Patent ID: 7956732
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
1. A vehicle comprising: a first hazard warning light, a second hazard warning light, a third hazard warning light, and a fourth hazard warning light, each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights being mounted to be visible on a different exterior corner of the vehicle; a vehicle battery for supplying electrical power to the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights; a first hazard warning light switch connected to the first hazard warning light, a second hazard warning light switch connected to the second hazard warning light, a third hazard warning light switch connected to the third hazard warning light, and a fourth hazard warning light switch connected to the fourth hazard warning light; and a controller for the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light switches, each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light switches being independently controlled by the controller, the controller enabling operation of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights in a hazard flashing mode where the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights appear to flash on and off in synchronization, the controller providing for optimizing the operating frequency, duty cycle, and timing of the warning lights; the controller further providing for extending the life of the vehicle battery by sequentially turning on each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning light switches during each flash of the hazard flashing mode, the sequential turning on of each of the first, second, third, and fourth hazard warning lights occurring within a period not readily perceived visually; the sequential turning on of each of the first, second third and forth hazard warning lights further occurring over a period calculated to minimize the cumulative inrush current.