available to its operator, said housing containing electronic circuitry comprising: a drive unit, which provides electric signals necessary for turning on the said lamp in different colour lights or turning same off; a control unit which provides the said drive unit with electric control signals corresponding to the state of said system; a comparator unit which compares electric signals reflecting the state of said system with an electric reference signal and provides the result of this comparison to said control unit as electric information corresponding to the state of said system; a reference unit which provides an accurate predetermined electric reference signal to said comparator unit; and an adjusting unit which receives electric signals from said system and supplies said comparator unit with desired electric signals.

2. A system for indicating different states of a non-electric multiple state system in vehicles comprising: a device according to Claim 1 ; and a transducing unit which is adapted to receive non-electric parameters of said non-electric multiple state systems, convert same into electric signals and supply them to said socket.

3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein said transducing unit is placed in close proximity to said non-electric multiple state system, where it converts non-electric parameters thereof into electric signals and supplies same to said socket.

4. A device and system according to Claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein said drive unit, control unit, comparator unit, reference unit and adjusting unit or parts thereof are integrated into a single unit.

5. A method of indicating different states of an electric multiple state system in vehicles comprising the following steps: inputting electric signals from said system corresponding to the state thereof to a device according to Claim 1 , being snugly plugged into a socket mounted by the manufacturer in vehicles at a location readily available to its operator; transferring said electric signals to electronic circuitry contained within said device via two electric contacts mounted on said device and two matching electric contacts fitted within said socket; and turning on the single multi-colour light lamp mounted on said device by said electronic circuitry, in different colour lights, or turning same off.

6. A method of indicating different states of a non-electric multiple state system in vehicles comprising the following steps: inputting non-electric signals from said non-electric system corresponding to the state thereof to a system according to Claim 2, wherein the device of said system is snugly plugged into a socket mounted by the manufacturer in vehicles at a location readily available to its operator and the transducing unit of said system is placed in close proximity to said non-electric system where it converts non-electric parameters thereof into electric signals ; transferring said electric signals to electronic circuitry contained within said device via two electric contacts mounted on said device and two matching electric contacts fitted within said socket; and turning on the single multi-colour light lamp mounted on said device by said electronic circuitry, in different colour lights, or turning same off.

7. A device, system and method for providing indications by a single multi-colour lamp for multiple state systems in vehicles substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. AGENT FOR APPLICANT