Patent ID: 6268792
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
A vehicular deceleration indicating system comprising, in combination:an accelerometer situated within a vehicle and adapted to detect a deceleration of the vehicle from an amount of change in momentum thereof with respect to the force of gravity;a lamp assembly including a plurality of horizontally oriented, linearly aligned lamps with perhaps an illuminateable peripheral lamp situated about a perimeter of the linear aligned lamps, the lamp assembly mounted on a rear of the vehicle, each lamp of the lamp assembly adapted to illuminate upon the actuation thereof;a mode selection switch for allowing a user to select the operation of the system in one of four modes including a first mode of operation, a second mode of operation, a third mode of operation, and a fourth mode of operation;memory means for continuously monitoring the deceleration detected by the accelerometer and further storing the maximum deceleration detected, wherein the memory means is adapted to be reset; andcontrol means connected between the accelerometer, lamp assembly, mode selection switch and memory means, the control means, in the first mode of operation, adapted to actuate the lamps from center lamps of the lamp assembly to end lamps as the detected deceleration increases wherein the peripheral lamp is illuminated only upon the detection of the maximum deceleration, the control means, in the second mode of operation, adapted to actuate the lamps from the end lamps to the center lamps as the detected deceleration increases wherein the peripheral lamp is illuminated upon the detection of any deceleration, the control means, in the third mode of operation, adapted to actuate the lamps from one set of the end lamps to another set of the end lamps as the detected deceleration increases wherein the peripheral lamp is illuminated only upon the detection of the maximum deceleration, the control means, in the fourth mode of operation, adapted to actuate the lamps from one set of the end lamps to another set of the end lamps as the detected deceleration increases wherein the peripheral lamp is illuminated upon the detection of any deceleration.