MXPA99008361A

MXPA99008361A - Warning system for vehicles.

Info

Publication number: MXPA99008361A
Application number: MXPA99008361A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Schrenk David
Original assignee: Horn Warning Systems Corp
Priority date: 1997-03-11
Filing date: 1998-03-11
Publication date: 2004-11-15
Also published as: KR20000075742A; CA2281783A1; JP2002508724A; EP0968098A1; BR9808857A; EP0968098A4; WO1998040240A1; AU6460298A

Abstract

An enhanced motor vehicle warning system providing flashing lights in response to the sounding of the horn (14). The driver either can enable or disable (12) the system. When the system is enabled and the horn (14) is sounded, latching (28) and time delay relays (34) close to provide power to various lamps and in particular to the high beam lamps (20). This power, through the latching relay (28), is provided through a flasher (16) so that these lamps provide a visible flashing light signal in synchronism with the flasher for the predetermined time period set by the time delay relay (34). Parking lamps (18) may also be energized, if they are off, but preferably not through the flasher (16).

Description

WARNING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to an improved warning system for vehicles and, more particularly, to one in which a visual warning is added to the auditory warning issued by the horn of the motor vehicle. In general, when the driver of a motor vehicle sounds the horn is to attract attention to something of considerable importance and usually something that concerns the safety of the human being. A horn is a very useful device to attract attention. However, there are some situations in which the horn of a vehicle can not be heard, since modern vehicles completely isolate the driver unlike the previous ones; Currently, vehicles include climate control systems that avoid the need to open windows. Some vehicles provide a certain degree of sound insulation to improve the comfort of the driver and his companions. The probability that a driver can not hear the sound of a horn is much greater than before. Therefore, the main purpose of this invention is to improve the warning intended for the other cars when a driver sounds the horn.

To increase the availability of this improvement, an important purpose of this invention is to provide such improvement with a minimum of reconfiguration of the versions currently available in a motor vehicle. An important purpose of this invention is to provide an improvement of the warning that gives the audible sound of a horn in a context that reduces the additional cost and the additional complexity of the design. There is talk of providing a warning system in which the flashing lights are activated when the horn is sounded; for example, this appears in the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,389,913 issued on February 14, 1995. In this patent, when the horn is sounded, the locking and delayed-time relays are closed to provide power to the high and taillights through an intermittent circuit to provide visible signals. of flashing light. If desired, energy can also be supplied to the flashing lights through the related circuitry, but preferably without going through the intermittent circuit. It was discovered that the flickering of the taillights can give a false signal to a driver behind the vehicle that sends the alarm signal, that is, it may falsely appear that the vehicle emitting the signal is going backwards; this highlights the importance of selecting the signals that will avoid any errors or false impressions. Therefore, the present invention is focused on an improved warning system that provides a warning signal that is not ambiguous and that avoids any possible misunderstanding of the information being sent by the signals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In summary, one embodiment of this invention employs a locking and delayed time relay arrangement that responds to the horn sound of a vehicle. When the horn sounds, the blocking and delayed-time relays pass to an on condition that provides a power source to one or more predetermined circuits of the lights during the time determined by the time-delayed relay. An intermittent circuit placed in series between the blocking relay that supplies power and the relay for the high beam headlamp circuit causes the high beams to turn on and off in synchrony with the intermittent circuit. If the headlights are already on, the related relay switches the headlights from the ordinary power source to the power source that is supplied through the intermittent circuit to blink. If the headlights are off, they simply switch to that intermittent condition. Likewise, the flashing lights are connected through a relay to a power switch of the lock relay, but, the flashing lights are not connected through the flashing circuit, so they only turn on if they are off at the moment when the horn, and there is no change in their condition if they are lit at the same time that the horn sounds. An on / off switch allows the operator to deactivate the system at any time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to achieve a better understanding of the invention and of the various features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description together with the appended figures, in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating the functional arrangement of the system of this invention; and Figure 2 is a more specific schematic diagram illustrating the arrangement of the system of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Figure 1 indicates the main components of the system in a simplified form that sets aside certain important features described in greater detail in the schematic diagram of Figure 2. An activation switch 12 allows the driver of the car to activate or deactivate the system this invention; that is, the system of this invention will only work when the activation switch 12 is closed so that the output of the horn 14 is connected to the intermittent circuit 16 and to other elements of the system of this invention. Figure 1 shows the switch 12 in the deactivation position. When the switch 12 is closed and in the activation position, the sound of the horn 12 will close a switch (illustrated in figure 2) which usually supplies power from a 12 volt battery to the flashing lights 18, and through the circuit flashing 16 to the headlights 20. If the flashers 18 are on, this operation will not have a visible effect, as they will simply remain on; Only when the flashing lights are off will the system turn them on. However, by means of the relay illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 2, the high lights of the headlights 20 will light up through the intermittent circuit 16; This will happen if the headlights 20 are on or off when the horn is sounded. This means that the headlamp headlights, if they are on, will begin to flash, and if they are off they will also begin to flash. With this basic concept in mind, Figure 2 can be more easily understood and will provide a more detailed description of how the system of this invention works. The on / off switch 12 appears open; it must be placed in a closed position to operate the system. When the switch 12 is closed and the horn 14 sounds, the Horn Switch 22 closes supplying power to the horn relay coil 24, whereby the 24S switch is closed. The closed switch 24S supplies power through the diode 26 and the closed activation switch 12 to the coil of the blocking relay 28. The lower extremity of the ends of the switch 28S provides a blocking function and the upper end of the switch 28S supplies power to the relay of the flashing lights 30 and to the relay of the high lights. Said power is supplied to the relays 30 and 32 only if power arrives at the delay relay 34. The delay relay coil 34 is energized by closing the 24S horn relay switch that closes the 34S switch, and by which it provides a return to ground for the coil of the blocking relay 28. This delay relay 34 is set at a predetermined time during which it remains on after receiving power. The default time could be five seconds. Thus, when the horn sounds and the switch 24S is closed, the relay 34 is activated, the switch 34S is closed and the lock relay 28 is activated to supply power on line 36 to the relays 30 and 32; but the energy is supplied only for a predetermined time, for example, five seconds. After five seconds, the delay relay 34 opens automatically by cutting off the power of the lock relay coil 28 and causing the lock relay 28 to turn off again, eliminating the power of line 36 to relays 30 and 32. The power supplied to the relay of flashing lights 30 changes the relay of the condition shown to a condition in which switch 30S changes from the condition shown where it is connected. power from line 36 to the flashing lights 18. If the flashing lights are already on thanks to the power connected from the existing circuit of the flashing lights through the 30S switch, they will only remain on thanks to the 30S switch and you will not notice the difference . Thus, in the embodiment of the invention shown, the only effect of the embodiment of this invention on the flashing lights will be to turn them on if they are off. More importantly, the power of line 36 is supplied to relay 32, whereby the condition of the ignition relay switch 32S that is illustrated is changed to one in which the high lights 20 are disconnected from the existing high light circuit. and they are connected to the power line 36 through the intermittent circuit 16. However, since the energy is now supplied through the intermittent circuit 16, the headlights 20 will oscillate at a speed determined by the intermittent circuit 16. between a low or no intensity level at a high or full intensity level. It should be noted that the low lights of the headlights 20 are not affected and the existing circuit of the low beams remains directly connected to the low beams. When the system is activated and the horn sounds, the headlights of the headlights 20 will change from off to intermittent, a condition provided by this invention, or from full to intermittent ignition, a condition provided by this invention.

The described modality refers to the emission of real visual indications of a warning situation through the use of flashing lights and high lights. The system could easily be modified or extended to include flashing and / or switching on low beam, side lights, warning lights, brake lights, fog lights or taillights; however, these lights are not included in the preferred modality indicated above, since the applicants consider that the use of them could cause confusion and / or an inappropriate response. For example, brake lights are used to indicate a braking function that, if not, could cause an error that would cause a problem or an inappropriate reaction on the part of adjacent drivers. Similarly, turn signals are used to turn, and activating them could cause an inappropriate reaction on the part of adjacent drivers. Moreover, the taillights are used to indicate the recoil of the vehicle and the activation of these in an intermittent condition could cause confusion to the driver of the vehicle behind, as to whether the vehicle that emits the signal is actually retreating or only is stopped. It is essential to keep lit sources of vehicle light that are required for safe operation at night, such as low beam, directional, rear and brake lights, and taillights. As such, it is an important teaching of the invention that the headlight headlights are the only lights connected to the intermittent circuit when the horn is sounded.

The intermittent circuit 16 can be changed to vary the speed of the flicker. The optimum speed of the blinking would depend on the appreciable experience; For example, a flicker speed of once per second could be very low, since a car can travel a good distance in a second. Perhaps, the flicker speed of half a second or a quarter of a second could result in an adequate flicker speed that would provide an appropriate flicker without appearing too short. A fast speed with a predetermination other than the flicker that will be recognized as related to the response to a horn signal would support the driver to recognize this existing warning signal. Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment in which the lock relay 28 is separated from the relay 32 which connects the intermittent circuit 16 to the headlights 20. There may be circumstances in which a single relay can be used to carry out Both functions, when a limb of the relay creates the blocking function, a second extremity of the relay supplies power to the intermittent circuit and a third extremity of the relay changes the high lights of the headlights from the regular power circuit to the intermittent circuit 16. While A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the basic principles of the invention encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS 1. - In a motor vehicle that has a horn and a horn circuit; a source of energy; high lights and a circuit of high lights; flashing lights and a circuit of flashing lights; each of those circuits has a normal on and off condition; a warning system activated with the horn consisting of: an intermittent circuit; a first element of the relay having a normal condition and an energized condition, the energized condition of the first element of the relay connects the power source with the intermittent circuit to cause the intermittent circuit to turn on and off; and a second element of the relay having a normal condition and an energized condition, the normal condition of the second relay element connects the headlamp headlights to the high beam circuit, and the energized condition of the second relay element connects the headlamps. high headlight lights with the aforementioned intermittent circuit; the energized condition of the first element of the relay, the intermittent circuit, the energized condition of the second element of the relay and the high lights of the headlights connected in electrical series; the first and second elements of the relay respond to the activation of the horn circuit to change from the normal condition to the energized condition; the energized conditions of the first and second elements of the relay cause the high lights to turn on and off in synchrony with the change of the intermittent circuit; the high lights of the headlights are the only lights connected to the intermittent circuit. 2. The warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, further characterized by: a third element of the relay; the flashing lights and the third element of the relay that is connected in series to the energized condition of the first element of the relay, the activation of the horn circuit causes the flashing lights to turn on when they are off. 3. The warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, further characterized in that the first element of the relay is in a first relay and the second element of the relay is in a second relay. 4 - The warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that the first element of the relay is in a first relay and the second element of the relay is in a second relay. 5. - The warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that the third element of the relay is in a third relay. 6. - The warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 4, further characterized in that the third element of the relay is in a third relay. 7. - The warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a timer that responds to the energized condition of the first element of the relay to change the first element of the relay to its normal condition at a predetermined time after the activation of the horn circuit. 8. - The warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, further characterized by comprising a manual activation / deactivation switch between the first element of the relay and the horn circuit to allow the operator to disconnect the warning system. 9. - The warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a timer that responds to the energized condition of the first element of the relay to change the first element of the relay to its normal condition in a predetermined time after activation of the horn circuit. 10. - The warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized by comprising a manual activation / deactivation switch between the first element of the relay and the horn circuit to allow the operator to disconnect the warning system. 11. - The warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 7, further characterized in that it comprises a manual activation / deactivation switch between the first element of the relay and the horn circuit to allow the operator to disconnect the warning system. 12. - In a motor vehicle that has a horn and a horn circuit; a source of energy; high lights and a circuit of high lights; flashing lights and a circuit of flashing lights; each of those circuits has a normal on and off condition; a warning system activated with the horn consisting of: an intermittent circuit; a first element of the relay having a normal condition and an energized condition, the energized condition of the first element of the relay connects the power source with the intermittent circuit to cause the intermittent circuit to turn on and off; a second element of the relay having a normal condition and an energized condition, the normal condition of the second element of the relay connects the high lights of the headlights with the circuit of the high lights, and the energized condition of the second element of the relay connects the lights high of the headlights with the mentioned intermittent circuit; the energized condition of the first element of the relay, the intermittent circuit, the energized condition of the second element of the relay and the high lights of the headlights connected in electrical series; the first and second elements of the relay respond to the activation of the horn circuit to change from the normal condition to the energized condition; the energized conditions of the first and second elements of the relay cause the high lights to turn on and off in synchrony with the change of the intermittent circuit; the high lights of the headlights are the only lights connected to the intermittent circuit; a third element of the relay; the flashing lights and the third element of the relay that is connected in series to the energized condition of the first element of the relay, the activation of the horn circuit causes the flashing lights to turn on when they are off; and a timer that responds to the energized condition of the first element of the relay to change the first element of the relay to its normal condition at a predetermined time after activation of the horn circuit. 13. - The warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 12, further characterized by comprising a manual activation / deactivation switch between the first element of the relay and the horn circuit to allow the operator to disconnect the warning system. 14. - The warning system for a motor vehicle according to claim 12, further characterized in that the first element of the relay is in a first relay, the second element of the relay is in a second relay and the third element of the relay It is in a third relay. 15. - In a motor vehicle that has a horn and a horn circuit; high lights and a circuit of high lights; flashing lights and a circuit of flashing lights; and a source of energy; a warning system activated with the horn comprising: a relay system having an on condition and a normal off condition, the relay system responds to activation of the horn circuit to change the normal off condition to the condition of ignition when the horn sounds; an intermittent circuit; the intermittent circuit and the ignition condition of the relay system connected in series to the power source to provide a warning circuit; the intermittent circuit turns on and off in response to the power source provided by the ignition condition of the relay system; changing the ignition condition relay system to the normal turn-off condition by activating the horn circuit causes the headlight headlights to change from the high-beam circuit to the warning circuit, thus causing the lights high lights turn on and off in synchrony with the intermittent circuit change; the high lights of the headlights are the only lights connected to the warning circuit. 16. - The warning system activated with the horn according to claim 15, further characterized in that the ignition condition of the relay system also causes the flashing lights to turn on when they are off. 17. - The warning system activated with the horn according to claim 15, further characterized in that a timer responds to the ignition condition of the relay system to change the relay system when it is in the off condition at a predetermined time after activating the horn circuit. 18. - The warning system activated with the horn according to claim 16, further characterized in that it comprises a timer that responds to the ignition condition of the relay system to change the relay system when it is in the off condition in a predetermined time after activating the horn circuit. 19. - The warning system activated with the horn according to claim 15, further characterized by comprising a manual activation / deactivation switch together with the relay system to allow the operator to turn the relay system on and off. 20. - The warning system activated with the horn according to claim 18, further characterized by comprising a manual activation / deactivation switch together with the relay system to allow the operator to turn the relay system on and off.