US3629819A - Vehicle electronic backup warning device - Google Patents

Abstract

This is an electronic circuit which is useful particularly in establishing for vehicles a backup warning. The circuit is adapted to input voltages ranging from 6 to 36 volts of either polarity and wherein the output voltage can be varied to develop a given desired regulated voltage for actuating a warning device. The circuit comprises basically a bridge section, a capacitor section, a regulator section and speaker and may include oscillator, flip-flop, and amplifier.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Edwin R. Peterson 3109 Bogus Basin Road, Boise, Idaho 83702 Appl. No. 858,282

Filed Sept. 16, 1969 Patented Dec. 21, 1971 VEHICLE ELECTRONIC BACKUP WARNING DEVICE 6 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

u.s.c1 340/70, 340/334 1111.01 8601] 1/26 Field of Search 340/52, 70, 248,249, 253, 276, 63, 384; 317/1435, 153; 331/63,64,1l0,1l3,138

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,181,031 4/1965 Yee 340/248 X 3,284,796 11/1966 Borsattino et al 340/384 Primary Examiner-Alvin H. Waring Attorney-J. Gibson Semmes ABSTRACT: This is an electronic circuit which is useful particularly in establishing for vehicles a backup warning. The circuit is adapted to input voltages ranging from 6 to 36 volts of either polarity and wherein the output voltage can be varied to develop a given desired regulated voltage for actuating a warning device. The circuit comprises basically a bridge section, a capacitor section, a regulator section and speaker and may include oscillator, flip-flop, and amplifier.

VEHICLE ELECTRONIC BACKUP WARNING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the present system, which is solid state, there is less vulnerability to malfunction than in the art because of a total lack of moving parts, contacts or bushings which may be subject to wear; there are no springs changing tension, no adjustments, no cams as are currently known in reverse alarms of the prior art.

Moreover, as opposed to art, polarity and voltage are protected and the system is universally adapted to substantially any vehicle on the market today.

Known prior art is as follows:

Knutson 2,972,139 Knutson 3,076,960 Webster 2,870,423 Atkinson 2,940,063 Brett 2,829,213

With the exception of Atkinson, none of the known prior art includes a solid-state electronic media, nor have any of the known systems been adapted to either 6, 12, 24, 32, or 36 volt input source. Not only is the present system readily physically mounted on existing equipment, but it is operative at extreme temperature ranges and can be cleaned without damaging. With the exception of Atkinson, the life expectancy is in definite, polarity and voltage are each protected, the device is explosionproof and vibrationproof, and the proper sound level herein can be concentrated in the hazard zone only of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to circuit for reduction of voltage from a range to a given desired voltage. While the circuit is usable with input voltages ranging from 6 to 36 volts of either polarity, it operates in one preferred form to produce an 8.2- volt output, but the output can be varied in any desired voltage by the incorporation of appropriate regulator components therein. The circuit includes a first station (bridge) to establish a fixed polarity for subsequent sections or stages. In the second stage (capacitor section), means are operable to filter out peak voltages and foreign signals. In the third stage (regulator section), the components are operable to reduce voltages of difierent values within a given range, down to the desired output voltage and, as required, oscillator, flip-flop, amplifier sections are added sequentially prior to actuation of the speaker. The on-off control may be a magnetic proximity switch actuable by gearshift lever and having conductive switch connection between vehicular battery and electronic capsule containing the actuating circuitry mentioned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The FIGURE is a view of the preferred circuit in the present invention.

As indicated, the entire actuating circuitry is adapted to a capsule attached to the speaker alarm itself. To energize the circuit, one may adapt the electronic actuating capsule input to battery, interrupted at selection by a magnetic proximity switch of the type mounted on a gearshift lever and adjacent mount including magnetic tube on the lever and switch tube on the mount.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawing, in the first section, the bridge Bl has a value of FW-IOO and is adapted to establish a fixed polarity to the sequential sections. Input to the bridge may be at either 6, 12, 24, or 32 or 36 volts, negative or positive ground, thus making it universal for the majority of domestic vehicles. In this way, the system can be shifted without regard to voltage or polarity from one vehicle to another. Moreover, if the present system is installed on a 12- volt negative to ground unit and the battery of the vehicle is dead, subsequently boosted but the polarity erroneously reversed, the system would not be damaged, and the same would be true if a dead battery is erroneously replaced in reverse polarity in the vehicle on which the unit is mounted. The entire circuitry herein is solid state, thus eliminating wearing, sparking, or the necessity for lubrication of parts.

In the second section, the capacitor C4 is adapted to filter out pike voltages and undesirable foreign signals, capacitor C4 having a value in this instance of 230 mf.

In the third or regulator section which comprises basically transistor T2, the transistor is Model 2N4995 manufactured by Texas Instrument. Here by resistance R111 and zener diode 21, all voltages are reduced from 6 to 36 down to trigger at 8.2 volts. This voltage regulation, regardless of polarity, permits adaptation of the system to any vehicle, regardless of its inherent voltage system. Within the regulator system the zener diode 211 having a value represented by Semicor parts No. IN3018B; the Ohmite resistor Rlll having a value of 1 k0. V; w. which is the same value given the resistors R3 and R8 in the oscillator circuit shown.

The oscillator circuit converts the uniform regulated voltage into a signal of 900-l ,200 cycles per second, also includes Mallory capacitors C1, each of a 0.1 mf. and within that circuit there are also the IR diode D1 of IR Part No. 20A05. The Ohmite resistor R1 is of 56 (I It w., the Ohmite resistor R2, 6.8 k0. 5; w., the Ohmite resistor R10 of 510 I). h w. Ohmite resistor R9 is given a value of 8.2 k0. h w. The Texas Instrument transistors T2 are identified as 2N4995.

In the flip-flop circuit the signal transmitted by the oscillator is pulsated at the desired rate of 1 pulse per second, whereupon it is appropriately switched via transistor and amplified to the speaker.

Values given the elements in the flip-flop circuit are for the Resistor R5, 39 k0. k w.; for the resistor R7, 68 O w. Capacitor C2 has a value of 10 mi. and C3 a value of 20 mf. Resistances RA and R6 are of the same value as resistances R3 and R8 in the oscillator circuit.

The transistor T1 in the amplifier circuit is a Semicor SDT 9603 and the speaker S1 is identified as a 16 0.1 MP Atlas speaker.

Fine points A and B are respectively positive and negative, as shown.

I claim:

I. In a vehicle back-up warning device, a circuit for providing uniform voltage, switched signals comprising:

A. an electrical power source;

B. a bridge circuit section arranged to provide a fixed polarity having across said bridge a capacitor in parallel with a voltage-reducing regulator circuit comprising at least one transistor arranged to regulate the voltage at a consistent potential at the output of said bridge;

C. an oscillator circuit in series to said bridge circuit and said voltage reducing regulator circuit sections to develop particular frequencies;

D. a flip-flop circuit arranged in parallel with said oscillator circuit;

E. an amplifier arranged at the output of said oscillator and said flip-flop circuits; and

F. warning means in parallel to said said amplifier, oscillator, flip-flop, and voltage-reducing regulator circuits.

2. The system according to claim 1 in which oscillating section includes plural transistors, all said transistors being of equal value.

3. The system of claim 2 in which the said flip-flop circuit includes plural transistors, all said transistors being of equivalent value.

4i. The system of claim 3 wherein the oscillator circuit converts uniform electrical voltage to a signal of at least 900-1200 cycles per second frequency.

5. The system of claim 2 in which the input voltages may vary from 6-36 volts and wherein the voltage reduction section reduces the input voltages to 8.2 volts.

6. The system according to claim 4 in which the input voltages may vary from 6-36 volts and wherein the voltage reduction section reduces the input voltages to 8.2 volts.

Patent No. 3,629,819 Dated December 21 1971 Inventofls) Edwin R. Peterson It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: On drawings (Figm l and drawing page l) a connection should be indicated at the intersection connecting the upper right transistor to diode Dl resistor R9, and the lower capacitor C1; a connecting line should be drawn between the base of the lower left transistor and the top of resistor R5; the connecting point labelled A on the bottom horizontal line between R5 and R7 should be labelled C. A connecting point C should. be applied on the top horizontal line between R2 and R9; the right-hand transistor should be identified Tlo In the Specification:

Column 1, line 40, change "station" to stage Column 2, line 8, change "pike" to spike line 25, delete "56" insert 510 line 26 delete "510" insert 56 line 34 delete 68" insert 68K line 59, delete first 'said" .1.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of February 197M,n

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M..FLETCHIEB,JRQ C. MARS L DA Attesting Officer HAL NN Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-F'69 u.s. GOVERNME PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 0-365-334,

Claims (6)

1. In a vehicle back-up warning device, a circuit for providing uniform voltage, switched signals comprising: A. an electrical power source; B. a bridge circuit section arranged to provide a fixed polarity having across said bridge a capacitor in parallel with a voltage-reducing regulator circuit comprising at least one transistor arranged to regulate the voltage at a consistent potential at the output of said bridge; C. an oscillator circuit in series to said bridge circuit and said voltage reducing regulator circuit sections to develop particular frequencies; D. a flip-flop circuit arranged in parallel with said oscillator circuit; E. an amplifier arranged at the output of said oscillator and said flip-flop circuits; and F. warning means in parallel to said said amplifier, oscillator, flip-flop, and voltagereducing regulator circuits.

2. The system according to claim 1 in which oscillating section includes plural transistors, all said transistors being of equal value.

3. The system of claim 2 in which the said flip-flop circuit includes plural transistors, all said transistors being of equivalent value.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the oscillator circuit converts uniform electrical voltage to a signal of at least 900-1,200 cycles per second frequency.

5. The system of claim 2 in which the input voltages may vary from 6-36 volts and wherein the voltage reduction section reduces the input voltages to 8.2 volts.

6. The system according to claim 4 in which the input voltages may vary from 6-36 volts and wherein the voltage reduction section reduces the input voltages to 8.2 volts.

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