Patent ID: 9041526
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
1. A directional indicator, comprising: a momentary type turn signal lever supported to undergo a swing operation by a user and automatically returning to a neutral position after the swing operation; a turn switch operated by the swing operation of the momentary type turn signal lever in a first operative position in a first zone for generating a turn signal for informing a driving direction of a vehicle and for setting an auto turn cancel mode for automatically canceling the turn signal independently of the automatic return to the neutral position of the turn signal lever; a manual switch operated by the swing operation of the momentary type turn signal lever in a second operative position in a second zone for setting a manual mode for keeping the turn signal turned on and invalidating the auto turn cancel mode, the momentary type turn signal lever automatically returning to the neutral position after the manual mode is set and the momentary type turn signal lever is released, wherein the turn signal stays turned on until another swing operation of the momentary type turn signal lever is conducted after the momentary type turn signal lever automatically returns to the neutral position to manually cancel the turn signal; and a turn signal control section for controlling cancellation of the turn signal based on an operating state of the turn switch and the manual switch, wherein in the auto turn cancel mode the turn signal is automatically cancelled based on a signal generated from the turn signal control section based on changes in the movement of the vehicle including a combination of vehicle speed, steering angle and yaw rate, and wherein the auto turn cancel mode and the manual mode are each always accompanied by the automatic returning of the momentary type turn signal lever upon release by the user.